⚠️This workshop is sold out.
You can still sign up for the waitlist by clicking the green “Book Now” button and then selecting “Join Waitlist.”

Why is this photography experience so magical?

Magic of Cowboys is so much more than just your standard photography workshop with horses, cattle and cowboys.  This is delightfully SO much more!  Numerous participants have come back annually -- a testament to how special and beloved this event has become.  Get your hats, boots, and camera gear ready because pard'ner, we're doing it again! 

Feeding the heart, soul and camera, the Magic of Cowboys will lift your spirits!  You'll have a buffet of photo opportunities that are creatively packed into four days of fun.  Marvel at the diversity of high quality, unique images you'll come away with and how much you'll learn along the way.  

Level 2-3:  Easy to Moderate

There is a good deal of walking  and standing involved on the ranch.  It is on flat terrain (no significant change in elevation), but one can be occasionally on uneven ground (e.g., ungraded arena, pasture land, with clumps of dirt, smaller rocks, minor inclines/declines, etc.).

IMPORTANT TIP:   We provide shuttles and drivers to help transport anyone who needs it from place to place. We also have folding stools at the photography locations if you need to sit and rest.

Solid knowledge of manual exposure settings (Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO).  A pre-workshop online course on using manual exposure settings is provided ($99 value) at no additional cost. Details are in the linked document you download from your confirmation email you will receive immediately after registering.

We will also offer an optional pre-workshop "Camera Clinic" at the ranch on Thursday, February 5, 2025 to help you refine those skills. 

An easy, 45-minute drive from the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport transports you to an entirely different place where time slows down, history is deep, and the traditional ways of cowboys and cowgirls are carried on.  Located against the stunning backdrop of the legendary Superstition Mountains on 5,800 acres of the pristine Sonoran Desert in Gold Canyon, Arizona, lies the very special Donnelly D-Spur Ranch. 

The “D-Spur” is a decades-old, privately owned, working ranch with some of the most spectacular scenery in the Valley of the Sun. Situated adjacent to the Tonto National Forest and legendary Superstition Mountains, It will be our jaw-dropping setting for your Magic of Cowboys Photo Experience!

*Percentages are estimates.  Agenda may vary based on weather or other factors.

• Action (~45%) You will learn how to best capture the action with fast-moving horses, cattle, and ranch-related activities with the cowboys and cowgirls.  Roping, herding, and more are planned! We will so teach you silhouette photography with the plentiful 2 and 4-legged creatures!
  

• Ranch Lifestyle:  (~15%) Capture the authentic lifestyles of our ranch hands!  They will go about their day working while also show you some of the things they do in their daily lives. We will have stations where you can photograph activities like leather tooling, cleaning tack, putting on horseshoes, driving a team, or other wonderful photographic moments that depict the Ranch Lifestyle in the American West today.
  

• Silhouettes (~15%): You will learn how to capture gorgeous silhouettes of the cowboys, cowgirls, horses, saguaro catci and more!  
  

• Slow-Shutter Panning (~5%): Capture cowboys and cowgirls in a unique way by learning the art of slow-shutter panning (sometimes called "Shutter Drag.)  These ethereal shots of the riders running with their horses while photographed on slow shutter speeds create a sense of movement along with an ethereal, breathtaking look and add dimension to your images of the American West.
  

• Portraiture Made Easy (candid and stylized) (~20%): A highlight of Magic of Cowboys is to help photographers who are new to (and even intimated by) portrait photography to have a relaxed, stress-free, fun, and “no-judgment” type experience. 
  
  Many photographers shy away from learning portraiture as it can be intimidating, stressful, and nerve-wracking!   We REMOVE that part and just give you a ton of fun in a friendly, supportive environment.  
  

  • How to use settings, natural and reflected light photograph both candid and stylized images of authentic working cowboys and cowgirls!

  • Easy to remember posing tips for men, women, and groups

  • An introduction to using natural light, a reflector, and flash in ways that make for beautiful portraiture (all equipment provided).
    

 The Magic of Cowboys & Cattle is truly different from your typical photo tour or workshop.  It's an immersive experience!

• Music:  Join us at the campfire for local legend and singer/songwriter, Steve Holmquist, for incredibly beautiful music during lunch on Sunday (Day 4).  Steve is also quite photogenic and is a wonderful photography subject before or after he performs.
  

• Award-winning, authentic "Chuckwagon" style lunch:  Our "chuckwagon" chef has won numerous awards and competitions for her chuckwagon style cooking over an open fire! Using hot coals, cast iron, and incredible recipes, she’ll prepare lunch by campfire for us! Her food is beyond amazing!  See how it was done 100+ years ago and taste the rich flavors that go along with the experience!   This makes for great photo opportunities as well!
  

• Custom Photography-focused Sunset Horseback Ride (optional):  Consider an optional, custom photography-focused guided horseback ride through the desert at sunset on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2025. Whether you are a beginner or advanced rider, this ranch will take great care of you and show you places in the desert you can only get to on foot or horseback!  (Available Thursday afternoon before the workshop begins)

The entire experience is designed to bring out the best in your photography while immersing you in the rich culture of the cowboy and ranch life - right in the heart of the Wild West!

Cancellation Policy, Terms & Conditions and FAQs:  

Please review our terms and conditions.  These will be provided to you again at the end of your completed registration to initial and sign.  

• Should I get travel insurance?  Strongly recommended. Travel insurance helps protect your investment should something arise (e.g., change of plans, health issues, etc.) that requires you to cancel your reservation or end your tour early.  
  
  

  Your initial deposit is non-refundable.  No exceptions or credits provided. Payments due are scheduled approximately as follows, based on the start date of your event.  Once paid, they become non-refundable; however, if we can resell your seat for the full amount, we are happy to refund your payment(s) minus a fee (see below):
  

• Deposit:  Due at registration (nonrefundable) $1000

  2nd Installment:  Due November 1, 2025

  3rd Installment:  Due January 1, 2026
  

What if I need to cancel?   You have several options: 

• Option 1:   You may submit your claim to travel insurance.

• Option 2:  You have self-insured your trip and will absorb any losses from cancellation.

• Option 3:  You may transfer your seat to a qualified* friend for a fee ($250).  The friend is responsible for any remaining balance. 

• Option 4:  You may request that we attempt to resell your seat for up to full price wherever possible.  To do so, there is a fee of $350.  We cannot guarantee it will be resold, but we will market it to our waitlist for this tour if there is reasonable time before the start date to do so.  
  
  *Qualified friend is someone who meets the criteria for the tour, has agreed to all terms & conditions, and agrees to pay for any balance due and/or future costs that arise.     
  

• Detailed cancellation information is available on our cancellation request form.  
  

What if I pay in full up front?  If you choose to pay for the entire event up front in one lump sum, should you need to cancel, your refund will be pro-rated according to the due dates for each installment, compared to your cancelation date.    (For example, if you canceled after the 2nd  installment was due—but prior to the final installment due date, the amount equal to the portion calculated for the final installment will be refunded to you.)

May I receive a credit toward a future event?  Unfortunately, credit is not possible. No refunds, credit, certificates, etc. will be issued for cancelations given that a large percentage of your payments are directed toward non-refundable fees we pay vendors, staff, lodging, catering and more well in advance in order to secure your spot.

We will host a registrants-only live webinar to help wet  your whistle for this wonderful event!  We'll answer questions, give you tastes of what to expect, and give you a moment to meet some of the leaders and participants who you will see in-person in February!  Session is recorded for those who cannot attend live.

A custom photography & horseback trail ride has been created for you!  Bring your camera, a single lens, and enjoy a beautiful trail ride on horseback through the Sonoran Desert!  This is something unforgettable!    You will have a variety of stops along the way for photography while riding your horse.   This includes photographing cowboys and/or cowgirls riding in the desert for you while you take photos!  You will be paired with a horse that is right for your physical and riding skills.  If you've never ridden a horse--no worries!  You can still join and learn the basics easily!

