Nelson Ghost Town Portrait Workshop

Earlier this year I found myself thinking about exploring more portrait and fashion photography. It felt like a fresh direction—something different from the street and documentary work I usually gravitate toward. The idea of learning how to work with models and studying fashion poses intrigued me, so when I saw an ad (or maybe an email) for an upcoming Ghost Town photoshoot workshop sponsored by Sony Alpha and B&C Camera, our local camera store, it caught my attention immediately.

It seemed like a good opportunity to learn a few things without breaking the bank, so I booked a spot.

On the day of the event, a group of photographers gathered at B&C Camera before heading out. I quickly realized that many of them were visiting Las Vegas for the WPPI Expo (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International). The turnout was larger than I expected.

One of the perks of the workshop was the chance to borrow gear, and I was able to try out the Sony a7CR, a 61-megapixel camera paired with a 24–50mm f/2.8 lens. I had been curious about this model because it’s compact and lightweight—exactly the kind of camera I’d consider if I were to build a Sony kit. On paper it also shares a similar megapixel count with the Leica Q3, and since Leica sensors are often rumored to be sourced from Sony, I wondered how comparable the results would be.

After reviewing the Sony RAW files later, it became pretty clear that the sensor and lens combination on the Leica still produced noticeably sharper detail, especially when pixel peeping. Still, the Sony impressed me with its portability and overall image quality.

Once everyone had their gear sorted out, we loaded onto an air-conditioned bus and headed out to the old mining town of Nelson.

I had visited Nelson years ago and photographed some of the rusted vehicles, barns, and weathered textures scattered throughout the property. At the time it felt gritty and raw. This visit felt different. Much of the space now seemed carefully arranged and curated—almost like a movie set. It’s clearly become more of a destination experience, with sections designed for tourists and photographers. For the workshop, Sony and B&C had essentially rented the location for the day.

After unloading our gear, we gathered around Monica Sigmon, a Sony ambassador and our instructor. She gave a quick lesson on working with natural light in outdoor portrait situations and talked about using the environment as part of the composition rather than just a background.

Then the shooting began.

Photographers spread out across the property, pairing up with different models stationed around various locations. I spotted a small chapel and started my first session there with Kristina. Each photographer had roughly ten minutes with a model to create a few images before rotating.

One thing I immediately noticed was the swarm of cameras around every setup. Photographers would gather behind or beside you, waiting for their moment while still taking their own shots. It’s a bit chaotic, but that’s just how large group workshops work—you move quickly, grab the moments you can, and try to carve out your own angles among everyone else.

The rhythm of the day settled into a pattern: move to a new location, work with another model, experiment with a different idea. Some photographers were trying creative poses and unusual angles, while others were running more elaborate lighting setups. I hadn’t brought any external lighting, but I saw several photographers who came fully prepared with multi-flash rigs, reflectors, and umbrellas. It was a good reminder that lighting is a skillset I still want to explore and develop further.

Working with the models throughout the day was easily one of the highlights of the workshop. Every one of them was incredibly professional, and their outfits were fantastic—perfectly suited to the rugged character of Nelson Ghost Town. Their experience really showed in how naturally they moved through poses and expressions, often adjusting themselves with only minimal direction. It made the process of photographing them feel effortless and fluid. I could only imagine how much more challenging it would be to photograph someone without modeling experience, where much more guidance would be needed for every pose and movement. These models elevated the entire shoot; their professionalism and energy made the experience of taking photos not only easier, but a hundred times more enjoyable and fun.

By the end of the day I was exhausted but satisfied. The weather cooperated—it stayed warm but not overly hot—and at times clouds drifted in and out, creating some interesting lighting conditions throughout the afternoon.

It was a productive day of learning, experimenting, and stepping slightly outside my usual comfort zone.