Since photography's birth, the prominence of the nude subject has played a significant role in distinguishing the work as fine art. Photographs depicting the nude have long-since held the power of authentically expressing the very essence of humanity, telling the most intriguing of stories, and often eliciting the most vulnerable of emotions. For four generations, though the subject matter and artistic voices of photographers in the Weston family may have evolved, the mastery of fine art photography that began with Edward Weston has been preserved in its entirety.  

For nearly 20 years, Kim Weston has taught nude photography workshops on Wildcat Hill, his grandfather's former home and now his. The Wildcat Studio Nude Workshop, hosted 2-3 times a year, is a fine art nude photography intensive. These photography workshops present a unique opportunity, suited for both novice and experienced photographers, to explore nude photography while immersed in the Weston family's historic contributions to American photography.

Edward Weston's Wildcat Hill

Wildcat Hill is located on California's infamous Highway 1 between the charming coastal village, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Big Sur, known for its seaside cliffs and views of the often-misty coastline. For more than seventy years, photographers, artists, writers, poets, and their admirers have come to Wildcat Hill. Names like Ansel Adams, Ruth Bernhardt, Imogen Cunningham, Minor White, and Beaumont Newhall have admired its beauty and connection to the Weston family for nearly a century. 

Weston Workshop participants are invited to photograph in multiple areas on the property including Weston's studio, Bodie House, and the main house where Edward lived with his last wife, Charis Wilson. Participants may also photograph outdoors as weather permits.

Weston Destination Workshops

Professional Art Models

The professional fine-art models at Weston Workshops are respected colleagues with whom the Weston’s have worked for many years. The photographer to model ratio in each group is 2:1 or 3:1 allowing for maximum time, privacy, and freedom in each location.

The Weston’s greatly value the relationships they have maintained with their models and will cover the importance of mutually respectful interactions to all workshop participants. 

Instruction + Critiques

Kim and Zach Weston will be your private instructor during your workshop and will work with each photographer in the group on things like lighting, composition, working with models, developing one's voice as an artist, and much more. In addition, we will hold a critique of each photographer's work from the first day's shoot in which Kim will offer feedback before you head into your second session of the weekend. You will also be given the opportunity to show your past work on the first night of the workshop; though it is not required, we highly encourage our students to prepare a collection of their favorite images to give us a better idea of their photographic style.