4-Day Portrait Photography Retreat

Join us for an immersive 4-day experience focused on portrait, fashion, and creative storytelling photography.

Set in vibrant Puerto Vallarta, you’ll learn to direct models, capture emotion and style, and elevate your editing workflow with Lightroom and Photoshop. Each session is hands-on and guided by professional instruction with live models and real-world scenarios.

Course Itinerary

Tuesday, April 7
Morning:

Welcome Breakfast; Start your retreat with a relaxed breakfast at The Pancake House, a famous staple here in Vallarta! We will get to know each other as well as some of the models we will be working with over the course of the retreat.

Natural Light Portraiture — Romantic Zone
In this course we will cover the basics of composition and posing your models; understanding how to make your subjects comfortable is key! Learn how to master flattering portraits using reflectors, diffusers, and available light in one of Vallarta’s most colorful neighborhoods.

Afternoon: Lightroom for Portrait Photographers
Learn to build your editing workflow and develop a consistent portrait style. We’ll make sure everyone has an understanding of Lightroom and how to use presets and adjustments to develop your own portraiture style.

Wednesday, April 8
Morning: Off-Camera Flash —Centro
Learn how to mix ambient and artificial light for striking results. Practice more posing, directing, and lighting your subjects with speedlights and modifiers in urban backdrops and side streets while exploring Centro and Gringo Gulch.

Evening: Sunset Flash Portraits — Playa Conchas Chinas
Blend natural light with flash for breathtaking golden hour portraits on the beach. You’ll explore creative lighting setups and use off-camera flash for dynamic, fashion-inspired imagery.

Thursday, April 9
Morning: Día de los Muertos Portraits — Catrina Models on Location
When in Mexico! It may not actually be Dia De Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead, but we can easily capture the iconic beauty of Mexico’s cultural artistry with live Catrina models. Learn to photograph makeup, costumes, and emotion while storytelling through detail and composition.

Afternoon: Photoshop for Portraits & Retouching Techniques
Learn how to utilize the majority of the tools inn photoshop, master using layers and masks to enhance your photos. We will cover skin retouching, removing distractions, adjusting color balance and exposures and even creating compositions. We will have the opportunity to practice retouching your favorite images from the course so far.

Friday, April 10
Morning: Fashion Photography

You've already learned to capture portraits of people but now we'll work on higher end editorial and fashion photography. We will go over dramatic posing nankin you will get to style your model and create your own vision.

Self-Portraiture Workshop
After the fashion workshop we will go over some tips and techniques for creating self portraits; you will then have several hours to shoot your own portrait in your choice of location. Challenge yourself to create something meaningful that really represents who you are.

Evening: Group Critique & Farewell Dinner
We’ll gather for an intimate dinner to share our favorite images from the week. Celebrate your creative growth, receive constructive feedback, and connect one last time before heading home.

💻 What’s Included

• 20+ hours of guided instruction & hands-on practice
• Model and location fees
• Welcome Breakfast and Farewell Dinner
• Lightroom and Photoshop training sessions
• Access to private alumni group and continued support

Who It’s For:

Perfect for photographers who want to elevate their portrait and fashion work — from emerging professionals to hobbyists ready to refine their creative voice. You’ll leave with a strong portfolio, new techniques, and confidence to direct models and tell visual stories that stand out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What skill level is this workshop for? We welcome all skill levels in this workshop! Each lesson will begin with a group instruction; however, while we are shooting, individual instruction will be offered to each student. During this one-on-one time, students will be provided with tips that will suit their needs. From those just picking up a camera to budding professionals, we are happy to help everyone improve their images and offer stunning scenes to add to your portfolio.

Are phones or point-and-shoot cameras allowed to join? Yes, absolutely! Similar to skill levels, any and all camera types are able to take away wonderful images during the workshop. With lessons on lighting, composition, and basic photography knowledge, even camera phone shooters will love and benefit from this workshop!

What gear should I bring? We want you to be able to maximize your photographic experience without overloading your luggage. Upon registering for the course, you will receive a recommended equipment list as well as some travel and safety tips. Whenever possible, we will provide guests with non-camera-specific accessories, but supplies are limited! We are also able to rent gear from local businesses on your behalf for an additional fee.

Do I need to bring a computer? For our Lightroom and Photoshop Courses, we do recommend that you bring your laptop with the programs already installed in order to fully participate and practice using those programs. However, it is not uncommon in our courses for students to simply follow along and take notes. We want to cater to your unique learning style, so please do what makes you comfortable.

*Lodging and transportation are not included, but please let us help you find accommodations! We have lots of local recommendations.

Investment

$999 USD per person

• $300 deposit to reserve your spot (refundable until April 1st, 2026)
• Balance due by April 5th, 2026
• Early bird rate ($899) available until February 15

Included in the Workshop fees are over 20 hours of instruction via group demonstration or lecture, one-on-one attention, and class critique. Students will also receive handouts for each course, travel and safety tips, and recommendations for your visit to Puerto Vallarta. After the Workshop, you will be invited to join a Facebook group of other Nomad Family Students in which you can participate in our themed challenges and ask or offer advice.

🌴 Join Us

Spend your spring in Vallarta and learn how to create and capture the best portraits. Leave Mexico with an incredible portfolio, new friends and photography techniques you can use anywhere in the world.

📩 Reserve your spot now — limited to 12 photographers.