Spirit of the West #2 2026

Come join popular Canadian portrait photographers Wayne Simpson and Dave Brosha on a 3-day deep dive into the world of Western-themed portraiture, based in an incredible and authentic Alberta farm that features a period old-fashioned saloon, dance hall, horses, cowboys and cowgirls, and authentic personalities and cultures from the core of the Canadian West.

For the first time ever Dave Brosha and Wayne Simpson and are taking a deviation from their popular CHARACTER workshop series, and focusing their efforts on a theme that they've both shot exhaustively over the course of their careers.

In 2026 we will be doing a 3-day workshop entirely on a western theme, and in the process teaching and sharing in-depth their end-to-end portrait process, with no secrets!

This workshop experience, which will feature an incredible balance of talks, demos, and in-depth hands on shooting will be located on a scenic full quarter of land (160 acres).  Think magic light shoots, evenings campfires, lots of cool hangouts and Q+As,, and a deep dive into this theme where you will create incredible portraits with a western vibe!  

The location will be about 35KM west of Leduc, Alberta (outside Edmonton, Alberta), and dates will be Aug 6-8, 2026.  The exact location to be shared closer to the workshop to maintain the privacy of the landowners, but the nearest recommended hotel for the event is The Heartland Inn in Thorsby, Alberta ( see https://heartlandvenues.wixsite.com/heartland-venues/venues ).

The Learning Experience:

If you love portrait photography and the idea of capturing the essence of person + soul in memorable images, be sure to check out Spirit of the West, dedicated to the end-to-end art of portrait photography.

Rather than a simple workshop, however, this will be a three-day event in an amazing location with long days, lots of laughs, an incredible amount of hands-on creative time, and the ability to see the end-to-end process of passionate and experienced Canadian portrait photographers, Dave Brosha and Wayne Simpson, with absolutely no secrets—from visualization to execution to post-processing and beyond.

Consider it a year of portrait photography school jammed into three days.

DATES: Aug 6-8 2026

COST:

• Option 1: Pay in Full
  Total Cost: $1,950 + tax
  Payment: Full amount due upon registration
  

• Option 2: Installment Plan
  Initial Deposit: $750 + tax due upon registration
  Installment Payments:
  • First Installment: $600 + tax, due in October 2025
  • Second Installment: $600 + tax, due in Feb 2026

(NOTE: The $1950 + tax is the Workshop Fee only - accommodation, meals, or transportation not included, although carpooling is encouraged).

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (note: details subject to change)

Day 1

• 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Event kick-off with Dave and Wayne
  Introductions, slideshows, and a talk about finding your vision and voice in your portrait work. During this morning's presentation, Wayne and Dave will examine a variety of styles and influences and talk about the ideas of both pre-visualization and creating within the moment. Participants will be expected to share their biggest current portrait challenges, as Dave and Wayne will take note and work on helping each participant overcome these challenges.  Both Dave and Wayne will give special attention to their Western work.

• 1:00 PM - 3 PM: Lunch/mid-day sun break

• 3PM-5:30 PM: Western Demo #1 + #2
• The group will split up - half will go with Wayne and half will go with Dave as they demo a portrait session. In this time, they will talk aloud about their entire thought process, including obstacles they're trying to overcome, posing, expression, lighting, and mood.  After approximately 75 minutes, the group will shift to the other instructor and the demo will be repeated.

• 5:30-6:00 PM: Refreshment Break
  We will encourage participants to bring a packaged snack/sandwich so that no one has to leave site.  The focus will be on a quick dinner break to gear up and be prepared for evening light.  Note:  evening snack will be catered and delicious :-)

• 6 PM - 9:15 PM: Participant photoshoots
  Participants will break into small groups and be assigned subjects and proceed to create for 3+ hours, taking advantage of evening light and "golden hour", if conditions allow. Participants will help and support each other, as will Dave and Wayne.

Day 2

• 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Lighting for MOOD + STORYTELLING
  While Day One demos were more focused on the essentials of strong portraiture, Day Two will see Dave and Wayne get more advanced and focus more attention on lighting to create a mood, multi-light set-ups, effectively balancing ambient and introduced lighting, and "lighting-for-the-face (not just for the sake of lighting). As with Day One, the group will split up and see demos from both Wayne and Dave before diving into late-morning shooting.

• 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch break

• 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Participant photoshoots/Flat-out creative
  Participants will break into small groups and be assigned subjects/models and proceed to create for close to 4 straight hours. Participants will help and support each other, as will Dave and Wayne. Unlike Day One, participants will be assigned specific portrait tasks and challenges to allow them to focus on skill-building and in-the-moment creativity.
• 5:30PM - 6:30PM - Snack/Sandwich break (Note: evening snack will be catered and delicious :-)
• 6:30PM - 9PM - Dave/Wayne Demos - in this final demo session, Dave + Wanye will pull out all the stops, creatively in a session that's bound to inspire!
• 9PM  - 10:30PM - Campfire hangout

Day 3

• 8 AM - 11AM Final participant photoshoots; 3 hours - taking advantage of morning light, participants will create for close to 3+ hours

• 11AM - 12:30 AM: Early lunch

• 12:30 - 3:30 PM: Post-Processing/Participant Critique
  One of the overlooked and/or rushed aspects of many workshops, Wayne and Dave will spend time going over their entire end-to-end editing process, which will include "live" edits of some of their images, explaining different Lightroom and Photoshop techniques. After their demos and discussion, participants will have roughly one hour to work on their images from day one. Final group editing session, slideshow, and critique.

NOTES:

• Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops for the editing sessions. However, arrangements can be made to share laptops if necessary or hop onto Dave and Wayne's laptops if needed.
• This workshop is limited to a maximum of 18 participants, so expect a lot of hands-on shooting time with lots of support from Dave and Wayne and assistants.
  

TRANSPORTATION:
The price of the workshop does not include transportation. Participants will need to arrange car rentals or carpooling with other workshop participants.

PAYMENT and CANCELLATION POLICY

• Deposit Requirement: A deposit of $750 (non-refundable, plus tax) is required to secure your spot. This deposit is part of the overall cost and ensures your participation in the event.
  
  
• Final Payment: The final payment is due according to the installment schedule previously mentioned or participants can choose Option 1 and settle the full amount upfront if preferred.
  
  
• Cancellation and Transferability: While spots are non-refundable, they are transferable. This means that if a participant is unable to attend, they may find another individual to take their place. It is the participant's responsibility to sell their spot if they are unable to attend.
  
  
• Contact Information for Queries:
  • Dave Brosha: davebrosha@gmail.com
  • Wayne Simpson: wayne@waynesimpsonphotography.com

For any additional questions or clarifications, participants are encouraged to reach out directly to either of the event organizers.

VENUE PHOTOS: