Educational Lectures & Demos By:
Jessica McKnight & Pratik Naik & Bella Kotak

Educational Lectures
& Demos By:
Jessica McKnight & Pratik Naik
& Bella Kotak

Beyond Brilliant Photography Retreat – The Retreat Ranch, Texas
Dates: October 6-10.2025
Location: The Retreat Ranch – Marble Falls, Texas


Escape. Create. Transform.

Imagine yourself immersed in the serene beauty of the Texas Hill Country, dedicated solely to elevating your photography, refining your signature style, and creating powerful connections. Welcome to the Beyond Brilliant Photography Retreat at the stunning Retreat Ranch – an exclusive, all-inclusive experience meticulously designed to both ignite your passion and propel your career forward.

Surrounded by 46 acres of inspiring natural landscapes, this isn't just a workshop; it's a transformative journey! Dive deep into hands-on learning, capture breathtaking images during expertly styled shoots, master cutting-edge editing techniques, gain invaluable business insights, and reconnect with your creative core through mindfulness practices. 

Leave feeling refreshed, empowered, and equipped with a renewed vision for your art and business!

Meet Your Educators
🌟 Jessica McKnight – Luxury Portrait Photographer & Business Strategist 

🌟 Bella Kotak – World-Renowned Fine Art & Fashion Photographer 
🌟 Pratik Naik – Industry-Leading High-End Retoucher, Photoshop & A.I. Expert

Prepare to be inspired by this powerhouse team! Through exclusive workshops, captivating live demos, portfolio-enhancing sessions, and personalized guidance, they’ll share their secrets to help you refine your artistry, master your craft, and build a thriving business. (Discover more about their incredible journeys below!)

What Awaits You:

📸 Capture Portfolio-Worthy Images: Styled Shoots & Photo Walks

Immerse yourself in curated, themed sessions featuring professional models amidst the ranch's rustic, dreamy backdrops – from sun-drenched wildflower fields to enchanting woodsy trails and boho-chic interiors.
Master posing, harness natural and artificial light, and weave compelling visual stories under the guidance of our expert educators.

🎓 Master Your Craft: Educational Demos & Editing Deep Dives

Unlock the secrets of high-end retouching and creative Photoshop techniques in hands-on sessions.
Develop actionable business and branding strategies designed to elevate your brand and scale your income.
Explore fine art and creative portraiture methods to infuse your portfolio with unique, captivating imagery.
Harness the power of Artificial Intelligence, mastering cutting-edge AI tools to streamline your workflow, garner creative ideas, and stay ahead of the curve.

🧘 Nurture Your Creative Soul: Yoga & Mindfulness for Visionaries

Discover how intentional mindset practices can unlock deeper levels of creativity and help you design the life you truly desire.
Begin each morning with guided yoga designed to cultivate focus, flow, and inspiration.
Unwind with guided meditation and healing sound baths, soothing your mind and body to foster clarity and peace.

🌅 Connect & Celebrate: Evening Events & Inspired Networking

Experience a rare and enriching private Native American Powwow presented by Great Promise for American Indians, complete with live music, traditional dancing, a Q&A session, and an exclusive photo opportunity.
Share stories and laughter around a crackling campfire, complete with s'mores.
Enjoy the sounds of a live band under the Texas stars.
Mingle during our "Wine & Unwind" social hour – forge meaningful connections with peers over specialty cocktails and fine wine.

Who Should Attend?

This intimate retreat is perfect for dedicated photographers (at any stage!) eager to:

✅ Elevate their portfolio with diverse, high-quality, professionally styled images. 
✅ Master advanced editing, lighting, and business strategies from world-class mentors. 
✅ Gain profound confidence and clarity in their unique artistic voice. 
✅ Connect deeply with a supportive, inspiring community of fellow female photographers. 

What’s Included?
✔ All hands-on photography sessions, educational workshops, and mentorship led by our top-tier educators. 
✔ Luxurious glamping accommodations at The Retreat Ranch – enjoy plush robes, fully stocked premium towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a hairdryer in your chic retreat space. 
✔ Delicious daily meals & beverages – savor three nourishing, organic, farm-to-table meals each day, plus snacks and desserts, all prepared by our private chef. 
✔ The unforgettable Private Powwow experience with its exclusive photoshoot. 
✔ Rejuvenating yoga and wellness activities. 
✔ Captivating live entertainment. 
✔ All networking events and evening social gatherings.


