South of France Worshop Information Packet
Wild Horses & Lavender Landscapes
Contents:
I. General Information
II. To Do Checklist
III. Daily Itinerary
IV. FAQ’s
Welcome!
Thanks again for joining our South of France: Wild Horses & Lavender Landscapes photography adventure - I’m sure you are as excited for our adventure as we are! This document contains important information to help you prepare for your travels. Please take some time to review it carefully.
Workshop Overview
Workshop Dates: July 09-19, 2025
Begins: Marseille, France
Ends: Montpelier, France
Trip Leader/Instructor: Stephanie Hogue
The workshop begins at 1pm on July 9 when we meet at the Best Western Marseille Airport hotel for our transfer to our charming hotel in the heart of Provence and ends when we drop you off at Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport (Airport code: MPL) on the morning of July 19.
In between, we will visit 3 regions in southern France: Provence, the Luberon and the Camargue, and photograph their many attractions including vast lavender fields, ancient hilltop villages and wild white horses.
Formal and informal instruction/coaching on wildlife and landscape photography techniques, developing your Photographer’s Eye, image management and post processing are also part of our agenda. On the final day of the workshop we will travel from Provence to Marseille airport, arriving in time to check in for your homeward flight.
Please take a look at the Daily Itinerary in this packet or on the workshop page of our website for more details about the locations we will visit and the things we can expect to see and photograph throughout our journey.
Inclusions/Exclusions – the following are included/excluded in your workshop fees:
Included – airport transfers, transportation and lodging during the workshop, breakfasts, local guide, photography instruction
Excluded – international airfare, meals/snacks/beverages other than breakfasts, personal expenses, gratuities and anything not specifically listed as included
Balance of Fees
Your initial deposit payment secured your reservation for this workshop. You will receive invoices by email for the following additional payments:
Second payment of $2500 due Sep 1, 2024
Final Payment – the balance of all fees is due by Feb 1, 2025. The amount of this payment will vary for each participant based on options chosen such as additional hotel nights.
All payments can be made online using any major credit/debit card. Please contact us if you wish to make a payment by another method. Your prompt payments are greatly appreciated.
Travel Logistics & Documents
Passport – make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond our return date and that you have at least 2 blank pages for visa stamps.
International Flights –
Arrival – you need to arrive at Marseille–Provence airport (Airport code: MRS) in Marseille, France no later than 11am on July 9. However, we strongly recommend arriving a day early in case of travel delays and to rest a bit after your long flight.
Departure – Book your homeward flight to depart from Montpellier – Méditerranée (Airport code: MPL) in Montpelier, France any time after 7am on July 19
Extra hotel nights - if you plan to arrive early or stay after the workshop ends, send us your itinerary details and we will book extra hotel nights for you as needed. The additional cost per night including breakfast and taxes are:
Marseille (near airport): $200 singles/$235 couples
Camargue: $145 singles/$175 couples
Let us know if you need any assistance with your travel arrangements.
Visas –Tourist visas are not required for US passport holders. If your passport was issued by another country, please check online or with the EU/French consulate in your country regarding visa requirements.
Vaccinations – no specific vaccinations are required to enter France but please consult your physician or travel clinic for their recommendations. If you have a sensitive stomach you may want to ask for a course of antibiotics for ‘travelers diarrhea’, just in case.
Travel Insurance – that covers medical evacuation is a requirement for participation on this workshop. Most policies also cover many other things like trip cancellation, lost luggage, theft/loss, etc. are widely available and reasonably priced.
Notify Banks & Credit Cards – notify your financial institutions about your travel plans to prevent problems using credit cards or ATM’s while traveling.
Mobile Phone Carrier – look into your phone carrier’s international roaming policies and rates BEFORE leaving home or you may return to an extremely expensive bill. You may want to pre-purchase a data plan from your carrier or limit your mobile phone usage to Wi-Fi only.
Health/Medical
Prescription Medications – make sure to pack an adequate supply of any prescription medications (also supplements, sleep aids, non-prescription pain relievers, etc.) you take, as they may not be available in the areas we will be traveling.
Allergies – please let us know about any allergies you have AND the severity of your reactions. It is your responsibility to carry appropriate medications (e.g. Epi Pen) in case of accidental exposure.
