NEWS!! SUMMER 2020
RETREAT POSTPONED DUE TO COVID 19
‘Storyteller’
June 17-21 2020, Lourmarin, Provence
Led by
Betty Binon Marnie Hawson Lynda Gardener Ali Heath
Hosted by Ruth Ribeaucourt
Food by Mapie Lamy Flowers by Laetitia C. of Fleurs d’Atelier
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
With Special Guests including
Valentina Solfrini Olivia Rubie
Aimee Twigger Kate Hill
UPDATE - RETREAT POSTPONED DUE TO COVID 19
Eleven leading female creatives from across the world will come together to create a very special edition of ‘Forage Feast Photography’ with a focus on both visual and written storytelling.
We have an exceptional team of creative mentors confirmed which includes Canadian photographer Betty Binon (of Stems & Forks); Australian photographer Marnie Hawson; Australian stylist Lynda Gardener and British writer Ali Heath.
Many of the details (especially the surprises, collaborations and special guests) will be announced as the weeks roll out but here are the details at a glance.
We will offer a five day all-inclusive retreat with a focus on storytelling through photography and creative writing, with the beautiful village of Lourmarin in Provence as our backdrop. As is tradition we also love to welcome special guests and friends to be a part of the magic and this year we will be joined by my friends, Aimee Twigger (Twigg Studios), Olivia Rubie (Adelaster Food Textures), Valentina Solfrini (Hortus) and Kate Hill.
Key workshops
Photography: shooting with meaning, intention and purpose led by Betty Binon of Stems & Forks
Photography: Visual storytelling through interior styling & photography with Marnie Hawson and Lynda Gardener
Storytelling: weaving your story into an original voice and gaining valuable exposure for your business led by Ali Heath.
....and....
‘Painterly editing ’ special masterclass for advanced Lightroom editing led by Valentina Solfrini
“A Bountiful Feast” market visit followed by classic French cookery class with author and cook Kate Hill
The heart of our retreat will be the ancient 18th Century Provençal Bastide, Le Galinier, with three hectares of olive groves, lavender fields and wild flowers to play in and a private swimming pool with the best view in the region. Le Galinier is at the heart of Lourmarin, one of the most beautiful villages in France, which is bustling with artists, restaurants and beautiful boutiques and every Friday it is host to one of the most famous farmers and artisanal markets in Provence.
French chef Mapie Lamy will be creating farm to table feasts, with picnics for lunch and candlelit alfresco dinners in the heart of an ancient farmhouse with foraged and wild flowers on the table.
Our goal is to create a very intimate, immersive and transformative experience which celebrates creativity, kinship, community, and collaboration…. and all the while shooting tons of photographs and having LOADS of fun!
Workshops will rotate in small groups (5 guests per group max) with plentiful practical workshop time PLUS creative business sessions about writing and editing content for editorial; the business of editorial photography; with discussions on how to weave your personal creative story into an original voice and harness the power of storytelling, across social media platforms and the press.
This retreat is perfect for anyone who is interested in creating lifestyle, interiors and food photography but also suitable for creatives with an interest in writing, travel and cooking. It is also for anyone who needs a creative kick, maybe you are finding yourself stuck in a creative rut or perhaps you want to start a new project or take off in a new direction?...
Many of us, mentors and team alike on this retreat, have hit a major career reset at some point, to feel and navigate our way towards more nourishing creative careers and we will lift, support and gently mentor you with a maximum amount of heart!
Ruth x
Photography by Betty Binon
RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS
Photography
Intimate, hands-on and in-depth practical and theoretical photography workshops led by Betty Binon, Marnie Hawson and stylist Lynda Gardener who will teach you how to create, style and shoot with natural light. They will take you through the basics of composition, angles, colour theory, and shooting with natural light.
Photographer Betty Binon of Stems & Forks will lead a photography and styling workshop which focuses on shooting with meaning, intention and purpose. An introspective session on creating subjective photographs with strong visual experiences. Betty will show the breakdown of a still life scene and share the importance of capturing a photograph that depicts both the soul of the subject and the photographer.