Reserve Your Spot

Spaces are extremely limited to ensure a high-quality, hands-on experience. Join us for a one-of-a-kind photography retreat where creativity, education, and community come together in the heart of Texas


Tentative
Schedule of Events

Arrival & Welcome Ceremony:
3pm check in
4-5 Free Time
5 -6 p social hour
6-7 dinner
7-8 Circle introductions / House Rules
8-10 Smores around the campfire 

Monday: 10/6

6:30 AM: Fruit & Coffee in the Dining Hall
7:15 AM-8:15 AM: Morning Yoga
8:30 AM-9:30 AM: Breakfast in the Dining Hall
9:30 AM-10:00 AM: Morning Break
10:00 AM-1:00 PM: Live Demo & One on One shooting time -Bella Kotak
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch in the Dining Hall
2:15 PM - 4:00 PM: Editing Class -Bella Kotak
4:30 PM- 6:30PM: Styled Photo Walk
6:30 PM-7:30 PM: Dinner in the Dining Hall
8:00 PM-9:30PM From Scarcity to Abundance- Mindset discussion and guided meditation with Jessica McKnight

Tuesday 10/7

6:30 AM: Fruit & Coffee in the Dining Hall
7:15 AM-8:15 AM: Morning Yoga
8:30 AM-9:30 AM: Breakfast in the Dining Hall
9:30 AM-10:00 AM: Morning Break
10:00 AM-1:00 PM: Live Demo & One on One shooting time -Jessia McKnight
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch in the Dining Hall
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Edititng from Demo- Jessica McKnight
4:00 PM- 6:30 PM: Native American PowWow, Q&A, PhotoShoot with the Great American Dancers
6:30 PM-7:30 PM: Dinner in the Dining Hall
8:00 PM-9:00 PM: Sound Bath with Jessica Cross and Guided meditation with Jessica McKnight

WEdnesday 10/8

6:30 AM: Fruit & Coffee in the Dining Hall
7:15 AM-8:15 AM: Morning
8:30 AM-9:30 AM: Breakfast in the Dining Hall
9:30 AM-10:00 AM: Morning Break
10:00 AM-1:00 PM: Advancing with AI - Retouching & Business - Pratik Niak
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch in the Dining Hall
2:00 PM - 4:30 PM:Fully Loaded - Business Strategies - Jessica McKnight
5:00 PM- 6:00 PM: Dinner in the Dining Hall
6-8 PM- Live Music Performance
8:00 PM-10:00 PM: Wine down by the campfire 

Thursday 10/9

6:30 AM: Fruit & Coffee in the Dining Hall
8:30 AM-9:30 AM: Breakfast in the Dining Hall
9:30 AM-11:00 AM: Panel Q& A
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Departure & Check Out

Friday 10/10

 Jessica is the owner of Jessica McKnight Photography & Brilliance Key. As a photographer, she has over 25 years of experience working in just about every niche within the industry and has built a successful photography business allowing her to travel the world doing the work she loves. Her business is frequently voted best of the best in the markets that she serves. She has photographed in almost all of the 50 states as well as Germany, Iceland, England, Hungary, and more while working with Miss USA Models, Athletes, Musicians, Influencers,  Celebrities, and Entrepreneurs & Business owners. 
 She started Brilliance Key as a way to share her love and knowledge with other photographers to help scale their photography businesses. Her business systems that she uses within her own business are the systems that she teaches throughout her coaching services and retreats.  Jessica is also a Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher in which she completed at Vida Asana (location of Costa Rica retreat).

Jessica McKnight

"I love seeing my clients grow their
business and become successful.
The best is yet to come for you!"

Meet Your Host & Educator

Bella Kotak is a fine art, fashion, and portrait photographer known for her ethereal, feminine, and whimsical style. Grown in Kenya and currently based in both the US and UK, Kotak's work is deeply influenced by the natural world, fairy tales, and strong feminine characters. She often incorporates elements of nature, such as flowers and natural light, to create dreamlike and vibrant images that celebrate beauty, strength, and resilience.
Bella's journey into photography began as a creative outlet while studying architecture. Her transition from architecture to photography allowed her to blend her love for design and storytelling with her fascination for nature's beauty and the human form. Bella's work has gained international recognition, featuring in various exhibitions, magazines, and art publications. She is also known for her educational workshops and speaking engagements, where she shares her expertise in creative photography and post-processing techniques.
Her photography is not just a display of technical skill, but a reflection of her personal experiences and emotions, inviting viewers into a magical and thought-provoking world. Bella's storytelling pictures lift the veil of the overlooked and reminds us that there's magic in the most ordinary of spaces and beauty in every face.
Bella Kotak is an ambassador for Phase One, SmugMug, Canson Paper, and Vanguard.
Her work has been featured in exhibitions in New York, London, Paris, and Seoul.

In 2022 she was featured in BBC1's Extraordinary Portraits.

In 2021 Bella’s piece, “The Kiss” won the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize INPRNT Photography Award.

Bella Kotak

Educator

 Pratik Naik is a high-end retoucher based out of the United States, specializing in commercial and editorial work. With over 15 years of experience, he retains a deep passion for mastering the art of retouching in Photoshop.
 His background in fine art fuels his passion for retouching. Naik believes in a streamlined, seamless approach that respects the photographer's original vision while striving for flawless results. His ultimate goal is to preserve the natural essence of an image while elevating it to the photographer’s exacting standards.
 Alongside his retouching work, Naik finds great satisfaction in teaching. He enjoys simplifying complex techniques, making them accessible for aspiring retouchers. Witnessing the "aha!" moment when concepts become clear for a student brings him immense fulfillment.
 Additionally, Naik is the founder of Infinite Color, a leading Photoshop color grading extension, and their suite of other powerful Infinite tools.

Pratik Naik

Educator

Meet Your Models

Meet Your Models

The Ranch