Gold & Grit 2026

Capturing the Fire that Created the Gold

For the baddies who are standing inside of their world and want it all

GOLD & GRIT is a 4-day photoshoot retreat experience

July 9–12
in Grass Valley, CA

A small, beautiful room of humans who get it,
the desire to be seen and to have something real captured but have only experienced the ackwardness of holding your breath & feeling like you're in high school every time you smile for the camera

This retreat is not only photos and video content… but presence, an experience that brings out your natural state and captures it in it's golden moment

This is for the badass who knows she's a queen and wants those killer, sexy AF, oh sh*t who's that in that photo moment too!

THIS IS A TWO-FOR...
One half will be your raw queen self
maybe she leads a corporate business … maybe she performs… but is absolutely building her own thing, a new brand and wants imagery that reflects all of her in her natural queen look

And the other half is full glam

a little naughty and maybe she wants boudoir shots.... maybe she wants a pinup look with a moped... or maybe wants to only wear an apron in the kitchen... but is 100% swimming in the deep end of what she claims as glamorous to her & her alone!

This Retreat is the best way to capture the gold inside you as your everyday queen self & the flip side of the coin sassy self all in one.

Are you ready to spend the best weekend of your life making new friends, getting the most amazing photos & content ever, and learn the art of feeling like a boss in front of the camera?

It’s a small, intentional circle of six. It begins with the beautiful unfiltered truth of who you are and evolves into a curated explosion of your own photoshoot power.

Whether it’s the high-fashion edge of Editorial or the liberation of Burlesque, you are invited to express yourself without apology. You aren't just "getting photos taken" you are being guided and witnessed in your most authentic form.

6 People. 1 Weekend. Total Expression.
It starts raw, a photoshoot where you're in your natural radiance. Then, we build. Full Glam. Branded. Burlesque. Boudoir. Editorial. The world is your oyster.

This is more than a shoot; it’s a space to be seen. AND get photos for business as well as personal. You’ll leave with:

15 high-end Professional Images (from one Photographer)
10 more high-end Professional Images (from another Photographer)
A hybrid of personal branding and luxury editorial
Candid BTS moments & footage
Performance/Posing classes & training
A new internal compass for your own excellence

Come for the photos. Stay for the moments that surprise you. Leave with a raw beauty that doesn't wash off.

Your path to excellence begins here.

Say yes to a weekend designed for confidence and fulfillment. With only 6 spots available, this is an exclusive opportunity to invest in your vision.

This photoshoot retreat, Gold & Grit, is not just another retreat, it is set with every single detail taken care of by myself and my team of extraordinary humans who travelled to Grass Valley California to hold these days with me (and you) and create the incredible, beautiful gift of a weekend gathering together.

We’ll capture ourselves getting ready together, setting intentions together, stepping into the energy of what we were about to create together. And so much more!

And at the end of it, you’ll have had the most potent personal experience with a tribe of profound humans that will be your new best friends

What exactly will I walk away with?
You’ll leave with:

— 2 professional photoshoots
— 15 professionally edited images from James Blonde
— 5 professionally edited images & 1 printed image from Deja Moo
— Personal branding + luxury editorial shots (burlesque or not)
— Behind-the-scenes content for social + business
— Photo posing tips + guidance
— Performance training + stage presence refinement
— A one-of-a-kind experience
— A Pre & Post-retreat integration call
— Cybil Unrest & Teams full presence guiding you through it
— And something harder to name… but impossible to forget

Most women come for the photos.
They leave with a version of themselves they didn’t know was available.
What makes this different from other boudoir/business photos?
Unlike traditional "in-and-out" sessions that rely on heavy costumes and posing, we focus on offering a deeper, personalized experience meant to change your presence and how you view yourself, not just a set of surface-level photos.

We work with you to create a safe, supportive, and comfortable environment, rather than putting you on display.

That’s why your photos hit different.
That’s why your presence changes.
That’s why this stays with you long after the weekend.

This is designed as a lasting, empowering, and often healing experience, with the goal that the confidence you feel stays with you long after the weekend.

Also, this is a true 2-for-1 experience:

✔ Professional branding + business-ready images
✔ Full glam, burlesque, editorial shots (these don't have to be burlesque if that's not YOU)

Whether you’re a performer, coach, entrepreneur, or all of the above…
you leave with assets that support every version of you.

Plus:
You’re not just attending a retreat.
You’re stepping into a sisterhood container that sees you, challenges you, and elevates you.
We take the time to learn your story and what makes you feel comfortable, ensuring your unique beauty is celebrated.
What is the flow of the weekend?
We move intentionally. This is a full experience.

