Workshops

(FOOD) PHOTO & WRITING WORKSHOP WITH ILVA BERETTA & JAMIE SCHLER

finding your creative power

Date: November 6 – 10, 2019

Venue: Hôtel Diderot, Chinon, France

Cost (in euros): €1750*

The workshop

The intensive, 4-day workshop is designed for you – food blogger, professional food writer or photographer – wanting to explore your work, your goals, and above all your creativity.

We will alternate indepth discussions on creativity, process, writing and photography, individual & group coaching, with innovative and practical exercises that will help you to reflect on what you are doing, set new goals, and inspire you to start thinking about a new approach to your work.

We will delve into how inspiration works, and we’ll give you new tools that you can turn to when you find yourself in a rut or simply want to move from your safe space to a more deeply personal and innovative place. You will be inspired to take that step beyond and you will learn how to channel your own creativity in new ways for your own purpose.

The workshop is limited to a maximum 8 participants, creating a more intimate group, allowing for hands-on work and exercises, more individual analysis and coaching, roundtable discussions with a lot of time for q & a, and lively exchange.

The workshop fueled my creative energy. The workshop and the entire experience was nothing short of brilliant! – Ken

I’m already a working, professional food writer, or photographer…what will I get out of attending the workshop?

This is the perfect retreat for the professional writer or photographer needing a creative boost or looking for new ideas and inspiration. The workshop offers a pool of experience, information, and inspiration for the more advanced professional by drawing on the knowledge and backgrounds of the instructors, as well as input from fellow participants. The professional will also benefit from finely tuned exercises combining writing and photography which will help to improve their understanding and awareness of how these work together which will enhance the quality of their own work.

How is the workshop set up? Will I have one-on-one instruction?

The workshop is an intimate, hands-on working weekend for only 6-8 participants made up of intensive discussion, instruction on both the technical and creative aspects of food writing and photography complemented by practical exercises and assignments meant to push each participants’ limits and ideas. Our hands-on approach means plenty of individual coaching/critique and one-to-one instruction and feedback.

Mealtimes at the hotel, a visit to Chinon’s market and old town, as well as an excursion to the historic winery Château du Petit Thouars for a tour, wine tasting, and meal will also offer opportunities for unique writing and photo assignments.

After the wine tasting, a traditional French lunch in front of a blazing fire at Château du Petit Thouars (photo by Brenda Athanus)

What equipment will I need for the workshop?

Pen and paper as well as laptop with charger for the writing exercises.

There is no minimum requirement for the type of camera you need to benefit from the photography exercises, although it is desirable (but by no means essential) to have a digital SLR camera. Please feel free to ask us if you are in any doubt as to the suitability of your camera! PhotoShop, LightRoom or some type of photo editing software is essential.

Please don’t forget to come equipped with all the electrical chargers (for those with non-European plugs), cables and adaptor plugs you need, and your camera manual also comes in handy!

If I register too late and the workshop is already filled or if I can’t get my payment in on time, what happens?

As we have a limited number of spaces in our workshops, those who register late will be placed on a waiting list and will be informed individually, on a first-come-first-served basis, if/when spaces open up.

Should you for any reason find that you are unable to attend the workshop after you have paid in full, such payment will be non-refundable. Should we manage to fill your space with another participant, we reserve the right to refund your payment at our sole discretion.

What is included in the cost of the workshop?

The cost for the 4-day workshop is € 1750 (euros) and includes all workshop sessions, accommodations for 4 nights (single occupancy) at Hôtel Diderot, 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches including one lunch with tour and wine tasting at Château de Petit Thouars, 3 dinners including one at a local restaurant, and snacks and refreshments during the workshop. Workshop cost will not include airfare or transportation to or from the venue, insurance, or extras.

* As the price of the workshop is in euros, please check the exchange rate for your local currency on the day of purchase.

I find the workshop price high – how do I know that it will offer good value for money?

If you compare the cost of other food blogging conferences and workshops, we believe we offer fantastic value for money, for the following reasons:

our package is fully inclusive of all accommodation and meals, unless specifically stated otherwise, meaning that there are no unexpected expensive surprises

we offer 2 experienced instructors – both award-winning professionals – for only 8 participants – a unique opportunity for one-to-one instruction and feedback

the workshop is held at Hôtel Diderot, an enchanting 27-room auberge de charme dating from the 15th and 18th Centuries in the center of the medieval and historic French town of Chinon on the banks of the Vienne River in the gorgeous Loire Valley.

The Team

Ilva Beretta

Awards: 2019 – Finalist in the SIPA awards, shortlisted at the Athens Photo Festival, finalist in the IACP Awards Best Editorial/Personal Photograph. 2018 – Silver in the Fine Art Still Life category in the Px3 Paris Photography Prize. 2016 – Finalist in the Sony World Photography Awards, finalist in the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year Award. 2014 – Winner in the International Association of Culinary Professionals in the Digital Media Award Best Photo

Exhibitions: 2019 group show Febal, Italy and at Pitti Immagine Taste, 2017 solo show at the Galleria Grefti and the group show Foodographia, Italy. In 2016 she participated in Sony World Photography exhibition and the Pink Lady Food Photography exhibition, both in London. 2013 participated in the EatArt exhibition at the Spazio San Giorgio gallery, Italy.

Editorial & Commercial Work: Pitti Immagine, Hotpoint, Ferrari, Giovanni Rana, Rio Mare, Esselunga, Pernod Ricard, Domaine Wines, Philadelphia Italia, Sale&Pepe magazine (Italy), Alice Cucina (Italy), Mat & Vänner (Sweden), Four Season’s Magazine (USA),The Art of Eating (USA), American Food Roots (USA), The Foodie Bugle (UK), Q-A International (Canada), Conde Nast (UK and Italy), Gibbs-Smith Publisher (USA)

Ilva has been teaching workshops around Europe since 2010.

To see her work visit www.ilvaberetta.com and www.ilvaberetta-art.com

Jamie Schler

Books: Orange Appeal. Savoury and Sweet, Gibbs Smith, 2017

Awards: 2018 – MFK Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing 3rd place print category; 2017 – Winner International Association of Culinary Professionals’ Best Narrative Culinary Blog; 2014 – Saveur Magazine’s Best Blog Awards finalist in the category Best Writing.

Editorial: The Washington Post, Fine Cooking, The Art of Eating, France Magazine, Modern Farmer, Paste Magazine, Huffington Post, Leite’s Culinaria, The Kitchn, Good Housekeeping, TED Weekends, among others.

Jamie has spoken and taught at events and workshops around the world, including Muscat, London, New Orleans, Cape Town, San Francisco, Chicago, Louisville, New York and at her own workshops since 2010.

For more visit www.jamieschler.com and www.lifesafeast.net

The Plated Stories workshop was truly life altering for me. My business has taken such a rewarding turn since applying the knowledge and inspiration that I gleaned from my time with Ilva & Jamie. – Briana

The Venue

Our workshop will be held 6-10 November (Wednesday 6 November lunch through Saturday night with departure Sunday 10 November after breakfast) at the Hôtel Diderot, an enchanting 27-room auberge de charme dating from the 15th and 18th Centuries. It is located in the center of the medieval French town of Chinon on the banks of the Vienne River, nestled in the Loire Valley, about 150 miles from Paris.