The Roaming Vaquera Winter Retreat

THE 2026 WINTER WORKSHOP

For the first time, Roaming Vaquera is bringing photographers together for an intimate two-day retreat in Southern Alberta. Set against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, it’s a chance to step away from your usual routine and spend two days creating alongside a small group of photographers who are just as excited to learn as you are.

You’ll leave with new work for your portfolio and plenty to take back into your business, but just as importantly, you’ll have the space to reconnect with why you picked up your camera in the first place.

reserve your spot

more than just a workshop

TWO DAYS TO CREATE

For the first time, Roaming Vaquera Photography is bringing you a two-day photography retreat and our first-ever winter styled experience.

This retreat was created for photographers at any stage of their career. You might be building your portfolio for the first time, or you may already have an established style and be ready to see your work a little differently. You don’t need to be at a certain level to belong here.

Over two days, you’ll photograph four styled shoots along with one surprise creative session. Each has been planned to give you something different to work with while leaving room for you to experiment and create photographs that still feel like your own.

And this year, we’re going beyond what happens behind the camera. You’ll have dedicated time to learn about the business around your work and think about where you want to take it next.

everything waiting for you

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Four professionally styled shoots
One surprise creative session
Professional hair + makeup for all styled-shoot models
2 guest speaker sessions focused on building your business
Two learning sessions led by Mel and shaped by attendee questionnaires
Hands-on photography guidance throughout the retreat
Updated headshots photographed by Mel
Overnight accommodation at the Southern Alberta lodge
Option to add a second night for those travelling or wanting a longer stay
All meals throughout the retreat
A small-group environment with photographers at different stages of their careers

A small-group environment with photographers at different stages of their careers

Four professionally styled shoots

One surprise creative session

Professional hair + makeup for all styled-shoot models

Guest speaker sessions focused on building your business

Two learning sessions led by Mel and shaped by attendee questionnaires

Hands-on photography guidance throughout the retreat

Overnight accommodation at the Southern Alberta lodge

Option to add a second night for those travelling or wanting a longer stay

All meals throughout the retreat

Something to Take Back to Your Business, Too

BEYOND THE SHOOTS

**Guest speakers and the full retreat schedule will be announced closer to the event.
The 2026 retreat is expanding beyond photography with guest speakers joining us to talk about the business behind your work.

One session will explore how to make social media work harder for your business rather than simply becoming another thing you have to keep up with. Another will help you better understand where you fit within your niche and how you can build a presence that feels true to the photographer you want to become.

I’ll also be leading two additional sessions, but I’m leaving those topics in your hands. Before the retreat, you’ll complete a questionnaire about what you most want help with. I’ll use your answers to shape our time together so we can talk about the things that will actually be useful to you.

settle in and stay awhile

YOUR HOME FOR THE RETREAT

We’ll be staying together in a beautiful lodge tucked into the Southern Alberta landscape, giving us a place to spend time together beyond the scheduled shoots and learning sessions.

Your overnight stay and meals are included, so once you arrive you can settle in and be part of the experience without worrying about where you need to be next.

If you’re travelling from farther away or you simply want another night away, you’ll also have the option to extend your stay to two nights.

come at whatever stage you 're in

YOU’RE INVITED

You don’t need years of experience or a perfectly defined style to come to this retreat. You just need to be willing to learn and try something new.

There will be photographers at different stages in the room and that’s part of what makes an experience like this valuable. Come with the camera you know, questions you’ve been thinking about and an openness to seeing where two days of creating might take you.

investment: $1,500 CAD

December 5-6th, 2026 | Southern Alberta | limited spots

Your investment includes the full two-day Roaming Vaquera Photography Retreat, including your overnight stay and meals throughout the experience.

Spots are intentionally limited to keep the retreat personal. If this feels like something you want to be part of, I’d love to have you there.

reserve your spot

your place at the retreat

THE INVESTMENT

+ gst

only 2 spots remaining

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