What to Pack
Weather Note – below are historical averages for temperatures in the areas we will be in July. In general, the weather will be mostly sunny and dry. Rain is possible but not likely.
Location Avg High/Low
Provence 83˚F /65˚F
Camargue 80˚ F /62˚F
Clothing – thin, cool and light are the order of the day for this trip. Shorts are perfectly acceptable for most situations but be advised that mosquitos can be quite bad in the Camargue. In addition, you should also bring:
Sneakers - there is minimal hiking on this trip, but you want comfortable shoes with good traction.
Light jacket or sweater
Brimmed hat
Sunglasses
Flip flops/sandals for around the hotels
Bandanna, buff or face mask – for dust protection
Bathing suit
Note: there are no ‘dress up’ dinners on this trip. Choose your clothing based on functionality and versatility.
Photo Gear – it’s tempting to bring everything you own, but that usually works against you. The following are what we consider to be the essentials. We’re happy to give more specific brand/model recommendations for specific items. Just ask.
Camera Body(s) – dSLR or mirrorless (full frame or crop sensor). ‘Bridge’ cameras with a long zoom (400mm+) are also an option.
Lenses – Everyone’s kit will be unique but here are some general recommendations:
Wide angle - 24mm or wider and/or your phone camera
Medium “walkaround” lens such as a 24-105mm or similar.
Telephoto – a 70-200mm is the ideal telephoto lens for this trip. You can also bring something longer if you like but it’s not really necessary. Leave your giant 400mm f/2.8 or 600mm f/4 lenses at home.
Tripod – something sturdy but lightweight enough to carry comfortably with a ballhead is ideal. There is one location where we have to shoot over a ~5ft wall, so your tripod should reach at least 5 ½ feet fully extended.
Filters
A UV filter to protect your lens from water spray & sand is highly recommended
Graduated neutral density (GND) filter(s) – nice to have to control contrast in landscapes but this can also be accomplished in post processing by bracketing and blending exposures
A polarizing filter may come in handy at times but is not really necessary
Batteries and Memory cards – you will be shooting a lot, maybe more than you ever have, easily in the thousands of images and hundreds of gigabytes total. Bring PLENTY of extra cards and batteries. You should NOT erase/overwrite any memory cards until you get home, even if you have downloaded the images to your laptop or hard drive.
Camera Battery Charger – do not forget! As a backup, you might consider purchasing USB powered battery charger. They are cheap and let you charge your camera batteries without a wall outlet. Google “(your camera model) USB charger.”
Card reader – if not built-in to your laptop.
Cleaning kit – nothing fancy, a small microfiber towel, lens cloth, lens cleaner and maybe a blower. A travel toothbrush is also very handy for cleaning around the buttons & dials of your camera.
Headlamp – MUCH better than a flashlight because it leaves both hands free.
Other Things to Pack
Laptop or tablet – highly recommended. Your photography will improve if you review your images daily. Doing preliminary selects and ratings also makes the mountain of images more manageable when you get home. We will also have several sessions on post processing and image management
Portable hard drive - for image storage and/or backup. If you are considering purchasing one, the newer SSD (solid state drive) models are faster and more reliable than traditional spinning disk types. Most SSD’s are also “bus powered” – meaning they gets their power from the USB cable and do not require a separate power cord.
Chargers and cables for your mobile phone and other electronics
Power bank – extremely handy for charging phones and other electronics while traveling.
Travel Plug Converter(s)–
France uses 230 volt electricity and Type C and Type E electrical outlets. A simple travel plug adapter like this one is all you need for most electronics. Some models also include one or more USB ports which is handy.
You may also want to pack a small power strip to charge multiple devices simultaneously. Make sure your power strip is rated for up to 240 volts.
Sunscreen & Insect Repellent - the Camargue is a marshy area and can be quite buggy in summer.
Travel tea kettle & Instant Coffee packets - hotel rooms in this part of France typically do not have coffee makers or tea kettles. If getting some caffeine in your system at oh-dark-thirty is a priority, bring your own supplies. Here’s one travel kettle that’s compact and rated for 240 volts (important).
Trash bag for muddy shoes – waterproof boots will be provided when needed but you will need to remove your boots before getting back into the van.
Google Translate & WhatsApp – please download & install these app on your phone prior to arrival. Google translate is an invaluable tool for communicating in foreign languages and we will use WhatsApp as our primary tool for group communication.
