2027 Retreat · October 2-8, 2027
The Château
Portraits
An Immersive Photoshoot Retreat with Autumn Luciano Studios
Three extraordinary photoshoots. Three completely different worlds. Six nights in a French château.
“Don’t just look at the art. Live and play in it.”
For six unforgettable nights, Château de Borie becomes the setting for a series of richly styled photoshoots inspired by art, history, fashion, and imagination.
With photographer Autumn Luciano, you'll step into three completely different visual worlds — from the romance of the French countryside to the dreamlike imagery of a Pre-Raphaelite painting to the beautiful decadence of a château seemingly lost in time.
Come prepared to dress up, experiment, play, and see yourself in an entirely different way. No modelling experience required.
Three photoshoots. Three worlds.
This isn't a week of posing in different dresses against the same pretty backdrop. Autumn has created three distinct photoshoot concepts around Château de Borie — its gardens and stone walls, caves and pools, sweeping staircase and timeworn interiors. Each has its own mood, wardrobe inspiration, and story.
Provincial
Romantic. Pastoral. Unmistakably French.
Think of an old painting of life in the French countryside: linen and cotton, aprons and corsets, baskets overflowing with flowers, weathered books, fruit, stone walls and autumn light. Loosely inspired by 18th-century rural France, Provincial will unfold around the château gardens, courtyard, well, stone stairways and old outbuildings.
There is no requirement to reproduce a particular historical period. The point isn't historical accuracy. It's to create a beautiful world — and step into it.
Romantic · Rustic · Painterly · Old-world France
Nature Nymphs
Where the château landscape becomes a painting.
Inspired by classical paintings and the women of the Pre-Raphaelites, Nature Nymphs is softer, dreamier and just a little otherworldly. Flowing fabrics, draped dresses, flowers woven into hair and rich natural textures meet the ancient stone, pools, caves, trees and cliffside landscape surrounding Château de Borie.
Think less costume, more painting brought to life. Guests can interpret the look as simply or extravagantly as they like: Grecian draping, soft tulle, romantic dresses, botanical details or something entirely personal.
Ethereal · Painterly · Romantic · Wild
Aristocrats in Rags
Decadence, but make it slightly unhinged.
The final photoshoot takes us inside the château — and somewhere considerably stranger. Aristocrats in Rags is Autumn's moody, avant-garde take on antique couture: layers of lace and tulle, extravagant accessories, distressed fabrics, theatrical silhouettes and glorious excess.
Imagine opening the attic of an abandoned château and discovering its aristocratic inhabitants have been there all along. A little faded. A little feral. And finally ready to come downstairs. Thrift it. Sew it. Distress it. Embellish it. This is the day to go too far.
Decadent · Theatrical · Editorial · Beautifully undone
What to wear
You don't already need a costume closet. Once you book, Autumn will send detailed inspiration, shopping suggestions and practical wardrobe guidance for all three photoshoots.
You can buy new, thrift, borrow, sew, embellish something you already own — or combine all of the above. The themes are prompts, not uniforms. Autumn wants each portrait to look like you, not ten women wearing variations of the same costume. And there is no prize for spending the most money.
More than the photoshoots
The portraits are at the centre of the week, but nobody is expected to spend six days in front of a camera. Between shoots, we slow down.
There will be long meals at the château, time to linger over breakfast, room to rest and wander, and a handful of creative activities inspired by the day's world rather than a schedule packed from morning until night. One afternoon might find us making something in the château kitchen. Another may involve flowers or a simple creative project. Evenings may mean dinner by candlelight, music, conversation — and perhaps a little dancing when the mood strikes.
This is intended to feel like a house party with extraordinary photoshoots woven through it, not a production schedule.
The reveal
The moment you get to see what Autumn saw.
After the final photoshoot, the pace changes. The last full day is intentionally quieter — time to sleep in, pack, sit outside, wander the château or simply do very little. Autumn will begin sharing a first look at the photographs created during the week, culminating in an evening slideshow together.
Portrait collections
Your retreat fee includes all three photoshoot experiences with Autumn Luciano. Finished portraits and portrait collections are purchased separately, directly from Autumn Luciano Studios. Before booking, you'll be able to review all available portrait collections, pricing, and what each collection includes.
Portrait collections are available separately from Autumn Luciano Studios. Review options and pricing before you book.
Your photographer & your host
Autumn Luciano
Photographer, Autumn Luciano Studios
Autumn Luciano has spent nearly two decades creating portraits of women. She began her studio at 23, first photographing vintage pin-up, later moving into boudoir and modern glamour before developing the painterly, highly styled work that has become the focus of Autumn Luciano Studios today.Her photographs draw from classical art, historical fashion, cinema and the beautifully unexpected — creating images that feel less like traditional portraits and more like stills from another world. Autumn has previously produced three château photoshoot retreats in France and guides each guest through the process well before arrival.
