
Held at Foxglove, a 200 year old original farm house situated on 70 acres of beautiful rolling hills just outside of Orangeville, Ontario, participants will experience true farm life in style. This workshop will be 4 days of intense video and photography study where you’ll learn mise-en-scène; composition, styling, angles, props, lighting, sound, and editing (Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere Pro). And of course some guidance to help discover your visual voice.
Retreat will be fully catered using local fare with dinners al fresco along a tree lined path whilst listening to our very own baroque cellist at sunset. Fine dining in our own private room at Keith Froggett’s Greystones Restaurant and wine tastings with lunch at a local vineyard.
Couple options. Stay at the farmhouse or commute. (located about 1 hour outside of Toronto). Limited spaces.
Paragraph I wrote to announce the last workshop…My sentiments have not changed.
Photography in its purest form is a documentation of a moment, an essence, a memory, a vision, a soul. It’s one of the strongest mediums to tell a story, and in recent years, it has become the most accessible and democratic form of art and expression. Today, particularly through social media we are overwhelmed with visual diaries. Windows into the souls of our friends, celebrities and even pets. This was not the case 25 years ago when smartphones didn’t exist. Photography was different. Every frame mattered in an age when camera live views didn’t exist and film rolls were expensive to develop.
During this workshop, we will go back to the way we photographed. With meaning, intention and purpose. To photograph the soul of ones subject as if it were one’s own through today’s looking glass; the camera.

Schedule Summary
Thursday July 14th 6:30 PM – 9 PM
***Those arriving from out of town are welcome to come to the farmhouse anytime after 4:30 PM***
Cocktails, dinner, introductions, schedule review, setting goals.
Photography/Editing: (1.5 days)
- Hands on style sessions on styling/creating a still life scene with local produce, food, and foraged botanicals
- How to create the dramatic technique, ‘chiaroscuro’, the use of strong contrasts between light and dark in photography.
- Followed by an in-depth session on editing in a painterly style in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
Video/Editing: (2 days)
- Fundamentals on how to shoot video with your camera – settings for cinematic, slow motion, footage etc
- How to create a striking and emotive story under 1 minute via use of light, props, angles, speed and composition.
- Film a short video and learn how to edit both video and sound on Adobe Premiere Pro
- Gimbals and stabilizers will be available
Friday July 15th 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
-Finding your VOICE
-Gear & the basics of filming VIDEO
-Hands on Photography/Video style session and shoot with still life (video/photography combo optional)
-Floral garlanding and centrepiece demo
-Baroque Cellist Felix Deak will perform during cocktail hour. See below for bio.
-Dinner al fresco
Saturday July 16th 9:00 AM- 9:00 PM
-Premiere Pro video editing
-1:1 Sessions
-Still life and cocktail styling session
-editing tutorial Adobe Lightroom Classic
-Dinner at Greystones Restaurant
Sunday July 17th 9:00 AM – 9:00 AM
-business/social media
-1:1 portfolio consultation
-wine tour and lunch
-editing pics and/or video
-video screening of participants work
Detailed schedule available upon request and booking.
Excursions:
-Wine tasting tour at Adamo Vineyards.
-Fine dining experience in a private room at beautiful Greystones Restaurant (owned by Keith Froggett, chef at the legendary institution Scaramouche in Toronto)
-Shelly Perry one of the partners from Valley of Mother Of God Gin shaking up some cocktails.
-All meals will be catered
Meals/Drinks:
Snacks, beverages, and all meals will be served (3-4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners and endless snacks and drinks) for all participants, those commuting and staying overnight.
DATE: Thursday July 14th 6:00 PM to Sunday July 17th 9:30 PM 2022 with option to stay until Monday July 18th 10:00 AM
Cost:
$2500 Canadian + HST NO overnight accommodations but all meals/refreshments included (located 1.5 hour outside Toronto)
(Those not staying overnight are welcome to stay at the farmhouse until 9PM in the evening)
$3500 Canadian + HST Accommodations and meals/refreshments included
Included: Includes all materials, meals and refreshments.
Not included: Travel to Ontario, Canada
Spaces available: 7-9
Who should attend?
This program is ideal for photographers/videographers, bloggers, social media influencers/content creators, food/floral stylists, food industry specialists such as restaurant owners, and portrait photographers and those interested in photography and/or styling your food, flowers or subject with an edge. Some basic knowledge of how to use a camera is recommended to attend this workshop. However all levels of photographers are welcome.
BRING: Laptop with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC, Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro 2021 installed, any type of digital camera with memory card(s) and fully charged battery, charger, and any special props you’d like to use. However I will have some props, tripods, gimbals, stabilizers and C stand available.
Please email: contact@stemsandforks.com for more information or to register.
Terms & Conditions:
Bookings are non-refundable unless you are able to find someone to take your place.
Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the facilitator.
In the event (Ontario) government issues a provincewide Stay-At-Home order that requires everyone to remain at home due to COVID-19, we will notify you as soon as possible. You may have the option of a full refund – or credit applied to the next workshop/retreat.
Beginning March 1, 2022, in-person events will be permitted up to 100% capacity and there is no general requirement for participants to have received a COVID-19 vaccination. Every effort will be made to sanitize high traffic areas multiple times throughout the day.
For more information or to register email: contact@stemsandforks.com
See you there.










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