DEFINE YOUR VOICE
A master workshop in visual language

A 5-Day Master workshop with Awoiska van der Molen
 June 2–6, 2026 | French Alps

© Raymond Meeks

What makes you you as a photographer?

In a world overflowing with images — our strength as a photographer lies in your unique perception and experience of the world around you.

This in-depth 5-day workshop is designed for photographers who want to discover or gain a deeper understanding of their unique inner drive that ultimately forms the foundation of:
✨ your narrative
✨ your visual language
✨ your artistic compass

You will be guided by renowned Dutch photographer Awoiska van der Molen, known for her contemplative and deeply personal approach to photography.

This workshop is not about making a new body of work. It’s about discovering and defining the core essence — in yourself, in all the work you have made so far, and even earlier, before you ever picked up a camera.

For whom?

This workshop is for photographers who:
✔️ Want to discover unconscious knowledge within themself
✔️ Are open to introspection and experimentation
✔️ Are eager to grow through personal and professional feedback
✔️ Are committed to artistic development in a nurturing yet sharp environment

➡️ Portfolio review is required before acceptance. We will get back to you within one week.

Maximum 10 participants — to guarantee intimacy, depth and personal attention.

“I only take photographs when all noise has disappeared and there is no longer any sense of time. The moment when you are no longer even concerned with yourself, and experience a point zero.” – Awoiska van der Molen

What to Expect

Guidance by Awoiska van der Molen
 An intensive journey led by a master of visual expressing. Awoiska will work closely with each participant to reveal and develop your unique drive.

  •  Individual mentoring & daily group sessions
    Explore your visual language, challenge assumptions, sharpen your motives and reflect on your practice — in group and one-on-one settings.

  • Focus on authenticity
     In a time of artificial aesthetics, we double down on the real. We embrace the authentic, the quiet, the poetic, the personal, in an intimate setting.

  • A month prior to the workshop you are asked by Awoiska to do an assignment in preparation for the workshop. Please bring with you plenty of your existing photo work in the form of simple prints and/or zines, booklets, or books. And of course, your camera!

A nourishing environment
 Hosted in a serene gîte in the French Alps, surrounded by nature, silence and space — the perfect setting for deep reflection and growth.

Business insights with Kaat Celis
During the multi-day workshop, each participant receives a dedicated Business Insights session with Kaat Celis, founder of De Donkere Kamer. With years of experience as a mentor, entrepreneur, and photographer, Kaat brings her sharp eye and strategic guidance directly into your business practice.

Beforehand, you’ll complete a short questionnaire so Kaat can dive straight into your specific questions and challenges. This means every session is fully tailored—no generic advice, but focused insights.

Known for her personal mentoring, in-depth workshops, and masterclasses, Kaat helps entrepreneurs gain clarity, direction, and confidence to take bold next steps. These 1:1 conversations are honest, inspiring, and designed to unlock growth in both your creative and business journey.

“The beauty is: this transformation doesn’t have to take you years. Change can happen in an instant” – Kaat Celis

A place that holds you

Our base for this retreat is Les Sapins du Renard Argenté — a soulful, carefully restored gîte d’étape tucked away in the French Alps.

Surrounded by vast silence, untouched nature and mountain air, this location is more than just a backdrop. It becomes a co-mentor in the process. The rhythm here is slower. The distractions fewer. The space — wide open.

This environment invites you to go inward, to tune into your own visual intuition, and to create from presence rather than pressure.

"It’s not just about being away. It’s about being held by a place that lets you hear your own voice again."

Les Sapins du Renard Argenté offers simple yet refined comfort, with private rooms, shared meals, and a shared commitment to stillness, beauty, and connection. Some particpants will stay in the main gîte, some will have a room in a B&B nearby.

Dates: June 1–6, 2026

Location: French Alps
Workshop Fee: €1700 (excl. accommodation & travel)

Accommodation & Meals: €1400

  • Private single room with en-suite bathroom

  • Three organic, vegetarian meals a day

  • Locally sourced, seasonal products

Accommodation & full board are charged separately

Housing Options

  • 3 spots in the main gîte (first come, first served)

  • Nearby B&B’s for other participants, we book them for you.

  • 2 camper spots available upon request (if you book a camper spot you pay €640 euros instead of €1400)

    Transportation is not included.

Practical Details

And something unique: one spot is reserved for a student. This student pays only for accommodation, the workshop itself is free. Because we believe talent should be supported, no matter their financial situation. Contact us when you think this is for you 🤍.

Booking & Conditions

▶  1. Application via portfolio submission

  • Once approved (within 5 working days), you’ll receive a booking link.

