Hello photography friends! You are invited to join me August 5-7, 2022 in sunny California for an exclusive and unique photography learning experience.  Our "classroom" is a lovely ranch home on a 20-acre property surrounded by orchards and wide open farmland.    

The retreat includes 3 full days of learning, wine & hors d'oeuvres after class each day and a private mentoring session with Arica. 

Check out the information below to see the retreat schedule, what you'll learn, tuition cost, application information and more.   The retreat is limited to 7 photographers.  Helping other photographers learn, grow and succeed is one of my greatest joys in life.  I would love to be a part of your photographic and entrepreneurial journey! 

Email me at arica@aricadorff.com if you have any additional questions!

Your instructor Arica Dorff

SCHEDULE  

• Meet & Greet on Thursday August 4, 2022 at 6pm with wine & hors d'oeuvres (totally optional but I would love to have you join us if you're getting to town the day before the retreat starts).   

• Three full days of shooting & learning (with breaks for snacks, meals and downtime):

Friday August 5th from 9am - 8pm  |  Saturday August 6th from 9am - 8pm  |  Sunday August 7th from 9am - 5pm  

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR  

Arica has been a pet photographer for 16 yrs with experience and success owning both a luxury retail storefront and a traveling mobile business.  Arica holds her Photographic Craftsmans Degree (Cr.Photog.) and has been a part of the speaker lineup at PPA's National Convention ImagingUSA in 2020, 2021 & 2022.

PRICING

Tuition $1,275

Tuition for this event is 

Tuition $1,275

Tuition for this event is $1,275 per person and includes 3 full days of shooting, editing, discussing and learning about the art and business of pet photography with Arica Dorff.

Tuition $1,275

TUITION $1,200

Tuition includes:

  • 3 full days of shooting, editing, discussing and learning about the art and business of pet photography with Arica Dorff.
  • Coffee, Tea, Drinks, Snacks, Wine & Hors d'oeuvres throughout the retreat.
  • USB jump drive with Arica's custom client email messages, Product Menu, Pre-Session Questionnaire, Photoshop retouching videos and more.
  • Over-the-phone mentoring session with Arica 1-2 weeks after the retreat to recap, review, clarify and ask any additional questions you may have.

FAQs

Do I have to be a pet photographer to attend?

Photographers from all specialties are welcome.  Whether you specialize in pet photography or want to incorporate pets into your current business, you'll learn tips & tricks (and dos & donts) for working with animals and guiding owners.  Everything you learn about workflow, marketing, pricing, etc can be applied to any photography niche with a boutique business model.  

What airport do I fly into? 

Out of state photographers can fly into Sacramento International Airport (SAC) which is about 40 miles from the ranch house in Placerville, CA.  I am happy to share contact information with those of you who are interested in carpooling with fellow retreat photographers.  

What day should I arrive and depart?

The optional Meet & Greet on Thursday August 4th is at 6pm.  The retreat ends on Sunday August 7th at 5pm so you can depart on Sunday evening or the following morning Monday August 8th. 

Where is the best place to stay? 

There are a variety of Hotels, Inns and Bed & Breakfast options near the town of Placerville.  Once you reserve your spot in the retreat, I'll send over the exact address for the ranch house where the retreat is taking place.  There are 3 additional guest bedrooms in the ranch house (where Arica is staying) that are available to rent on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Email arica@aricadorff.com to request guest room details!

What should my skill level be?

To get the most out of our live shoots and working with strobe lights, you should be able to operate your camera on manual mode and be comfortable with adjusting your shutter speed, aperture and ISO.   

WHAT TO BRING  

  • A positive attitude, good energy and good vibes!
  • Camera - with memory card and charged battery.
  • Short Lens & Long Lens.  I shoot with a 24-70mm & 70-200mm but any lenses with the ability to shoot in the 50mm range (for posed portraits) and 100mm range (for outdoor candid portraits) will work great. 
  • Laptop optional for downloading model images and retouching.   
  • Extension Cord & Power Strip optional - if you plan to use your laptop throughout the retreat.
  • I do all of my retouching in Photoshop CC.  The main tools I use are Clone, Patch, Marquee, Spot Healing Brush and Layer Masks.  An older version of Photoshop is fine as long as you have these tools and options.  
  • I do all of my Ordering Sessions with ProSelect.  You can download a free 30 day trial at www.timeexposure.com.  I suggest waiting to download your 30 day free trial until right before the retreat. 
  • The ranch house kitchen is all yours if you want to stay on the property and prepare your own meals during your breaks.
  • A ukulele... A guitar...  Jam Session anyone?  (Free mini beginner ukulele lessons included!)

The Meet & Greet, all portrait sessions, "classroom" time and after-class unwinding time are taking place at a beautiful ranch home on a 20-acre property in Placerville, CA (about 40 miles east of Sacramento).  The home is surrounded by orchards and wide open farmland.  This retreat is your safe haven for relaxation, personal growth and building self-confidence as a photographer and business owner.  During our daily breaks, you'll have free time to journal, read, utilize the kitchen, review your class notes, enjoy a relaxing stroll through the orchards or take a dip in the pool. 

