Mirage Club

Join Mirage Club artists Anna Lisa Wagner and Maria Knofe for a guided nature walk exploring the poetic possibilities of Polaroid emulsion lifts.

Beginning with a slow walk through the landscape, participants will be encouraged to observe light, texture, color, and the small details that often go unnoticed. Along the way, we will create Polaroid photographs inspired by our surroundings before transforming them through the emulsion lift process—a technique that separates the image from its original backing and allows it to be transferred onto watercolor paper, creating dreamlike and unpredictable results.

This workshop is designed for photographers, artists, and curious beginners alike. No prior experience is necessary.

Together we will explore:

• Seeing and photographing with intention

• Working with Polaroid film in a natural environment

• The complete emulsion lift process

• Techniques for transferring images onto paper

• Embracing chance, imperfection, and experimentation

Each participant will leave with their own collection of unique emulsion lift artworks and a deeper appreciation for the relationship between photography, nature, and process.

What is Included

• Guided nature walk

• Emulsion lift materials

• Emulsion lift demonstration and hands-on instruction

• Watercolor paper for transfers

Just bring your favorite Polaroid film and camera and create some magic with us!

DATE: JULY 25 3-7PM

ELYSIAN PARK, LOS ANGELES

Step into two days of experimental analog photography in one of the world's most surreal landscapes. Film Soup & Electric Neons is an immersive workshop designed for photographers who want to push beyond traditional techniques and create truly one-of-a-kind imagery.

Before We Meet

Your experience begins before arriving in White Sands. Prior to the workshop, you'll receive an introduction to the Film Soup process along with a guided video explaining how to create your own custom film soup at home. We'll also hold a portfolio review to learn about your creative goals and help you prepare for the workshop.

Each participant will bring their own prepared rolls of film to New Mexico, where chance, chemistry, and landscape come together.

Film Soup

Against the mesmerizing white dunes of White Sands, we'll photograph with our hand-crafted Film Soup rolls, embracing the unexpected colors, textures, and transformations that make this process so magical. Rather than trying to control every outcome, we'll learn how to work creatively with unpredictability and discover the beauty that emerges through experimentation.

Together we'll create distinctive, portfolio-worthy images that cannot be replicated digitally.

Electric Neons

As daylight begins to fade, the desert transforms into our canvas. We'll illuminate the dunes with vibrant neon lights, exploring cinematic color, atmosphere, and creative lighting techniques on analog film.

The contrast between the endless White Sands and glowing electric color creates an unforgettable visual experience—turning the desert into an otherworldly landscape unlike anything you've photographed before.

Throughout the workshop you'll receive hands-on guidance in lighting, composition, directing subjects, and working confidently with film in changing natural light.

After the Workshop

Following the workshop, we'll reconnect for a final portfolio review to discuss your developed images, provide personalized feedback, and help you curate your strongest work.

What's Included

• Pre-workshop Film Soup tutorial and preparation guide

• Live introduction before the workshop

• Portfolio review before the workshop

• Two immersive workshop days in White Sands, New Mexico

• Hands-on instruction in Film Soup techniques and neon lighting

• Post-workshop portfolio review and image feedback

Workshop Fee: $1,111

To reserve your place, a 50% deposit ($555) is required. The remaining balance will be due prior to the workshop.

DATE: SEPTEMBER 5TH/6TH

LOCATION: WHITE SANDS, NEW MEXICO

A Two-Day Creative Retreat at Heart of Gold Horse Sanctuary

Photography changes when we slow down.

Set among the rolling hills of Sonoma County, this intimate two-day retreat invites you into the peaceful world of Heart of Gold Horse Sanctuary, where rescued horses become our teachers in presence, patience, and connection.

Together, we'll explore analog photography through intentional image-making, creating portraits alongside these remarkable animals while embracing a slower, more mindful creative process. Here, the rhythm of the retreat is guided not by a schedule, but by the horses themselves.

Throughout the retreat, you'll photograph both the sanctuary's gentle horses and your instructors, Anna and Maria, while receiving personalized guidance in composition, storytelling, working with natural light, and creating emotionally resonant images on film.

The sanctuary is home to horses that are comfortable around people and experienced with photography, allowing for authentic, respectful interactions that prioritize the well-being of every animal. You'll have the opportunity to spend meaningful time connecting with them before ever picking up your camera, creating photographs that feel genuine rather than staged.

In addition to guided shooting sessions, we'll gather for portfolio reviews, creative discussions, shared meals, and quiet moments to reflect, making this retreat as much about artistic growth as it is about reconnecting with nature and yourself.

