WORKSHOP FAQs
General
Renée's workshops are certainly about photography, but even more importantly, they are to assist in the development of an artistic eye regarding the depiction of women and the female form. There is much to be read from a glance, a tilt of the head, a wisp of hair, the bend of a neck. First and foremost, Renée's workshops are about applying principles of respect and admiration to the depiction of women in art. This is a digital or polaroid-only workshop. Students will need to know how to download their digital images to a folder each evening so that their day's work can be brought to class the next day on a flash drive, external hard drive, or CD for the daily review.
Locations
Workshop locations can change due to circumstances such as weather, availability, class size, etc.
What to Bring
Besides your DSLR camera (see below), bring a body of your creative work with you to share, either a portfolio or CD of images. Your portfolio can be prints or digital images. Also, be prepared for inclement and cold weather. Many of our locations (such as Paris & Venice in November) can be quite cold and drizzly. We may also be shooting at night. Bring good, waterproof walking shoes and rain gear.
Camera Gear
Students may work with a DSLR camera. Two bodies are recommended with a minimum of at least one wide-angle lens, and one portrait lens, or a zoom in the range of 24-105. Students should bring the manuals for their cameras, several memory cards (at least 2G cards are recommended), extra batteries and necessary battery chargers. Your laptop should have image management software such as Apple’s Aperture, Adobe’s Light Room or Adobe Photoshop/Bridge. Students should make sure to have a back-up system on which to download each day’s work. This can be your laptop, a portable external hard drive storage device, flash drive, CDs or DVDs. You will need a means of getting your edited images into a folder for review each day; flash drives are the most practical, but you can also use an external hard drive, CD, or DVD. Make sure you have card readers and cables.
Language
Workshops will be conducted in English
Time schedule
Workshops will generally start at 10 am and to end around 17 h/5 pm, subject to change for weather, light conditions or special arrangements to shoot at night. Neither exact hours nor exact models are guaranteed.
Number of participants
It is important to keep the class sizes small. For workshops at our home in France, workshops will usually be limited to 3 students. If the maximum number of participants is reached, additional candidates will be put on a waiting list. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the workshop may be cancelled, in which case the registration fee will be refunded minus the non-refundable initial deposit, which you can use as credit toward a print purchase.
Workshops on demand / private workshops
Renée offers tailor made workshops and lectures for small groups or individuals. Of course, this allows adjustment for various skill levels, goals and desires. Length: half day to 1 week. Locations: worldwide. Prices and further conditions on request.
Photographic/Skill requirements
Renée welcomes amateur to professionals. The participants should have basic knowledge of the main functions of their camera.
Not included
Insurance, transport, lodging, meals on non-workshop days (arrival/departure days), guide fees, tips are not included. Modeling fees are included, which will include a model release for portfolio/artistic non-commercial purposes. Occasionally, the group (or members of the group) may request a special location incurring additional fees. Students are strongly encouraged to tip the models.
Registration and payment
Renée accepts payment by direct bank transfer, paypal to her account of renee@reneejacobs.com, by credit card or check. Fees vary by workshop, location and duration. A 500 euro non-refundable deposit is required. If the student should cancel for any reason, the 500 euro deposit can be used towards a print purchase. Each workshop will have its own schedule of payments. Early registration and return student discounts are available.
Cancellation
Renée reserves the right to cancel the workshop or to refuse participants (overbooking, etc.), in which case the total registration fee minus the non-refundable deposit will be refunded without any further liability.
If a participant cancels their registration
more than 8 weeks before the workshop, the fee (less deposit) will be fully refunded
less than 8 weeks before the workshop, 50% of the fee (less deposit) will be refunded
less than 3 weeks before the workshop, the fee will not be refunded
Note: the length of these periods can vary for the international workshops, due to hotel bookings; see the specific conditions for each workshop
Disclaimer
Renée Jacobs and her team can in no way be held responsible for any damage whatsoever, caused by accidents, injuries, thefts, cancellations, etc. All information on this site is purely indicative and can be subject to change. All workshop materials belong to Renée Jacobs. Videotaping of workshops will not be allowed to ensure the privacy of the models and other students. Exact models, times, schedules and locations are subject to change and can not be guaranteed.
Enrollment Information & Terms and Conditions of Travel
1. RESERVATIONS
A deposit and completed Personal Information/Registration/Indemnification Form will reserve a place for you on a workshop. Deposits and trip payments may be made by personal check, cashier's check, bank transfer, paypal, or credit card in Euros only. Any debit/credit card payments will incur processing fees. Full payment of the trip fee is due 90 days prior to departure date, except as specified by workshop. If final payment is not received when due, we reserve the right to treat your reservation as canceled, as per our cancellation and refunds policy. Trip fees are quoted in Euros only and must be paid in Euros only.
2. HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Our workshops are within the capabilities of average people in good health. Some of these trips require the capability of walking for several miles over uneven trails, stepping from a small boat to a wave-washed rocky beach, flying in small planes and helicopters, and occasionally hiking at high elevations - all while carrying an assortment of camera equipment. If you have concerns about your own capabilities and/or fitness as it relates to a trip, please inquire with us before reserving a space AND THEN see your physician and receive medical advice before signing up for a workshop.
By forwarding a signed reservation form and trip deposit, you certify that you do not knowingly have any physical or other conditions of disability that would create a risk for you or other trip participants and that you have checked any concerns with proper medical personnel.
We reserve the right to request a doctor's statement of good health. You are solely responsible for evaluating your own physical fitness for joining any tour. We strongly encourage you to seek competent medical advice if you have any concerns about your physical fitness. Once a trip has been confirmed, medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to our cancellation policy. We assume no liability for any medical problem you encounter during the tour. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your medical/dental/accident/ and any other insurance you may have covers you while traveling abroad. We assume no responsibility for medical care or for special dietary requirements. Tours will NOT be delayed, altered or otherwise changed on account of a person's inability to travel or keep up with the tour group.
3. INSURANCE
All participants are strongly urged to purchase travel protection insurance. You are solely responsible for confirming that your various insurance policies will cover you while traveling abroad.
4. COMPANIONS
The workshops are designed for photographers passionate about advancing their skill. If you desire to bring along a non-shooting companion, please contact us and we may be able to suggest excursions or guides to suit their needs, which may incur an additional cost. Workshop shooting, meetings, excursions and lectures are for paid participants only unless specified otherwise.
5. RESPONSIBILITY
Cost increases may occur unexpectedly due to factors including but without limitation to rising costs of airfares, ground transport, fuel surcharges, accommodations and currency fluctuations. We may be compelled to amend prices, and we reserve the right to do so without prior notice. An increase in trip prices shall not be sufficient grounds for any refund of funds paid for the trip other than as determined by the terms of our cancellation policy.
Our itineraries are intended as examples only. Participants should allow for flexibility due to changes in weather, natural history or cultural events, or other logistical arrangements deemed necessary by us.
We assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in transporting the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the trip. We will NOT accept nor tolerate any rudeness, disrespectfulness, drunkenness, illegal use of drugs, or any illegal activity, poor treatment of other tour participants, models, staff or guides and we reserve the right to send individuals home at their expense if they can't comply
We accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as trip fees provide for arrangements only for the times and locations stated. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely.
The right is reserved to 1) substitute locations, times, models for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary or transport where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules or equipment substitution; 2) cancel any trip prior to departure, in which case full refund of the paid trip funds will be given, but we are not responsible for any other trip preparation expenses such as penalized or non-refundable air tickets, visa fees and medical related expenses; 3) accept or retain any person as a member of any trip.
Trip prices are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of brochure printing and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein.
An Assumption of Risk and Indemnification form must be signed by each participant prior to the commencement of the trip. Participation by any trip member will be declined in absence of a signed original of this form, with no trip fee refund. No modification to the terms of the Release and Assumption of Risk form will be accepted.
Should we or anyone acting on our behalf be required to incur attorney's fees and costs to enforce this agreement, the enrolling trip participant(s) agree(s) to indemnify and hold us harmless for all such fees and costs. In the event a lawsuit is filed, the enrolling participant(s) agree(s) to do so solely in the County of Los Angeles in the State of California and to submit such legal action to binding arbitration. The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation on any trip shall be deemed to constitute consent to the conditions contained herein.