Floral Photography & Styling Retreat

October 4-5, 2025 | Janne ford

Join us for a weekend of floral design, photography and styling when the flower gardens are overflowing with fall color, textures, and warm natural lighting. UK’s talented photographer, Janne Ford, who has work with David Austin Roses, The Real Flower company, and The Strawberry Hill House flower festival will lead you through a weekend of capturing the beauty of flowers through creative imagery.

You’ll practice seasonal lead floral design aesthetics with Gina from SHEGROWS, and you’ll learn to design specifically for photography from Janne. Together, you’ll learn to recognize and be inspired by natural light in the garden and indoors. You’ll scout for good light throughout all types of sunlight and weather conditions, and you’ll style and shoot after the sun goes down and in the studio to capture a Dutch style portrait.



Day 1, Saturday, Oct 4 - Compote Design, Indoor Photography & Outdoor Styling

  • 10:00 - Arrival and light breakfast

  • 10:15 - Welcome

  • 10:30 - Photography Lesson

    • Being inspired by seasonality and working with natural light

    • Designing for a styled photograph

    • Creating drama

  • 11:00 - Compote design lesson

    • Color, texture, and style

    • Vases and antiques

  • 11:30 - Students practice time

  • 12:30 - Healthy Lunch

  • 1:30 - 3:00  Photography Lesson

    • Scouting for light and outdoor scenes

    • Shooting in the garden in full sun

  • 3:00 - Break

  • 3:15 - Pick Your Own (for Day 2 flowers)

  • 4:30 - Styling Lesson

    • Styling a dinner table with candles, silks, and tableware

    • Shooting outdoors at sunset and after the sun goes down

  • 5:30 - Sunset Farm-to-Table Dinner with Chef Oscar, winner of Chopped


Day 2, Sunday, Oct 5 - Handheld Bouquet, Outdoor Photography & Indoor Styling

  • 7:00 - Nourishing movement and sound journey in the garden (optional)

  • 8:00 - Sunrise Garden Photography Lesson

    • Shooting in full sun

    • Capturing the essence of flowers in nature

  • 9:00 - Handheld Bouquet Design Lesson

    • Spiral technique and lacing techniques

    • Using silk ribbons to add movement to photographs

  • 9:30 - Student practice time with assistance from Janne and Gina

  • 11:00 - Healthy Lunch

  • 12:00 - Dutch Painting Photography & Styling Lesson

    • Learn to style a still life with antiques, flowers and fruits

    • Shoot with indoor natural lighting on any type of camera

    • Creative use of shadows

    • Simple post processing

  • 2:00 - Students Practice

  • 3:00 - Closing

Retreat Includes:

  • Two full days of design, photography, and styling lessons.

  • Full access to the SHEGROWS cutting gardens on both days, from sunrise to sunset, for class and individual practice time.

  • Light breakfast on both days, lunch on both days, and one farm-to-table dinner in the flower fields with Chef Oscar, the winner of Food Network television series Chopped.

  • Sunrise sound journey where we will move our bodies in a yin-like gentle fashion through a soundscape of etheric music.

Dates:

  • Saturday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. includes a sunset dinner

  • Sunday, October 5 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location:

SHEGROWS | 7491 Kline Drive, Arvada, CO

Total Cost $1597

Travel recommendations: Students should use the Denver International Airport (DIA) if flying in from out of state. The farm is located between Denver, Boulder, and Golden (30 min from each). Hotels or rentals can be found in Arvada or the surrounding cities.