Something extraordinary is coming to the mountains.

Glen Choga Lodge will welcome acclaimed photographic artist Erika Masterson for an immersive masterclass exploring photography, nature, alternative processes, and visual storytelling.

This experience moves beyond camera settings and technique. Through hands-on creation, meaningful conversation, and the quiet beauty of the lodge, participants will be invited to slow down, see differently, and create images that reflect what they feel, not simply what they see.

Come for the art. Stay for the setting. Leave seeing the world through a different lens.

Details and registration coming soon.

There are places that awaken something within us.

Places where the air feels quieter, where light filters gently through the trees, and where beauty invites us to slow down long enough to truly see.

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, I invite you to join me for an intimate all-inclusive fine art photography retreat inspired by my award-winning series, Tangled Up in Beauty.

Over several days together, you’ll step into the complete creative journey behind my work—from photographing soulful portraits and gathering nature imagery in the forests and along the mountain landscapes, to blending those elements into expressive fine art compositions in Photoshop.

But this retreat is about more than learning a technique.

It is about learning to see.

Together we will photograph models in natural light, wander the forests in search of textures, flowers, water, and light, and explore how the beauty of creation can become part of our visual storytelling. You’ll discover how layering portraits with nature creates images that reveal emotion, vulnerability, and connection in ways a single photograph cannot.

As a special part of this experience, I’ll also teach my signature pigment transfer process onto handmade Mulberry paper, transforming your digital artwork into a one-of-a-kind fine art print rich with texture and meaning.

Throughout the retreat, we’ll gather in my mountain ArtRoom for demonstrations, creative discussions, and hands-on editing sessions. My hope is that this space becomes more than a classroom—that it becomes a place where creativity flourishes, friendships grow, and inspiration is renewed.

Your Retreat Includes:

• Private accommodations at the beautiful Glen Choga Lodge, a restored historic mountain lodge surrounded by the forests of western North Carolina.

• All meals throughout the retreat.

• Portrait photography sessions with models.

• Guided nature photography excursions.

• Complete Photoshop instruction for creating Tangled Up in Beauty composite portraits.

• My signature pigment transfer printing process on Mulberry paper.

• Creative mentoring in an intimate small-group setting.

• Time to slow down, create, and reconnect with beauty.

About Glen Choga Lodge

Just minutes from Nantahala Lake and surrounded by mountain forests, Glen Choga Lodge offers the perfect setting to step away from everyday distractions. Relax on the expansive front porch, walk the nearby forest trails, enjoy the peaceful pond, and experience the timeless beauty of the Appalachian Mountains while immersed in creativity.

Is This Retreat for You?

This retreat is designed for photographers, artists, and creatives who long to create work with greater depth, emotion, and meaning.

Whether you’re an experienced photographer or simply feel called to explore a more expressive artistic process, you’ll leave with new skills, renewed inspiration, and artwork that reflects your own unique vision.

My hope is that you return home with more than beautiful photographs.

I hope you leave seeing beauty differently.

I can’t wait to welcome you to the mountains and share this creative journey with you.

May 2027 • Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina

Space will be intentionally limited to create a personal and meaningful experience.

Join the waitlist and be the first to receive retreat details and registration information. Call the lodge at  828.321.3249.