iPhone Photography Workshop with Julie Stauffer
Join Us for a Curated Program of Morning Instructional Sessions
Afternoon Cultural Excursions and Photography Opportunities Evening Discussions/Evaluation of Day’s Work
Sunday, October 25th - Friday, October 30th 2026
3250€ per person, All Included
“I used to think my phone had a camera in it. Now I think I have a
camera that can make calls and send texts.”
Scott Kelby, Professional Photographer
Scott Kelby’s quote says it all. With each new generation of iPhone, the quality of the iPhone camera performance gets easier and better. During this workshop, we will get you up to date with the latest Apple iPhone camera improvements and post processing, and introduce a number of other editing/stylistic apps to consider in your final editing of images.
Sunday, Bienvenue dans les gers
Monday - First Class Controls: Look to Find the Hidden
10:00 Start
In the morning after breakfast we will begin our first session. The theme of this technique is to observe differently to capture with your camera the historic and cultural locations we visit later in the day. You will learn the basic controls to set up your iPhone camera and the various adjustments/choices to make before you press the shutter. Pre-exposure adjustments can make a good image even better. Often the camera delivers your image needing few changes, but we will explore taking the image from good to great. Practicing with your camera in this first session begins to increase your technological muscle memory.
We will begin to master the editing features built into the iPhone camera software. There will be a low-key homework assignment for Class Two that will help you practice your progress.
12:30 - 2:00 LUNCH
Over lunch, we will have an Informal discussion and feedback sessions on the work produced and a conversation about the assignment to complete in the afternoon.
2:30 - 5:00 Visit to Bassoues
After lunch we visit the nearby medieval bastide village of Bassoues for a tour that includes an esteemed African Art gallery, antique shops and pottery studios. We will also explore the famed XIc dungeon with beautiful gothic rooms and a spiral staircase of 197 steps for an optional climb to view the magnificent panorama of the countryside. Here you will have the opportunity to complete your assignment and prepare to present to class in the morning tomorrow. Look for hidden things, use your mind's eye to discover this medieval village and the parts unknown.
5:00 - 6:30
Return to the domaine for some relaxation before dinner.
6:30 Dinner
It is a nice walk or a short drive (5 minutes) to return back to Bassoues which is fortunate to be blessed with one of the best restaurants in the Gers. There is a young enthusiastic chef who is passionate abut the regional cuisine and here we will enjoy a very full taste of Gascony!
Tuesday - Second Class Editing and a Wine Journey
10:00 Start
After breakfast, our session will allow you to become more comfortable with your individual cameras and discover how to fine tune your images. Please download SNAPSEED (a free editing app from the App Store) and allow it to use your PHOTOS. We will spend some time delving into this Snapseed app. The theme of this class will be Landscape Photography, and you will have a chance to practice this in the afternoon excursion.
iPads: Bring to this class if you would like to edit on a larger screen. Be sure to download Snapseed on your iPad. iPhones/ipads run on iOS system; laptops run on OS so they will not work with what we do in this workshop.
12:30 - 2:00 LUNCH
Over lunch, we will have an Informal discussion and feedback sessions on the work produced and a conversation about the assignment to complete in the afternoon.
3:00 - 8:00 Visit to the Madiran Wine Region
Following an extended break we will journey to the Madrian wine region to discover two very distinctive and favorite certified AOC biologique wineries, both now run and operated by female producers. The first is Domaine du Moulié. Here we will experience a tour of the vineyard and the French style of wine tasting, which usually includes conversations about the harvest, gardening tips and some local news. You will notice relationships are very important here, more than a customer, it is very natural become both friends and close neighbors with local winemakers.
It is a lovely drive with uninterrupted views of the Pyrenees. We will have a chance to stop along the way to take photographs for your assignment.
After Domaine du Moulié, we will go to Château Viella which is well known and respected for their Madiran (red) & Pacherenc du Vic Bilh (white) wines. Following the tour and tasting, we will be welcomed to a winemakers dinner with Claire Bortolussi, the daughter to guide us through her decisions for the wine selected with the meal. This is a special treat and a great way to learn about pairing wine with food.
