Name: Magic of Cowboys 2023
Location: Gold Canyon, AZ, USA

Langell Photography, LLC

Email address verified

147 reviews

Duration: 3 days

Group size: 15 - 21

Magic of Cowboys 2023

Gold Canyon, AZ, USA

Book Now

Download Brochure

Langell Photography, LLC

Email address verified

147 reviews

$NaN

Duration: 3 days

Group size: 15 - 21

Lodging
Lodging is available for self-booking at the Best Western in Gold Canyon, AZ, which is about 10 minutes from the ranch.
Transportation
The hotel does not provided a shuttle to the ranch. Please plan to book any airfare, rental cars, etc. on your own. These are not included in the workshop price.
Horseback riding
A 2-hour horseback tour is available on Friday morning, starting at approximately 10am. This may be booked through the Donnelly D-Spur Ranch directly. The approximate cost is $90/person plus tip.

Fri Dinner: Add non-participating guest

$50

Sat Dinner: Add non-participating guest

$50

Day 1: Afternoon
Day 1: Afternoon
Lighting and Lens Choice
Learn how to choose the right lens for portraiture! It's amazing what nuances change depending on the lens you use. We will start with a fun activity that puts it all into perspective, literally, and helps you master how lens choice can impact the outcome of your portraits. You will also learn about how to expose properly to create beautiful images in a variety of natural lighting conditions and settings.
Read more
Day 1: Evening
Day 1: Evening
Backlight, Action and Silhouettes
Learn techniques for capturing backlit portraits, action and stunning silhouettes against the evening desert sky.
Read more
Day 2: Morning
Day 2: Morning
Silhouettes at Sunrise
Continue to perfect your silhouette exposures as the cowboys and horses roam the hilltops until the sun crests over the peak.
Read more
Day 2: Midday
Day 2: Midday
Lights, Camera & Posing
Learn through fun, interactive activities how to pose, light and capture portraits without intimidation! We incorporate lots of laughter with our instruction so that everyone is having a good time while learning! Build your knowledge through sequential, hands-on activities with our cowboys, cowgirls, and re-enactment actors and capture images using natural light, reflectors, and ultimately-with a single flash.

We will top off the evening with incredible horse-and-rider action, silhouettes, and more!
Read more
Day 2: Evening
Day 2: Evening
Gunsmoke, Action & Silhouettes
Apply everything you've learned thus far and translate it into spectacular imagery with gunsmoke, horse and cowboy silhouettes--and lots of action at the ranch! You'll be drooling with these photo ops!
Read more
Day 3: Morning
Day 3: Morning
Action!
We'll start the day before dawn capturing beautiful slow-shutter / panning style images of cowboys and cowgirls, then we'll move into roping longhorn cattle! We'll also have the horses running and kicking up dust (a participant favorite!). There is always an extra secret or two (or more) up our sleeves that won't be revealed until that day!
Read more
Day 3: Midday
Day 3: Midday
Scavenger Hunt
Grab your camera and explore the ranch! We have a special photo scavenger hunt for you to enjoy while you put your skills and creativity to work! Photograph the action, the moments, a cowboy at work or deep in thought, details, macro, saguaro cactus, rusty and weathered stuff, cattle, and much more. We cannot wait to see what you can find!
Read more
Day 3: Afternoon
Day 3: Afternoon
Closing event
We will meet together one last time for a final Q&A along with camaraderie, words from your leader and instructors, and a group photo before we hit the Happy Trails until we meet again...
Read more
Feb 8, 2023:
Feb 8, 2023:
Live webinar
On February 8, 2023 we will host a live webinar event for all attendees of the 2023 Magic of Cowboys. We'll share images, offer helpful image reviews, processing tips and more. It will be a great way to reconnect and learn even more from this experience.
Read more

Day 1: Afternoon

Lighting and Lens Choice

Langell Photography, LLC

147 reviews

A nature photographer and birder from the age of eight, Lisa is the founder of Langell Photography, LLC. She began her own business in 2010 after long vibrant careers as a floral designer, educational psychologist, consultant and in helping launch and manage two startups that grew into leading companies in the Ed-Tech space. Since then, she has earned numerous awards, is an Image Master for Tamron Americas and has been published in Outdoor Photographer, Arizona Highways, Ranger Rick and more.

I was so excited and thrilled to be part of this group this year in AZ !! I loved everyday ...and enjoyed how Lisa and her team organized our time, our plans, our photographic adventures out in the desert !! I know I started each day with enthusiasm and learned quite a bit of camera skills by the end of each day !! Everyone involved were gracious, professional, and I must say happy at all times too !! Thank you team !! This especially made my trip..seeing how you all love being there with us all as well !! And I made a few new photo friends too !! Awesome all around !! I cannot wait to hopefully soon plan my next Langell Photo trip somewhere new !! Thank you :-)

By Sylvia G for Magic of Cowboys AZ, Feb 5-8, 2026 on Mar 01, 2026

Amazing experience - great curation of photographic experiences, learning objectives and the right level of guidance ( being adaptive based on level of expertise). The overall workshop was well managed, adequately staffed for the different stations. Great staff and cowboy models. Lisa has put together a great value - 4 days packed with unique opportunities, excellent instruction and an immersion in the Cowboy/Ranching lifestyle (beyond photography with cultural immersion opportunities) with great location selection. Will be back for more .....

By Ambika B for Magic of Cowboys AZ, Feb 5-8, 2026 on Feb 19, 2026

I am a veteran of about 40 photo tours and workshops over about 30 years. Without a doubt, this is the very best photo workshop I have ever attended. The organization and attention to detail is obvious from the first moment you sign up. The photo opportunities were amazing. Lisa and Mason planned active shots that you cannot get any other way, roping, dusty cowboys and cowgirls riding at sunset, horses running through the desert. Layered on to that were wonderful opportunities to take portraits of the cowboys and cowgirls. Just running around the ranch provide a myriad of photo opportunities as well. The schedule was very busy, but time allotted to rest during the heat of the day. The opening and closing meals provided were outstanding especially the dutch oven lunch. I cannot recommend this workshop too highly. Congratulations on a wonderful event!

By Warren C for Magic of Cowboys AZ, Feb 5-8, 2026 on Feb 18, 2026

Lisa always puts together a fantastic experience, and has a talent for attracting really nice people who care about photography. The venue for Magic of Cowboys is stellar, with a wide range of photography styles. Highly recommend all of Lisa's workshops!

By Deborah F for Magic of Cowboys AZ, Feb 5-8, 2026 on Feb 18, 2026

It was such an incredible experience. Everyone on the staff was so helpful. Lisa Langell gave us prep talks ahead of photo shoots to make sure we knew what, how and where to shoot to get the best variety of shots at any particular situation. I learned new things and met lots of nice people. It exceeded my expectations. Phyllis Peterson