08 Oct Four Days in the Blue Ridge Mountains: Our NAPCP Asheville Getaway Recap
Some trips give you new images. The best ones give you new friends, new skills and a renewed love for why you picked up a camera in the first place.
From September 14–17, 2026, NAPCP members gathered in Asheville, North Carolina, for a photography retreat hosted by NAPCP Mentor and 2024 Photographer of the Year Valerie Eidson. Against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we spent four days learning, creating, serving the local community and, most importantly, connecting with one another.
Here’s a look back at our week together.
Day One: A Rooftop Welcome at Sopranas
The getaway kicked off with an arrival day and a welcome reception at Sopranas in downtown Asheville. Great food, rooftop views and a sunset glowing over the mountains made it the perfect place to settle in. Old friends reconnected and first-time attendees quickly felt like part of the group.
Every guest also received an NAPCP welcome bag packed with thoughtful goodies, including:
- NAPCP shirts
- A custom hat created by GoldenEyeTruckers
- A one-of-a-kind Asheville print designed exclusively for the getaway by NAPCP Chief Creative Officer Deanne Mroz
It was a relaxed, joy-filled first evening and set the tone for everything that followed.
Day Two: Giving Back and an Afternoon at the Biltmore
Day two began with one of the most meaningful experiences of the trip: a group service project at the Asheville Botanical Gardens at UNCA, where we photographed local families affected by Hurricane Helene. This experience deserves its own story, so we’re sharing it in full in Part 2 of this series.
Afterward, we headed to the Biltmore Estate for lunch and time to explore the grounds. With its grand architecture, lush gardens, open fields and sweeping mountain views, the Biltmore was an incredible playground for creative portrait work.
The Senior Shootout
As afternoon turned to evening, Valerie led our Senior Shootout. She had styled a senior model in a flowing white dress that stood out beautifully against the historic architecture.
We photographed her beneath the trellis, in the grassy fields and in front of the estate itself. Photographers played with composition, movement and light, and even held crystals and other objects in front of their lenses to create reflections, flares and dreamy textures. Seeing how a small change in technique could transform an image was one of the biggest takeaways of the day.
A Vintage-Inspired Family Session
Next, Valerie styled a family in vintage-inspired clothing that felt right at home on the historic estate. As the sun set, we photographed them in front of the Biltmore with the mountains stretching into the distance. Golden light, beautiful styling and an unforgettable location made this shootout a highlight of the getaway.
The evening wrapped up with everyone heading back into Asheville to explore the city and enjoy dinner on their own.
Day Three: Lighting, Gels and 1970s Inspiration
Day three brought a completely different creative challenge. We gathered at Daytrip, a 1970s-themed bar in Asheville, where Valerie led a hands-on off-camera flash workshop.
Our model, Alex Eischeid, arrived with outfits that brought the theme to life. We rotated through three setups:
- A retro living room
- The bar
- A disco-inspired scene with Alex dancing beneath a disco ball
Using flash and colored gels, everyone saw firsthand how lighting choices change the mood of an image. Valerie also brought out her Smoke Ninja, letting us add atmospheric smoke to fill entire scenes or create a subtle stream for an authentic ’70s feel.
A huge thank-you to Geekoto, who generously provided triggers for every attendee. Thanks to their support, each photographer could run the lighting setups themselves instead of just watching a demo. We’re so grateful for your generosity and your support of the NAPCP community!
Learning Beyond the Camera
After Daytrip, we returned to the Cambria for a boxed lunch and an afternoon of education. Valerie walked us through her editing techniques, giving everyone fresh ideas to bring into their own workflows.
Then came a roundtable business discussion that many called one of the most valuable parts of the trip. Each attendee wrote down one challenge they were facing in their business. We shared them with the group, and members with experience in those areas offered ideas, advice and encouragement.
It was a powerful reminder of what NAPCP is all about: we may each run our own businesses, but you don’t have to build your business alone.
A Beautiful Farewell at Wildwood Still
We closed our time together with a farewell dinner at Wildwood Still, another Asheville rooftop with spectacular mountain views and one more stunning sunset. It was the perfect ending to days filled with photography, education, service, creativity, laughter and connection.
Thank You, Valerie!
This experience was made possible by Valerie Eidson of Valerie Eidson Fine Art Photo. Valerie helped plan the itinerary, scouted locations, and styled and coordinated every photoshoot, bringing together the models, wardrobe, details and lighting that gave attendees so many chances to experiment and build their portfolios.
Beyond the images, Valerie created space for connection, collaboration and creative growth. Thank you for sharing your time, your talent and your love of Asheville with our community. Through your vision, Asheville became more than a destination. It became a place to slow down, reconnect, create and be inspired.
Join Us for the Next One
The Asheville Getaway was about so much more than beautiful photographs. It was about growing your artistry, your business and your confidence alongside people who truly get it.
If you’d love to be part of experiences like this, we’d love to welcome you into the NAPCP community. Explore NAPCP membership and upcoming events here!
Until next time!
Next in this series: Part 2, Giving Back Through Photography in Asheville.
