Soulful Portraits
with Iris Valentina
DATES:
May 23 - 28
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LOCATION:
SAGA, Inderøy, Norway
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“A portrait becomes interesting when masks fall off and a sense of essence is revealed.”
- Iris Valentina
During this workshop you will get an insight into how Valentina works: from how she prepares for a shoot, her process during the shoot and interaction with the model.




WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
In our workshop with Iris Valentina, we will explore all layers that together makes a beautiful portrait. Iris will show how to accomplish the soft painterly look that is her signature style. The whole process is a personal one, where certain techniques supports accomplishing the end result. Above all, awareness and presence will be our guideline in creating soulful portraits.
This workshop is for photographers who feel inspired by portraits that are personal, beautiful and full of soul. You will learn how to approach a model and get the end result that you are after, and to create portraits that have your signature attached.
This workshop is also about finding your voice to express what drives you, and thus developing a style that is unique for you. We will reflect on who you are as a photographer and what story you wish to tell through your portraits.
Both studio and natural light will be taught. Styling, posing, connection, colours, composition and camera techniques for portraits will be part of the workshop. Photoshop retouching will be lightly touched.
We will be working with local models. In the beginning Iris will instruct and guide you on your shoot, but as your skill set develop, you will conduct your own photoshoots with your model.
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WORKSHOP TUITION:
NOK 12.000,- (deposit NOK 4.000,-). This does not include travel costs, accommodations or meals.
Shortly after registration for your workshop you will receive an invoice via e-mail for the deposit (to be paid within two weeks). You will also receive an invoice for the rest of the tuition at the same time as the deposit. This invoice is to be paid no later than one month before the workshop starts. All fees are to be paid in Norwegian Kroner. For Norwegian invoices there will be an invoice fee of NOK 40,- added.
International students: You can pay us via PayPal or transfer your payment directly to our account. Please let us know when registration for a workshop your preferred method of payment. For PayPal payments there is a handling fee of 6 % of the amount paid that will be added to the invoice. For bank transfer there is usually a transaction fee. Check with your bank for the amount, and make sure this fee is not subtracted from the tuition fee payment.
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SAGA / ACCOMMODATION:
The workshop takes place at our creative center SAGA in Norway.
Saga is a creative retreat center, with large spacious rooms, a homely atmosphere, an outdoor sauna, swimming dock and beautiful nature right outside the door. The stress of day to day life is left behind when you enter our center, so you can focus all your energy on expanding your creative talent and adopting new skills.
SAGA has a hotel section, which offers accommodation for participants during the workshop. If SAGA is fully booked we will organise alternative accommodation nearby in the same price range.
There are single beds in all of SAGA’s hotel rooms. We hope that most participants are open to share hotel rooms with one other participant (of the same gender) during your stay at SAGA. This way we can house the whole class at our hotel.
If you are a group traveling together, or you have a preference when sharing a room, please make a note when registration for the workshop. If you prefer a single room, let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate you. If we have no other person of your gender who opted for shared accommodation, we will offer you a single room.
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MEALS:
Saga is known for it's fresh homemade food. We will start each day with a healthy breakfast, before heading to class, or out shooting. We serve warm lunch at SAGA every day. Breakfast and varm lunch, coffee/ tea and fruit throughout your stay is included in the accommodation fee.
If you are not staying at our hotel you can still be part of the meal plan.
Meal Plan: breakfast, varm lunch, coffe/ tea and fruit pr day: Nok 650,-.
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If you have any food allergies please let us know when you register for your class and we will try to accommodate your needs.
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For dinner: the options will be discussed with the group on arrival. There are one restaurant in walking distance to SAGA, and several in driving distance. Dinner is not included. Saga has a full liquor license.
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PRICE ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS:
Shared double-room: NOK 1.260,- per person pr night.
The price includes:
- shared double room
- healthy breakfast
- warm home-cocked lunch
- coffee/ tea and fruit throughout your stay
- a free session in Saga Sauna.
To get a shared double room requires that we have another participant of your gender, that can share. If we do not, you will get a private room - see price below.
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Private room: NOK 1.560,- per night.
