About Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures (BCPA)

Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures was started back in the 80s as Barefoot Contessa Adventures in which Margo Taussig Pinkerton led trips, including ones down National Wild & Scenic Rivers in Alaska north of the Arctic Circle. Her clients wanted to go home with memorable photographs of what was for most a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. And so, she worked with them on composition, light, connecting with their subjects, and learning to produce more than just a travel snapshot.

When Margo and fellow pro photographer Arnold "Arnie" Zann met, they joined businesses and eventually lives. At that point, they continued what each of them had been doing for their whole careers — lecturing, giving seminars, mentoring, and educating both in workshops and as guest lecturers in universities, photo schools, and to creative groups

Upon retiring from a successful commercial career, they devoted themselves full time to Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures.

Their philosophy was simple — give 1000% — yes, there is no such thing, but it gives you an idea of their commitment. This is just what they gave in their careers working with top international journals and corporations. On a workshop, the only time they were not with their clients is when someone was in bed or in the loo.

Now that Arnie is gone, released from the brutal last months living with ALS, Margo will continue with what she started and with what she and Arnie built together. All fun aside, her goal is to continue to give BCPA participants the tools to continue to grow as photographers once the workshop ends. She and Arnie were always humbled by the high percentage of returning alumni who come back to continue being challenged and head to the next level.

BCPA will always value aesthetics over techno-speak and help participants learn to see and have a vision of what the final photograph will be after post processing. While many in the workshops use Lightroom, anyone who attends a BCPA workshop should continue with their imaging program of choice. Margo, who also teaches Lightroom, can make suggestions in those cases, but she will not be able to physically demonstrate a technique in programs other than Lightroom.

Many alumni have gone on to be juried into prestigious exhibitions, have solo shows, see their work published, and even win cash and cameras with work they have done in BCPA workshops and afterwards.

Margo and Arnie always firmly believed in the fun factor, and that will never change. If you are having fun in a relaxed atmosphere, you are willing to take chances and "make mistakes" that may well turn out to be happy and unexpected successes.

Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures is now limiting its workshop size to six (6) participants. That way, participants can still be assured of lots of individual attention, help, and critiques. In addition, because of the small group size, they have gained access to some private areas that cannot handle larger groups.

In addition to watching BCPA alumni grow in their artistic approach to their photography, it is wonderful to see the friendships that have sprung out of the workshops, grown, and flourished, both in subsequent workshops and outside.

Come join Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures for an intensive, fun experience!