Create an interior shoot with Marnie Hawson and Lynda Gardener. This talented duo regularly collaborate together and have had their work published in many of the world's top interiors magazines (incl. Country Style, Conde Nast Traveller, Habitus, Green, Real Living, Gourmet Traveller, Home Beautiful, Australian House & Garden, Elle Decoration (UK), Homes & Garden (UK), Living Etc (UK), Harper’s Bazaar). They regularly collaborate with Ali Heath for publications in the UK, and Marnie is represented internationally by Living Inside agency in Milan.
This will be a very hands-on practical workshop, including working with a tripod and tethered shooting. As part of the workshop, each guest will get the chance to create their own styled interior under the guidance of Marnie and Lynda. The workshop will be driven by what participants want to learn about the world of interior styling and photography, and will also include:
‘The art of styling’ with Lynda Gardener, with an intimate discussion into everything from the preparatory process of interiors styling (including sourcing and choosing props) to styling with layers, art and textiles.
‘The business of photography’ Marnie Hawson will talk in depth about the business side of photography including working with clients, workflow and delivery, press and publications.
*Note: Betty, Marnie & Lynda will show you how they create a still life / interior shot and then it will be your turn to style and shoot your own set up with their guidance throughout the workshops.
Aimee Twigger will lead a demonstration during the retreat sharing her very unique and wonderful way of dreaming up and then creating a still life.
Editing
Our final afternoon will be dedicated to learning how to edit with Adobe Lightroom, during this workshop you will get the opportunity to ask questions as we edit our photographs together. We’ll sit down to do a collective lightroom editing session, where we’ll talk about the editing process and how you can develop your very own presets to get a unique and personal look to your photography.
Valentina Solfrini will lead a special workshop for experienced editors to share her very personal 'Painterly' form of editing with Lightroom
Creative Writing
Small group sessions with published writer Ali Heath who will lead an intimate workshop on the power of storytelling; steps to creating an inspiring brand; advice on writing and editing for editorial; and the importance of both written and visual standout across your social media platforms, with practical advice.
Insightful discussions on the world of magazine editorial: how to seek exposure and pitch your stories; how to cultivate links, relationships and collaborations; advice on what to be aware of; and how to keep your story current with the world media.
Feast
Wonderful cooking by French chef Mapie Lamy, who has a talent for cooking simple, delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes using only the freshest local, seasonal product and foraged finds. Mapie will prepare lush picnics for lunch and wonderful supper feasts every evening.
Special foraged feast prepared by cook and photographer Olivia Rubie of Adelaster Food Textures.
‘A Bountiful Feast’ market visit followed by classic French cookery class with author and cook Kate Hill
Local Harvests & Market Feast: Provence is incredibly bountiful in July and tasting the locally grown produce is like tasting sunshine itself. Sweet and unadulterated! Together we will harvest fresh fruit and vegetables to style, shoot and cook with, but we will also take some time to explore the local markets and create a photo story – a perfect place to photograph great characters.
Plus plus plus….
The Prop room aka the playroom. You’ll have a room filled with 18th & 19th Century textiles, linens, serveware, glassware and treasures to pick and choose from for your photography workshops.
We will also have a carefully chosen selection of contemporary ceramics by local artists and French artisanal products to work with.
An unmissable visit to Ruth’s favourite best-kept-secret flea market* which is a fantastic source for props and where you will find antique linens, paper, pottery, antique cutlery and serve-ware, paintings and everything in between. (*different from previous retreats)
We will go to one of Provences most beautiful farmers markets which has an incomparable selection of fresh produce, handmade artisanal goods and gifts (linens, clothing). We’ll break bread under the shade of ancient oaks scented by the surrounding lavender fields ; explore a 15th century Hôtel Particulier turned artist atelier; feast on an abundance of fresh local product; meet unforgettable characters and forge friendships with like-minded creatives.
*Full schedule is below
Credit L-R; Ruth Ribeaucourt
Who Should Attend?
This retreat is designed for ALL LEVELS, from beginners to more experienced photographers, anyone who is interested in creating interiors, lifestyle and food photography but also suitable for creatives with an interest in travel photography, writing, cooking and travel.
