REGISTER NOW!
A destination brand retreat in sunny Palm Springs, California
California
Dreamin'
February 21-25, 2022
registration opens may 24th!
scroll down to learn more, or
But it's really hard to get that across when you don't have access to a location that fits your personality. You feel like your branding photos will never match who you are on the inside unless you travel to a place where you can make it happen.
That's why we've created this retreat: We want to gather fun-loving creatives in the most colorful place we know of and send them home with a library full of new photos and a cup full of inspiration!
Eight - just eight! - of you will have a blast in the California sunshine with Megan + Alicia from February 21-25, 2022. Read on to learn more about what we have planned.
If you can't bring those California vibes to you, take yourself to CALIFORNIA!
You're a creative whose brand aesthetic feels more like colorful Palm Springs, CA than Neutral Town, USA.
We welcome women (and those who present as women) who appreciate confetti + disco balls, who aren't afraid to be a little silly, love to travel and explore, and are ready to give their brand a makeover after a long year of using super outdated photos.
Whether you're an artist, an event planner, a photographer, or any other type of creative - we want you to join us!
There are only 8 spots available, so let's do this, baby!
Feel confident and creative in the company of like-minded women
Need brand photos but aren't totally inspired by your town or city
Love to travel semi-independently
Own a small business or are a creative entrepreneur
Find inspiration in color + sunshine
The California Dreamin' retreat is for you if you:
the retreat + you
Don't take yourself too seriously
Only 8 spots available! Click here to sign up!
Are you ready for a destination brand retreat in palm springs?!
Want uninterrupted time to create art or content in a beautiful place
REGISTER NOW!
play!
A Palm Springs architecture tour by bike? Outdoor movie night with tacos + margs? Yes. Please.
Excursions Around Town
three
stay!
Every attendee gets their own desert-chic room with queen or king bed, bathroom, and kitchenette.
Insta-Ready Rooms
two
Slay!
We've got plenty of photo ops planned so you'll return home with a library filled with a variety of images, from standard branding photos to travel lifestyle shots.
Brand Photos in Palm Springs
one
The California Dreamin' Retreat
in a nutshell:
Slay!
Get ready for the ultimate brand photo experience - instead of one full photo session, everyone gets time in front of the camera in a variety of locations resulting in a well-rounded library of images to use for your website and social media.
You can expect standard branding photos as well as headshots, lifestyle, travel, and candid images.
Mini sessions - from standard branding headshots to a retro pool party
Brand Photos
All the Details
Stay!
We've got the entire place to ourselves for the ultimate private oasis! Each room has a king or queen bed, plus a private bathroom and kitchenette. Rooms are filled with natural light and colorful mid-century touches, creating the perfect backdrop for your brand photos. Spend your afternoon floating in the pool or take one of the included bikes out for a spin.
Sleep at a mid-century micro-resort hotel just minutes from downtown Palm Springs
Accommodations
play!
Get outside and explore Palm Springs! We'll take you to a beautiful desert botanical garden, biking through exclusive Mid-Century neighborhoods, and to the perfect rooftop brunch spot. You'll even have free time to explore solo or with a friend, so we'll provide maps and documents to help you create your own adventure.
Explore the town and all the mid-century fun it has to offer
Let's Play!
LEt's go!
'Cause we've got the pixie dust your creative business needs!
Are you ready to give your brand a Palm Springs makeover?
I'm in!
Your California Dreamin' Retreat registration includes the following:
California Dreamin' Retreat Palm Springs
February 21-25, 2022
the retreat
4 nights at micro-resort hotel just outside of downtown Palm Springs
Your own room with king or queen bed, private bathroom, and kitchenette
Multiple photo opportunities with two photographers, resulting in a gallery with at least 100 branding + travel images of yourself
personal branding gallery of at least 100 images + bonus stock photo gallery of palm springs imagery
2 lunches + 2 dinners
poolside welcome party w/ tacos + Margs
included excursions: guided architecture tour and botanical garden
Transportation to/from photo sessions + group excursions/group meals
Transportation to/from the Palm Springs Airport (PSP)
registration gift + goodie bag upon arrival
$3100
the actual value of this trip if you recreated exactly it all on your own? A whopping
Come with us and 7 other womxn Feb 21-25, 2022 and pay only:
$10,065
You're more than welcome to skip anything on the schedule that doesn't interest you, however no discounts or refunds will be given. If you have any questions or concerns about the schedule, please reach out! We'd love to chat with you about anything on your mind!
