A band of mustangs in the valley near the dry creek.  Autumn Photo by Lori Sortino.

Arranged to suit YOUR Schedule

(with availability at the ranch)

One Full Day or

Two Consecutive Days  

On a lovely ranch in northeast Paso Robles, CA, spend a day or two with your camera and several bands of horses.  This is a photography retreat, with private, personalized instruction. This is a walking retreat on a 60 acre ranch with free roaming horses.  

In keeping with the core values and vision of Flag Ranch's founder Kimberly Carlisle, we are creating an experience in partnership with the horses at this unique Horse + Human Collaboratory.  Our intention with this retreat is to carry a camera, walk the property, and when sensing or hearing the horses nearby, we find a spot to sit and wait.  As in wildlife photography, the intention is to capture the natural behavior of the horses.  We will not force any movement or go in with any expectations.  

To be on this land, walking the creek-bed and meadows, and strolling under the oaks, it's peaceful and calming.  This retreat is a great time to practice observing the beauty of nature and capturing a few quality images when the impulse strikes.  And it's totally okay to bring any type of camera or even no camera at all, and just take it all in with your full senses.

You must be able to walk up and down hills, wear sturdy boots, and bring and carry your own food, chair/stool/pad, water, and camera.  At times you may need to duck under a fence or a tree branch, so being able-bodied is required.  Spring time may likely involve walking through the creek, as well as muddy soil, so waterproof/rubber boots are recommended in springtime.

$350 per person per day (food and lodging not included)

Discounts for groups* (Save $100 for every person you add)

*Group Size Limited to 5 participants

For support with image editing, read about our Quarterly Virtual Editing Labs on Zoom, where we edit together live.  We use Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop.  Read more about our Zoom Editing Labs on our Editing Lab Page.

Lori and her husband Thomas at Flag Ranch, being approached by a mustang.  Springtime Photo by Cassandra Ogier.

There are about 60 horses at the ranch that come from either mustang adoption or retired from performance sports.  At the ranch as well are a few mini horses and some chickens, cats, and dogs.  Some horses are in smaller fenced areas, and then at least two bands of free roaming horses wander larger pastures and the rolling hills and creek bed.  The photos below were taken in October when the creek bed was dry and the hills golden brown.