We will be gathering in the vineyard-lined hills of Southern California to escape the hustle and shed the layers of stress in our everyday lives. We will bolster our business acumen and restore our creative spirits through intentional breakout sessions and three fully-directed styled shoots.
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a wine country retreat to build your professional portfolio
October 1 - 3, 2019
You have been burning the candle at both ends, capturing wedding after wedding, trying as best as you can not to fall behind. But it’s been a tough road of sleepless nights and you’re beyond burned out. You wish you had a little bit more energy to put that extra creative flair into your editing, but you just don’t have it in you.
When you do take a moment to rest, you scroll social media to numb out from your never-ending to-do list. It’s mindless and much easier than getting up and moving your body, especially when you’re exhausted.
This is not the life you imagined when you decided to pursue your photography passion as a career.
we see you . . .
Where is the pause button?
We designed the Wedding Photographers Wellness Retreat specifically for you, friend. Together, we will set our “out of office” messages and learn how to work wholeheartedly from a place of rest.
When we work from a place of stress, not only do our personal lives spiral out of control (hello raccoon eyes and three-day-old yoga pants), but we fail to serve our clients in the way we intended. They hire us to capture the most incredible day of their lives and let’s face it -- when we’re exhausted, we don’t do our very best work.
Timeless memories turn into tiresome transactions
When we work from a place of rest, we make healthy choices and feel our creativity bubbling up inside of us. You know that feeling -- the one where you slide to the edge of your seat and your pupils dilate. That’s pure inspiration, friend. It comes around when you’re in a truly balanced state of being.
This retreat will help you get out of that hamster wheel and restore that creative passion inside of you.
In just three days, you will learn all the skills you need to put your life back into alignment, get those creative juices flowing again, and refine your fine art photography skills.
You will leave this retreat with a feeling of complete renewal and will be able to work through your planning and editing processes much faster. Better yet, your couples will pick up on your revived energy and this will translate into more intimate poses and (likely) better product sales.
Bye bye, burnout
I am so glad you’re here! I am a fine art hybrid photographer with a love for outdoor adventures, gourmet chocolate cupcakes, and the warm golden glow of sunsets. Sunrises are great, too! I find shooting in film is the best way to foster my creativity on a wedding day. It really forces me to slow down and conceptualize the image before clicking the shutter. This wouldn’t be possible without practicing self-care regularly.
Hi, I'm Heather
Headshots by Darcy Benincosa
day one
We will be gathering on the first day at our AirBnB, the Rusty Fork Ranch. Imagine porch swings, mini golf, and baby goats. Reclaimed barn wood, galore. Vineyard views for miles.
We will get to know each other and kick off our first session on mindfulness. Then, we will break out our camera gear for our tablescape styled shoot and professional headshots. This tablescape will be unforgettable and unique with fall-inspired details. The color palette will include burgundy, rust, and gold with accents of sage and dusty rose.
Of course, we will work up an appetite, so we will have a delightful meal catered in to nourish our bodies. We will end the evening with a meditative concert, called a sound bath. This practice is known to reduce anxiety through vibrations.
day two
With a big day ahead, we will rise and shine with fresh-brewed coffee and sunlit yoga at the Ranch. The morning will be filled with enriching educational experiences while the team prepares the most magical styled wedding shoot vignettes behind the scenes. Lunch will be on-site with plenty of time to savor each bite and get to know your colleagues.
We will spend the next four hours at Avensole Winery in full creative mode, capturing the essence of our ethereal styled wedding. The mood of this scene will be elegant, romantic, luxurious, couture, and intentional. Taking inspiration from surrounding vineyards, our color scheme will be rich with merlot, mauve, blush, and sage.
In the evening, we will wine and dine at Goat and Vine, a stone hearth kitchen in historic downtown Temecula. To wrap up the evening, we will gather around a toasty campfire at the Ranch. Time to break out the flannel pajamas!
day three
On our final day, we will dive right in to our final photo shoot: boudoir at sunrise! Our style will be dreamy, tasteful, and romantic with soft hues of coral, peach, pink, and cream. Forget hiding this in a private gallery. This styled shoot will definitely be one to share on social media.
We will have our final breakout session to wrap up our retreat on wellness.
We will pack our bags and say farewells, heading to (an optional) lunch before parting ways. We know leaving will be bittersweet, as you will have made incredible friends and fueled your creative fire, but you won’t be leaving empty-handed. You will be equipped with all the skills and tools you will need to lead a balanced life as a creative entrepreneur, serving your clients with a whole heart.
Here are the
details you’ve been waiting for:
breathtaking
kind words from past students
Join us in the historic wine country of southern California to restore your creative energy and build your confidence as a professional photographer
you will receive a free guide on how to shoot with confidence in backlit environments.
As a bonus for attendees only,
You’ll arrive at home feeling full of unashamed joy and confidence. You will have more knowledge and hands-on experience in your business and photography toolbox. You will be able to hit the ground running with a plan of action (and none of the overwhelm like you’ve felt at other conferences)!
california dreaming
only $499
What to expect:
- Comfortable and unique lodging at Rusty Fork Ranch
- Healthy meals during the retreat
- Three luxury styled shoots with instruction from Heather
- Transformational wellness and business educational sessions
- Yoga and other wellness activities
- Professional headshots
- Private Facebook group for connection and ongoing peer support
retreat experience
count me in
Retreat is limited to only twelve attendees.
I'll take $200 off!
Sign up by Sunday, September 1st for $200 off your ticket.
last chance
We can’t wait to pour our very best into you so you can return home with the restored energy and confidence you need to grow your business. See you in the rolling vineyard hills of Southern California this October!
Sponsors
Vendors
Video by Ryan Films
Styling/Design by Always Flawless Productions
Sound Bath by Koru Sound Waves
Yoga by The Little Yoga Room
Venue Avensole Winery
Airbnb The Rusty Fork Ranch
Tuxedo by Stitch and Tie
Shoes by Bella Belle Shoes
Florals by Bloom Theory Design
Hair and Makeup by Elwynn and Cass
Film by The Find Lab
Model for sunrise shoot Olivia Mar