I’ve shared with you plenty of details from the Annette Joseph styling and photography workshop that I attended last summer in Italy. But I’ve been keeping these pics in my back pocket until now. Annette just opened enrollment for next year’s June 8-13 workshop, and if you need a nudge to sign up before it sells out, think of these images as a big, beautiful kick in the pants. I still can’t quite believe that I shot these photos myself—let alone visited a home like this!—but that’s just how amazing Annette and her workshops are.
When I arrived at the workshop, I had absolutely no idea how to use my camera. In the year that I’d had it, I’d been shooting on automatic because the ins-and-outs of ISO, aperture, and focal length were still a mystery to me. As you can imagine, it was hugely frustrating to me not to have the technical knowledge to create the images I could see in my mind’s eye! Yet by the end of the first day all the workshop participants were shooting on manual. I took these photos a mere 24 hours after learning my camera’s settings and practicing with Annette and the experts she had on hand.
But of course it takes more than just a solid knowledge of your camera to take photos like these; you need a gorgeous subject too! Annette provides workshop attendees with eye candy in spades. She’s spent the last two decades summering in a tiny town on the Italian Riviera, and in that time she’s built relationships with everyone from award-winning basil farmers to Italian royalty. On the final day of our trip we visited the home you see here, which belongs to celebrated Italian interior designer Monica Damonte (Oscar de la Renta was a client!), for a session of shooting, styling, and ogling. I’ll know I’ll never forget that day, even if I didn’t have the photos to remind me!
Annette’s upcoming workshop in Morocco sold out in just a few days, so hurry and sign up for the Italian Riviera workshop taking place June 8-13, 2016! You can bet your sweet patootie that I’ll be along for the ride; even if Annette weren’t having me back as the resident social media expert, I’d reserve my spot. Join us for an insider glimpse at the real Italy, a chance to hone your photography and styling skills, and quite possibly the most fun learning experience you’ll ever have!
P.S. More from my Italy trip, including how to make a charcuterie board, and an authentic Italian biscotti recipe!