The price includes:
- a private room
- healthy breakfast
- warm home-cocked lunch
- coffee/ tea and fruit throughout your stay
- a session in Saga Sauna.
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Payment for accommodations and meals is done directly to SAGA, before you depart. SAGA accept Visa and MasterCard.
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GETTING TO THE LOCATION:
By Plane:
The closest airport to SAGA is Trondheim International Airport. From the airport, take the northbound train (towards Steinkjer), which stops at the airport terminal about every two hours. You will disembark the train at Røra Station (about 1 hour and 10 minutes) where NORDphotography’s van will be to greet you and transport you to SAGA. Estimated travel time to SAGA from (Time include direct flight to Trondheim Airport + train to SAGA): Oslo: 2 hours / Bodø: 2 hours / Copenhagen: 3 hours / Stockholm: 3 hours / New York: 12 hours (NYC+Oslo+Trondheim)
By Train:
You disembark the train at Røra Station and NORDphotography’s van will be to greet you and take you to SAGA. Estimated travel time to Røra by train from: Oslo: 9 hours / Trondheim: 2 hours / Bodø: 9.5 hours / Storlien (Sweden): 3.5 hours. For the local train schedule see: www.vy.no
By Car:
Follow E6 to Røra, then RV 755 to Straumen.
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Travel expenses are each participant's own responsibility.
WORKSHOP TUITION:
Full: NOK 12.000,-
Deposit: NOK 4.000,-
Se payment details in the workshop description.
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REGISTRATION ON OUR WORKSHOPS ARE BINDING.
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We ask that you do not book your ticket until we have confirmed that the minimum number of participants have signed on. The confirmation will happen no later than a month before the workshop start.
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We recommend everyone who travels to have travel insurance.
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For our cancelation rules and withdrawal and refund policy, scroll to the end of the description and read the info in the blue banners.
WHEN TO ARRIVE:
The workshop starts on the 23RD of May at 19:00 (7PM).
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WHEN TO DEPART:
The workshop ends on the 28TH of May at 13:00 (1 PM).
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WHAT TO BRING:
You need to bring your camera, your laptop, and your usual photo-gear to this workshop. A tripod might come in handy.
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Students are expected to bring a small portfolio (max 10 images) of their work (print or digital) to the class.
ABOUT
IRIS VALENTINA:
Iris Valentina is a Dutch portrait photographer and educator known for her painterly style of portraits. Her children’s portraits has won international prizes and although they have a commercial nature, they are often regarded as art.
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Iris runs a portrait studio, both in The Netherlands and in Norway, where creating wall art portraits for families is the main focus. Apart from that she is dedicated to teaching and coaching photographers the genre of studio portraits and on how to evolve as an authentic entrepreneur.
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While portraits are the recurring object of her photography, she takes her inspiration from nature and stillness through meditation. In her portraits this translates to a beautiful
connection to the model’s soul and in finding the beauty in the stillness.
Instructor Replacement:
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It is the nature of our business that occasionally a listed instructor cannot participate because of unexpected events.
If we are forced to replace an instructor we will do so with someone with equal or similar credentials.
When time permits we will inform everyone who has registered.
Cancelation Rules:
We ask that you do not book your ticket until we have confirmed that the minimum number of participants have signed up.
For workshops to run we need a minimum of 5 participants, unless otherwise noted in the workshop description. If we for some reason are not able to reach our minimum number, the workshop will be canceled and you will receive a full refund. NORDphotography is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline / train tickets in the event of a program cancellation. Our line of liability is to return all monies paid to the workshops. Please check on your workshop status before making travel arrangements.
There will be a maximum of 10 students in each workshop, unless otherwise noted in the workshop description.
Withdrawal and refund policy:
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance.
Enrolment is limited in our workshops, so once you have registered for a class – we are counting on you to attend. The registration is binding. We do however understand that sometimes plans fall trough and offer the following cancellation policies:
* Withdraw more than 60 days before the start of class and we will refund all monies paid, minus an
administration fee of NOK 1500,-.
* Withdraw 60 days or less before the start of class and we will charge you with the full workshop tuition.
NORDphotography is not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies.