Loire Valley, France – Vineyards, Villages and Chateaux
7 days, 6 Nights 8-12 Guests From $3450 See Tour Dates
A subtle and peaceful light bathes the vineyards and grand chateaux along the Loire River in central France. In addition to delicious landscapes, we’ll explore French village life, windmills and the magnificent castles that dot the historic King’s Valley Route.
We’ll be savoring the local culinary specialties and famous wines of the Loire. Loire native Marie DeForge Heiss is our host and trip manager, along with her painter-husband rod Heiss. They will share with us hidden places, local markets, and waterfront views difficult to find otherwise.
Randy Collier, Master Photographer, Cr. will be the instructor for this tour. Randy, co-owner of EarthLight Gallery in Park City , UT has over 35 years experience as a professional photographer and has instructed many Italy Workshops events. His kind, patient method of teaching and his deep knowledge of photography always draw rave reviews and returning guests.
Pre-Workshop: Arrive Paris airport and take train directly from CDG airport to Angers France, ( 2.5 hours) (Or visit Paris for a few days before heading to Angers)
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Check in at the Best Western Hotel Anjou (1 night). Join the group for a walking tour of Angers and crepes in the historic center.
Our first evening we’ll concentrate on photographing street scenes and creating architectural “still life” images in old town.
B/L
Day 2
10:00am Load up and travel in mini-vans.
Stop along the way at one of the charming villages in the valley, St Rémy-La-Varenne Prieuré & Cunault Church.
Check in at Domaine de Mestré, our charming 14th century country inn (5 nights).
Pay an evening visit to world famous Fontevraud Abbey.
B
Day 3
Breakfast at the Inn.
Workshop orientation in the living room.
A relaxed drive to the riverside town of Saumur with its imposing castle.
Step back in history in the remarkable Champigny troglodyte caves.
Vineyard visits along the way to photograph and taste.
Sunset at Parnay Church with a tailgate gourmet picnic.
B/D
Day 4
Begin the day with a sunrise shoot at St Pierre-en-Vaux country church and cemetery.
Continue with visits to tiny Prieuré Church and the pre-historic Dolmen at La Bajoulière.
Have lunch in the caves of Rou Marson, tasting the fire-baked specialties there.
Explore more hobbit-style houses and famous cave/cellars of Loire Valley.
Last-light finds us at the windmill, Moulin de Gouré or Louresse-Rochemenier.
B/L
Day 5
Breakfast at the Inn.
Image Review in the living room, everyone sharing some favorite images.
Visit Candes-Saint-Martin Village with it’s fantastic cathedral set in a charming little village.
Picnic lunch at Montsoreaux Village and Castle.
Stop to photograph a windmill set in a quiet vineyard: Moulin de la Herpinière
Chinon Village / Fortress.
Evening shoot of Fortress/Landscape from across the River.
B/L
Day 6
Breakfast at the Inn.
In our workshop tradition, we’re keeping this morning open so the group can decide whether to revisit a location, explore a new one or simply relax and the farmhouse and do some editing.
In the evening, we’ve arranged for a private dusk-shoot at Chateau Chenonceau, a rare treat without the tourist crowds.
B
Day 7
Breakfast at the Inn.
Workshop Wrap-up in the living room at the Inn and slideshow.
Check out and meander back through this serene countryside toward Angers.
We’ll find a village for lunch along the way.
Arrive at the Angers Station by 3:00pm where we can help you find the train you need.
Au revoir!
B
The Workshop
Our curriculum been tweaked and pruned over over 18 years to offer you only the essential tools you need. We recognize that we only have a week with you… no time to impress you with our expertise or bore you with technical trivia.
Workshop Sessions
Classroom time (one hour sessions) is devoted to reviewing your daily images on screen and offering helpful suggestions. In the field, our discussions center around better composition and finding great light. And of course, answering your technical questions and helping master your own equipment.
Workshop Leader
Drake Busath, the originator of Italy Workshops, has 30 years experience living and traveling in Italy. Drake speaks Italian and has guided hundreds of photographers of every skill level to favorite regions all over Italy.
He will share what he’s learned over 35 years photographing Italy and encourage you to identify and develop your own personal style while in Italy. More about Drake
Staff
Trip Manager
A trip manager accompanies each group with 8 guests or more. This person anticipates all our travel needs as a group – restaurant reservations, ferry tickets, gelato, snacks for your room, etc.
An experienced trip manager allows the instructor to instruct full time instead of chasing down logistics. This is your guarantee of a safe and smooth week of learning.
Special Guest Instructor
We make it a point to invite friends with special talents as guests on the workshops, so you never know who you’ll be rubbing shoulders with.
World-class photographers who have joined us include landscape specialist and gallery owner Randy Collier, portraitists Michael Taylor and Tim Walden, editing software guru Kevin Kubota, landscape and wildlife expert Dennis Hammon, editorial photographer Jeff Allred, night-scape specialist Royce Bair, Italian pro Luigi Barbano and writer Dr Ray Ownbey.
Ask if there will be a special guest attending your workshop.
