When you arrive at Mescal, head directly to the Saloon, where a catered breakfast will be waiting for you.

Grab some breakfast, get settled in, and get ready for a full day of photography. We’ll go over any last-minute details before heading out for our first shoot of the day.

After breakfast, we’ll head to the desert west of town for our sunrise shoot. If you’d like to walk, please follow the staff’s directions as we make our way to the shooting location.

If you’d prefer a ride, we’ll have golf carts ready to shuttle you out to the desert.

Be sure to bring all the camera gear you’ll need for the sunrise shoot.

Primary Lens: 400 - 600mm

Alternate Lens: Wider focal lengths for different perspectives

Tripod or Monopod: Optional

Most images during this shoot will be captured in the 400–600mm range. Wider focal lengths can also be used to create different looks and compositions.
There will be plenty of room at the shooting location, so feel free to bring your camera backpack and additional lenses with you.

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We’ll photograph several cowboys on horseback and a wagon silhouetted against the sunrise as they move along the top of the ridge. The elevated position will give us clean backgrounds and a great opportunity to create dramatic Western silhouettes as the morning light changes.

Please follow the directions of our photography staff throughout the shoot. We’ll position everyone carefully to give each photographer a clear shooting angle while keeping photographers, riders, horses, and the wagon safe.

Shortly after sunrise, we’ll move to a new location and reset for our next shoot.

Primary Lens: 400 - 600mm

Alternate Lens: 70 - 200mm, 24 - 70mm

Tripod or Monopod: No 

This session will give you a wide variety of compositional options. Depending on your vision, you can shoot anywhere from 400–600mm all the way down to 24mm. Our subjects will range from approximately 75 yards away to as close as 25 feet, giving you plenty of opportunities to create very different looks throughout the session.

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Lisa will work with our cowboys and wagon team, directing the action and setting up a variety of scenes designed to create some epic Western images. Expect plenty of movement, action, and opportunities to capture the cowboys and wagon against the Arizona desert.

As always, please follow the photography staff’s directions on where to position yourself so everyone has a great shooting angle and we can keep the session running safely and smoothly.

After a busy morning of shooting, we’ll make our way back into town. You’ll have a little time to use the restroom, grab a drink or snack, and get ready for our next activity.

Please be in the Saloon and ready for our education session by 9:00 AM.

Lisa will spend some time covering additional photography techniques we’ll be using during the afternoon sessions. She’ll walk you through what to expect, how to approach the different shooting situations, and techniques that will help you get the most out of each setup.

We’ll take a 20-minute break before Lunch.

We’ll gather in the Saloon for a catered lunch before beginning our afternoon photography sessions. Take this time to relax, recharge, and enjoy lunch with your fellow photographers and staff.

After lunch, we’ll split into our four photography groups. Each group will head to one of four different photography stations to begin the afternoon sessions.

Please follow the direction of the photography staff so you know which station your group is starting at and where you need to go. Throughout the afternoon, we’ll rotate the groups so everyone has an opportunity to photograph at each station.

Station 1 | Legends of Mescal

Start times: 12:00 PM Green & Blue

2:00 PM Red & Yellow

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Ever wonder what it's really like to be a cowboy in a Western movie?

At this station, you'll have the opportunity to sit down with three of Mescal Movie Set's legendary actors and hear some of their incredible stories! These cowboys have appeared in numerous Western films and have spent years helping bring the Old West to life on the big screen.

You'll hear about their experiences working on Western movies, memorable moments on set, and some of the behind-the-scenes adventures that audiences never get to see.

This will be a fun, relaxed session where you can ask questions, hear some great stories, and get to know some of the cowboys who have helped make Mescal such a special place!

Station 2: Silhouette in Photography Studio

Start times:

12:00 PM Yellow

1:00 PM Red

2:00 PM Green

3:00 PM Blue

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Primary Lens: 24 - 70mm

Alternate Lens: 70 - 200mm

Tripod or Monopod: No 

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What better place to create a unique photograph than inside an old-fashioned Western photography studio!

At this station, we'll use the doorway of the photography studio to create dramatic silhouettes of our Western models. You'll learn how to use the contrast between light and shadow to create striking images that emphasize shape, form, and storytelling.

We'll experiment with different poses and compositions to create silhouettes that capture the spirit of the Old West, proving that sometimes the most powerful images are the simplest!

Station 3: Low Key in Bank

Start times: 

12:00 PM Red

1:00 PM Yellow

2:00 PM Blue

3:00 Green

Primary Lens: 24 - 70mm

Alternate Lens: 70 - 200mm

Tripod or Monopod: No 

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At this station, we’ll head inside the Bank to create a dramatic low-key portrait of a cowboy.

You’ll learn techniques for controlling the light and exposure to keep the scene dark and moody while placing just the right kiss of light on our subject.

CLILCK HERE FOR EXAMPLE IMAGE

Station 4 | Q&A with Lisa

Start times:

1:00 PM Green & Blue

3:00 PM Red & Yellow

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Here's your chance to sit down with Lisa and ask her anything about photography!

Whether you have questions about camera settings, lighting, composition, post-processing, or anything else related to photography, this is your opportunity to get answers directly from Lisa.

This will be a relaxed, open discussion where you can ask questions, share challenges, and learn from Lisa's years of experience. No question is too big or too small, so come ready to ask, learn, and have some fun!

After completing all four portrait stations, we’ll take a short break before moving on to our next photography session.

This is a good time to use the restroom, grab a drink or snack, and get ready for what’s next.

After the break, make your way to the Western Town and meet with the photography staff. Please stay with the group and wait for instructions as we get everyone into position for our next shoot.

Primary Lens: 70 - 200mm or 74 - 70mm

Alternate Lens: 400 - 600mm

Tripod or Monopod: 

This session will give you a wide variety of compositional options. Depending on your vision, you can shoot anywhere from 24mm all the way up to 600mm. 

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We’ll position ourselves along the south side of Main Street as the Mescal Movie Set comes alive in front of our cameras. Townspeople will fill the streets and boardwalks, cowboys will ride through town on horseback, and wagons will roll down Main Street, creating the energy and activity of a bustling Old West town.

There will be action happening throughout the scene, giving you opportunities to capture everything from intimate moments between characters to big, cinematic images filled with people, horses, wagons, and the historic buildings of Mescal.

Keep your eyes moving and your camera ready. You never know where the next great image will happen!

CLICK HERE FOR EXAMPLE IMAGE

After a full day of photography, we’ll head back to the Saloon for a catered dinner and a chance to relax with your fellow photographers and staff.

After dinner, Lisa will walk everyone through the next day’s agenda and let you know what to expect and what gear you’ll want to have ready.

Then it’s time to head back to the hotel, get some rest, charge those batteries, and get ready for another big day at Mescal!