Join Nikon Ambassadors Tamara Lackey and Kristi Odom for an immersive 3-day photography experience set on 83 acres of lush farmland and serene forest at Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Less than 15 minutes from downtown Chapel Hill and UNC, with plenty of great hotels, restaurants and other attractions nearby, this photography workshop offers the perfect blend of inspiration, community, and hands-on practice.
Our home base will be the sanctuary’s 6,700-square-foot Welcome & Pet Adoption Center, a light-filled, spacious environment that was built to help care for animals in need of refuge, as well as host programs and events! The vast majority of the close to 75+ animals at the sanctuary are puppies and kittens, some of the most vulnerable animals in overcrowded animals shelters throughout the state. During this workshop, we will photograph our subjects in a variety of settings, including different indoor studio setups and a variety of outdoor locations. Along the way we will experiment with a wide variety of techniques to elevate your skills and artistry,
You’ll dive into:
Animal Portraits & Action Shots – Photograph the many rescue animals living at the sanctuary, capturing both soulful portraits and playful, dynamic action.
Children’s Portraiture – Learn to connect quickly and create expressive, natural images filled with personality.
Macro Photography – Discover new ways of seeing by photographing the smallest details in nature, from insects to wildflowers.
Creative Techniques & Experimentation – Push beyond the expected with fresh approaches to lighting, composition, and camera movement.
Between instruction and hands-on sessions, you’ll also have the chance to slow down, connect with animals and nature, and refuel your creative energy in this natural, restorative farm setting that also boasts five miles of trails throughout the property. Expect plenty of time for both skill-building and spontaneous inspiration - along with as much affectionate time with our rescue pets as you'd like! Any images you choose to share with Beautiful Together with help these homeless animals find families, and $600 from each workshop registration will be a direct donation to help care for the animals.
Whether you’re looking to refine your technical skills, explore new genres of photography, or simply immerse yourself in a few days of creative play, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to get and give back in equal measure.
is a renowned professional photographer, speaker, author and program host. Her authentic photography, from portraits to humanitarian photography, is featured in a myriad of major media outlets. As a Nikon USA Ambassador, Tamara was invited, as one of two photographers, to speak on stage and present her photography at the Nikon Global Launch Event in Tokyo, introducing a new line of ground-breaking mirrorless camera systems. Tamara teaches at quite a range of programs, seminars, and conventions, from delivering presentations at Google, Disney, and Harvard to leading mentor treks to delivering workshops internationally. She is also the author of nine books on photography and has co-produced and hosted a series of global live broadcasts, a long-running web show and is the host of Chasing Frames, a television show focused on capturing experiences and adventures through photography, found on PBS.org.
Tamara is also the co-founder of Beautiful Together, a non-profit focused on supporting children living in crisis and animals in need of refuge. Beautiful Together is currently in the process of building out 83 acres of land in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as a home for their work of connecting the vulnerable and the voiceless in ways that benefit all.
Kristi Odom is an internationally acclaimed photographer, a Nikon Ambassador, an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, and a motivational speaker. A photographer and filmmaker, her work focuses on connecting people emotionally to animals and celebrating those who have a connection to the natural world.
Her accolades include over 60 international photography awards including 2 Nature’s Best Photography awards, which exhibited her images at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Her work has appeared either online and/or in print for the following clients: National Geographic, Nikon, Forbes, Rollingstone, Microsoft and Outside Magazine. Learn more about Kristi on her website: https://www.kristiodomfineart.com