Abigail Carter
Host · Château de Borie
Author, artist and owner of Château de Borie, Abby has been restoring and living at the château since 2022. For this week, she'll be doing what she does best: opening the house, feeding people well, finding beautiful corners of southwest France — and occasionally being talked into dressing up herself.
Is this retreat for you?
You've always secretly wanted an excuse to wear the extraordinary dress.
You love art, old houses, vintage clothing, fashion, costume or photography — even if you have no experience with any of them.
You're usually the person avoiding the camera rather than stepping in front of it.
You'd love beautiful photographs of yourself that are nothing like a conventional portrait session.
The idea of antique hunting in France followed by dinner around a château table sounds like a very good week.
You're willing to play. You don't have to be extroverted, theatrical, thin, young or know how to pose.
You're coming on your own and would love to meet people equally drawn to art, old houses, dressing up, and doing something a little out of the ordinary. Solo travelers are warmly encouraged.
You do not need to know how to model. That's Autumn's job.
The week, day by day
Fri 2 Oct
Arrival
Welcome to Château de Borie
Arrive, settle into your room, explore the château and meet everyone over dinner. A short posing tutorial with Autumn to warm you up for the days ahead.
Sat 3 Oct
Photoshoot I
Provincial
Individual shoot time in the château gardens, courtyard, stone stairways and outbuildings. Relaxed meals, creative activities, and downtime woven through the day.
Sun 4 Oct
Photoshoot II
Nature Nymphs
Individual shoot time in the ancient landscape surrounding the château — pools, caves, trees and cliffside. Outdoor shoots may move according to weather and light.
Mon 5 Oct
Photoshoot III
Aristocrats in Rags
Individual shoot time inside the château — the salon, mosaic room and staircase. Candlelight, old books, architectural details and the wonderfully imperfect layers of an old French house.
Tue 6 Oct
Excursion
Lectoure
A day away from the château to explore one of Gascony's loveliest historic market towns — brocante, antiques, the cathedral, and lunch before returning to Château de Borie.
Wed 7 Oct
The Reveal
Rest + portrait previews
A deliberately unstructured day. Sleep in, wander, do very little. Autumn begins sharing portrait sneak peeks, culminating in an evening slideshow of the week's work together.
Thu 8 Oct
Departure
Farewell
Breakfast and departures for Agen station before noon.
Rooms & investment
Premium
€4,300
solo · or €3,800 pp sharing (3 double rooms available)
Cygne, Étoile, Gingko, Rossignol, Jasmin — mostly second floor, private hallway bathrooms; Jasmin is a third-floor room with a full ensuite.
Standard
€3,800
solo · or €3,400 pp sharing (3 double rooms available)
Magnolia, Colibri, Chouette, Renard, Lapin, Paon — third floor, hallway bathrooms. Shared pairings available in Lapin, Paon, and Cygne.
What’s included
- Six nights at Château de Borie
- Three individually styled photoshoot experiences with Autumn Luciano
- Pre-retreat wardrobe inspiration and planning guidance from Autumn
- All chef-prepared meals, wine, and beverages at the château
- One restaurant dinner
- Lectoure excursion and lunch
- Transportation for all scheduled group activities
- Round-trip transfer from Agen train station
- Selected creative activities at the château
- Portrait preview and group slideshow evening
- Curated swag bag with local gifts and retreat materials
- Finished portrait collections (purchased separately from Autumn Luciano Studios)
- Wardrobe and costume costs
- Personal purchases
- Travel insurance
- Flights and travel to Agen
Finished portraits and portrait collections are purchased separately from Autumn Luciano Studios and are not included in the retreat fee.
Getting here & getting around
Book your own flights into Toulouse or Bordeaux, then a roughly 90 min, train to Agen — or fly into Paris and take the 3-hour TGV from Montparnasse. We recommend arriving a day early in Toulouse if you can, to shake off the jet lag before the week begins.
Transportation is provided for all group excursions, so a rental car isn't necessary. Trip and medical cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. The château is multi-level with stairs throughout, so comfortable, unassisted walking is a must — and you'll likely meet Lulu, the resident Boston terrier.
Cancellations & refunds
A deposit holds your room. Here's exactly how refunds work as the date approaches.
Deposit is fully refundable up to this date.
Full refund if your spot is filled from a waitlist; otherwise 50% refund, or a 12-month credit transfer to a future retreat.
No refunds. We strongly recommend trip and medical cancellation insurance.
Don't just look at the art.
Live and play in it.
Have a question before you commit — about a room, the photoshoots, or the dates? Reach out directly and we'll help you figure out if this week is right for you.