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

  • Wine & Hors d'oeuvres at the Meet & Greet the evening before the retreat starts.

  • Coffee, tea, drinks and snacks throughout the retreat.

  • 3 full days of pet photography business chats and hands-on live shooting indoors and outdoors.

  • Breaks during the day to journal, read, utilize the kitchen, review your class notes, enjoy a relaxing stroll through the orchards or take a dip in the pool.

  • Unwind after class each day with a glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres.  

  • Over-the-phone mentoring session with Arica 1-2 weeks after the retreat to recap, review, clarify and ask any additional questions you may have.

Payment Plans available if you would like to split your tuition into multiple charges.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN  

  • We'll be shooting a variety of outdoor portrait sessions with families, pets and owners
  • Finding pockets of "magic light" to shoot in
  • Mini studio lighting lesson for in-home portrait sessions
  • Off camera flash.  Balancing ambient light and strobe lights outdoors.
  • The psychology of working with pets and their owners
  • Attention getting tricks to get perky ears for the camera
  • How to nail action shots
  • Daily image reviews 
  • Photoshop retouching, head-swaps and leash removal techniques 
  • Pricing, managing your money and running a profitable business 
  • How to conduct remote Ordering Sessions 
  • Relationship marketing that creates lifelong clients and cheerleaders for your business
  • Giving your clients a high-end experience as a brick and mortar, home studio or mobile business
  • Base your business model on the lifestyle you want to live!  Let's talk about your goals and your "why". 
  • Over-the-phone mentoring session with Arica 1-2 weeks after the retreat to recap, review, clarify and ask any additional questions you may have.
  • My vision for this retreat is for you to gain the knowledge and self-confidence to pose pets with their owners, capture beautiful images in a variety of different lighting scenarios, charge the prices you're worth (and the prices necessary to run a profitable business) and create a plan to move forward with your photography business goals.

Ranch House

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

  • Transportation
    • The closest major airport is Sacramento International Airport (SAC) which is about 40 miles away from the ranch house in Placerville, CA.  I am happy to share contact information with those of you who are interested in carpooling with fellow retreat photographers.
  • Lodging
    • There are a variety of Hotels, Inns and Bed & Breakfast options near the town of Placerville.  There are 3 additional guest bedrooms in the ranch house (where Arica is staying) that are available to rent on a first-come-first-serve basis (UPDATE: All 3 guest rooms at the Ranch House have been booked).  
  • Meals
    • Each day you will have breaks to fit in snacks, meals and downtime.  You can head to downtown Placerville for meals with your fellow retreat photographers.  You also have the option to utilize the ranch house kitchen if you want to stay on the property and prepare your own meals during your breaks.

Arica Dorff

REGISTRATION

Email me at arica@aricadorff.com if you have any questions.  Submit your application by visiting the link below.  

PRICING

Education, Relaxation & Wagging Tails

Guest Rooms for Rent

Master King with Private Bath

Queen Guest Room 1

Queen Guest Room 2

"Whether you’re just getting into pet photography or you’ve been at it for a while, this retreat is for you.  You won’t regret it."  - Ann Wagaman (Southeast Minnesota)

"Arica is an amazing instructor. She is calm, knowledgeable and passionate. She personally evaluates you as you shoot and helps you tweak your technique right on the spot.  My biggest fear was not knowing how to control the dogs and take a photo at the same time.  Arica showed us several different methods to do just that and Voila! Success!  I am also a better business person because of her instruction with Profit First! I now know where all of my money is going and I can budget and plan accordingly!"  - Dana Niemeier (Melbourne, FL)

Testimonials

"My biggest fear before going to Arica’s retreat was that I was too much of a novice to attend…Arica was so patient and helpful. It was life changing for me. Being able to photograph pets learning Arica’s tried and true method was magical... If you are considering attending anything Arica does, just go. It will be presented at the highest level with every attention to detail thought through. You will not be disappointed."  - Cheri Alguire 

UPDATE: All 3 guest rooms at the Ranch House have been booked.

"I have been shooting for over 20 years and have taken more photography classes than I can count. Arica's pet photography retreat far exceeded my expectations. I have never taken a class from an instructor that is as willing as Arica is to give you every bit of information possible to help you be successful. She peels back the onion on the business, teaches you ALL the tricks of the trade, and sets you up to be successful right out of the gate. She doesn't hold anything back. Her retreat was by far the best photography investment I have ever made. Within just a couple of weeks after taking her course, I was doing professional pet photography creative sessions with clients. " - Mark Vesterby Photography (Coeur d'Alene, ID)

"Arica's pet photography retreat was incredible from the second it began through the final moments on the last day.  Interspersed with rock solid presentations, we had multiple hands-on portrait sessions with a variety of dogs and their owners. We were given different responsibilities for each session so that we could think and work through the step-by-step details necessary to produce photographs that clients would want to own. Arica helped us with everything involving pet photography, working with clients and their pets, camera settings, image editing, business practices, and so much more.  I know I am a stronger photographer after attending her retreat."  - Diana Elledge (San Diego, CA)