2025 Vermilion Cliffs/Marble Canyon:
A Sheography Women’s Photo Workshop
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Calling all the ladies! Since 2011, Colleen's all-women's workshops have helped inspire photographic growth, personal development, wanderlust, and life-long friendships. And Sheography™ aims to continue that, to help women of all ages, backgrounds, and photographic skill "Put the HER in the photograpHER®."
Join Colleen and other Sheographers™ for this exciting five-day immersive landscape photography adventure based out of the Cliff Dwellers Lodge in Marble Canyon, Arizona (map). Nestled within the grandeur of the Vermilion Cliffs, this unique slice of the northern Arizona desert offers dramatic palisades, vibrant colors, the historic Lee’s Ferry, and the mighty and flowing Colorado River—presenting the perfect palette for photographers of all levels to explore their creative expression.
Our workshop will start with a welcome dinner on Thursday evening. On Friday morning through Tuesday morning, we'll put our photography skills and workshop learnings in inspiring areas around Marble Canyon. The trip will focus on exploring and connecting with places with stunning views and geological wonders on a deeper level so we’ll return to locations more than once vs. touring many places at a high level. You’ll have the opportunity to make images as the ever-changing light dances across the rugged terrain, discover compositions that highlight the canyon’s natural beauty, and experiment with techniques to help you bring home the reflections in the river—and of yourself!
As with all Sheography workshops, attendees will have ample opportunity to ask questions, experiment, and get immediate feedback through a blend of field-based, classroom, and image review sessions.
In an learning-intensive, supportive, and all-women's group, where pushing ourselves to try new things will be encouraged, attendees will learn how to:
Use mindfulness techniques to sharpen one’s eye and pay attention to details in the surroundings.
Express individual storytelling and visual narratives by connecting personal meaning with visual language (composition)
Identify tones in varying types of light throughout the day from sunrise to sunset and including midday light.
Apply special techniques like intentional camera movement and multiple exposures in the field to interpret the landscape beyond the literal.
Use processing software to further develop one's vision using the initial in-field capture as a baseline.
Bring confidence to one’s deliberate compositional and technical choices
The workshop's curriculum will be developed from the participants interests (collected through a pre-workshop questionnaire) and tailored to both individual and group needs. All levels from beginner to professional—and all camera types from iPhones to fancy dSLRs—are welcome for what is sure to be an exciting chance to put a unique spin on this breathtakingly beautiful desert landscape through your own lens.
WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
Four (4) nights lodging in a private room/private bath at the Cliff Dwellers Lodge from Thursday to Monday—all attendees get their own room and bathroom!
Welcome dinner and drinks on the evening of March 27
Photography instruction (classroom, field, critiques) and handouts
NPS permits and entry fees
Light breakfast snacks prior to sunrise shoots (e.g. muffins, fruit, bars)
An invitation to join the closed "CMS Photography: Workshop Alumni Forum" and "Sheography" Facebook groups
Cool Sheography™ swag!
WORKSHOP EXCLUDES:
Airfare (the PHX and LAS airports are about a four-to-five-hour drive from Marble Canyon)
Transportation to/from/during the workshop (carpooling will be encouraged due to permit restrictions)
Participants' breakfasts, lunches, and dinners from March 28-31
Trip insurance
Sold out—email Colleen for waitlist
DATES: March 27-31, 2025
BEGINS: At 5:30 p.m. on March 27, 2025
ENDS: At 11:00 a.m. on March 31, 2025 (which is hotel checkout)
COST: $2295/person
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Easy to moderately strenuous. Best suited for active, sure-footed participants who are capable of hiking up to one-mile roundtrip on uneven, rocky, or sandy uphill terrain while carrying their gear.
MAX PARTICIPANTS: 10 women
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations must be provided in writing. Cancellations made:
At least 61 days prior to the workshop start date: A full refund of all monies paid, minus a $250 administrative fee, will be granted.
60-31 days prior to the workshop start date: A refund of 50% of all monies paid will be granted.
30 days or less prior to the workshop start date: No refunds will be issued.
Any requests to transfer a participants registration to another CMS Photography workshop or to another participant will be treated as a cancellation. The above policy will dictate which monies, if any, shall transfer.
Although rare, CMS Photography reserves the right to cancel a workshop for any reason at our discretion. Should we decide to cancel a workshop, we will refund your registration fees in full.
Also, CMS Photography also reserves the right to modify a workshop itinerary based on local or federal restrictions beyond our control (e.g. COVID-19 restrictions, government shutdowns, closed sites). Should a registrant choose to cancel because of these changes, our standard cancellation policy outlined above applies.
There are no exceptions to these policies.
CMS Photography strongly encourages you to purchase trip insurance with a "Cancel for Any Reason" clause immediately after paying your deposit to protect yourself in the event of unexpected circumstances preventing you from attending our workshops. Consider contacting AAA, your credit cards, or other notable trip insurance companies for appropriate policies.