The views of the Superstition Mountains and surrounding wild desert are stunning in the evening light!  This optional trail ride is something participants have really enjoyed in the past.  Enjoy the sunset amidst some of the most beautiful country in the Valley of the Sun!  (Cost of optional ride is not included in the workshop, but is about $90/person, plus tip.)

(OPTIONAL):  Come to the ranch early, get checked in early, and receive your scavenger hunt list!  Walk around the ranch and capture as many things on the list as you can.  This activity helps get the brain in gear to photograph a variety of things at the ranch while also getting familiar with the grounds!  

If you have watched Lisa's tutorial videos (included in registration) and still would like to learn more, join us for a camera clinic hosted by your instructors at the ranch.  We will answer questions, help ensure that you and your camera are ready for this workshop, and more.  

All participants will join us for a welcome dinner and presentation to help prepare you and your camera for the upcoming photographic events over the next three days!   We will also spend time getting to know each other!

Enjoy a continental breakfast and hot "cowboy coffee," then you will be directed to start photographing your first event of the day!

We will continue with various photographic activities, with breaks, snacks and instruction throughout the morning, delighting you and your camera!  

Learn through fun, interactive activities how to pose, use natural and reflected light, and more to 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.  You'll move through various stations and activities to capture a wide variety of images to delight your portfolio and enhance  your skills.   

We will also focus on other photographic activities to keep the diversity going.  Your memory cards will be happy!

We will have a wonderful catered lunch with all of the "fixin's" for you!  This will give you a chance to rest, visit with your workshop-mates and instructors, and perhaps even "chimp" a little on the back of your cameras!

Apply everything you've learned thus far and translate it into spectacular imagery with continued focus on diversity of photography-- we have a variety of action, candid shots, portraits, silhouettes and more planned for the rest of the day! You'll be drooling with these photo ops!

We will kick off the day with a continental breakfast followed by several photographic activities that will hone your skills and dazzle your camera!  The desert, horses, cattle and cowboys/cowgirls are here to give you a wonderful show!

Grab your camera and explore the ranch! We will have stations with various activities to delight you and your camera!  Whether it's photographing cowboys doing roping, action, leatherwork, or other ranch-life activities, you will have scenes to choose from that are perfect for those wonderful candid shots and more.  

Enjoy a catered lunch while relaxing in the shade of our dining tent.  

We will add even more new techniques and scenarios to the mix of photography that we offer on the Magic of Cowboys!  Enjoy action, portraits, golden-hour light and silhouette light during the afternoon through sunset at the ranch!

Eat up and then saddle up your cameras for one last day of photography!  We have some special events planned for you throughout the morning and midday!  The photography opportunities will be beautiful!!  

You will enjoy an authentic chuckwagon style, hearty lunch prepared by our award-winning chuckwagon cook, Barb!  Barb has won awards around the country for the meals she prepares in Dutch ovens over hot coals and fire.  You can taste the authenticity! Additionally, photographing her while she prepares her dishes offers yet another wonderful set of images for your portfolios!
(*NOTE:  We can accommodate most medically necessary dietary restrictions.)

Our special guest, Steve Holmquist, will be singing for you during lunch!  Afterward, he will be available for portraits, now that you know the basics of how to do it!!  He is known in Arizona and beyond for his wonderfully creative and beautiful original songs that are rich with history, legend and lore!  

Our event concludes with a final activity and sadly, goodbyes!  Our goodbyes, however, are not for long because you will have a webinar to attend for additional learning and sharing in March 2025. 

This webinar for attendees is designed to allow you an opportunity to get editing ideas and tips and clarify any questions relating to the instruction provided during Magic of Cowboys.   You may also submit images for editing tips/suggestions, and share some of your work with the group!