The Three Muses at Dunnington Mansion with Katriella, Ballet Dancer Armani Acte and Dakota Lee

All photos above of location are from Dunnington Mansion’s website dunningtonmansion.org

Photos of models from left: Armani by Through my Eye, Kristian Whipple, photos of Katriella by Dakota Lee and Anonymous, photo of Dakota Lee by Astrid Kallsen

Hi all! I am so excited to provide this opportunity to all my Events with Dakota clients! We will be working at a stunning, abandoned looking mansion near-ish to Richmond, Virginia (a little over an hour away from Richmond). We have full, legal access to the property for the entire day! This is a large location with plenty of indoor and outdoor space for creating gorgeous concepts. The focus on this event will be within the creative portraiture and art genres of photography and with more editorial, fantasy genre concepts as well.

Our three models (pictured above) are Ballet dancer and model Armani Acte, Katriella, and Dakota Lee.

This may be the last opportunity to shoot at this property as the future of Dunnington Mansion is uncertain in 2026. Unfortunately a lot of these abandoned looking locations are shutting down and becoming less and less available to photographers who find so much value in creating at these types of spaces. Just in the last year we have lost several locations due to new ownership, insurance issues, or the buildings being torn down, so I’m glad Events with Dakota has access to this location.

Photo credits below from the last Dunnington Mansion Photo Event, from left: Kevin Matthews, David Harback, David Harback, Kevin Matthews, and David Harback

The structure of the event is as follows:

We arrive at the property at 9 am, gather as a group, and begin touring the property together to get a lay of the land and determine where each group will start shooting as we are splitting the photographer groups into three groups of three people. The models begin shooting at 10 am sharp with each group in a specific room, working for 50 minutes with their model. Once the first 50 minutes is completed, we rotate the groups so that each group gets time with each model, with some flexibility on where each group is shooting (meaning you do not have to stay in one specific room). Once every group works with all three models, we take a 30 minute break to eat, rest, touch base on the concepts and how things are flowing during the event. From there we start shooting again with largely the same flow, however the last hour will be dedicated to all models posing together and we rotate a lead photographer with two photographers at a time as lead photographer ensuring there is no confusion about who is directing the models. The models stop posing around 4 pm to give us time to sign model releases, pack up and get everything off of the property by 5 pm.

Besides styling, creative direction, and event producing by Events with Dakota, this event is not a workshop so much as a shootout style with photographers encouraged to bring their own creative ideas. This event will not be structured paparazzi style as we tend to operate on a lead, rotating timer. Events with Dakota will be bringing reflectors, but will not be providing lighting. You are welcome to bring your own portable lights as long as it does not interfere with your group. Armani will be doing some Ballet poses in the location, and along with fashion concepts the models will be posing for more abstract, fine art figure work for a portion of the event. If you are not comfortable with the models being nude for a portion of the event, I would recommend not attending.

Events with Dakota will collaborate with all models on styling and hair and makeup to bring excellent, high-end and emotive concepts to Dunnington Mansion.

When: May 17th 2026 from 9 am - 5 pm.

Where: Farmville, VA. Exact location given only to those who sign up for the event.

Cost: $575.00 for the entire day which includes all location, model, styling, organizing, hair and makeup, and creative direction fees. Currently, 9 spaces are available (three groups of three photographers). If I sell 9 spaces, I will add a fourth model and cap the event at 12 photographers, with four groups of three photographers and one model per group for a 3 photographer/1 model ratio.

Light snacks and water will be provided by Events with Dakota. Absolutely no alcohol allowed during the photoshoot as the location is already an above average risk as a dilapidated building. I will be requiring a waiver signed at the property.

To pay for the balance, please reach out to me at msdakotalee@gmail.com to discuss payment options. Balance is refundable ONLY if the event cancels or if we are able to find someone to fill your spot. That said, if for some reason you are unable to attend the event and we are unable to fill your spot, please give notice at least 48 hours before the day of the event and Events with Dakota will comp your attendance to ONE future Events with Dakota events in the DMV or NYC areas of equal or lesser value. This offer expires 6 months after May 17th, 2026.