CUBA ART-NUDE & GLAMOUR PHOTO WORKSHOP TOUR
'SENSUAL HAVANA - A CELEBRATION OF FEMALE BEAUTY'
JOIN RENOWNED TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER & CUBA EXPERT CHRISTOPHER P. BAKER, PLUS ONE OF CUBA'S TOP FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS, ON THIS GLAMOUR & ARTISTIC NUDE PHOTO TOUR, AND SHOOT TOP FEMALE MODELS AND BALLERINAS OF THE BALLET NACIONAL DE CUBA IN HAVANA'S INCOMPARABLY BEAUTIFUL AND TIME-WORN SETTINGS
For anyone who appreciates human beauty as art! On this unparalleled Cuba fine-art nude photo tour, we'll photograph Cuba's most beautiful women in time-worn Havana--as fantastic a backdrop for glamour, erotic, and art-nude photography as exists in this world, given its mixture of Spanish colonial and faded baroque architecture, its wealth of 1950s American cars, and its stimulating aura of exoticism.
A tribute to the female form, our respectful and elegant treatment of the subject pays homage to all that is positive about the Cuban Revolution and its advancement of women’s rights and self-determination, while also honoring their own unashamedly and affirmatively self-confident pride in expressing their sensuality.
WHO SHOULD JOIN?
This art-nude tour is designed for female and male photographers of all standards–beginner, intermediate or professional–and especially for those who may not have previously worked with models. Most clients on our 2022 'Sensual Havana' tour had considerable prior experience participating in similar artistic nude photo workshops. But it is certainly not a requirement!
Our focus will be on shooting street photography and natural settings that require minimum equipment, using natural light spontaneously (plus occasional fill-flash and portable LED lighting). We’ll span opportunities for all aspects of sensual portrait and street photography.
We will endeavor to create space for you to pursue your personal interests with our models, be it fashion, dance, street photography, portraits, or boudoir and erotic fine art. The goal? Editorial worthy images to be proud of!.
YOUR MODELS
We’ll select our models from a pool of more than 30 professional models, Tropicana showgirl dancers, top ballerinas from the Ballet Nacional de Cuba (and even fisiculturistas--female bodybuilders), plus other stunning cubanas who have expressed their desire to model for us. At a minimum, we expect to shoot at least eight to ten models. In all cases, this will depend on the availability of any particular model, of course!
We aim to provide a minimum of two models daily. On occasion we will shoot with one model. At others we will work with two, and perhaps even three, to ensure that only two or three participants are working with any one model at any time, depending on each venue.
WHAT THIS TOUR IS AND IS NOT!
Although Cuba has an advanced avant-garde (and overtly erotic) art scene, the Cuban government is highly sensitive about nude photography and equally restrictive about what is permissible. It has a zero tolerance policy regarding pornography, which it defines far more broadly than North American and European standards.
The trip is entirely about creating art! It is a tour dedicated to photographing Cuba using Cuban models as props, and to photographing female beauty and sensuality in a Cuban context. We will constantly strive to maintain a respectful and elegant treatment of the subject, as well as honoring each model's individual limits.
It is extremely important that as photographers we remain professional and sensitive to Cuba’s cultural and legal norms throughout. Not least, this will give confidence to our models. You, too, will learn to become comfortable with planning your shoots and directing your subjects, posing them and coaching them to achieve your desired effect. Always we will respect the comfort level of our models and the opinions of our other Cuban photographer co-leaders about what may or may not be appropriate to our circumstances.
Our focus throughout will be on glamour, erotic boudoir, and artistic nudes that are statements on Cuba, not mere fashion photos or simply images of sensual or naked women. Since much of our shooting will be outdoors in public places, we will use our models as compositional elements that add dynamic perspective to intriguing street scenes and exotic locations. A sense of place is paramount! We will NOT be experimenting with a wide range of gear, lighting setups, or creative in-camera techniques. Instead, reflecting Chris’ own background as a travel photographer unencumbered by lots of gear, we will work almost exclusively with natural light. Plus, our focus throughout will be on elegance and good taste to ensure the most classy and respectful results that dignify womanhood and femininity.
Our fine art nude and implied nude photography should be viewed as an opportunity to create art for the sake of art, with a focus on shape, form, mood, light and shadow, and storytelling. The emphasis will be on posture, posing and composition, including placing our models in unusual settings and unexpected or fascinating scenes, and using creative approaches that play with light, scene, and an intriguing narrative. Of course, whether outdoors or in more controlled indoor settings, we’ll also experiment with the interplay of highlight and shadow and mood to express our creativity and story-telling. We will work around an idea or artistic concept rather than simply photographing our models. The viewer should be inspired to see a creative expression of beauty and elegance, or other artistic exploration, not a naked figure or body parts. Composition, texture, graphic pattern and narrative concept take precedence. This becomes even more important in artistic nude photography; sculpting and differentiating curves and musculature for artistic allure and/or erotic effect.
Our venues include this deluxe mansion in a district known prior to the Revolution as the 'Beverly Hills of Havana.' (Model courtesy of Planet Talent Agency)
Other venues include sensational Art Deco and Modernist homes of the 1930s and 1950s for which Havana is renowned
... as well as antique-filled early 20th-century mansions
... rooftops of humble solares (tenements)
... plus interiors of iconic buildings such as Havana's famous hotels and even its theaters (Model courtesy of Planet Talent Agency)
Booking now!
Trip cost: $4,995 (based on 4 participants; a supplement may apply for fewer participants)
Participants must read and agree to the terms & conditions before requesting a reservation. SEE BELOW...
