Frequently Asked Questions
Portrait Photography Retreat FAQs
What's a photo retreat?
Similar to yoga or meditation retreats, a photography retreat - or photo retreat - is an occasion to spend time away from the business of everyday life and immerse yourself in a practice. Our portrait photography retreats are not like the usual photography workshops where the focus is solely on improving photographic skills. Rather, photography is used as a tool in a journey of personal transformation. Participants get to know themselves better by photographing others and improve their photographic abilities too.
What is the focus of the portrait retreat?
During a portrait photo retreat, we extensively explore our perceptions, empathy, creativity and also composition, natural light... We delve into the dynamics of a portraiture session and work on each participant's limits and capabilities. There are exercises designed to help students overcome their fears and inhibitions as photographers, other exercises aimed at boosting their capacity to interact and others on creativity.
How does the photography retreat practically unrolls?
There are exercises on perception, interaction and creativity to be performed individually, in pairs or in a group, with or without the camera. Several pictures are shot by the students and the group gets together to view and comment on a selection of the images to see what could be improved before the next day of shooting.
Are we going to learn how to shoot better photos?
Your photography ability will improve as a byproduct of your increased capacity to focus your attention, compose your images quickly and intuitively, skillfully interact with your subjects.
You will also have the opportunity to overcome certain insecurities. On top of that, all the practice and exercises performed in the company of like-minded creative souls will have an impact on the way you photograph.
Who is the portrait photography retreat for?
The retreat is for photography enthusiasts of all levels who want to participate in an immersive experience of self-discovery and personal growth. During the retreat, each participant has the opportunity to put the teachings into practice in a way that best suits their level of preparation. That's why the portrait photo retreat is suitable for both beginners and professional photographers (please also read the testimonials section).
Am I expected to be very advanced technically?
No, just to feel comfortable with the functionality of your camera.
What kind of equipment is required?
Digital reflex or mirrorless camera with 50mm luminous lens plus the participant’s favorite lenses (if any), laptop computer with Photoshop and a photo-editing software (such as Bridge) to preview and select your images, USB key.
I don’t have Photoshop but another image manipulation program, would that be all right?
Yes, no problem. Photoshop is required just to re-size your pictures before sharing them on the screen and in case you need to do minor adjustments. You might also want to use a photo-manager software (such as Bridge, Anteprima or similar) to select your pictures.
What is the general atmosphere like during a portrait photography retreat?
The retreats are really laid back, an opportunity to set aside competitiveness and enjoy the company of like-minded creative people. There's nothing to prove, no results to achieve, no one to impress... just a playground brimming with inspiration to cultivate new skills and explore photography as a tool that supports us in an intensely nourishing creative journey.
How is the daily routine during the portrait photography retreat?
A retreat is an intense experience with several hours of lessons and practices, but there is time to relax by the pool or venture out and explore the nearby art cities or nature in the surrounding area.
A typical daily routine goes something like this:
08:00 am to 08:30 am – Qi Gong & Tai Chi movement
08:30 am to 09:30 am – an abundant and yummy breakfast
09:30 am to 09:45 am – meditation
09:45 am to 01:00 pm – lecture, indoor and outdoor exercises on perception, framing, concentration
01:00 pm to 02:00 pm – a delicious lunch
02:45 pm to 07:00 pm – lecture, indoor and outdoor exercises or free afternoon
07:00 pm to 08:00 pm – a delicious dinner
08:30 pm to 10:30 pm – projection of photos taken by the students during the retreat and discussion or free evening
At what time does the retreat start and at what time does it end?
On the first day of the retreat, please arrive around 6:00pm so that you have time to check in to your room and have a look around the gardens. Dinner is served at 7pm. You can arrive earlier than 6:00pm, if you wish. You just need to let us know of your arrival time in advance. The retreat will end around 3:30pm on the last day.
Are we going to meditate?
During the retreat, we aim to cultivate a calmer mind with short meditations. Of course, primarily the photography will be a way to be present and focused.
To be more precise: photographing will often feel like a kind of active meditation.
The retreat's approach is quite unusual, both seasoned meditators and newbies will discover a new orientation that can be applied in everyday life.
Why do we practice Qi Gong movement at the portrait photography retreat?
This practice can help to increase our capacity to remain focused and be more present while taking pictures and in general. It supports our everyday awareness and it’s a great way to start our day - waking us up and calming us at the same time!
Is the Fattoria Di Camporomano a luxury resort?
Fattoria Di Camporomano is a historic residence where you can relax and live comfortably and authentically, waking up to the birds singing, eating vegetables from the garden and walking among the centuries-old olive trees, far from the hustle and bustle. This is a luxury.
A five-star hotel may have frills like in-room jacuzzis and other luxurious amenities, but those who choose the Tuscany retreat do so to immerse themselves in nature and for the pleasure of lodging in a historic home.
How about the food?
The food is vegan and... delicious! Traditional Tuscan dishes, hearty ingredients (often straight from the garden) and ever-changing recipes so that eating is an exploratory journey of flavors and wellness that matches the rest of the experience.
When we are seated at the table, we not only celebrate the pleasure of good food, but we also know that what we're eating is healthy for us, for the planet and doesn't harm animals.
Yummy snacks are available throughout the day because... we deserve them! Don’t we?
Can I come to the photo retreat with my partner or a friend who will not be following the program?
Accommodation priority is given to people who are taking part in the retreat. Non-participants are welcome if they share a room with a participant.
Does anyone come alone?
Most participants come to the retreat alone, and from day one, they have the chance to connect with everyone. There is lots of interaction during the exercises and cooperation is encouraged as a way to learn and grow together.
Can I share a room with someone who is traveling alone like me?
You can, if we have a request that matches yours. When you sign up, please let us know your preference, and we'll do everything we can to combine our guests and make everyone happy.
How many participants are there at each retreat?
Normally there are 12 participants, but the number can vary. Retreats are more interesting and richer when the number of participants is larger rather than smaller. This is because there is more interaction and diversity, which makes them more stimulating.
In what language will classes be taught at the retreat?
Lessons will be held in English.
Portrait Photography Workshop FAQs
What are the differences between a workshop and a retreat?
The portrait photography workshops we organize run over a weekend and focus mainly on refining the photographer's sensitivity and ease of moving through the various steps of image production. Retreats last five or six days, proceed at a more relaxed pace and are a journey of personal transformation in which photography is used as a tool to inquire into reality and oneself. That said, many of the lectures and exercises in both the workshops and retreats are similar.
I heard that your portrait photography workshop is a very intense experience, what does it mean?
Yes, it’s very intense, exciting, fun and sometimes challenging. The explorations that we do together suggest to the students a totally different prospective on their capacities and potentials. According to their feedbacks, for most of them the workshop is an important turning point.
I’ve never done portraits, can I still participate in a portrait photography workshop?
Yes, but ONLY if you try taking a few portraits on your own prior to the workshop. You will receive guidelines for doing this when you sign up.
Why do you recommend doing some preparatory work before coming to the photo workshop?
We will explore many aspects associated with portraiture during the portrait photography workshop. In some cases the exercises will be much more fruitful if students have already begun exploring on their own. When you sign up you will receive an email with a few simple suggestions for exercises you can do.
How does the portrait photography workshop practically unrolls?
There are exercises to be performed individually, in pairs or in a group, with or without the camera. Several pictures are shot by the students and the group gets together to view and comment on a selection of the images to see what could be improved before the next day of shooting.
Will the teachings focus on technique, light schemes and such?
Technical aspects of camera use will not be addressed during the teachings.
What is the portrait photography workshop focused on?
The focus is on the ability to get in touch with some aspect that makes the person that we want to photograph special and unique and compose our images quickly and intuitively. We work on each participant very own limits and potentials. A lot of attention is given to the relationship between the photographer and the subject. We do extensive exploration of the dynamics of a portraiture session. There are exercises meant to help participants get beyond their fears and inhibitions as photographers and others aimed to boost our capacity to interact. We work on our perceptions, empathy, creativity, composition, natural light…
Will there be models to photograph?
No there will be no models. Participants will photograph each other.
What is the usual age of participants?
We get participants of all ages, from 20 to over 60. Generally speaking, the greater the range of ages the more interesting the workshop.
How many students are attending?
At a portrait photography workshop, usually there are around 18 students. The teachings here are very different from other photography workshops and are structured to make the most of the interactions among students.
I have an unbreakable commitment on the same dates as the portrait photography workshops. When will the next one be?
If you want to be notified about other dates, sign up for the newsletter and we’ll send you an email as soon as the upcoming dates have been fixed. Remember that workshops are not scheduled at regular intervals.
You can also send us a message from the Contacts page with your questions.