A Fine Art Photographers’ Luxury Editorial Experience
at Villa Balbiano & Villa Pizzo
MAy 19 & May 20, 2025
Join worldwide Event Planner Amanda Virga of AMV Weddings for an exclusive content building experience at two of the most iconic wedding venues in the Lake Como region, Villa Balbiano & Villa Pizzo!
This luxury fine-art photographers’ retreat aims to present a select number of attendees with a 2-day editorial experience infused with local activities, networking, and jaw dropping content. This retreat has been planned as the perfect fusion of an editorial workshop and luxury travel getaway, in order to help you create an inspiring portfolio, develop clarity of aesthetic direction, and book more of your ideal clients, all while connecting with fellow creatives in one of the most sought after destination wedding locations in the world!
The workshop is open to digital, hybrid, and film photographers as well as videographers. On a case by case basis we are also accepting other creatives interested in joining us for the experience.
An inspiring experience that will allow you to unwind, reconnect to your purpose and revamp your brand
2
luxurious editorial shoots with real model couples, top industry suppliers, high fashion & the breathtaking settings at the most luxurious and iconic venues of Lake Como
✔ Curate an inspiring portfolio that elevates your brand & attracts your ideal client
✔ Develop clarity of aesthetic direction & position yourself powerfully within the market
✔ Discover confidence in your photographic voice and completely transform your business
✔ Connect with an intimate group of 21 peers (max).
What’s Included
2 high-end, luxury styled editorial shoots with bride & groom models at Villa Balbiano on May 19th and Villa Pizzo on May 20th. Each shoot will feature a full wedding day with a ceremony, tablescape, cake, details & flat lays.
*4 fashion oriented editorial capsule looks with female models (2 looks per day)
2 full days of portfolio building and networking experiences
Lunch and Soft Drinks
Boat Shoot at Villa Pizzo
*While accommodation is not included, we will be offering a discounted room block at our host location (Villa Belvedere), as well as an optional group dinner package Sunday-Tuesday for those looking to extend their networking time!
*Assistance coordinating transport to/from airport available upon request (additional cost applies). Since parking is not available onsite at either shoot location, we will be offering Group Transport to/from our group meeting point (Villa Belvedere) for a minimal additional fee.
Our previous attendees have been featured in Vogue, Style Me Pretty, Magnolia Rouge, WedLuxe, Wedding Chicks, Wedding Sparrow and many more notable publications
The Locations
Villa Balbiano
SHOOT Location #1: May 19thSituated on the western shore of Lake Como, Villa Balbiano is an awe-inspiring Italian jewel, an exceptional historical palazzo that once belonged to the famous Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, who built it at the end of 16th century and used it as his main residence. Since then each successive owner only added to the splendor of the villa. Nowadays, Villa Balbiano is the largest private residence on the lake, occupying over 5 acres, with extensive sumptuous garden, which was distinguished by the British Society of Garden Designers, outdoor swimming pool, a private pier and a boathouse. With its illustrious past, an unparalleled mix of man-made and natural beauty, Villa Balbiano is one of the most glamorous locations on Lake Como.
Listed among the most prestigious venues on Lake Como by Harpers Bazaar and Vogue US, Villa Balbiano is a perfect choice for any event: from a destination wedding to a glamorous party, from a private photo session to an intimate elopement. With its charming views across Lake Como to the distant mountains, its immense Italian garden and a private pier, the Villa has served as the perfect location for some of the most luxurious weddings in all of Europe.
Event Moodboard
Villa Pizzo
SHOOT Location #2: May 20thVilla Pizzo is a 17th century aristocratic dwelling built on the promontory of the Gulf of Cernobbio. Situated halfway between Moltrasio and Cernobbio, Villa Pizzo is one of the oldest manor houses on Lake Como. It takes its name from the rocky spur on which it stands: in the regional dialect Piz means point or projection. Villa Pizzo and all the annexed buildings are fully visible only from the lake and it is renowned for its style and breath-taking views.
