WHAT IS IT?

An in-person, intimate retreat in the California redwoods near San Francisco where we create space to find our own personal contact points, examine our creative processes, and dig deep. Think of this as your jump-start to thinking on a deeper level about art, creativity, life, photography, and how it all works together. It’s also a time to relax, connect with yourself, other artists, and nature.

CREATION
This incredible forest along with the Mill Valley and San Francisco areas have amazing opportunities for landscapes, portraits, street photography, or whatever you're into, so of course I'll take you out on photography outings. (Think cozy village, rocky beach, charming city views, and more!) But we will also have backdrops available, and a beautiful treehouse in the woods with lots of windows so we can create indoors too. We will have some specific assignments and plenty of time to explore your own ideas. If you’re more interested in other creative arts, there is space for that too! I know I’ll also be doing some writing and a little bit of painting.

BRAINSTORMING
Specific projects, images, collaborations, etc. We will have time to really work on all of it with the ability to talk it through with the group. If you’ve started a project and you’re getting stuck, we will work through it. If you’re really excited about something you’ve done, we want to hear about it!

COLLABORATION
You'd better believe we are going to do some group projects and shoots. I will also be doing some creative portraits of each of you which you can use for anything you’d like.

EXPERIMENTATION
We're going to do some fun hands-on stuff just to get your brains working in a different way, so we are talking mixed media, polaroids and all the cool stuff you can do with that, and pretty much anything we have time for. Get ready to start taking stuff apart, both literally and figuratively.

CONNECTION
I mean, what is better than connecting with each other IN PERSON??!! But this year, I also want to specifically focus on wonder. Seeing the redwoods for the first time as a teenager was the first time I remember feeling true awe, so I wanted to bring you here to focus on that kind of connection.

GUEST ARTIST
Maryam Salassi of Hi and Hello Photo is going to be at the retreat and giving us even more ideas about creative shooting and other creative arts! She is also a local and helped me figure out ALL the best places to go.

CHECK OUT OUR VENUE BELOW!!!

More details about the home:

ONE SPOT LEFT in the home—shared bed (with me!)

Things to note:
• This home has stairs - One flight of stairs from the car park to the main entry way. From the main level (main entry way), one flight of stairs to the lower floor, and one flight of stairs to the upper flight.
• This is a no-shoes home!
• The last ~0.5 miles to the home is a one lane windy road.
• There are no shades in the bedrooms for a full immersive treehouse experience.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Lodging, food, and transportation from San Francisco will be provided. This is an all-inclusive retreat. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks at the house. Dinners out on the town in one of the super cool restaurants, delivered, or made at home. Just basically, I don't want you to think about anything. We will have a meeting point that you will need to get to in San Francisco, but afterwards, we will drive together to the treehouse, and all other locations.

I will have everything you need except your camera (or cameras if you’re like me). This means you'll have a journal/workbook and pens, paint and other fun multi-media supplies, backdrops, Polaroid film and cameras to use, and some fun fun surprises that will be in a crazy amazing goodie bag that I want to keep a secret cause that's more exciting.


ARE YOU IN?

REGISTER HERE for LEAN IN: LIVE retreat in Muir Woods California on July 31-August 3, 2025.

After you register, you will be sent an invoice for a $500 deposit payable via Venmo @cami-turpin (or Paypal upon request). The rest of the registration fee will be due June 1, 2023. There is currently ONE slot available.

More detailed information will be sent to registrants as I have it, but you can plan on the retreat starting at 12 p.m. on Thursday, July 31 and ending at 12 p.m. on Sunday, August 3rd. (This is the earliest I will be able to get you to the airport, but we are only 30 min from the airport in case you need to uber at another time.)

If it’s easier to fly in the night before, you can stay in a hotel in San Francisco, and we can explore the city in the morning of July 31. I’m sure we’ll also get together for dinner that night as well for anyone who will be there early!

The deposit is non-refundable. However, if you are unable to attend, your spot is transferrable, and I’m happy to help you find a replacement!