07/01/2026
🥹 This entire project brings a tear to my eye because of how hard Briana and I have worked to make it a reality, but mostly about how much support the industry has shown us about it right from the jump.
There's a lot to be said, guys, for "teaching lighting to photographers", of course. But there's so much more involved in the art of intimate portraiture, whether you're specifically focused on bo***ir as a service or create intimate portraiture in the fine art space.
For decades now, but acutely the last 20 years or so on social media, we have seen the rise and fall of vision, grace, dignity and artistry in the intimate portraiture space. It's beautiful, it's mesmerizing, it's often polarizing, it's inherently controversial, but what cannot be questioned is how powerful it is.
Exploring intimacy and sensuality for the sake of your amazing clients, to bring them into a newly discovered presence or reclamation of themselves that maybe they forgot they were, is one of the most enduring and empowering things a photographer can do. A rebuilding of the soul and of the confidence that every human being deserves to exude.
Or perhaps you explore intimacy in portraiture for beauty's sake, and to share with the world.
All valid. All vital. But with it comes a responsibilty.
Yeah, of course you have to learn the technical. You've got to learn your lighting, you've got to learn your camera settings, you've got to learn how you work with color and how you work with composition.
But the underlying element, the underlying behavior, the underlying way of thinking is about dignity and intent.
And to that end, we created Laid Bare Retreat.
Our inaugural event goes down in the beautiful Colorado Springs amongst the mountains and nature in a rustic estate property. A curated small list of attendees to ensure the most inclusive, welcoming, warm, inspiring, and motivational experience for everyone.
Direct access to both of us for four days, including two days of direct education and shooting. We want everyone to immediately feel at home with us in Colorado Springs and to leave more inspired and motivated than perhaps they've ever been.
Our website has *all* the information, but as always, if you have questions, drop either of us a DM any time. We'd love to discuss Laid Bare with you, friends.
Nino Batista
Outline, itinerary, application form and more: http://www.laidbareretreat.com
Shouting out much appreciation to Lea Flores for the support and passionate willingness to host Laid Bare!
