Join us for a 5-day all-inclusive retreat with a focus on storytelling through photography and creative writing.
This will be an intimate, hands-on, and in-depth practical and theoretical workshop open to photographers of all levels
Key Workshops
….Many of the details (especially the surprises, collaborations and special guests) will be announced as the weeks roll out but here are the details at a glance.
Irish chef and creative magician, Jeni Glasgow will be creating farm-to-table feasts, with relaxed fresh feasts for lunch and special candlelit dinners, with foraged and wildflowers on the table.
Ruth Ribeaucourt, creative director and editor-in-chief of FAIRE magazine, will lead insightful discussions on the world of magazine editorial: how to seek exposure and pitch your stories; how to cultivate links, relationships and collaborations; advice on what to be aware of; and how to keep your story current with the world media.
This retreat is perfect for anyone who is interested in creating lifestyle, interiors and food photography but also suitable for creatives with an interest in writing, travel and cooking. Perhaps you’re a small business owner and you’d love to learn the skills to create your own creative content with a clear and distinctive, very personal visual narrative…. It is also for anyone who needs a creative kick, maybe you are finding yourself stuck in a creative rut or perhaps you want to start a new project or take off in a new direction?...
Open to photographers of all levels. For beginners, Ruth Ribeaucourt will lead an introductory class on basic camera settings to capture beautiful photos, how to approach lighting, ideally getting everyone shooting on manual mode for the retreat. We’ll talk about the effects of internal camera settings such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO on your images.
For more experienced photographers we will encourage you to explore a personal project / dream / goal during these 5 days and our team of mentors will be on hand to help make it happen!
Workshops will rotate in small groups (5 guests per group max) with plentiful practical workshop time PLUS creative business sessions about writing and editing content for editorial; the business of editorial photography; with discussions on how to weave your personal creative story into an original voice and harness the power of storytelling, across social media platforms and the press.
Many of us, mentors and team alike on this retreat, have hit a major career reset at some point, and we’ve been obliged to feel and navigate our way towards more nourishing creative careers and we will lift, support and gently mentor you with a maximum amount of heart!
Transportive Visual Storytelling
Lean Timms will lead a very special class focussed on transportive storytelling, guiding and empowering you with the tools to build your very personal framework so you can tell your own stories through your own unique and beautiful lenses. It will be a glorious celebration of faces, places and spaces.
Photography
Doreen Kilfeather will lead a workshop to open up intimate, natural light portrait photography
Capturing the human creative narrative
Softening the edges of comfort
Yago Bruna will host an equal parts playful + challenging workshop encouraging you to step outside your visual-storytelling comfort zone. Yago will be on hand throughout the retreat to help push you to play with light, movement, angles, subjects, film-making… and technology.
Storytelling
Best-selling author and celebrated interior stylist Ali Heath will lead a workshop to help you weave your story into an original voice and gain valuable exposure for your business.
Meet our team of mentors
Meet our international team of creative mentors
Yago Bruna
Yago Bruna is a versatile, multidisciplinary, passionate self-taught photographer who lives in Barcelona, Spain.
After a successful and long career working as a creative director for various advertising agencies, Yago decided to turn his focus full-time to photography. In the years since he made this brave decision he has gone on to work with national and international brands and his talent has been recognised in many publications such as VOGUE, Vanitatis, Elle, CN Traveller, and Hola magazine.
He describes his signature style as characterised by, “thoughtful composition, simplicity, a unique colour treatment, a love of natural light, and a quest for emotion with every shot”. His versatility is apparent in the diversity of his portfolio which encompasses many different areas of photography including travel, fashion, weddings, lifestyle, portraiture, and still life.
In addition to his photographic work, Yago is an experienced and much-loved photography teacher and he openly and generously teaches his secrets and self-taught tricks to mastering natural light and storytelling through photography.
Lean Timms
Lean Timms is an Australian travel and lifestyle photographer working across editorial, commercial and publishing fields.
Forever exploring and full of curiosity for this world, Lean’s greatest love is to discover and document inspiring places and stories. Lean’s approach to photography is driven by natural light, in situ spontaneity, storytelling, sharing and capturing a genuine sense of place.
Lean is currently based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Canberra Australia, however her work takes her worldwide.
Doreen Kilfeather
Doreen Kilfeather is a portrait and editorial photographer based in Dublin, Ireland. Inspired by a sense of narrative and beautiful light, Doreen is drawn to youth, innocence, humour, melancholy, vulnerability, beauty and simplicity. Her portraits often feature children and young adults and she strives to portray not necessarily a picture of what the subject looks like at a certain point in time, but rather a sense of who they are – that evanescent element that reveals the subject as well as the moment.