How to Pack
Luggage – Aim for a maximum of 50lbs in ONE SOFT-SIDED BAG for your clothing and personal items. Do Not Overpack. Laundry service is available at our hotels for a small fee.
Photo Gear –A soft-sided photo backpack/bag in the 20–40 liter capacity range is ideal for traveling with your photo gear. In addition, a small bag just big enough to hold an extra lens or two and a few personal items is highly recommended.
A Word About Gratuities - Like many service businesses, our local guides rely on gratuities for a substantial portion of their total income. I think you will find them to be outstanding at what they do. If you feel you received good service, a token of your appreciation is greatly appreciated. The amount you choose to give is entirely up to you, but since we are always asked for guidance, ‘typical’ ranges (in USD) are listed below:
Main Guide/Driver - $100 - $200 per guest (not per couple)
Misc (hotel/lodge staff, etc ): $1–$2/day or occasion
Note: Cash tips should be given in local currency (Euro). For other purchases, credit cards are widely accepted. You can also convert USD to Euro at the airport or obtain cash from ATMs.
If we’ve missed anything or you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by phone, text or email. Thanks again, we look forward to seeing you in Montpelier!
Ken Lee
+1 949-282-9660 Mobile/WhatsApp
ken@artofseeing.com
South of France 2025
To Do Checklist
___ Book international flights and send us a copy of your flight itinerary:
Arriving at Marseille Provence International airport (MRS) in Marseille, France,
Departing from Montpelier International airport (MPL) in Montpelier, France.
___ Send us a photo/copy of the picture page of your passport
___ Let us know if you need extra hotel nights before or after the workshop
___ Purchase Travel Insurance
___ Notify Banks & Credit Cards of your travel plans
___ Check mobile phone carrier’s international roaming policies and plans
___ Make a personal packing checklist. Click here for a downloadable Photo Trip Packing
South of France
Daily Itinerary
| Day | Date | Itinerary | Overnight | Included Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 9 | Arrival - Provence - welcome to France! We will transfer you to our charming hotel in central Provence. Relax and recover from your travels until 4pm when we gather for our Workshop Overview meeting followed by a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. | Provence Hotel | Dinner |
| 2 | July 10 | Provence - Provence - before sunrise, we set off to photograph the Lavender fields in the pale morning light. We will capture different views of the lavender, dotted with small stone shepherd’s huts with the mountains as a backdrop. In the afternoon, we return to capture the beautiful purple lavender and sunflowers – a sight and scent to behold! We end the day when the sun sets over the lavender fields. | Provence Hotel | Breakfast |
| 3 | July 11 | Provence - we set off again today for the lavender and sunflower fields, but we head for different locations today, giving you the opportunity of photographing diverse landscapes with varying backdrops, providing a wide array of stunning landscape images at sunrise and sunset. | Provence Hotel | Breakfast |
| 4 | July 12 | Provence-Luberon - sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we make the drive to a small hilltop village in the Luberon (~2hrs) This region is the rural French countryside of your imagination, characterized by strikingly picturesque hill-top villages dating back 1000 years or more. We’ll check in at our hotel and get settled before heading out to explore the village on foot with our cameras in late afternoon light | Luberon Hotel | Breakfast | 5 | July 13 | Luberon - We depart early to capture another beautiful hilltop village in the soft morning light. Late afternoon we set off again to photograph different villages and lavender fields, offering you a wide array of varying landscapes. We’ll also stroll the narrow cobblestone streets of the villages creating compositions with their photogenic shutters, doors and other architectural details. | Luberon Hotel | Breakfast | 6 | July 14 | Luberon - today we photograph more villages and lavender fields. You can obtain a wide array of images including perched villages at sunrise and sunset, some with lavender stretching out at the foot of the village and others with wonderful views out across the valley floor with a patchwork of orchards and vineyards. We also photograph a beautiful and still working 12th century abbey in a sublime, solitary setting, surrounded by fields of lavender, one of the most iconic sights in Provence | Luberon Hotel | Breakfast | 7 | July 15 | Luberon – Camargue - we begin with a sunrise shoot nearby. Then we check out after breakfast and drive to the Camargue, stopping along the way to visit the impressive Pont du Gard Roman viaduct ruins where we’ll do a bit of photography and have our lunch. We arrive in Aigues Morte midafternoon in time to get settled and stroll the lanes of this medieval village before