It will be five days of eating well, connecting, learning and collaborating in an intimate, relaxed setting.
On our first afternoon together we will take the time to ensure everyone is comfortable with using their camera on manual mode. Our photography mentors, Marnie and Betty will lead a class to teach you about camera settings, how to approach lighting so that you can capture beautiful photos. As part of this initiating workshop, we will talk about the effects of internal camera settings such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO on your images.
The Mentors
Betty Binon
Photographer & Floral designer
I am so thrilled to have Betty join us for our summer 2020 gathering of Forage Feast Photography.
At the helm of the popular blog Stems & Forks, Betty Binon takes a refined approach to share her three passions in life: flowers, cooking, and photography. Based in Toronto, Canada, she has built a successful multi-faceted brand after nearly twenty years in the floral design business. She sold the thriving business in 2013 to embrace a balanced lifestyle with more family time and immersion in all things creative. Since the shift in career, Binon’s photography is highly sought-after by brands for her distinct style and authenticity, and her workshops sell out to prominent artists and content creators around the world. Just a few brands Binon freelances for include CBC, Kate Hudson’s King Street Vodka, Peroni Beer, and Paderno. Betty Binon has also been featured in numerous International publications, King Arthur Sift, Where Women Cook, Vogue Greece, Thrive Magazine, and Kids.
Discover more about Bettys work and aesthetic you can visit her instagram and her blog Stems and Forks
Marnie Hawson
Photographer
Marnie is a freelance photographer based in the Macedon Ranges, just outside of Melbourne, Australia. She specialises in interior, travel and lifestyle photography, with a commitment to working with people doing good in the world.
As a former environmental scientist, she is hardwired to tread lightly in everything she does. Today, that means that she only works with businesses which have an ethical and sustainable mindset, and a focus on conscious consumerism and fair trade.
Marnies work has been published in a number of print and online publications including Habitus, Country Style, Conde Nast Traveller, Real Living, Home Beautiful, Australian House & Garden, The Design Files, Openhouse, Green, Peppermint, Trouve, Broadsheet, Homelife, Good Weekend, Trust and Inside Out. She is represented internationally by Living Inside in Milan and has work published in Elle Decoration (UK), Homes & Garden (UK), Living Etc (UK), Harper’s Bazaar (Germany) amongst others.
Lynda Gardener
Stylist
Gatherer, Collector and Curator of Beautiful Things
Lynda Gardener is a Melbourne based stylist, decorator, retailer and all round creator of beautiful spaces. Lynda’s aesthetic is wielded through layers of rustic, antique and modern design details, creating the perfectly balanced blend of old and new. Her ability lies not only in her skill of searching for and bringing objects together in an aesthetically pleasing way, but in her signature style of creating tactile and emotive spaces.
Lynda began her professional design career styling commercial concept stores which eventually broadened into the world of her own independent retail ventures, owning and curating boutique accommodation and delving further into interior design. Along with her highly sought after decorating work, Lynda also currently owns and runs five boutique accommodation properties. Lynda’s properties and commissioned work have consistently been featured in a number of reputable national and international publications.
Discover more about Lyndas work via her instagram,
Ali Heath
Writer
Ali is a UK based freelance writer and stylist, who works with a group of exceptional photographers. She has spent the last 14 years sourcing and developing high quality concepts, visual content and copy for editorial home features, creative profiles, specialist maker features and lifestyle trend stories.
Ali began her professional career working in blue chip retail and brand marketing, before heading up new business for a below-the-line marketing agency. Stepping off the corporate ladder Ali set up her own antiques business, whilst also consulting interior clients. Working closely with interior magazines she developed a passion for writing and styling and that became her focus. At the core of Ali’s approach is an appreciation of brand, a love of interiors and a passion for the creative process: considered at every stage, via targeted storytelling, feature placement and collaborative consultancy.
She is regularly published in many prestigious titles, including: Livingetc, Homes & Gardens, Elle Decoration, Elle Decoration Country, House & Garden, Country Living, Modern Rustic, YOU Magazine and The Telegraph Magazine and syndicates internationally.