"Can I get a discounted rate if I want fewer photos / want to skip an activity?"
Between your solo branding mini session, the group photo ops, and other bonus pop-up photo ops, you can expect to have 100-ish images in your gallery. This isn't a guarantee and can vary depending on so many factors. The idea is to focus on quality vs quantity - i.e. we want to deliver images that you'll love and use often vs focusing on hitting a specific number of images with many of them not being *awesome*.
"How many photos can I expect to have in my gallery?"
An overall mask requirement will depend on the California DOH rules as of the time of the trip, however as we will require proof of vaccination + our resort is private, you will not be required to wear a mask at the hotel (unless it makes you feel more comfortable, of course!)
As for photo sessions - what we have planned so far is with the expectation that you will be able to remove your mask outside for the short duration of your turn. However if it's not possible to remove your mask in these locations, we may alter the photo schedule to allow for maskless photos.
"Will masks be required? What about in photos?"
Yes! Your registration fee will be broken down into smaller payments to make things way easier. You'll pay a $550 non-refundable retainer to secure your spot at booking, followed by 4 more evenly-spaced out payments.
"Do you offer payment plans?"
We'll be sure you're plenty prepared for the retreat by sending along both an itinerary and a packing list for you. We'll also give you advice on preparing for your photo sessions and what we suggest to bring along for those.
"Will you give us an itinerary ahead of time? What about a packing list?"
Trust us, we are taking Covid very seriously and have prepared for the off-chance that we have to postpone or cancel the retreat. We have more to say about this on the registration page, but the short version is that if Covid numbers creep up again causing any shut downs, travel bans, etc, we will make the call to postpone or cancel and refund you in full. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance through a reputable company such as World Nomads.
"What happens if Covid gets worse / California shuts down / I get sick?"
Send us a note and ask away!
Question not answered here?
Photographer + Artist
Alicia
Event Planner
Megan
meet your hostesses
Alicia is a professional photographer by day + artist by later that day. As a photographer, she works with small businesses and creative entrepreneurs to hook them up with kickass brand + product photos. Her art is just as whimsical and colorful as you'd expect from a grown-up child. In her spare time you'll find her visiting breweries with her husband, walking her dogs Bronson + Mr. Butters, skateboarding around town, or partaking in one of her 8,000 creative hobbies.
By day, Megan is a full time wedding planner and organization guru. By night, she's an avid travel enthusiast and eater of double stuffed Oreos.
She co-owns Vida Events, who works with all types of humans, whether it’s planning stateside weddings, destination weddings or trip, or helping fellow creatives find their niche! In her spare time you can find Megan bopping around on her farm and planning her next travel locale.
thealiciabruce.com
vidaevents.net
Joanna Platt, Coach
Brand Makeover Sleepover Richmond
Alicia will make you feel so comfortable in front of the camera, the photos are beautiful, and the time with other entrepreneurs is a fun change from the norm. I loved it so much!
"I work for myself by myself most days and it was fun, especially in the middle of winter, to get out of my apartment and into a beautiful space."
Emma Cosby
Bride + Client of Vida Events
Megan is absolutely amazing, I recommend all my brides to this lovely lady and her team! If you need creative, organized and hard working event planners...THIS IS YOUR TEAM!
"...creative, organized and hard working event planners!"
Meredith Diglio, Fitness Trainer
Brand Makeover Sleepover
Obviously, I would talk about the amazing photos you'll walk away with...but I would also mention that it's a great mini-business event - nice to connect with other small business owners, talk coaching, social media, etc. Keep doing these events!!
"I think you did a great job of hosting!"
Andrea whitehead
bride + client of vida events
We absolutely adore the ladies from Vida Events. They are always incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and creative. They take wonderful care of their clients and are such a calming, reassuring presence at their events. I wholeheartedly recommend their services.
"They are always incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and creative."
Stephanie Burget
Paris Creatives Retreat
{I wanted} a chance to visit a city I love without the extra work of needing to plan out an agenda, research activities, or be responsible for others. Just a chance to enjoy Paris and actually have PHOTOS of myself there.
"I have some amazing photos of myself on top of it all! I had an amazing time!"
*From past retreat/event clients of ours
The Kindest of Words*
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