THE ENDLESS LAVENDER FIELDS OF PROVENCE IN FRANCE

Let the beauty envelope you with the powerful smells and colors of purple lavender during the peak harvest time in France

JULY 7 - 12, 2026

In the southeast of France during the summer an explosion of color occurs as fields and fields of lavender come into bloom before the yearly harvest. The Provence region is the epicenter of European lavender production and the beauty of endless row of purple flowers set in the rolling hills with mountains in the distance is a remarkable place for photography. Add in quaint rustic villages and you have a quintessential old world European experience.

On this 6 day Photography Workshop watch as the fields come alive each day with warm morning light, bees buzzing and the overwhelming fragrance of the lavender. Our small group size will ensure that everyone will have plenty of space and get the help to maximize our photo opportunities. All transportation and lodging (single occupancy) are included in this workshop. All throughout you will be provided with expert instruction on how best to capture the scene. The goal of the workshop is to give you the ability to explore, learn, and fine tune those photography skills both in the field as well in post processing development to bring your images to life. Helping clients create images they are excited about is priority number one on all of our workshops (along with having a good time).

2026 Provence Lavender Fields Workshop

INSTRUCTORS: DANI LEFRANCOIS & VIKTORIA HAACK              

GROUP SIZE: 8 PARTICIPANTS

COST: $4750

INCLUDED: All Transportation and Lodging (Single Person Occupancy Room)

NOT INCLUDED: Airfare, snacks, meals, alcohol, tips & gratuities

DEPOSIT: A 50% deposit is required to secure a spot, with the final balance due 90 days prior to the workshop.

DISCOUNT AVAILABLE TO THOSE SIGNING UP FOR BOTH OUR CAMARGUE HORSES AND PROVENCE LAVENDER WORKSHOPS. ENQUIRE HERE.

ITINERARY

The workshop will begin on Wednesday July 7 and this day will be set aside for arrivals into the airport in Marseille, France (MRS). Guests will be received and transferred to our hotel for the duration in the Provence region. After getting acquainted over dinner we will head out for a sunset photography session. Our centrally located hotel will be the perfect launching point to many of the nearby fields and cities. All of which are wonderful photographic subjects. On Day 2 we will begin with our typical routine of photographing sunrise and sunset in a picturesque location, with a break during the middle of the day. A couple of days will be set aside for exploring the nearby villages as well as post processing help and image reviews/critique in the afternoon. Our final sunrise session will be on Sunday July 12 and participants should plan to fly home that afternoon.


USEFUL INFO / PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY

Physical difficulty of this tour will be easy as we will be walking just a short distance from our vehicles. It is important for participants to be in good physical health, but there will be no hiking at all.

Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from Marseilles, France and must have a valid passport to do so. Expect warmer temperatures this time of year with lows in the mid 60’s Fahrenheit and highs in the upper 80’s F. There will be early mornings with sunrise at 6am and late evenings with sunset at 9:20pm.


AIRPORT / ACCOMODATIONS / FOOD

Participants should fly into the Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) on July 7 where you will be received and transferred to our hotel in Provence. Hotel rooms are single occupancy (not shared with another participant) and are included for the nights of July 7 - 11, with check out on July 12 after our final shooting session.

Participants will be transported back to the Marseille Airport on July 12 with drop-off at 12pm to catch their flights home or extend their trip.

The airport is 1.5 hours away from our hotel for the week so be mindful of this drop-off time and please book a return flight after this factoring in necessary time at the airport.

All transportation and hotel accommodations are included on this tour. Meals, drinks, alcohol and tips are not included. More logistical info will be emailed as the dates get closer.


WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

A photography workshop in the picturesque Provence France with never-ending fields of purple lavender preparing for the harvest. Nowhere else on earth is there a concentration like this of gorgeous and colorful farmlands. Needless to say the scenery is striking and made for landscape photography. Set among charming towns and villages the region is rich in beauty, food and culture and we will be taking it all in!

As stated previously there will be early mornings and late evenings but the days are structured to not wear anyone out and get the most enjoyment of the surroundings and scenery. We will provide tips in the field to capture images correctly "in camera" with the goal being that part becomes second nature and students can then focus on the creative aspects of landscape and nature photography. Post processing instruction will run the gamut of importing and organizing files into Lightroom to processing images in Lightroom and Photoshop and finally prepping images for the internet or for print. Our skilled professional photography guides are an open book and willing to share any tips or tricks they have picked up along the way to help you create a portfolio of images that you will be proud of.


FIELD & CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WILL INCLUDE:

  • Creating compelling compositions and storytelling through images

  • Controlling your camera in manual mode

  • Understanding and using the Histogram

  • Finding foregrounds

  • Getting creative in the field

  • Filters - when & how to use them and avoiding their pitfalls

  • How lens selection affects the scene

  • Technical Tricks: Bracketing, Focus Stacking, Perspective Blending

  • Understanding and using light

  • Capturing Difficult Scenes (getting all the pieces in the field to put together in post processing)

  • Lightroom - importing and organizing

  • Lightroom development tools

  • Cleaning up images - cloning tools, warping and stretching, eliminating distractions

  • Blending images in Photoshop

  • Dodging and burning

  • Using layers and masks

  • Mindful sharpening (depending on the output)

  • Image Critiques


RECOMMENDED CAMERA GEAR, ETC

  • DSLR or Mirrorless camera

  • Wide angle lenses (14mm) up to telephoto 400mm

  • Camera manual

  • Memory cards

  • A very sturdy tripod

  • Cable Release Trigger

  • Filters: Circular Polarizing Filter

  • Lens cloths, rocket blower, etc. 