Wednesday - Third Class Experimenting with filters and with food! Market Visit & Cooking Workshop
10:00
This is market day in the local village. After breakfast, we will head over to Marciac, the location of the International Jazz Festival in the summer. The market is filled with wonderful produce from nearby artisans and we will be browsing around to shop for dinner. Your assignment here is to photograph documentary style, with being too intrusive or obvious.
12:30 - 2:00 LUNCH
Lunch will be at a specially selected restaurent on the village square. You will have time to ask questions ad to share your experiences.
3:00 - 5:00 Cooking Workshop
Following an extended break we will journey to the Madrian wine region to discover two very distinctive and favorite certified AOC biologique wineries, both now run and operated by female producers: The first will be Domaine du Moulié. Here we will experience a tour of the vineyard and the French style of wine tasting, which usually includes conversations about the seasons, gardening tips, and some local news. You will notice relationships are very important here, more than a customer, one becomes both a friend and a neighbor with local winemakers.
It is a lovely drive with uninterrupted views of the Pyrenees. We will have a chance to stop along the way to take photographs for your assignment.
After Domaine du Moulié, we will go to Château Viella which is well known and respected for their Madiran (red) & Pacherenc du Vic Bilh (white) wines. Following the tour and tasting, we will be welcomed to a winemakers dinner with Claire Bortolussi, the daughter to guide us through her decisions for the wine selected with the meal. This is a special treat and a great way to learn about pairing wine with food.
Thursday - Presenting and a Visit to Eauze, the Armagnac Capital of the Gers
10:00
After breakfast, our session will allow you to become more comfortable with your individual cameras and discover how to fine tune your images. Please download SNAPSEED (a free editing app from the App Store) and allow it to use your PHOTOS. We will spend some time delving into this Snapseed app. The theme of this class will be Landscape Photography, and you will have a chance to practice this in the afternoon excursion.
iPads: Bring to this class if you would like to edit on a larger screen. Be sure to download Snapseed on your iPad. iPhones/ipads run on iOS system; laptops run on OS so they will not work with what we do in this workshop.
12:30 - 2:00 LUNCH
Over lunch, we will have an Informal discussion and feedback sessions on the work produced and a conversation about the assignment to complete in the afternoon.
3:00 - 8:00 Visit to the Madiran Wine Region
Following an extended break we will journey to the Madrian wine region to discover two very distinctive and favorite certified AOC biologique wineries, both now run and operated by female producers: The first will be Domaine du Moulié. Here we will experience a tour of the vineyard and the French style of wine tasting, which usually includes conversations about the seasons, gardening tips, and some local news. You will notice relationships are very important here, more than a customer, one becomes both a friend and a neighbor with local winemakers.
It is a lovely drive with uninterrupted views of the Pyrenees. We will have a chance to stop along the way to take photographs for your assignment.
After Domaine du Moulié, we will go to Château Viella which is well known and respected for their Madiran (red) & Pacherenc du Vic Bilh (white) wines. Following the tour and tasting, we will be welcomed to a winemakers dinner with Claire Bortolussi, the daughter to guide us through her decisions for the wine selected with the meal. This is a special treat and a great way to learn about pairing wine with food.
Friday - Fin du Retreat
10:00
After breakfast, our session will allow you to become more comfortable with your individual cameras and discover how to fine tune your images. Please download SNAPSEED (a free editing app from the App Store) and allow it to use your PHOTOS. We will spend some time delving into this Snapseed app. The theme of this class will be Landscape Photography, and you will have a chance to practice this in the afternoon excursion.
iPads: Bring to this class if you would like to edit on a larger screen. Be sure to download Snapseed on your iPad. iPhones/ipads run on iOS system; laptops run on OS so they will not work with what we do in this workshop.
12:30 - 2:00 LUNCH
Over lunch, we will have an Informal discussion and feedback sessions on the work produced and a conversation about the assignment to complete in the afternoon.
