Sonoma Coast Event

We’re back in the Sonoma/Napa area of California for an invite-only model photography event. This is our fifth event in the area and each one just gets better. Plan to visit at least one winery and vineyard right in the middle of harvest season making it a color photography experience complete with wine tasting too. We’ll also spend at least one day shooting on the beach near Jenner. The third day will be either another winery or beach location.

This is an invite-only event where we keep it small when it comes to the size of the group, so you can enjoy the locations and get some great photos. Spouses are welcome too.  It’s about the passion to create masterpiece photos. We’ll focus on each individual and the group as a whole. The ratio is two photographers per model, but you’ll photograph each model before the adventure ends.

You’ll get to photograph up to four talented models during this photography experience. This experience includes a resident expert photographer and at the end of at least one day, we’ll do some wine tasting and learn about wines and the vineyards.

If you’d like, you may bring your spouse, though you are responsible for their transportation, meals, lodging, etc. They may join us for the shoots as long as they don’t interfere with the shooting process. We welcome everyone, as this is a photography adventure where you learn, capture great images and relax too.

Things to Expect

Expect to photograph beautiful models for three days at least one winery, possibly two, and a shoot on the beach around the Sonoma/Napa area. We’ll start from the morning until evening, with a brief afternoon break for lunch. We provide the lighting gear while you provide your camera(s), lenses and digital storage devices. Bring any gear you think you need. Recommend 35mm lenses are those that cover at least a 70-200mm range, though a wide-angle lens is recommended too. You may bring your own lighting gear too.

Photographers must be at least 18 years of age and must be able to walk at least a city block while carrying their own equipment. You are responsible for all your lodging, we prefer in the Santa Rosa/Napa area which makes it easier for meals, drinks, air fare, and logistics, as the adventure price is only for attending the event to help cover our costs.

Please use the PayPal, it’s secure and we’ve used PayPal for over two decades. Act now as this event is invite-only and limited in size on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once we’re sold out, that’s it as we’re keeping this event small with only six to eight photographers, which means three to four models as we work in teams of two.

Itinerary

Friday we will meet in Santa Rosa then embark out to a beach area in Jenner.

Saturday, we’ll do photography at a winery/vineyard the entire day with a lunch break.

Sunday we will do photography at another nice beach location or a winery.

Monday plan your departure as needed, as you should come early and stay later to enjoy the Sonoma Coast/Napa area, we leave that up to you. You can leave Sunday evening too if necessary, but please arrive the Thursday before we start.

Travel, Meals and Lodging

You are responsible for all your travel to and from the Sonoma Coast and Santa Rosa. Some people fly in directly to Santa Rosa, some fly into San Francisco and rent a car and drive to Santa Rosa. You will need a vehicle either way, a small car will work, but that’s up to you.  As a group we’ll work together on traveling from location to location. You are responsible for your own lodging and meal costs. We prefer you plan to stay in the Santa Rosa area.

Additional Requirements

• You must be 18 years of age or older to attend.

• You must be physically fit enough to walk a city block and lift 25 lbs. You may bring your own flash units though we will have some Profoto lights and Sunbounce reflectors. You may bring any lighting gear you prefer, though we’ll provide equipment and we ask that you keep it minimal and compact. You must provide your own camera, lenses, and all accessories for your camera system.

• You must have the passion to photograph up to four beautiful models and patient enough for them to change into wardrobe. The type of photography is fashion, glamour, beauty, and possibly fine-art nudes or implied nudes where possible, but limited. The target genre is what will make for the best fine art at the various locations. The ability for nude photography is left up to each individual model, not all models do nudes and some locations are limited.

• These are long days, which means late dinners along with early mornings. There will be a little down time during the middle of the day to allow for lunch and the models to prepare for the next photo session.

• Camera requirements are any type of camera, preferably 35mm DSLR, SLR, mirrorless, medium or large format is optional. Lens focal range, from 24mm to 300mm, though a typical 70-200mm lens is all you need. A back-up drive to download your images every evening and/or laptop computer is highly recommended. We will provide radio triggers for our battery packs, though not required, we recommend a standard or classic Pocket Wizard radio transmitter.

• Professionalism is required as we’re there to capture beautiful images of beautiful models at beautiful locations. Safety is number one. We will have some fun and great times and capture some great photos.

• All sign-ups are non-refundable. 

• Please notify us of any special dietary needs.

• By signing up for this photography event, you do so at your own risk, and we are not responsible for any accidents and/or travel logistic issues you may incur with your transportation carriers. We require safety at all times and common sense. We will provide safety briefings as required.

Models and Expectations

Our models are professionals. Our photography event covers fashion, glamour, and beauty photography. Not all models pose nude. Nude or implied nude photography will fall under the scope of glamour or fine-art nudes.

At the end of the three days of shooting, the photographers will secure a release provided by me with each model for $200 per model, up to four models paid once, for all three days of shooting. Photographers will photograph each model during the event. Models are throughout each day. Releases are provided.

Cancellation Rules

This is a first-come, first-serve invite-only event limited in size, and because of the logistics that must be done ahead of time, this is a non-cancel event; should you need to cancel, we will work with you to help you find a replacement, however, no guarantees and no refunds, though we’ll do our best to offer you some type of future credit.

Because of the size and expenses associated with this event, we cannot accept requests for refunds when the cancellation is on your behalf, though we will take each situation on a case-by-case basis and work with you the best we can and as a minimum issue credit for a future event. Don’t get left behind; don’t miss out on a wonderful opportunity. It’s very limited in size, so don’t delay, act now before it’s sold-out!