  • Computer with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop

  • Notebook

 RECOMMENDED GEAR - CLOTHING, ETC.

  • Warm weather clothing, lightweight long pants

  • Shoes that can get muddy

  • Hat

  • Sunglasses

  • Sunscreen

  • Rain coat

  • Umbrella

  • Bug spray

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

  • Camera Equipment

  • Airfare

  • Hotels before or after the workshop

  • Meals, snacks, alcohol

  • Tips & Gratuities


TOTAL COST $4750

1ST DEPOSIT OF $2375 IS REQUIRED TO RESERVE A SPACE

FINAL PAYMENT OF $2375 IS DUE 90 DAYS BEFORE THE WORKSHOP

REGISTER NOW:

2026 Provence Lavender Fields Workshop

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

DANI LEFRANCOIS

DANI LEFRANCOIS

Meet Dani: Her absolute favorite color in the world is purple so this workshop is her destiny to teach. She is part wilderness child, part road trip aficionado, and full-time photo guide. Hailing from the overly tamed, highly populated area of the Niagara Region in Southern Ontario, Dani's childhood was a blend of summer camps and road trips with mosquito bites and car sickness (but only if she’s reading). She practically grew up with a map in one hand and a camera in the other, ready to explore the world around her and capture nature at every turn.

Her love affair with photography was truly sparked on a fateful journey to Cape Breton Island, NS, where the rugged landscapes and salty air whispered secrets only a lens could capture. But it was a wild romp through Banff & Jasper National Parks and through Yukon and Alaska that lit the fire under her tripod, making her realize that snapping shots wasn't just a hobby—it was her calling.

 In 2011, Dani packed her bags, bid farewell to the Ontario flatlands, and set up camp in Banff, where the mountains echoed her ambition, and the glacier fed lakes sang her name. With her trusty adventure dog, Tuzo, by her side, they conquered trails, played in rivers, and Dani took more photos of Tuzo pooping in pretty places than she could count.

When Dani's not squeezing as much life out of a photo day as possible from sunset to the night sky to her favourite, sunrise, you'll find her cruising the open road, windows down, music up, and the tallest can of iced tea that she can find within arm's reach. Hiking, driving, knitting and Netflixing, she's a woman of extremes from always on the go or not moving at all. For the past two decades, Dani's calendar has been a graveyard of missed photo contest submission deadlines, a testament to her eternal optimism and perpetual forgetfulness. She's watched deadlines sail past like ships in the night, waving goodbye to her dreams of fame and fortune, one missed entry form at a time. But hey, who needs prizes when you've got a camera full of memories and a dog who thinks you're the greatest photographer in the world? For Dani, the real prize lies in the moments she captures, not the awards she misses out on. As Dani's wild journey continues, she finds the most joy in guiding others around the majestic landscapes of Banff National Park and to exciting new locations around the world. And though her track record with contest deadlines may leave something to be desired, Dani's determination remains unshakable.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, Dani knows the true treasures lie in the simple joys—camping under a blanket of stars, hiking to hidden waterfalls, and sharing her passion for the landscape with anyone who will listen. So, as Dani Lefrancois blazes her trail through life, camera in hand and Tuzo by her side, one thing's for certain—wherever Dani goes, laughter, love, and endless possibilities are sure to follow. www.danilefrancois.com


VIKTORIA HAACK

VIKTORIA HAACK

Viktoria is a globally published, multi-genre photographer, who finds profound connection in the world around her and aims to inspire a reverence for the natural world through her work. Originally from the UK, Viktoria has made British Columbia, Canada her home since 2007. She has a background in fine art and anthropology. This, combined with her love of the natural environment brings a unique perspective to her photography. Her ethos is to tread lightly; observe and search out the subtle visual story within whichever photographic genre she is working. Her work covers the fields of landscape & nature, portrait, wedding, event, promotion, editorial, stock and photography education. Her versatility across multiple photographic disciplines continuously sparks new levels of creativity that inspire and excite her.

Viktoria is an ambassador for Nikon Canada and Kase Filters Global. She feels privileged to be regularly invited to serve as a judge in leading international photography competitions. As an experienced speaker and educator, Viktoria loves to share her passion for photography with others. Prior to becoming a professional photographer, she worked in the nonprofit sector in both conservation and animal welfare. She is a dedicated advocate for the environment and proud member of Nature First.

Select collaborations and publications include: The National Trust, BBC, Ben Q Lighting, Lowepro, Benro, BCSPCA, CBC, Vogue Italia, Digital Photo, N Photo Magazine, Outdoor Photography, Practical Photography, Outdoor Photography Canada. www.viktoriahaackphotography.ca


CANCELLATION POLICY & TRAVEL INSURANCE

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. In the event that a specific guide cannot personally attend, then a replacement guide will be the first option. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses incurred and therefore strongly recommend getting travel insurance to cover such costs. Two companies that we recommend are Ripcord and Squaremouth.

A $200 change fee will be charged for changes or cancellations. Participants who cancel prior to 90 days before the workshop will receive either a full refund or credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Any cancellations within 90 days of the workshop cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Only if we are able to fill the vacancy, will the participant will receive a credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Workshop credits are good for one calendar year from the date of the missed workshop. If a desired replacement workshop is sold out, we will work with you on the credit.

Any cancellations within 30 days of the workshop (for any reason) will forfeit their entire registration fee as it is extremely difficult to fill the space on that short of notice. If a true emergency arises last minute we will do our best to work with you granting a partial credit towards a future workshop, but this is not guaranteed. Again travel insurance is strongly recommended.