“Curious by nature, with an obsessive eye for detail and an inherent passion for interiors, I bring creativity to life - for individuals and brands, both visually and in words.”
Jeni Glasgow
Ruth Ribeaucourt
Creative director and editor in chief, FAIRE and photographer
Ali Heath
Ali is a UK based freelance writer and stylist, who works with a group of exceptional photographers. She has spent the last 20 years sourcing and developing high quality concepts, visual content and copy for editorial home features, creative profiles, specialist maker features and lifestyle trend stories.
Ali began her professional career working in blue chip retail and brand marketing, before heading up new business for a below-the-line marketing agency. Stepping off the corporate ladder Ali set up her own antiques business, whilst also consulting interior clients. Working closely with interior magazines she developed a passion for writing and styling and that became her focus. At the core of Ali’s approach is an appreciation of brand, a love of interiors and a passion for the creative process: considered at every stage, via targeted storytelling, feature placement and collaborative consultancy.
She is regularly published in many prestigious titles, including: Livingetc, Homes & Gardens, Elle Decoration, Elle Decoration Country, House & Garden, Country Living, Modern Rustic, YOU Magazine and The Telegraph Magazine and syndicates internationally.
All the details…..
Costs
What is included:
What is not included:
Location
& Accommodation:
Getting here:
Double bedroom (suite) with private ensuite bathroom (single occupancy) €4,700.
Double bedroom with shared bathroom (single occupancy) €4,250
Twin room (room with two single beds with shared bathroom) shared option €3,700
Smaller Twin Room (room with two single beds with shared bathroom) shared option €3,300
*Note all prices are exclusive of VAT.
You can pay by either International bank transfer or paypal*.
A non-refundable deposit of 50% is required to hold your place.
Should you wish to pay in two installments please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Five days (Four nights) stay in the very beautiful village of Goult
All of your meals (including refreshments/wine) for the duration of the retreat - including 2-3 very special supper feasts
All of the individual workshops and any necessary materials (except cameras which you must provide yourself)
Transport to and from Avignon Train station. One group transfer is organised.
Your transport to and from excursions and classes.
All towels and linens are provided.
Your travel to and from Avignon TGV train station to retreat.
Obligatory travel insurance.
As for the connection, we will be organising one group transfer from Avignon train station at 12 noon and a return transfer to arrive at Avignon train station for 18h00. Many of our French Muse guests choose to fly in the night before our retreats and spend a day exploring the vibrant city of Marseille.
Our base for the retreat is Le Buisson, an early 1800s, Napoleonic era Provençal farmhouse which has been beautifully restored. The property is within walking distance of the village of Goult which is in the heart of the Luberon Valley in Provence, South of France. It is a very comfortable home with wonderful gardens, and its own private heated swimming pool.
All bed linen and towels are provided.
The nearest airport is Marseille (1hr 10 mins drive) and the nearest train station is Avignon Central (1hr 10 mins drive). An alternative route is to fly to Paris and then take the TGV train to Avignon TGV (3hrs direct).
As for the connection, we will be organising one group transfer from Avignon train station at 12 noon and a return transfer to arrive at Avignon train station for 18h00. Many of our French Muse guests choose to fly in the night before our retreats and spend a day exploring the vibrant city of Marseille.
Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line if you’d like help planning your trip as there is so much to see and do in this region.
f.a.q
Costs:
Businesses not based in the European Union which incur VAT in connection with their activities in an EU country where they do not habitually supply goods/services (and so are not required to register for VAT) are entitled to deduct that VAT.
This ‘deduction’ is made by means of a refund from the EU country where they paid the VAT.
Payment Plan:
You can pay either by International Bank transfer.
Final payment is due by 9 August 2023 (8 weeks prior to retreat).
Change of Plans:
Note: In the unfortunate event that a mentor is unable to attend, The French Muse and Faire magazine will offer an alternative course of equal standard and quality.
Cancellation Policy:
Unfortunately due to the nature of this retreat we are unable to offer refunds should you need to later cancel. If you wish to find a replacement then your place can go to them but we cannot refund any payments made. We will do our best to advertise and try and fill the place for you but cannot guarantee success in filling your place at late notice.
Comprehensive travel insurance is now compulsory - and will ensure peace of mind and mean that you are covered fully for sickness, accident, or loss/damage of your personal property (cameras/laptops etc) during your trip.
General Questions
We would advise you to bring your DSLR camera and/or Iphone to participate in workshops. If you wish to bring your tripod then great, we will have two Manfrotto tripods available for everyone to use/experiment with.
Software: We will email with a list of apps / helpful software closer to the date but it would be a good idea if you wish to learn editing to install Adobe Lightroom on your laptop to get the most out of our editing workshop.
For any other questions you might have don’t hesistate to drop me a line!
Quote Source
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
Quote Source