A portion of every registration directly supports Heart of Gold Horse Sanctuary, helping provide lifelong care for the rescued horses who make this experience possible.

What's Included

• Two full days at Heart of Gold Horse Sanctuary

• Guided analog photography sessions with horses and professional models

• Personalized portfolio reviews and creative feedback

• Creative direction throughout the retreat

• Time to connect with the horses before photographing

• Small-group experience with plenty of individual guidance

• A donation supporting the ongoing care of the sanctuary's rescued horses

Whether you're drawn to portraiture, storytelling, or simply the quiet magic of spending time with horses, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to create meaningful work in a place built on compassion, connection, and intention.

Investment

Retreat Fee: $2,222

To reserve your place, a $1,111 deposit is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance of $1,111 will be due prior to the retreat.

Due to the intimate nature of this experience, spaces are extremely limited.

DATE: TBA

LOCATION: SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

A One-Day Self-Portrait Retreat

Step away from the pace of everyday life and into a day devoted entirely to yourself.

Goddess Rituals is an intimate one-day retreat designed for women who want to reconnect with their creativity, embrace intentional self-expression, and experience the transformative process of creating self-portraits on analog film.

Set within a breathtaking private estate near Santa Barbara, this experience invites you into a world of beauty, softness, and play. Surrounded by thoughtfully curated spaces, flowers, natural light, and quiet moments, you'll have the freedom to explore your own visual language while being gently guided throughout the day.

Rather than focusing on perfect photographs, we'll focus on presence. Through intentional self-portraiture, you'll discover new ways of seeing yourself and create images that feel honest, cinematic, and deeply personal.

Throughout the retreat you'll enjoy a welcoming tea ceremony, seasonal refreshments, creative prompts, and plenty of unhurried time to photograph, reflect, and simply be. Whether you're completely new to self-portraiture or already have an established practice, we'll provide personalized guidance whenever you need it while leaving space for your own intuition to lead.

This is more than a photography workshop—it's an invitation to celebrate your femininity, creativity, and individuality through the timeless beauty of analog film.

What's Included

• A full-day retreat in a stunning private estate near Santa Barbara

• Guided self-portrait experience on analog film

• Personalized creative guidance throughout the day

• Tea ceremony and intentional opening ritual

• Flowers, light refreshments, and seasonal snacks

• Creative prompts and ample time for independent exploration

• A small, intimate group experience designed to foster connection and inspiration

Leave feeling creatively renewed, carrying not only beautiful photographs but a deeper connection to yourself.

Retreat Fee: $ 777

To reserve your place, a $333 deposit is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance of $444 will be due prior to the retreat.

Due to the intimate nature of this experience, spaces are extremely limited.

DATE: TBA

LOCATION: SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

A Two-Day Analog Photography Retreat

From the sculptural silhouettes of towering saguaro cacti to the vibrant glow of electric neon after sunset, this immersive two-day retreat celebrates the many ways light transforms the desert.

Designed for photographers who love experimentation, portraiture, and cinematic storytelling, this experience combines the dreamy aesthetics of painterly Polaroids with the bold energy of neon-lit landscapes, creating images that are both timeless and unexpected.

During the retreat, we'll explore the iconic desert landscapes surrounding Tucson while learning how to create expressive portraits on Polaroid film. Participants are welcome to photograph Anna and Maria as models, experiment with directing one another, or focus entirely on the landscape itself. Whether your passion is portraiture or environmental storytelling, you'll have the freedom to shape the experience around your own creative vision.

As evening approaches, we'll transform the desert with vibrant neon lighting, exploring color, atmosphere, and long-exposure techniques as the cacti become part of an otherworldly landscape. Together we'll create striking, portfolio-worthy images that blend the beauty of the natural world with the surreal possibilities of artificial light.

Throughout the retreat, you'll receive personalized guidance in composition, working with available light, directing subjects, and making the most of analog film in dynamic outdoor environments.

Before and after the retreat, we'll meet for portfolio reviews to help refine your creative goals, provide individualized feedback, and support the development of your personal artistic voice.

What's Included

• Two full days of guided photography in the Tucson desert

• Pre- and post-retreat portfolio reviews

• Hands-on instruction in painterly Polaroid techniques

• Electric neon night sessions among the iconic saguaro cacti

• Opportunities to photograph professional models, fellow participants, or the landscape itself

• Personalized creative guidance throughout the retreat

• Small-group experience with plenty of individual attention

Whether you're drawn to portraiture, landscapes, or the intersection of both, this retreat offers a chance to create a body of work that is distinctly your own—surrounded by one of the American Southwest's most extraordinary landscapes.