dinner. | Carmargue Hotel | Breakfast | 8 | July 16 | Aigues Mortes – we depart before dawn for the Parc Ornithologique, a natural Camargue wetlands area with one of the largest arrays of birdlife in Europe, including its famous Pink Flamingos. Our local contacts provide us with access to the park before sunrise and before it opens to the public. Capture images of birds flying at sunrise. Our guides will direct us to prime locations among the waterways and lakes to capture a variety of species from single birds to large flocks of pink Flamingos. We return to our hotel for meals and some downtime before heading out in the afternoon to photograph the Black Bulls of Camargue, thundering through the shallow waters of marshland, as they are herded by the Gardians on horseback – a unique and thrilling photographic experience. | Carmargue Hotel | Breakfast | 9 | July 17 | Aigues Mortes - we start this morning with an early morning beach photoshoot with a beautiful white Camargue stallion. Capture portrait and action images of our subject rearing and running atop the sand dunes and along the beach in golden hour light. Return to our hotel to clean up, eat and download images. Time allowing, Stephanie will cover image management and post processing tips in Lightroom before we head out in the late for another photo session of wild white horses running through the marsh. The horses are herded by the “Gardians”, Camargue Cowboys, who make fantastic subjects dressed in their traditional attire, trident in hand, surrounded by the herd as well as some close-up portraits of both the horses and the “weathered” ranchers. | Carmargue Hotel | Breakfast | 10 | July 18 | Aigues Mortes - in the morning, we head to the beach for the ultimate spectacle of the wild white horses running along the golden sand and surf, sea spray flying. We’ll shoot several drives in different directions to capture an assortment of action images in a variety of lighting conditions. There will also be another opportunity to capture “Gardian” portraits as well as more intimate photographs the horses This afternoon is our final photoshoot with the horses and Gardians splashing through the marsh. Take advantage of breaks in the action to capture portraits of individual horses or Gardians or up-close detail shots. | Carmargue Hotel | Breakfast | 11 | July 19 | A relaxed morning for a leisurely breakfast before checking out of the hotel and departing to Montpellier airport in time to check in for your homeward flight.
End of Service |
- | Breakfast |
Note: this itinerary is our general plan but is subject to change without notice for weather, logistical considerations or other reasons.
FAQ’S
Q: Where will we stay?
A: We will stay in small hotels in each of our 3 locations
Q: Is there an extra fee for a private room?
A: No, the workshop fee includes private rooms with ensuite bathrooms.
Q: What if I have special dietary requirements?
A: We will pass on any dietary requirements to the hotel where it is relevant to breakfast, which is included in the workshop price. You will have many options at the restaurants we eat at for lunch and dinner which can accommodate most dietary needs.
Q: Breakfast is included in the workshop, but what about the other meals?
A: Lunch and dinner are not included in the workshop because there are so many fabulous restaurants to try in the charming towns and villages we will visit and we want each person to sample the cuisines that most appeals to them.
Q: What happens if it rains?
A: We work around the weather and may adjust the itinerary to ensure you get the best possible shoot on any given day. It is extremely rare we cancel due to rain, unless conditions are extreme.
Q: How should I make my travel arrangements?
A: Book your international flights to arrive at Marseille International Airport (airport code: MRS). and depart from Montpelier International Airport (airport code: MPL) in Montpelier, France. Additional details to help you plan your travels will be provided to registered participants
Q: Do I need a tourist visa to enter France?
A: If your passport was issued by the Unites States, a tourist visa is NOT required to enter France/European Union.
Q: What if I want to arrive early or stay after the workshop dates?
A: No problem, let us know your arrival/departure details and we will book the additional hotel nights on your behalf (additional cost).
Q: Can my non-photographer friend/partner attend?
A: Absolutely, travel partners who may not share your passion for photography are very welcome. Just make sure they can handle being part of a group that wants to do nothing but eat, sleep and talk about photography. Also, they should be aware of our (very) early start times and long days. Unfortunately, due to limited space, we cannot offer a discount for non-photographer partners.
Q: What is the fitness level required for this trip?
A: This trip is classified as Easy from a physical fitness perspective. No hiking is in the itinerary but we will be strolling the streets of small villages which can be hilly for several hours at a stretch.