An out-of-this-world pet photography retreat

Barklander will be held on the shores of Loch Tay in Scotland, about halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow, set against the dramatic Scottish highlands. Together, we will dive into all aspects of pet photography and the business of running a successful studio, all while making new lifelong friendships.  Barklander is led by three world-renowned teachers and successful pet photographers.

Registration includes

  • Six nights of accommodation with magnificent views over Loch Tay and the highlands, including a hot tub perfect for the cool evenings.
  • All meals throughout the workshop, dietary needs accommodated on request. The only meal on your own is our free night dinner mid-week.
  • All transportation during the event.  Attendees will be responsible for their transportation to Scotland, as well as their transportation to and from the house. We can assist in making transportation arrangements.  The closest airports are Edinburgh (EDI) and Glasgow (GLA) – both 1.5 hours from our accommodation.
  • Five full days of learning about the art and business of pet photography.
  • One free afternoon mid-week to experience the surrounding highlands or relax at the home.  Explore the countryside on horseback? Go whisky tasting? Hike or bike through the scenic mountain trails?  Or just have a self-care day in the spa and by the fireplace?  The choice is yours!
  • Group learning as well as individual attention throughout the week.
  • A private Facebook group for continued support from the instructors.
  • Your Barklander T-shirt and notebook.
  • A USB drive “stick of knowledge” filled with oodles of information and resources.

What will you learn?

Shooting

During the retreat, we’ll have four incredible natural light shoots in four amazing locations in the surrounding Scotland Highlands. We’ll find the best light, select the optimal settings and creatively compose to create expressive portraits in epic landscapes. We’ll be shooting in small groups and you’ll have a variety of dogs to work with over the course of the shoots, all while receiving helpful advice and assistance from the instructors. Create drool worthy portfolio shots in an out-of-this-world setting!

Editing

After each shoot you’ll have the opportunity to edit and then share your images with the group. Feedback has shown this is a super valuable process for everyone involved! In our group editing sessions, you’ll learn valuable new post processing techniques – many of them specific to pet photography – in both Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. Everything you learn from our super knowledgeable and experienced instructors will help you become more effective and efficient with your workflow, editing and post production. 

Business

In our business sessions we focus on individualised, hands-on assistance to help grow your business. We cover pricing and sales and dive into how to structure and streamline your business practices to make your business better organised. Social media and the importance of creating genuine, authentic content is a valuable marketing technique we explore. We can also take a look over your current portfolio and website and help you polish up any existing marketing and promotion you’re currently doing, to get your business on track and profitable!