▶ 2. Payment

  • A non-refundable deposit of 30% is required upon booking to secure your spot.

  • In case of cancellation after May 1, 2026, the full amount (100%) of the workshop fee is due.

  • You may cancel anytime before May 1, 2026, but your deposit will not be refunded.

  • Cancellation must be submitted in writing via email. You may transfer your spot to another eligible participant (subject to portfolio approval) upon written agreement.

▶ 3. Agreement

  • To finalize your booking, you will be asked to sign a formal agreement through SignRequest. This includes the full terms and conditions of participation, including payment terms, liability, and cancellation policy.

  • The workshop will take place with a minimum of 6 participants. If there are fewer than 6 participants by 30 April 2026, the workshop will be cancelled and the deposit will be refunded.

About Awoiska van der Molen

Awoiska van der Molen is born and based in the Netherlands, (1972). Her black-and-white work  arises from her interest in the intangible and psychological space in the world she photographs.  

She studied Architecture & Design followed by photography at Minerva Art Academy Groningen  and Hunter City University in New York and she completed her MFA in Photography in 2003 at the  St. Joost Academy in Breda, Netherlands.  

Her work has been exhibited in numerous international institutions including Kunsthalle Mannheim;  Huis Marseille, Amsterdam; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; The Photographers Gallery,  London; FOAM, Amsterdam; Pier24 Photography, San Francisco; Kyotographie, Kyoto; Musei  Civici, Reggio Emilia and F0MU, Antwerp.  

Van der Molens work is represented in public and museum collections such as Stedelijk Museum  in Amsterdam; Museum of Photography in Seoul; Victoria and Albert Museum in London; De Young  Museum, San Francisco and Fotomuseum in The Hague.  

Her work was shortlisted for two prestigious awards: Prix Pictet Award in 2019 and Deutsche Börse  Photography Prize in 2017. She received the Larry Sultan Photography Award in 2017 and the  Hariban Benrido Award in 2014.  

Her latest book The Humanness of Our Lonely Selves was shortlisted PhotoBook of the Year for  the Paris Photo-Aperture prize in 2024. Her previously published monographs are The Living  Mountain (2020), Blanco (2017) and her first publication Sequester (2024) was shortlisted First  PhotoBook prize for the Paris Photo-Aperture prize.  

Awoiska and Kaat recorded a podcast together last year, which you can find here:

“This is not just a workshop. It’s a turning point.”

Why this workshop matters

This is more than a workshop.
It’s part of a broader mission to empower photographers to:

  • Discover their own visual language

  • Learn directly from acclaimed, authentic voices in the field

  • Develop depth, meaning and coherence in their work

  • Create from within, not from trends or algorithms

In the age of AI, your humanity is your edge.

 FAQ

  • This workshop is designed for photographers who are ready to go beyond technique and trends, and want to deepen their personal practice. Whether you are emerging or more established, the key requirement is an openness to explore, reflect, and refine your own visual language.

  • Since the workshop is highly intensive and personal, Awoiska works closely with each participant. We want to ensure that the group dynamic and the level of commitment are well-balanced, so the portfolio helps us curate the group.

  • The fee of €1700 includes:

    • 6 days of group sessions and individual mentoring with Awoiska van der Molen

    • All workshop activities and guidance

    • A small, carefully selected group for deep exchange and reflection

    • Business insights by Kaat Celis

    • A professionial organized workshop

    The fee does not include accommodation, meals, or travel. These are charged separately (see below).

  • You will stay in a private single room with en-suite bathroom in a serene gîte in the French Alps, or in a nearby B&B (depending on availability). All meals are included: three organic, vegetarian meals a day, cooked with local and seasonal products.

    Accommodation and full board are charged separately. The exact fee will be communicated soon.

    There is also the possibility to book a camper spot. We have two available, first come, first serve. The fee for these spots are cheaper than the fee for a room.

  • To ensure an intimate and focused setting, the group is limited. Only a small number of participants will be accepted, based on portfolio selection.

    • A 30% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot.

    • If you cancel before May 1, 2026, you will not receive your deposit back, but the rest of the fee will not be charged.

    • If you cancel after May 1, 2026, the full workshop fee is due.

    • You may transfer your spot to another eligible participant (subject to portfolio approval).

  • The workshop will be conducted in English.

    • Fill in the intake form and upload your portfolio.

    • If selected, you’ll receive a booking link. We will let you know within 5 working days.

    • Secure your spot by paying the deposit and signing the participation agreement.

  • Yes, the minimum number is 6 members. The workshop will take place with a minimum of 6 photographers. If this number is not reached by 30 April 2026, the workshop will be cancelled and the deposit will be refunded.