2023 AZ Content Retreat Recap

2023 az content retreat + sash bash

Before we start advertising for the 2024 AZ Content Retreat + Sash Bash, I had better post this recap of the retreat from October 2023! This one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive retreat was hosted by Lauren Ann Photography (me!) and Jeni Jo Photography in coordination with Brittney Truman at the Arizona Retreat Center in Fort McDowell, AZ. While Jeni and I coordinated all the logistics of the photoshoots for our photographers (we had three other photographers from all over the world - one from Idaho, one from Texas, and one all the way from AUSTRALIA!), Brittney hosted and coordinated the logistics of the Sash Bash, a clinic for current and up-and-coming rodeo queens, which also included coaching and mentoring by the 2023 Miss Rodeo America, Kennadee Riggs, as well as others.

The retreat spanned over 4 days with 25 models and 6 shoots/locations of gorgeous models, both horse and human, from styled cowgirl portraits/headshots to horse and rider portraits to cowboy/cowgirl couples to amazing reining action shots and even black backgrounds! While the majority of our models were at the retreat center for the Sash Bash hosted by Brittney, we also had two couples (including my husband and myself) that we shot at the iconic Gunsight Pass, as well as with Horse and Rider Magazine's 2023 Trainer of the Year Linde von Koding (LvK Performance Horses) and two of her amazing reiners in Scottsdale. She was kind enough to let us borrow a couple other beautiful reiners for our models, Aubrey and Victoria. Our good friend and fellow photographer, Kirsten Ziegler, also modeled with her best boy, Martini. We are beyond thankful to all of our amazing and talented queens and riders who took time out of their busy lives to get in front of our cameras, as well as all of the behind-the-scenes people who helped prepare horses and coordinate. Without all of these people, our retreats like this would not be possible, nor successful!

Due to the huge success of the 2023 retreat and outpouring of interest for a retreat in 2024, WE ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING THE RETREAT FOR 2024! AHHHHH! If you are looking for a retreat with a vast amount of variety (enough to fill your entire portfolio!), learn from and network with other photographers, have experienced models in front of your camera, gain experience posing horses and their riders (one of my favorite things about this retreat was teaching how to "speed pose" due to the amount of models for a couple of the shoots), and also get a little R+R poolside at the gorgeous retreat center, then this retreat is definitely for YOU!

Want to see what other photographers had to say about our retreat? Click here to read more and sign up to be the first to know more!