Shoot Like SlimLAS VEGAS, NEVADA MAY 14 - 17

Credit: Chip Litherland

Credit: Tom A. Smith

Exclusive Resorts is pleased to announce its second Destinations in Focus series with Leica. Combining the inspirational and educational experience of a Leica Akademie workshop with the five-star luxury and personalized service of a members-only stay in an Exclusive Resorts villa. This collaboration presents an extraordinary opportunity to advance your photography, while relaxing on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation with family and friends.

The 2015 Destinations in Focus photography weekends will be inspired by Slim Aarons’ celebrated photos from the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s chronicling the good life—including the iconic image “Poolside Gossip,” which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.

Developed for experienced and novice photographers alike, the four-day photography workshops will teach participants how to replicate Slim’s candid style capturing “attractive people, doing attractive things in attractive places.” In addition to the benefits of small class sizes and real world shooting situations, each participant will have access to an experienced Leica Akademie instructor, as well as guest photographer Mary Aarons, daughter of Slim Aarons. Mary will share her most memorable moments from the time she spent traveling with the photo icon and will provide coaching and inspiration through the sharing of her images, techniques and insights.

Shoot Like SlimCAPTURE THE WORLD WITH LEICA & EXCLUSIVE RESORTS

Featured Leica Instructor:

Tom A. SmithWith a background in theatre and photography, Tom A. Smith was destined

to find his calling in speaking about and teaching photography. A graduate of

the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA, he initially worked in

print and broadcast journalism before accepting a position as a photography

instructor at the Disney Institute at Walt Disney World® in Orlando and later a

technical and sales position with Nikon USA®.

Over the past 15 years, Tom has worked with high end consumers, photo

dealers and some of the most respected photographers in the industry,

helping many make the transition from film to digital. He has developed a

reputation for engaging an audience and presenting complicated technical

information simply. In 2010 he helped lead the debut of the Leica Akademie

programing in North America, bringing the “rangefinder experience” to a new

generation of photographers.

Mary AaronsNative New Yorker, Mary Aarons, is passionate about the arts, travel and

terriers. She’s spent her lifetime immersed in photography.

She is the only child of photographer Slim Aarons and his wife Lorita. Her

godparents were photographers Gjon Mili and Jean Howard. From an early

age she helped her father catalog his photographic archive (which at that

point was in the attic of their home). During high school and college vacations

she traveled around Europe and the U.S. on assignment with him writing

captions, making arrangements and helping with photo styling. Mary has

long been a passionate amateur photographer and she loves to experiment

with a variety of cameras and lenses (and her iPhone).

Mary, an MBA, has spent her entire career in book publishing. She and Robert

Kent live within a stone’s throw of the water in Gloucester, MA.

Attractive people, doing attractive things in attractive places

- SLIM AARONS

4:00 pm

6:30 pm

Private Transportation From McCarran International

Airport to Vdara™

Check-In

Welcome Reception

Location: Residence 46001

Enjoy wine and appetizers as you meet the other participants and your hosts, Tom Smith and Mary Aarons. Tom will give an overview of your Leica camera, and Mary will provide a brief history of her father’s work.

8:00 am

9:00 am

1:00 pm

2:00 pm

Breakfast In-Residence Breakfast will be delivered to your room. Please let your Ambassador know if you have any food allergies.

Pool Shoot with Model Location: Vdara Pool

Lunch & Editing Location: Residence 46001

Storytelling & Photography Assignment Tom will provide details on this activity when we finish lunch.

Evening at Leisure

5:00 am

9:00 am

2:00 pm

6:00 pm

Sunrise Balloon Ride Please meet in the Vdara lobby at 4:55 am for pick-up.

Breakfast In-Residence Breakfast will be delivered to your room. Please let your Ambassador know if you have any food allergies.

Photo Review, Feedback & Editing Location: Residence 46001

Private Photo Session at Neon Museum Please meet in the Vdara Lobby at 5:15 pm for pick-up.

Evening at Leisure

8:00 am

11:00 am

Farewell Breakfast and Slideshow Location: Residence 46001

Check-Out

Private Transportation From Vdara to McCarran International Airport

Thursday, May 14 Friday, May 15 Saturday, May 16 Sunday, May 17

Credit: Craig Semetko Credit: Craig Semetko Credit: Craig Semetko

Credit: Craig Semetko

Information current as of 04.21.15. Experience subject to change or cancellation. Reservations subject to availability. Participants must be 23 years of age or older accompanied by a parent or legal guardian aged 23 years or older. Fees apply. Fees include only accommodations and other inclusions specified above; do not include airfare, costs for ground transportation (except as specified), food and beverage (except as specified), taxes or other optional activities such as spa treatments. Use of residence subject to terms and conditions of Exclusive Resorts occupancy agreement. Exclusive Resorts and the Exclusive Resorts flower logo are registered trademarks of Exclusive Resorts, LLC. ©2015, Exclusive Resorts, LLC. All rights reserved.

Credit: Craig Semetko