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Portraiture in Italy’s Forgotten Palaces Β· May 2027

Two ways to shoot in Italy.

The same magnificent private palaces, the same professional models and my personal guidance throughout. Choose the experience that suits you.

The Italian Portrait Experience is three focused days of photography based in central Bergamo. The Grand Italian Experience is six nights of luxury with four photography days, a day of Italian indulgence and every meal included.

COMPARE THE WORKSHOPS ↓

5 of 24 places remain across all four events

Portrait in a faded Italian palace

Choose your experience

Focused, or grand?

Susanna in Villa Pintor

Three days

The Italian Portrait Experience

Three full photography days in Bergamo

Concentrated time in the palaces with the models. Each day starts and ends at the Hotel Excelsior San Marco in central Bergamo, and you choose your own accommodation.

  • 9–11 May or 15–17 May 2027
  • Three full photography days
  • Lunches and all event transport included
  • Optional welcome drinks the evening before
Photographer placeΒ£2,530

4places left across both events

EXPLORE THE ITALIAN PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE β†’
Ilaria and Morgana in Villa Arconati

Six nights, five days

The Grand Italian Experience

Four photography days and a day of Italian indulgence

Everything taken care of. Luxury accommodation, exceptional cuisine, an extra palace, and a day on Lago d’Iseo with a boat trip, island lunch and private wine tasting.

  • 1–7 May or 22–28 May 2027
  • Four full photography days, including Castello di Valverde
  • Six nights at the PHI Hotel Piajo, all meals included
  • Non-shooting partners welcome
Photographer placeΒ£5,875

1place left across both events

EXPLORE THE GRAND ITALIAN EXPERIENCE β†’

Side by side

How they compare

 Italian Portrait ExperienceGrand Italian Experience
DatesEvent 1: 9–11 May 2027
Event 2: 15–17 May 2027
Event one: 1–7 May 2027
Event two: 22–28 May 2027
DurationThree daysSix nights, five days
Photography daysThree full daysFour full days
PalacesVilla Arconati, Villa dei Conti Sottocasa and Villa Siotto PintorVilla Arconati, Villa dei Conti Sottocasa, Villa Siotto Pintor and Castello di Valverde
ModelsIlaria, Morgana and SusannaIlaria, Morgana and Susanna
Group sizeSix photographers per eventSix photographers per event
Accommodationβ€”Choose your ownEach day starts and ends at the Hotel Excelsior San Marco, central Bergamoβœ“Six nights, luxury en suitePHI Hotel Piajo, with spa and indoor/outdoor pool
Mealsβœ“Lunchesβœ“All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Leisure dayβ€”Not includedβœ“Boat trip on Lago d’Iseo, lunch on Monte Isola and a private wine tasting
Transportβœ“All transport during the eventβœ“All transport during the event
Partnersβ€”Photographers onlyβœ“Non-shooting partners welcomePartner rate Β£1,210, including all meals and the leisure excursion
Nearest airportMilan Bergamo, 11 km from the meeting placeMilan Bergamo, 20 km from the hotel
Photographer feeΒ£2,530Β£5,875
DepositΒ£500 to secure your placeΒ£1,000 to secure your place
Balance due31st January 202731st January 2027
Places left3 on 9–11 May Β· 1 on 15–17 MaySold out on 1–7 May Β· 1 on 22–28 May

On both workshops

The same palaces. The same care.

Private palaces

Exclusive access to magnificent private Italian palaces, where faded elegance meets timeless beauty. All indoors, so the weather never stops us.

Professional models

Ilaria, Morgana and Susanna, consummate professionals from the Milan/Bergamo area, with beautiful styling and wardrobe.

Lighting supplied

All lighting equipment is provided: Sirui continuous lights, a Godox AD200, barn doors with Scattergels and a 40cm octagonal softbox.

Small groups

A maximum of six photographers, with personal guidance throughout by Damien Lovegrove.

Portraits of Ilaria, Morgana and Susanna
Our models: Ilaria, Morgana and Susanna.

Which is right for you?

Choose the experience that fits.

The Italian Portrait Experience

  • You want concentrated shooting time in the palaces
  • You’d like to arrange your own accommodation in Bergamo
  • You’re travelling on your own and prefer a shorter trip
SEE DATES AND BOOK β†’

The Grand Italian Experience

  • You want an extra palace and a fourth photography day
  • You’d like everything taken care of: hotel, meals and transport
  • You’d like to bring a non-shooting partner and enjoy Lago d’Iseo together
SEE DATES AND BOOK β†’
LOVEGROVE Β· portraiture, light, education

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