Frequently Asked Questions

All of us are harmed by patriarchy, including men, however particular hurt has landed on the bodies and spirits of those marginalized by gender, to varying degrees, based on intersecting identities.

Bloodroot Retreats are a space for cis and trans women, those marginalized by gender, as well as non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centers the experience of women.

Bloodroot private photo sessions are open to anyone who feels called to experience a deeper reclaiming, healing and honoring of themselves and their precious bodies.

It's difficult to describe exactly what your session will be like, but what I can say is that Bloodroot Sessions are a space for you to embody that which your heart needs most and it's a space for generous permission to be in your body. If you're wanting to bring in self love you can touch your body with kindness, if there's joy you can laugh and dance, if there's grief you can cry, if there's rage you can scream, if you're feeling sexy you can BE sexy...all is welcome and no two sessions are alike. In both my studio and retreat sessions I provide wardrobes options as well as elements such as dirt, ash, water, fire, roots, antlers and all sorts of magical props for you to work with. I also intentionally make multiple points of connection with folks prior to the experience of being photographed so that those I am photographing feel as comfortable as possible.

There is a whole lot of love that goes into every aspect of the Bloodroot Sessions Retreat. The food is homemade, the locations are carefully chosen, often with acres of land allowing for privacy, we hold several multi-dimensional workshops, provide individual reiki sessions for each participant as well as opportunities for art and flower/plant medicine making, and many more magical extras. The photo sessions alone are worth $800 and include a great deal of intention so that each person feels safe and held. This is deep work and requires a village of skilled folks to hold, craft, and create the retreat- all of whom are paid their worth as my heart is to truly feed those who lives intersect with this work. There’s so much that goes into making the retreat the powerful, healing experience that it is and that requires resources.

Some testimonials about the value of the retreats:

"I had no idea the level of intention that goes into the Bloodroot Retreat. The experience was truly priceless."

"The thoughtful details, the workshops, the PHOTO SESSION! Wow, this was just so far beyond what I was expecting.”

“I could go on for ages with descriptive words-affirming, grounding, healing, liberating- and never feel it fully encompassed the magic that fueled the entire weekend. My heart and spirit remain full of awe and gratitude for the vision and manifestation of the creators of this weekend retreat. When sharing my experience with others, I refer to you all as "transformation doulas" because it feels that each participant left stripped of layers they intended to shed, with the care and guidance of practiced loving healers.”

Yes! Each retreat has 3-4 sliding scale spots built into the budget depending on where the scholarship fund is at. We believe that this kind of offering should be accessible to all people and that we are better together with our vast array of identities and experiences. If you feel called to attend but need help with the cost please reach out. Unfortunately we can’t accommodate everyone who applies for a sliding scale spot but we hope that announcing the dates in advance will allow time for saving.

Payment plans are available. Please email me at rachel@rachelliuphoto.com to inquire about coming up with a personal payment plan.

If you feel led to contribute to the scholarship fund we are able to offer you a tax-deductible receipt for your contribution.

Yes! Nearly everyone says they feel nervous at some point in the process of deciding to have a Bloodroot Session or attend a retreat. I spend a lot of time communicating with folks building safety and trust through multiple points of contact before anyone is even before my lens. Our retreats are designed to take the participants on a journey of easing them in to do the work they came to do. In my own experience most things worth doing often begin with feeling a little/or a lot nervous. We got you!

No! Nudity is always a choice and whatever you choose your beautiful truth will be captured. Each person is free to take off however much clothing they are comfortable shedding. You are in charge of your photo session from beginning to end.