Mapie Lamy
Cooking with heart
So happy to have Mapie cook for us again - she won everyone over at our July 2019 retreat and we had to email her recipes to everyone!
Mapie grew up in the nearby village of Lourmarin, and lived in England for her teenage years where she developed her love for spices and vegetarian food. Later she returned to Provence and gained a reputation for being a very talented cook in her family’s famous table d’hote, Villa Saint Louis, where she would host dinner parties for guests and friends. Mapie went on to open and run a very successful restaurant for many years before choosing to focus on private catering. She is today the go-to private chef for very special events for the fashion and music industry where she shares her love of Mediterranean food.
« Mapie’s tagines, creme caramel and fennel salad have become part of a culinary reportoire where her authentic cuisine brings Sessùn friends together » Sessùn
Mapie’s mantra is “Spices, herbs and love” and she would rather describe herself as a ‘cuisiniere de fete’ than a Chef, loving to cook and share her passion for food with people around a special event that will talk to their hearts and souls.
For our Forage, Feast, Photography retreat she will revisit Provençal recipes using only the best of fresh, local ingredients.
Laetitia Vene
I met Laetitia serendipitously when she volunteered to help out at the January Instagram Art Auction for Australia and I just love the positive, calm energy that she brings to everything she does and am so excited that she will be a part of our team to share her passion for flowers.
Laetitias floral design studio is the realisation of a childhood dream. After a degree in History of Art followed by a few years working in England in the world of museums and heritage conservation, she settled for a while in New Zealand. It was in this beautiful country, where nature rules, that she trained as a florist.
As a child, she used to watch in wonder as her grand-mother, mother and aunts composed bouquets with flowers from their own gardens. Later, as a teenager, Laetitia often found herself standing, as if mesmerised, in front of florist shop windows. She was always tempted to get that little bit closer and try it out for herself; and so she found her calling.
Fast forward a few years, in 2003, she found her way back to France, where she settled in beautiful Provence, with a diploma in floristry and a deep passion for the plant world. She decided to turn her childhood dream into a reality; and she created l’atelier Laetitia C. Not a shop but a studio, where she loves to take her time to discuss floral dreams with her clients and future newlyweds.
To learn and explore more about Laetitia and her creative vision please visit her Instagram and her website here.
SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS…
Aimee Twigger
I had the absolute honour of collaborating with Aimee in January at our truffle-infused Forage Feast Photography winter 2019 gathering and again at our July 2019 gathering I have admired her beautiful, soulful style of photography for many years and truly I couldn’t have asked for a more generous photography mentor.
So I am genuinely thrilled to invite Aimee back again this summer as a special guest and an integral part of our team for this very special ‘Storyteller’ retreat.
Her passion for photography and cooking is utterly infectious and I know that you are going to LOVE Aimee!
To learn and explore more about Aimee Twigger and her creative vision please visit her Instagram and her website here.
Credit Linda Lomelino
Olivia Rubie
A photographer, cook, foraging queen, teacher, mentor, and coach, Olivia Rubie is a super woman and I am so honoured that she will be our special guest again this summer for Forage Feast Photography.
Olivia will be preparing a very special foraged feast for dinner one evening during our retreat.
You might know Olivia and her beautiful photography shared on her instagram Adelaster Food Textures and from the much loved creative workshops that she organises and hosts The Journey and Points North.
Olivia is very much about lifting up and supporting other creatives, creating and elaborating a bigger creative community and I just know you will love spending time with her in June.
Recently Olivia Rubie left Sydney and a successful career as a photographer behind in order to return to her native Swedish west coast. Back home she rediscovered her strong connection to nature, wild edible plants, creative dining experiences and workshops, thereby using her photographic skills based around these topics. Olivia lives outside Göteborg in the woods with her Australian husband and two small children. The couple spend their free time renovating an old wooden house and re-wilding their connected forest while lovingly nurturing a section to grow a lot of their own food and recreating a medieval herb garden.