3:00 - 8:00 Visit to the Madiran Wine Region
Following an extended break we will journey to the Madrian wine region to discover two very distinctive and favorite certified AOC biologique wineries, both now run and operated by female producers: The first will be Domaine du Moulié. Here we will experience a tour of the vineyard and the French style of wine tasting, which usually includes conversations about the seasons, gardening tips, and some local news. You will notice relationships are very important here, more than a customer, one becomes both a friend and a neighbor with local winemakers.
It is a lovely drive with uninterrupted views of the Pyrenees. We will have a chance to stop along the way to take photographs for your assignment.
After Domaine du Moulié, we will go to Château Viella which is well known and respected for their Madiran (red) & Pacherenc du Vic Bilh (white) wines. Following the tour and tasting, we will be welcomed to a winemakers dinner with Claire Bortolussi, the daughter to guide us through her decisions for the wine selected with the meal. This is a special treat and a great way to learn about pairing wine with food.
accommodations
For the very best in comfort and location we are partnering with the Domaine de Bilé to host our guests. Each room has a special charm and is designed with tasteful decor, comfortable furnishings, and modern conveniences.
Domaine de Bilé is located next to a beautiful lake in a wooded valley with hiking and biking trails. It is 4km from the medieval village of Bassoues. The Domaine has e-bikes available to explore the area for an additional charge. You are welcome to take part in outside excursions, but we highly recommend that you come back to home base for our group dinners.
All rooms come with:
-Queen sized beds
-Extra linens
-Private bathrooms
-Beautiful views
-Shared common space
-Swimming pool
-Strong Wifi
Les Chambre d'hôtes
A quiet private bedroom with a queen sized bed, full bath and sweeping views of the entire valley.
Chambre Madrian Vin has a private bathroom with towels attached.
A quiet private bedroom with a queen sized bed, full bath and sweeping views of the entire valley.
This is a corner room with a full bath and sweeping views of the entire valley in both directions.
Chambre Armagnac has a private bathroom with towels attached.
This is a corner room with a full bath and sweeping views of the entire valley in both directions.
This room is located across the hallway and has a queen sized bed, full bath and views of the winery.
Chambre Rose Pétillante Bath has a private bathroom with towels attached.
This room is located across the hallway and has a queen sized bed, full bath and views of the winery.
Workshop Leader
Julie Stauffer has been one of the premier iPhone Photography teachers on the East Coast for the last fifteen years. Her combined excellence in both photography and teaching make her an ideal instructor for any age group and experience level. She has taught workshops primarily in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Stauffer began her career as a garden and wedding photographer. She spent ten years capturing the excitement and emotions of weddings in the greater NY/CT area. As a garden photographer, she worked with the New Canaan Nature Center for over a decade photographing their Secret Garden Tour. Her favorite genre, however, is capturing the precious moments shared among children and their families. She loves to memorialize the ordinary and extraordinary moments that tell the story of our lives.
In 2011, she began a transition from her Fuji and Olympus cameras to a more iPhone camera approach to her art as she learned through numerous workshops taught by Dan Burkholder and other photographers. She always has her iPhone with her, and more importantly recognizes that for most of us, our iPhone cameras are our first and last opportunities to capture the moments of our lives. She has designed a class series for people who are interested in using the camera as a serious option for making great photographs. She has found an unique alliance with generations older and younger than herself, and along the way is surprised by becoming a “techie” capable of teaching both senior citizens and millennials how they can make the most of this wonderful photographic tool: the Phone camera.
Now in her third decade as a professional photographer, her primary work is in iPhone photography instruction. Having worked as an elementary teacher in her 20s, and a Childbirth/Lamaze Instructor in her 30s, Julie is gratified to have come back to teaching. She is able to draw on her extensive classroom experience to make sophisticated photography concepts simple and accessible to all ages and skill levels. Her workshops are enthusiastically acclaimed, and the proof is in the amazing photos her students are able to capture after taking her course.
Stauffer is based in Pennsylvania both in Lancaster and Eagles Mere, and travels nationally to teach and explore her art.