The Villa is an ideal location for exclusive and sophisticated weddings. From May to October Villa Pizzo and its wonderful gardens, bursting with striking and unexpectedly mesmerizing views is the ideal place for a fairy tale wedding. Within the Villa’s charming gardens, which surround and stretch alongside the lake, one can enjoy the beauty of century old shrubs and trees, cypress boulevards, a botanical gallery of yews as well as an Italian garden with its baroque fountains.
Event Moodboard
Villa Belvedere
Host room block locationOur optional room block and group dinners will be accommodated at the breathtaking Villa Belvedere Relais on the shores of Lake Como in the quaint village of Argegno.
Meet The Host
Amanda Virga
Founder of AMV Retreats, Worldwide Wedding PlannerAmanda Virga is a worldwide wedding planner who has over a decade of experience in the event industry, executing nearly 600 weddings during her career and 20+ successful retreats to date. While based between NYC and London, she has also worked on weddings across the globe, over 4 continents from Spain and Tuscany to Thailand and Bali. Her approach is unique, not only does she have a passion for creating flawless events but she is also committed to creating valuable experiences that bring industry professionals together, collaborating with some of the best in the industry, and designing breathtaking editorial projects. Her weddings and editorial work have been featured on Good Morning America, Vogue, BRIDES, Style Me Pretty, WedLuxe, The Knot, Junebug, Wedding Chicks, and more.
Amanda is an avid traveler having visited 65 countries, she also spent an entire year traveling the world in 2018 while immersing herself into the wedding industry in each of her destinations. Her adventurous and worldly spirit is what inspired the creation of AMV retreats, a one of a kind experience connecting wedding creatives across the globe. When not traveling or planning events, she is usually found snuggling up with her chihuahua, enjoying a glass of prosecco or practicing yoga. She is a firm believer that achieving a good life balance is the ultimate key to success.
Frequently Asked Questions
DO I NEED TO BE A FILM OR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO ATTEND?Both digital and film photographers as well as videographers are welcome at this workshop!
HOW WILL THE STYLED SHOOTS WORK?The styled shoots will be designed with over-the-top floral installations, featuring luxury brands and professional bride & groom models. The shoots will be split into 3 groups that will work in shifts with the models, and each set-up to ensure a small group atmosphere with one-on-one attention and a very smooth shooting process. The shoots will be held tentatively between 11am-5pm each day with a break for lunch. For those opting to join us for dinner each night, it will be held around 7:30pm but we will be in touch with a precise schedule closer to the event.
WILL I BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THE SHOOTS TO BLOGS?Absolutely. We will provide you with tips and best practice guidelines to help you get published. For our editorial experiences, there are no publication delays - you are free to submit whenever and whenever you would like!
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COSTS I NEED TO CONSIDER?For this particular experience, the only thing included in the attendance fee is the shoot and lunch. While accommodation is not included, we will be offering a discounted room block at our host location (Villa Belvedere), as well as an optional group dinner package Sunday-Tuesday for those looking to extend their networking time! Since parking is not available onsite at either shoot location, we will be offering Group Transport to/from our group meeting point (Villa Belvedere) for a minimal additional fee. Assistance coordinating transport to/from airport or Como train station is also available upon request.
Will there be education offered on this retreat?This event is a content and networking based experience, so education and classroom sessions will not be offered. However we continue to offer many retreats that do feature an educational component so if you are interested in one of those, please view our other upcoming events here!
I am traveling alone, can you help pair me with another solo traveler?Absolutely! We would be delighted to help pair you with another solo traveler if you like to split accommodations/transport costs with another creative attending the event!
Investment
May 19 & 20 Two day shoot (Including boat shoot): $4,750May 19th Villa Balbiano shoot only: $3,450may 20th Villa Pizzo shoot only (Including boat shoot): $3,250* Split into 2 payments (Payment plans available upon request). Pricing Includes Editorial Shoots and Lunch Only (No Accommodation, Transport or Additional Meals)
* All payments are non-refundable.
Photography by: Sara Cooper, Konstantyn Zakhariy, Amy Mulder, Koman Photography & Redamancy Photography