Valentina Solfrini
I’m was incredibly lucky to have shared a week with Valentina when she came to mentor at our summer 2019 retreat and I loved watching her create so much beauty and share her knowledge with everyone.
Valentina is a gifted Italian photographer, passionate about travel and the author behind the two-time Saveur award-winning blog Hortus Cuisine, which was born out of her love for the Italian countryside, foraging and flowers.
I’m was incredibly lucky to have shared a week with Valentina when she came to mentor at our summer 2019 retreat and I loved watching her create so much beauty and share her knowledge with everyone.
Valentina will host a very special workshop on our last day for intermediate level lightroom editing, sharing her technique for ‘painterly’ editing techniques in post production.
Valentina’s work has been published throughout the world, in magazines and online in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, UK, Japan, Italy and Germany. Valentina is the author of ‘Naturally Vegetarian published by Penguin.
To learn and explore more of Valentina Solfrini and her creative vision please visit her Instagram and her website here.
Kate Hill
Author and professional cook and teacher
A published author and professional cook and teacher, mentor, coach, and fairy godmother, Kate Hill is a super woman and I am so honoured that Kate Hill will be our special guest again this summer for Forage Feast Photography.
After visiting Lourmarin’s famous weekly market to choose the best local seasonal ingredients, Kate will guide you through the simple tricks and techniques to celebrate the best of local produce and together we will prepare a fabulous French lunch.
Cooking became a daily act of immediate creativity for cook and author Kate Hill when she sailed into the Gascony region of Southwest France on her canal barge. Thirty years ago she tied up to an old stone and brick farmhouse called Camont and the rest is history. Hill slowly transformed the tumbled down ruin into a world-acclaimed culinary retreat where professional chefs, butchers, and home cooks alike have honed skills in rustic cooking of Gascony.
Thirty years ago she settled in her beautiful old home Camont alongside the Canal de Garonne after spotting the ruins from her Dutch canal barge, the Julia Hoyt. Camont soon became a lively homeport and its 300-year-old kitchen became the focus for hundreds of hungry friends and guests over the years.
Kate will guide you through the simple tricks and techniques to celebrate the best of local produce and together we will all prepare a fabulous French picnic lunch under Kates guidance for her ‘A Bountiful Feast’ market cookery class.
“I cook everyday. I buy food from the farmers and neighbors around me, mostly at the weekly village markets, where I also see my friends and meet them for coffee. The transformation of hard farming work into a magical meal is my superpower.
I wouldn't call cooking a passion. Rather it is an endless possible stream for creativity. Cooking is as important for me as writing. But looking, really looking, is imperative to both. The color of a ripe tomato is a good clue. Photography is yet another spoke of this turning wheel.
Loose and free, but based on hundreds of hour of practice and understanding the ingredients. Very French, of course, but with a strong nod to my own quick as lightening “Get it in the pan and let’s eat!” philosophy.”
To learn and explore more of Kate Hills creative vision please visit her Instagram and her website here.
Location & Accommodation
Our base for the retreat is Le Galinier, an 18th century Provençal bastide, beautifully restored with fourteen bedrooms divided within 4 buildings, and a vast three hectares of garden with our own private swimming pool.
Each individual building has a dedicated fully equipped kitchen and coffee machine for our guests to use.
All bed linen, towels and toiletries are provided.
Getting here
The nearest airport is Marseille (1hr 10 mins drive) and the nearest train station is Avignon Central (1hr 10 mins drive). An alternative route is to fly to Paris and then take the TGV train to Avignon TGV (3hrs direct).
As for the connection, we will be organising one group transfer from Avignon train station at 12 noon and a return transfer to arrive at Avignon train station for 18h00. Many of our French Muse guests choose to fly in the night before our retreats and spend a day exploring the vibrant city of Marseille, I have a list of my favourite Marseille spots which I can send to help you get the most of your stay.
Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line if you’d like help planning your trip as there is so much to see and do in this region.
Costs:
Double bedroom with ensuite bathroom (single occupancy) 4,250 euro SOLD OUT
Twin room (room with two single beds with ensuite bathroom) shared option. 3,650 euro ONLY ONE PLACE LEFT
*Note all prices are exclusive of VAT.