Office and Registration
Italy Workshops offices are located in Salt Lake City, UT in the historic downtown mansion of Busath Studio & Gardens. Please feel free to stop in and visit.
We are open and reachable by phone Tues-Friday 10AM to 6PM MST. 801-364-6645
Sheryl Bird handles all registrations from her office in Boston, MA. Sheryl is reachable by email at info@italyworkshops.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What Type of Camera Should I Bring?
Any camera is acceptable, including smart phones. Automation for the beginner can make the trip fun and stress-free and at times increase creativity.
Should I Bring a Computer
Participants who are very comfortable with their computer are encouraged to bring it along. Editing your images during the week can enhance your learning experience. We currently use Adobe Lightroom CC for our on-screen reviews sessions. You will learn new LR editing methods and workflow shortcuts during calcite reviews and critique. Even if you’ve used Lightroom, we highly recommend brushing up before the workshop by watching the free tutorials available on Adobe.com.
If you are not fluent downloading and managing digital images, you might consider leaving the computer behind and just focusing on camera work. You can still submit images daily for review, and perhaps find more time to learn about your camera and develop a discerning eye. (Not to mention sleep happily while others are editing into the night)
Observer Participants may be beginner photographers, attending all instruction and field trips, but not required to submit photos for critique. This is a fun way to learn without pressure. You’ll still photograph the same things and we’ll still want to review your work on the back of your camera and offer individual instruction in the field.
All Skill Levels Are Welcome
Beginner and Intermediate Photographers
We enjoy helping you master those buttons and menus on your camera! Short, daily field lessons will tackle one technique at time. Further individual attention in the field helps you lock in the concepts.
Any camera is welcome (yes, even smart phones!)
Non-photographer partners are welcome to sit in on all discussions and participate at their own level of interest. (Beginners tend to make some of the best images we see!)
Advanced Photographers
As an advanced photographer you’ll be encouraged to:
- Build your portfolio, adding strong images every single day of the trip.
- Focus on style development, lighting and composition.
- Work in “concentrations” to produce a collection of work suitable for a gallery showing or book project.
You will return home with a body of work suitable for a gallery showing or book project that will express your personal style, as opposed to a random collection of travel photos.
Loire Valley Photo Workshop Reviews
Loire Valley Photo Workshop Dates
Loire Valley, France | Sept 27 – Oct 2, 2018
Arrive: Sept 27th – Angers, France*
Depart: Oct 2nd – Angers, France
Tour Group Size: 6-12 People
Price
$3450 / Shared Room
* These trip starts and ends in Angers, France. You can arrive in any major French city, but Paris is recommended.
Included:
Travel
Ground travel by minivan included. Starting from and returning to Angers, France.
Hotels
5 nights accommodations at Domaine de Mestré.
1 night accommodation at Best Western Hotel Anjou
Meals
All breakfasts, lunch or dinner 5 days
Workshop
Workshop tuition, including instruction in the field throughout the week and on-screen review where allowed by time and hotel space.
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Trip insurance (recommended)
*Also not included are crowds of tourists, slow moving tour guides and lectures on the history of plague 🙂
Payment Schedule
- A reservation fee of $500 will hold your spot
- 50% of balance is due 120 days prior to your workshop
- The balance of payment is due 60 days prior to your workshop
Rooms
We use hotels rated 3 or 4 stars, always with private bath. Rooms are assigned in order of reservations received, so early signup is recommended. Ask about premium rooms, at some workshop locations for an additional supplement charge.
Single Supplements
Fees are based on double occupancy. Single supplement may be added for participants who wish to have a private room to themselves. Supplements vary depending on the hotels used. If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room with another participant, please let us know and we’ll do our best to match you with a roommate.
Cancellation fee schedule
- There is no charge for cancellation within ten days of booking your workshop.
- After ten days, reservation fees are non-refundable but may be applied to a future workshop event.
- Cancellations less than 90 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 25% of the total workshop cost.
- Cancellations less than 45 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the total workshop cost.
- Cancellations less than 15 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 75% of the total workshop cost.
- No partial refunds will be given for unused portions of a workshop.
We highly recommend that all workshop participants purchase trip cancellation insurance independently.
Cancelled Workshops
Italy Workshops reserves the right to cancel any trip for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient signup, logistical problems that may impede a workshop, hotel closures or acts of God. (We have never yet had to cancel a workshop.)
Refund of all fees paid shall release Italy Workshops from any further liability. Italy Workshops is not responsible for any expenses incurred by workshop participants in preparing for a cancelled workshop. In the case of insufficient signup to make a workshop feasible, notice and refund will be sent 120 days prior to the workshop.
Photographic Release
Italy Workshops reserves the right to photograph and film its trips in entirety. Participants should be aware that images of them may be used for promotional purposes or joint marketing efforts with third parties, without renumeration.
Reserve Your Workshop Experience Today
Group sizes are extremely limited. Please reserve early.
You can reserve your spot by filling out the form below,
or by calling us at 801-364-6645
Reserve Your Tour
Comments (0)