1 Week Before
→ Group Zoom call to connect, prepare, and set intentions

Thursday (Arrival Day)
→ Welcome dinner
→ Rhinestone party + connection time

Friday (Transformation Day)
→ Full-day photoshoot
→ Start with raw (simply you, no costume)
→ Transition into full glam photos at the studio
→ Dinner + digest

Saturday (Embodiment + Integration)
→ Workshops (performance + presence)
→ Spa + relaxation experience

Sunday (Closing)
→ Breakfast + departure

3 Weeks After
→ Glam Zoom reunion + “glitter crash” integration call
I’m not a burlesque performer—can I still come?
Yes.

This is for:

Women ready to be seen in a new way
Women who want awesome shots for their business
Women who feel called to the art form of photos
Burlesque performers ready to level up their portfolio

You don’t need experience.
You simply need willingness to show up for yourself on a weekend adventure.
I feel nervous about the
Yes. Completely.

That’s "the point". But honestly you can wear makeup, if you're a queen that loves that please do that. It's the catch you your wild moment, and if you wear makeup on the regular we want that in the photos. We want the "raw" you.

You’re not thrown into it alone, you’re guided, supported, and witnessed.

And for most women?

That ends up being the most powerful part of the entire weekend.
Who is the photographer?
You’ll work with the same professional photographers for both shoots. James Blonde Photography & Deja Moo Photography. And you meet them on the Zoom prior to the weekend

This matters. You get to say what you want and know what you're getting.

It creates:

Consistency
Comfort
Trust

So your raw and glam images feel like two expressions of the same woman, not two different experiences.
Where do the photoshoots take place?
Grass Valley/Nevada City California
Raw Shoot:
→ At the house (private, safe, grounded environment)

Auburn California (25 min from Grass Valley)
Glam Shoot:
→ At Flaunt Studios for a full editorial, high-energy experience
Is hair and makeup included?
Professional hair + makeup is available as an add-on option.

You can:

Come fully ready
Or be professionally styled for your glam shoot

We’ll guide you either way so you feel aligned with your vision.
Will I get content for my business?
Yes, and this is a huge part of the value.

You’ll receive:

Personal branding images
Behind-the-scenes content
Professional visuals you can use across platforms

This is for:
✔ Coaches
✔ Entrepreneurs
✔ Performers
✔ Multi-passionate women

You’re not just getting “sexy photos.”
In fact you don't have take 1 single sext photo unless you feel called to do that.
You’re getting usable assets.
Will there be opportunities to perform?
Yes.

We host a low-pressure, in-house "showcase" & a Burlesque class.

This is your chance to:

Practice presence
Be witnessed
Step into your power in a safe space

No pressure. No perfection required.
(everything is optional, this is a retreat & choose your own adventure)
What kind of women attend this retreat?
Women who are:

Open to being seen and supported
Craving depth, not surface-level experiences
Ready to stop hiding behind perfection
Serious about their growth and/or craft

This is not just a casual girls’ trip.
Gold & Grit is the warm, the real, and a little bit raw, weekend experience you’ll really have fun being a part of.
How many spots are available?
Only 8 women per cohort.

This keeps the experience:

Intimate
High-touch
Deeply transformational
Is this retreat refundable?
Due to the intimate and curated nature of this experience, all deposits are non-refundable.

If something unexpected happens, we’ll do our best to transfer your spot to a future cohort. And all deposits can be transferred to a future experience with Cybil Unrest.
I feel the pull… but I’m scared.
Good. And completely understandable.

That usually means something real is here for you.

This isn’t about being ready.

Photography is rarely about being 'ready.' It’s a brave surrender to the moment, a shared, sacred space where sisterhood turns vulnerability into art.
How do I know if this is for me?
If your body is giving you a 'yes' before your brain can find an excuse…

If something in you is both excited and slightly terrified…

If you know you’re ready for more, but can’t quite name what that is yet…

If you’re caught between the 'hell yes' and the 'how'…

This is for you.

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Upon purchase of this item you understand that the emotional and somatic work delivered through Heather Elizabeth Bewsee protocol are unique to each person and that your results may differ from those experienced by others. You understand that energetic work is deep and powerful and you take full responsibility for your own experience. You understand that the highest good of all involved is held as Heather’s intention with this work and you agree to hold the same intention. You understand this is a non-refundable program and acknowledge that all content, teachings and processes are confidential and proprietary to Heather Elizabeth Bewsee and are not to be shared, copied, or reproduced. By continuing with this agreement, you understand the terms of use and consent to the non-refundable policy. Payment plans must be paid in full over time.

In honoring this exchange of energy, timely payments are required. Heather is here to support in getting the transactions satisfied, whether that be updating payment method, an outdated expiration date issue, bank issues, or general technical difficulties. By continuing with this agreement, you understand the above stated default late payment terms and conditions.

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