You can pay by either International bank transfer or paypal*.
A non refundable deposit of 50% is required to hold your place.
Should you wish to pay in two instalments please don’t hesitate to contact me.
There are only fourteen spots available.
What is Included:
Five days (Four nights) stay in the very beautiful village of Lourmarin
All of your meals (including refreshments / wine) for the duration of the retreat - including three very special supper feasts
All of the individual workshops and any necessary materials (except cameras which you must provide yourself)
Transport to and from Avignon Train station. One group transfer is organised.
Your transport to and from excursions and classes.
All towels, linens and toiletries provided.
Fully equipped kitchen in each individual house with Nespresso coffee machines.
What is not Included:
Your travel to and from Avignon train station to retreat.
Travel insurance (which we highly recommend you take out).
Our Schedule
Wednesday 17 June
13h00 Arrivals. Collections from Avignon TGV Train station
Here is the train option from Paris that works best!
10h19 Paris Gare de Lyon - Avignon TGV (arrives 12h55)
14h30 Arrive at the house in Lourmarin for a welcome cocktail with nibbles.
Photography Intro & Styling 101 with all of our teachers and team.
We will talk about :
Basic Camera Settings to capture beautiful photos, how to approach lighting, ideally getting everyone shooting on manual mode for the retreat. We’ll talk about the effects of internal camera settings such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO on your images.
Introduction to the process of visual storytelling through composition, lighting and styling.
Introduction to styling including sourcing and choosing props to sharing the tricks of the trade and talk to us about what is in their daily ‘kit - led by Lynda Gardener
Introduction to creative writing with Ali Heath.
18h00 Pre-dinner cocktail
19h30 Dinner at Le Galinier Bastide in Lourmarin
Thursday 18 June
8h00 Breakfast at the Bastide
8h30 Depart for Isle sur la Sorgue
Isle sur la Sorgue is a beautiful town, essentially an island on the River Sorgue. This small town saw its heyday in the fourteenth century when it was used as a retreat for the Papal entourage away from the heat of Avignon.
9h15 Visit atelier of painter Aurelie Alvarez, situated in a 15th century Hôtel Particuliere.
10h00 Private Appointment at one of my favourite off the beaten track antique textile emporium (amazing for props and linens etc)
12h00 Transfer to Lourmarin (47 mins)
13h00 Lunch Lourmarin
14h30 Rotating small group workshops
Workshop No 1: “Interiors” photography and styling with Marnie Hawson and Lynda Gardener
Workshop No. 2: Photography with Betty Binon. Learning to photograph with meaning, intention and purpose.
Workshop No. 3 With Ali Heath. Personal storytelling. Writing for editorial. Pitching to editors and publishers.
17h30 Free Time
Time to go for a dip in the pool / chill / shower before dinner.
19h00 Dinner at the Bastide : Special Foraged Feast with the wonderful Olivia Rubie as our guest chef.
Friday 19 June
9h00 Market day. explore the village of Lourmarin during market day
11h00 A Bountiful Feast’ - classic French cookery class with author and cook Kate Hill
12h45 Picnic in the grounds of the farm.
14h30 Rotating small group workshops
Workshop No 1: “Interiors” photography and styling with Marnie Hawson and Lynda Gardener
Workshop No. 2: Photography with Betty Binon. Learning to photograph with meaning, intention and purpose.
Workshop No. 3 With Ali Heath. Personal storytelling. Writing for editorial. Pitching to editors and publishers.
17h30 Free Time
Time to go for a dip in the pool / chill / shower before dinner
19h30 Dinner in Mapie Lamys beautiful family home Villa Saint Louis
Saturday 20 June
8h00 Breakfast
8h30 Depart for Villeneuve Les Avignon brocante (flea market) for prop sourcing.
9h30 Arrive Villeneuve Les Avignon
12h00 Lunch in Villeneuve les Avignon (1.5hr)
14h00 Depart for Menerbes
15h00 Secret afternoon excursion - plans will be unveiled very soon!
