APPLICATION | The Mythic Self - A Fantasy Photoshoot Retreat with Ida von Aves

The Mythic Life | A Fantasy Photoshoot Retreat with Ida von Aves

A Fantasy Photoshoot Retreat

with Ida von Aves & Sarah Shearer
October 7–14, 2026
Château de Puy Vidal

Step into a world where myth and memory intertwine—where personal discovery is celebrated through beauty, fantasy, and embodiment.

The Mythic Self is an immersive fine art photoshoot retreat set within a 13th-century château in the French countryside. This intimate experience invites you to explore transformation, archetype, and creative self-expression through carefully crafted portraiture, ritual play, and deep communal connection.

Guided by visionary fine art photographer Ida von Aves and expert hair and makeup artist Sarah Shearer, each participant is thoughtfully transformed into a living work of art. Through light, shadow, gesture, and emotion, Ida’s direction evokes the drama of the Medieval world, the elegance of the Renaissance, and the sensual romanticism of the Pre-Raphaelites—always grounded in who you are.

Alongside the photoshoots, The Lady of the Château team curates a week of aesthetic revelry: dress-up evenings, long meals, dancing, rest, and unhurried moments of belonging among fellow fantasy lovers. This is a return to play, to imagination, and to the mythic threads woven within you.

Come wander our château halls and gardens, where muses awaken, stories soften their edges, and myths are allowed to live again.

INCLUDED in your retreat

3 Fine Art studio Photoshoots with ida von aves

Includes 3 fully edited, high-resolution portraits, delivered after the retreat.

Accommodations

Your choice of a private bedroom at Château de Puy Vidal.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks:
Coffee, tea, aperitif cocktails, French wines, and 24/7 access to a coffee + snack bar.

Wardrobe & Styling INCLUDED

Wardrobe, Styling and Hair Makeup provided by Ida von Aves and Sarah Scherer.
Each photoshoot look will be planned in advance of your shoot. Prepare in advance with Ida and the Lady of the Chateau and then refined on the day of your photoshoot.

Styling Supplies

The Lady of the Chateau will provide:
Curling irons • Hot rollers • Bobby pins • Hair accessories • Steamers for outfits • Large makeup vanities with lit mirrors
(Please bring your own costumes, wardrobe, and makeup for our theme dinners and medieval banquet evening!)

Facilities

Full access to the Château estate: salons, common rooms, art studio, formal French gardens, pool, and hot tub.

Shuttle Service

Complimentary pick-up and drop-off at Angoulême Train Station, just 18 minutes away.

Supportive Environment

A warm, imaginative atmosphere encouraging creativity, play, and self-expression.

Event Photography

Complimentary candid photography documenting your experience via Lady of the Chateau team.

NOT INCLUDED

Flights
Train travel to Angoulême
Travel and health insurance (strongly recommended)

FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS

To make this retreat more accessible, we offer:

Three-installment payment plans, or
A chip-away option for smaller incremental payments.

A 35% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place.

If you need support or custom arrangements, we are happy to help.
Email us anytime at [email protected].

NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT POLICY

To honor the investment made by The Lady of the Château and our guest artists, a 35% non-refundable deposit is required at booking.
Significant time, planning, and upfront costs go into crafting these experiences, and last-minute cancellations impact the viability of our retreats.

We strongly encourage purchasing travel insurance for peace of mind.
We recommend World Nomads, which offers coverage for unexpected circumstances.

For questions or guidance, please reach out at [email protected].

The Mythic Self - A Fantasy Photoshoot Retreat with Ida von Aves : €5,750-€6,750

cHâTEAU DE pUY vidal Room Rates & Occupancy

Below are the room rates for the Mythic Self Retreat.
All prices are per person for single occupancy.

ROOM RATES (Single Occupancy)

Medieval Tower — €5,750 (shared bathroom)
Lafayette Room — €5,950 (shared bathroom)
Attic Room — €6,250 (private bathroom)
Blue Room - €6,450 (private bathroom)
Rose Room — €6,450 (private bathroom) * Double Occupancy Available for this room*
Toile de Jouy 1 — €6,550 (private bathroom)
Toile de Jouy 2 — €6,550 (private bathroom)
King Room — €6,750 (private bathroom)

35% non-refundable deposit is required for booking.

For a second participant sharing a room | additional €4,000

If you wish to share a room with a friend- the price for the second participant is an additional 4,000 euros added to whichever room package you choose to cover their participation, transport, dining and photography. If you let us know that you'd like to add a roommate, we will adjust the booking system and have it charge each roommate evenly. Please note only the rooms which say Double Occupancy available can accommodate two guests. The Toile rooms have one Queen bed, and the King Room has a king bed, and can accommodate the addition of the cot.

Please email us if you wish to add this option to one of the rooms at [email protected]

Included with All Rooms

3-FINE ART PHOTOSHOOTS with Ida von Aves: 3 Fully edited, retouched portraits, high resolution digital format, delivered after retreat.
Accommodations: Private or Shared bedroom at Château de Puy Vidal.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks (including coffee, tea, aperitif cocktails, French wines, and 24/7 access to a coffee and snack bar) throughout the 7-night workshop.
Photoshoot Costume & Styling:
Ida will be bringing her entire Studio Closet to the Chateau for your use exclusively - including her beautiful draping fabrics in many colors, incredible gilded accessories, props and more. Each look will be planned and discussed in advance of the retreat over a zoom call as much as possible, and then refined on the day of each shoot.
Hair & Make-up: All photoshoots include full HMU by Sarah Shearer.
Facilities: Full access to the Chateau de Puy Vidal estate- salons, common rooms, art studio, formal french gardens, pool, and hot tub.
Shuttle Service: Complimentary pick-up and drop-off at Angoulême Train Station, just 18 minutes from Château de Puy Vidal.
Supportive Environment: A safe, inspiring atmosphere encouraging creativity, play and self-expression.
Event Photography: Complimentary in-house event photography to capture and preserve the candid moments of your experience.

Not Included

Flights: Participants are responsible for arranging their own flights.
Train Travel: Participants must arrange their own train transportation.
Insurance: We strongly recommend obtaining travel and health insurance, as these are not provided.
Costumes: Attire for themed events outside of photoshoots is not included.

Flexible Payment Options

To make this retreat more accessible, we have divided the total cost into three installments for ease of payment. Additionally, there is a chip-away option is available for those who prefer to make smaller, incremental payments over time. A 35% non-refundable deposit is required for booking.

If you have any special payment or deposit requests please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to assist in making this experience possible for you.

For inquiries or to discuss payment options, please email us at [email protected].

Non-Refundable Deposit Policy

To uphold the integrity of this retreat and honor the investment made by The Lady of the Château and our guest artists, we require a 35% non-refundable deposit to secure your booking. Significant time, planning, and upfront costs go into creating these experiences, and last-minute cancellations severely impact the viability of our retreats.

We understand that unexpected situations can arise, which is why we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment. We suggest World Nomads, which offers coverage for unforeseen circumstances that may affect your plans.

If you have any questions about our policy or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected].