Your artistic soul and badass business plan can be aligned. Often, photographers create brilliantly artistic personal work, but their professional work is less inspired. As artists we worry that clients won’t want to book something other than the “traditional” family portraits. And that can bleed into confusion of how to attract the right clients to your business.
Iris and Ash have each grown successful businesses by staying true to their artistic vision. They are sought out for their ability to capture memories in distinct styles that are timeless and beautiful and anything but traditional. And they are passionate about mentoring and supporting other artists to build their own unique version of a thriving and sustainable (uniquely creative) business.
DO YOU LONG TO CREATE IMAGERY FULL OF HEART?
ARE YOU LOOKING TO BUILD A BUSINESS WITH CREATIVITY AT ITS CORE?
JOIN US AT FINDING HEART, AN IMMERSIVE WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR CREATIVES WHO WANT TO UPLEVEL THEIR BUSINESS AND CREATIVE PRACTICE!
June 22-23
Austin, Texas
Art
creativity
connection
TO LIVE IN TRUE ALIGNMENT WITH YOURSELF AS A CREATIVE, YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND GROW AS AN ARTIST. YOUR FINDING HEART HOSTS KNOW AND HAVE WITNESSED SO MANY ARTISTS BURNOUT BECAUSE THEY OVERWORK THEMSELVES AND FORGET THE INITIAL SPARK WHICH INSPIRED THEM TO BECOME PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ART IS ESSENTIAL FOR YOU, FOR YOUR BUSINESS, AND FOR THE WORLD. IRIS AND ASH DO NOT BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO ALTER YOUR ARTISTIC VISION IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THEY HAVE BOTH BUILT SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES ROOTED IN OUR CONTINUED ARTISTIC GROWTH AND CREATIVITY AND WANT TO SUPPORT YOU TO DO THE SAME.
Hello, We are Ash + Iris
Believe your perspective is invaluable and a gift to the world
At finding heart retreat we will
Know your worth as a photographer
Make new photography friends and embody the ‘community over competition’
Enjoy yourself in a beautiful and supportive space
SUPPORT YOU TO
Confidently show up to almost any location and be able to create interesting art utilizing both your subject and the environment
How to use a dynamic range of lighting scenarios to expand depth and diversity in your imagery and galleries
Incorporate and practice creative techniques to inspire your heART
How to “set the stage” compositionally yet create authentic and emotive stories reflective of your clients
Teach you to
◦ A small + intimate gathering full of heART (max of 12 attendees)
◦ Breakfasts, snacks and refreshments provided.
◦ Three nights (June 21-23) at our beautiful accommodation in Round Rock, Texas right outside of Austin). We have single occupancy, double occupancy, 4-person shared rooms but everyone has their own bed!
◦ 3 live client workshop classes with the option to shoot-along. Each class will be taught by Ash + Iris in 3 distinct settings ( 1.urban 2.outdoorsy 3. in-home) with a focus on creating your compositions intentionally and artistically, storytelling, utilizing a variety of natural lighting techniques
◦ Creative technique development
◦ Special guest business class
◦ Morning Yoga
◦ Q+A style group mentoring session with Ash + Iris
◦ Transportation to the 3 client workshops
◦ A game room, a pool, personal work spaces and a beautiful space to photograph + build community
◦ Creative portrait swap sessionParagraph
What’s included:
Heart
finding
The “Finding Heart” workshop was a game-changer for me, both personally and professionally. It stood out starkly from other workshops I’ve attended, pushing me to explore new depths in my photography. This experience wasn’t just about refining technical skills; it was a profound journey into understanding the emotional essence of my work. Being from another country and not speaking English as a first language, I used to feel unsure about my photos. But this workshop, led by Iris and Ash, showed me that it’s not about where you’re from. It’s all about what you can share through your photos
I learned to see my own work and other people’s photos in a whole new way. I realized that our photos show who we are inside. The workshop helped me see how special my own style is. Big thanks to Iris and Ash for helping me see how far I can go with my photography. This wasn’t just about getting better at taking pictures; it was about finding the real heart in my photos. I can’t wait to show this new side of my work to my clients!
Jessica from Jessica Marques Photography
Ash is a family + fine art photographer based in San Francisco, California. She had been a hobbyist photographer since childhood + worked as a social justice educator until her daughter was born 9 years ago. At that time she decided to stay home the first couple of years of her daughter’s life + her photography business emerged as a side hustle in those years. It eventually grew so much that she decided to shift careers + is now a thriving, multiple six-figure photography business-owner. Her work is rooted in authentic and emotive moments of and connection with a nod of reverence to the majestic beauty of our world. Capturing people, the wonders of this marvelous planet, and how we all fit into this awe-inspiring world make her heart sing. She is also passionate about sustainable business practices, supporting other women business owners, creating work that tells stories unique to each family, + keeping creativity + artistic evolution at the forefront of business. She is happiest in wild + beautiful places + loves to hike, camp, travel, explore new places, hang with her partner + daughter, connect with friends, fill her house with plants, read, eat delicious food, + live life as art.
Ashley Kaplan
Iris is a family and wedding photographer behind Light By Iris Photography. She's based out of Portland Oregon, and having sessions all over the states. She's an extreme introvert, married to a musician and has two incredible kids. Photography is her outlet of creating art and the way to communicate people and the world. She loves to shoot anywhere, any time of the day and 100% inspired by new locations and changes of the light. She tells stories in a photojournalistic and cinematic style. She believes Wabi-sabi, and this philosophy influences greatly on the way she creates. Her passion is to create meaningful images that capture feelings for her clients. She hopes her photos can bring people back that time and that place, and hope people can feel what she feels when she took photos.
Iris Hu
We hope your 3-night stay will be a truly memorable and heARTful experience. We will gather together, unplug, find and create beautiful art full of heart.
join finding He(art)
June 22-23
Austin, Texas.
Ash + Iris
with
Creating Soulful Art
Building Genuine Friendship
Our venue will be in a beautiful and cozy private property in Round Rock, Texas.
We will take advantage of beautiful nature preserve in Austin with one of our shoot-along sessions ; as well as shooting at a funky and artsy urban location in downtown Austin.
The closest Airport is the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. We will have two vehicles to get everyone to different locations once you check-in at the inn. Transport to and from the airport will not be provided.
WORKSHOP BEGINS AT 6 PM ON JUNE 21ST, ENDS AT 10 AM ON JUNE 24TH.
INVESTMENT: 2800 SHARED ROOM / 3200 PRIVATE ROOM
Finding He(art) Workshop
Shared Room
$2800 (SOLD OUT)
Finding He(art) Workshop
Private Room
$3200
Tickets for sale now
Finding HeART was a wonderful experience. The hosts somehow managed to attract the most genuine and caring group of artists - I think it speaks volumes as to who they are. They were so thoughtful in planning this workshop, no detail was overlooked. They made time to connect with us, planned amazing meals, and truly created a space for connection in a community where that can feel difficult. One thing I really appreciate was that every time we drive somewhere, the hosts made sure to be in separate cars ensuring all attendees got time with the hosts. That may not seem like a big deal, but hosts who spend time with the attendees and not just each other can really make or break a workshop. I appreciated their thoughtfulness, and how inclusive they were. They answered every question and we’re generous with their information. They were fun, kind, and had amazing activities planned. I could go on and on, but the investment was worth it and I’d pay again just to spend time with these beautiful humans. Thank you Finding HeArt for reminding me of my worth and talents as a photographer, and leaving me with hope for my business in the future.