One on Ones for people that might need some help / advice
17h30 Free time to explore the village of Menerbes.
19h30 Our final soiree - details to be confirmed
Sunday 21 June
8h30 Breakfast at the Bastide
9h30 Rotating small group workshops
Workshop No 1: “Interiors” photography and styling with Marnie Hawson and Lynda Gardener
Workshop No. 2: Photography with Betty Binon. Learning to photograph with meaning, intention and purpose.
Workshop No. 3 With Ali Heath. Personal storytelling. Writing for editorial. Pitching to editors and publishers.
12h00 Lunch
14h30 Editing workshop at the Bastide.
We’ll sit down to do a collective lightroom editing session, where we’ll talk about the editing process and how you can develop your very own editing style to get a unique and personal look to your photography
Valentina Solfrini will lead a special workshop for experienced editors to share her very personal 'Painterly' form of editing with Lightroom
Q & A session with teachers
18h00 Return transfers for guests to Avignon train station. (1hr 20 minutes transfer)
(TGV train from Avignon TGV to Paris Gare de Lyon at 20h43, arrives Paris 23h23)
f.a.q
Costs:
Large double bedroom with ensuite bathroom (single occupancy) 4,250 euro ONE LEFT
A double bedroom with private bathroom (single occupancy) 4,000 euro SOLD OUT
Twin room (room with two single beds with ensuite bathroom) shared option. 3,650 euro ONE PLACE LEFT
*Note all prices are exclusive of VAT.
You can pay by either International bank transfer or paypal*.
A non refundable deposit of 50% is required to hold your place.
Should you wish to pay in two instalments please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Businesses not based in the European Union who incur VAT in connection with their activities in an EU country where they do not habitually supply goods/services (and so are not required to register for VAT) are entitled to deduct that VAT.
This ‘deduction’ is made by means of a refund from the EU country where they paid the VAT.
Payment Plan:
You can pay either by International Bank transfer.
Final payment is due by 15 April 2020 (8 weeks prior to retreat).
Cancellation Policy:
Unfortunately due to the nature of this retreat we are unable to offer refunds should you need to later cancel. If you wish to find a replacement then your place can go to them but we cannot refund any payments made. We will do our best to advertise and try and fill the place for you but cannot guarantee success in filling your place at late notice.
In the unlikely event that you might need assistance outside of what our team can provide, we really recommend you take out comprehensive travel insurance to ensure that you are covered fully for sickness, accident, or loss/damage of your personal property (cameras/laptops etc) during your trip. It is compulsory to have regular travel insurance if you are attending our retreats.
General Questions
We would advise you to bring your DSLR camera and/or Iphone to participate in workshops. If you wish to bring your tripod then great, we will have two Manfrotto tripods available for everyone to use/experiment with.
Software: We will email with a list of apps / helpful software closer to the date but it would be a good idea if you wish to learn editing to install Adobe Lightroom on your laptop to get the most out of our editing workshop.
Note: In the unfortunate event that a mentor is unable to attend, The French Muse will offer an alternative course of equal standard and quality.
For any other questions you might have don’t hesistate to drop me a line!
Here’s what our guests said about our
previous gatherings of Forage Feast Photography
*to visit our recap page just click here
“…pure magic. Total beauty and inspiration with the most incredible people with the most wonderful stories. Heart and soul filled 💛”
Credit: Nora Jaccaud
“Here is one happy fellow. I can’t begin to describe the joy I feel after last week. I cooked, I listened, I learnt, I created, I fell in love and I would do it all over again. Thank you #foragefeastphotography and thank you Ruth Ribeaucourt for making our Provence dreams come true.”
“I stumbled across the forage feast photography retreat when I was looking for a standard course on how to properly use my camera. I was on the fence, wondering if this course would be worth the investment, but decided to take part and make it a holiday in the Provence. This was absolutely the best decision I could have ever made.
This course has given me so much more than your basic camera knowledge. Ruth is a People lover and connector and understands the business side to creative work so well. It’s a very intimate retreat with highly professional teachers that you interact with on a very personal and lovely level. I have kept in touch with most of the women I have met and I am so grateful for this unforgettable experience.”
“A food and styling workshop deep in the heart of Provence in winter, as soon as I read about it I knew I had to go…
Food is a big part of my travels these days, and I’ve been hoping to feel more inspired with my photography and to learn more about style and design, something I love but don’t really know how to do well. Honestly, it’s such an art. I’d been feeling so creatively bored for a long time, I needed to feel inspired again. Boom, I signed up. And then my world just started to fall to pieces, week by week until the time I arrived in France a few months later, I was exhausted, lonely and heartsick. Being surrounded by the most inspiring group of women that only @familleribeaucourt could assemble was the balm I needed, and gave me the inspiration my work was craving - merci merci merci!! The abundance of truffles certainly helped.”
Liz Carlson, Young Adventuress
“Dear, Ruth, Several months after my return from your Forage Feast and Photography workshop, I can still close my eyes and feel the magic, smell the lavender, taste the delicious food, hear the laughter, get inspired by the creative energy, and be moved by all the amazing women from around the world you brought together. Those few days in Provence were truly memorable and will forever fill my heart through my creative journey. For all of it, I am truly grateful… I would come back in a heartbeat…”
All my love, Marie Florence
Photo Olivia Rubie
“What an amazing start to 2019. Thank you Ruth for dreaming up an amazing creative adventure in Provence.
From the instructors, participants & everyone we encountered during our adventures, everyone radiated with beauty, creativity, generosity.
All of us sharing our experiences & our points of view through visual storytelling. The energy from this experience will carry me through 2019 & beyond.“
Photo credit Melissa Haupt
“Attending Ruth Ribeaucourt's bespoke retreat last July in Provence was like walking out of real life and into a French arthouse film. The house and garden brought the real Provence to life, every mouthful we ate was an exploration of a Provencal garden at the height of summer, and every meal was like a memorable dinner party. All the while, there was Ruth as the creative director and a team of accomplished artists and experts at her right hand, each doing what only they could do, to complete the masterpiece….
….I made friends, including the wonderful Ruth, whom I feel I will know and admire forever. I had entry to people and places that in a hundred visits to Provence I would never have found on my own. And all this as well as acquiring new perspectives on photography, foraging, art, food and friendship. Bravo Ruth. An experience not to be missed.”
Photo Credit Olivia Rubie
“Ruth has created a magical adventure of gathered creatives unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. A bit like being plopped into an endless fairy tale, as the adventure lives on well after you have returned home. It is Ruth’s undeniable generosity of spirit that is interwoven into these beautiful, rare encounters that she uniquely creates for her guests that makes for an absolutely unforgettable experience.”
Debbie Wisdom
Photo Olivia Rubie
“What an incredible week! I’m so grateful to have spent the past five days making, creating, EATING, learning and laughing with some truly lovely people from all over the world, in such an incredibly special corner of the world. I fell in love with Provence and am coming home with treasures, memories and fully charged creative batteries.”
Amanda Reynolds, Plume Photography
Photo credit Amanda Reynolds
“At home, unpacking after one of the most fulfilling creative endeavours I embarked on in a long time — after a week filled with all kinds of epiphanies — I wonder how I could make that feeling, that spark, that sense of deep human connection that goes well beyond the mere act of being in the same place doing the same things for very similar reasons last longer.
…I fear that by simply doing the laundry I’ll wash away much of it. That by shaking off the bits of olive branch and moss and dry hydrangeas that are still stuck to my coat I’ll somehow lose the last sensorial clue of the week past, and with it, the last tangible proof it actually happened.”
“Provence has been a dream, I can’t believe the workshop is over. I don’t want it to end so I can stay here forever.
…This was a little garden dinner scene we styled in Giuseppinas beautiful garden. I am so grateful that I was asked to take part in this workshop it’s been one of the best experiences of my life and I have made some wonderful friendships with the lovely attendees and the amazing team Ruth Ribeaucourt, Elodie Love, Valeria Necchio, and Nora Jaccaud, Raina Stinson and Zuza and Giuseppina, it’s been a pleasure working with you all this week, you are all incredible.”