Investment

Retreat Fee: $1,111

To reserve your place, a $555 deposit is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance of $556 will be due prior to the retreat.

Due to the intimate nature of this experience, spaces are limited.

DATE: JANUARY 9TH/10 2027

LOCATION: TUCSON, ARIZONA

This option includes the full workshop experience across both days, designed for those who want a deeper, more personalized creative process.

In addition to the Day 1 group workshop, participants will have access to Day 2 private sessions — an intimate setting focused on refining your vision and creating portfolio-level work.

Includes:

• Full access to Day 1 workshop (all modules + group shooting)

• Day 2 one-on-one shooting sessions with both artists

• Both instructors modeling during your session

• Personalized creative direction and technical guidance

Day 2 offers the space to slow down, experiment, and develop your ideas with direct support — allowing for a more intentional and immersive experience.

Limited to 4 participants.

Please note: This is a complete package including Day 1 + Day 2. You do not need to purchase the Day 1 workshop separately.

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This workshop is a collaborative experience led by two photographers, Anna Lisa Wagner and Maria Knofe, each with a distinct visual language. Participants will explore two unique approaches to image-making: cinematic neon-lit film photography and painterly SX-70 Polaroids.

Set against the surreal landscape of Joshua Tree, this workshop blends technical teaching, creative exploration, and hands-on shooting.

WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT

• Two artists, two distinct visual worlds

• Learn both film + Polaroid techniques in one experience

• Shoot with experienced models who are also your instructors

• Emphasis on creative intuition, not just technical settings

• Small group for personalized guidance

PART I: Neon Light as Transformation

This segment focuses on using neon light in natural environments to create surreal, otherworldly imagery on film.

Participants will learn:

• How to work with neon in outdoor/night settings

• Balancing artificial light with ambient darkness

• ‘Painting’ with light and gradients

• Film stock choices and how they respond to neon

• Creating mood through color, contrast, and shadow

• Directing the human form to interact with light

This is less about perfection, more about exploration — allowing light to distort, sculpt, and transform the subject.

PART II: Painting with Polaroid

This segment offers participants the opportunity to blend their knowledge of art and art history with that of instant film. Participants will learn how to apply a variety of traditional painting methodologies in order to:

• Create unique and unconventional compositions within the limitations of a square frame

• Capture a subject/scene using only available natural light

• Create an intuitive and cohesive storyline using the allotted 8 frames per pack

• Become comfortable with using Polaroid film as a medium for portraiture

Both instructors are experienced models, offering participants the rare opportunity to:

• Direct and photograph skilled subjects

• Observe how artists use their own bodies in composition

• Learn posing as a form of storytelling

• Explore vulnerability, movement, and abstraction

STRUCTURE

BEFORE

• Online introduction session

• Creative briefing + inspiration references

• Technical overview (film + Polaroid basics)

DURING

DAY 1 (GROUP WORKSHOP) (May 24th)

• On-location teaching in Joshua Tree

• Live demonstrations by both artists

• Two shooting blocks:

  • Neon Film Module (~2 hours)

  • SX-70 Polaroid Module (~2 hours)

• Guided group shooting with hands-on support

DAY II (INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS) (May 25th)

• individual sessions with both instructors

• time to slow down and explore individual concepts

• 1 on 1 sessions

WHO THIS IS FOR

• Photographers looking to expand creatively

• Artists curious about film and alternative processes

• Anyone drawn to surreal, cinematic, or painterly imagery

All levels welcome, though basic camera knowledge is helpful.

VISUAL LANGUAGE

This workshop is rooted in:

• Light as a subject, not just a tool

• The human form as sculpture

• Imperfection as part of the process

• Atmosphere over technical precision

DATE & LOCATION

Memorial Day Weekend — Joshua Tree

Set across Memorial Day weekend, this workshop is designed as an immersive escape into landscape, light, and creative exploration.

The workshop will be held in the northern part of Joshua Tree National Park, the exact locations will be disclosed to participants closer to the workshop dates. For accommodation, staying anywhere between the Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms entrances along the Twentynine Palms Highway will ensure a short drive. There are excellent options available in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Twentynine Palms.

TAKEAWAYS

Participants will leave with:

• A deeper understanding of creative lighting

• Hands-on experience with film + Polaroid

• A portfolio of unique, experimental images

• New ways of seeing and directing subjects

FINAL NOTE

This is not a traditional workshop. It is an invitation to step into two artistic worlds and explore what happens when technique meets intuition.