What's included
- 7 nights accommodation in listed casa particular (B&B) or similar
- Meals as indicated in itinerary
- Services of Chris Baker, plus one or more Cuban photographers
- Services of models
- Support van and driver or other transport as needed
All inclusions as listed in the itinerary - Airport transfers
Not included
- International flight between USA and Cuba
- Passport and Cuban tourist visa
- Travel Insurance
- Vaccinations and/or medical coverage
- Meals not specified
- Tips to guides, models, etc.
- Items of a personal nature (alcohol, internet access fees, laundry, etc.)
Tour Leader
CHRISTOPHER P. BAKER
Hailed by National Geographic as “One of the world’s leading authorities on Cuba travel and culture,” acclaimed travel journalist, photographer, and expedition leader Christopher P. Baker's words and images have appeared in hundreds of articles and books about Cuba, from BBC and CNN to National Geographic, Playboy and even Penthouse. His seven travel books on Cuba, including National Geographic Traveler Cuba, the Moon Cuba handbook, plus his coffee-table book, Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles. He’s led more than 100 group trips to Cuba, including for Jim Cline Photo Tours, Lumaria Workshops, National Geographic Expeditions, and Santa Fe Photographic Workshops.
Cuban photographer
Chris will be joined by one of Cuba's top female Cuban photographers, with broad experience in the fine-art nude genre. She brings her own sensibilities and visions to enhance our street and situational photography, bridging the gap between two artistic communities and cultures. With plenty of experience shooting nude models, she brings tremendous artistic vision to her work with models . She and Christopher have co-led numerous photo tours of Cuba and enjoy a tremendous professional rapport.
U.S. Legal
Despite President Biden's reversal on May 16, 2022, of several Trump restrictions on travel to Cuba imposed in September, 2020, many of the latter are still in effect.
However, the good news is that every U.S. citizen is legally travel to Cuba, pre-approved and at any time, under the “Support for the Cuban People” (SFCP) license. This is authorized by "general license," which means you do not need to request permission from the U.S. government or obtain any physical document at any time. A general license is based on the honor system in which you (a) buy services from Cuban entrepreneurs, such as home rentals, meals at private restaurants (paladares), transportation services (taxis), etc.; and (b) participate in "enriching cultural activities with Cubans" of your choosing from 9am – 5pm daily. (Note: the U.S. government reserves the right to audit your travel, meaning they can request that you provide proof of your legal itinerary and receipts for expenses for up to five years.)
This program is designed in accordance with U.S. regulations intended to maximize “support for the Cuban people” through stays at private B&Bs, meals at private restaurants, and interactions with independent artists, private tobacco farmers, owners of classic convertible taxis, etc.
Each self-guided traveler must take responsibility for reading the rules and understanding the requirements. Read the license requirements under §515.574 Support for the Cuban People
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Deposit and Final Payment
A deposit of $750 is required at time of booking. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
Cancellation
- On cancellations more than 90 days prior to departure, all monies are refunded, less any monies spent on the participants behalf, such as non-refundable hotel reservations, etc.
- Less than 90 days prior, total deposit amount is forfeited.
- Less than 60 days, 50% of trip price is forfeited.
- Less than 30 days prior to departure, 100% is forfeited.
Written notification by email or letter is required for cancelation. In the unlikely event we have to cancel a tour due to a shortage of participants, a full refund will be given. If a trip needs to be canceled due to a force majeure, monies will be refunded less non-refundable monies paid to third parties on the participant’s behalf.
Responsibility
Christopher P. Baker LLC and his agents act only in the capacity as agents in all matters pertaining to hotel accommodations, sightseeing tours, and transportation, and are not responsible for any loss, damage, theft, or injury to person or property resulting from a defect in any vehicle, or the actions of any persons who provide services for this tour or for the action or inaction of any third party. Baggage is at the owner’s risk entirely. The tour operator reserves the right to withdraw the tour at any time, and to decline any person as a member of the tour for any cause at any time.
All prices are based on current rates of exchange and, while every effort will be made to hold them firm, they are subject to change.
All participants are required to submit a signed Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability form prior to the tour’s departure.
All participants shall agree to abide by the U.S. Treasury Department regulations under the "Support for the Cuban People" general license (§ 515.574), and shall make themselves aware of the rules and requirements for legal travel.
Participants also agree to abide by the laws and regulations of Cuba, and shall act with utmost decorum with the models. Any attempt on the part of a participant to solicit, encourage, or engage in pornographic poses or other improper behavior with models will be considered reason for instant dismissal from the tour without refund.
Health
It is the responsibility of each tour member to inform the tour operator of any possible health problems or handicaps upon registration. By forwarding a signed reservation form and trip deposit, you certify that you do not knowingly have any physical or other conditions of disability that would create a risk for you or other trip participants. Once a trip has been confirmed, medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to our cancellation policy. We assume no responsibility for medical care or for special dietary requirements.
Trip Insurance
To allow for any unexpected contingencies, all participants are strongly urged to purchase trip cancellation and interruption insurance; as well as medical evacuation insurance.
Itinerary
While Christopher P. Baker endeavors to make the itinerary described herein as accurate as possible, it should be considered as an approximate schedule of activities rather than a rigid schedule of events. Trip itineraries are subject to revision due to weather, local conditions, government restrictions, and other reasons beyond our control. The tour leader has the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever in his sole judgment conditions warrant, or if he deems it necessary for the comfort or safety of the tour.
By clicking on 'RESERVE YOUR TOUR' you hereby acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions: