Two weeks of guided meditation and photography.
Center yourself, lift your spirit, and shine brighter in the world.

Arise & Shine:
Photo Meditations for Challenging Times

When life gets hard, we have a choice. We can shut down and focus only on the struggle…or we can decide to rise and be a light in the world. This e-course gives you the tools to shine - as an artist and as a human.

During our two weeks together, you’ll learn to use a beautiful meditation practice as a guide for your photography. The metta meditation (also called the loving-kindness meditation) is a simple, uplifting Buddhist practice about cultivating wellbeing…and sending it to others. Meditators around the world repeat it silently, while visualizing happiness, safety, peace, freedom, love, and release from fear.

Each lesson is a chance to pause, center yourself, and create art that nourishes your spirit - so you can face the world with greater inner strength.

But, we won’t stop there.

In the true spirit of metta, you’ll also learn to share the gift of your art with your community, to lift spirits and heal hearts. Our newsfeeds are so often filled with fear. This is an opportunity to share hope and healing with your special talent: your artistic vision.

As Toni Morrison put it, ”This is precisely the time when artists go to work.”

Let’s rise to the occasion.

What’s included?

• An audio intro to metta meditation: how to practice it, how it can benefit you, and how your practice can have ripple effects in your community.

• Eight in-depth guided meditations and audio talks about expressing each metta meditation theme visually.

• Ideas galore for creative subjects, styles, and techniques.

• Curated daily music playlists on each theme, to get you in the mood when you photograph.

• A guided body-scan relaxation with bells (because relaxed photographers are happy photographers!).

• Rich conversations about communicating your message through your art.

• My best advice for sharing images on social media in a way that serves your community and fosters engagement.

• A nourishing book and resources list, including my very favorite reads and audio meditations.

• An Instagram hashtag gallery where you can see beautiful new posts from our class (and add your own).

What’s the experience like?

Arise & Shine is a self-study class that’s designed to fit easily into your schedule. It begins the day you sign up. Unlike a traditional classroom experience, you can do the lessons any time day or night (cozied up in your pajamas, if you like!).

As soon as you join, you’ll be invited to a warm, welcoming online classroom. You’ll get access to new lessons every other day, and you can complete them entirely at your own pace. You’ll retain access to the course for three years, so you can revisit the lessons any time you like.

About your guide…

I’m Laura Valenti, the artist behind Light Atlas Creative. I’ve had my fingers in a lot of pots in the art world, for over 20 years now. I teach interactive e-courses, support emerging photographers in my creative mentoring program, speak to photo groups, and curate exhibitions for galleries and photo festivals around the world. I also jury photo competitions and serve as a reviewer at portfolio review events, where I help photographers fine-tune their vision and promote their work with confidence. I’m passionate about helping artists clear creative blocks and bring forward their most skillful, authentic, wholehearted work.

I’ve also been a practicing Buddhist for 25+ years. In that time, I’ve come to think of photography as an insight practice, just like meditation. The art we make can open doors to deeper reflection and wisdom - and it can fill our lives with more meaning and beauty. I love helping my students access this deeper place with their art.

There are two ways to experience this e-course:

The first option is detailed above. It's entirely self study. The second option includes everything mentioned above and adds a mentoring component. Here’s what that looks like:
 

Step 1: I’ll review your past photographic work, your website (if you have one), and any portfolios or other images you want to share.
 

Step 2: We'll schedule a 60-minute mentoring call. Ask me anything - it’s your time to use however you like. I’ll offer feedback on your images and we’ll chat about deepening your creative practice and making your very best work. We'll also talk through any creative challenges you’re experiencing and map out your next steps so you have greater clarity moving forward.
 

The mentoring option is an excellent fit if you’d love detailed advice and personalized feedback on your photographs. It’s also a lovely option if you’d like more support and conversation on the course themes. Mentoring is discounted when you bundle it with your course registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve never meditated before. Will this class be a good fit?

Absolutely no meditation experience is necessary for this class. You won’t be asked to sit in full lotus position on an uncomfortable cushion while breathing through one nostril, don’t worry. Metta meditation is a simple, down-to-earth practice that anyone can do while sitting, lying down, taking a shower, strolling around the block…or photographing!

I’m an experienced meditator. Will I benefit from this class?

If you’ve been practicing metta meditation for many years, you’ll get a lot out of applying the meditation concepts to your photography. It’s a whole new practice!

Are you a Buddhist teacher?

I’m not. I’m an artist who’s been a practicing Buddhist for 25+ years. In that time, I’ve had a chance to study with some pretty amazing teachers. I did a retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh at one point, and received a Buddhist name in a special ceremony for dedicated lay practitioners (it’s Reflective Continuation of the Heart - kind of fun!). I grew up in Asia, so Buddhist practice has always felt like home to me. I also have a BA in Religion from Reed College (where I focused mostly on Asian religions and language). Everything I’ll share with you in this course is drawn from my own experience with meditation practice and philosophy. Translating the practices into the realm of visual art is my particular focus and passion. I hope it’s of benefit.

What kind of camera do I need?

All cameras are welcome! You don’t need anything fancy to take this course. In fact, the simpler, the better. DSLRs, point-and-shoots, camera phones, pinhole cameras made from oatmeal boxes – I have a strict equipment nondiscrimination policy. If it makes you happy to shoot with it, you've got the right gear for this class.

Tell me honestly: How good do I need to be for this?

Since this is a conceptual photography course (not a technical class), photographers at every level are welcome. It's never too early (or too late!) to deepen your relationship with your art.

Do I need to be online at specific times?

Because photographers from all different time zones participate in this class, there are no live, scheduled lessons to put on your calendar (no waking up early for awkwardly scheduled webinars!). All the lessons will be there for you whenever it works for your schedule.

Do I have to share the images I make in this class?

No. If you’re really opposed to sharing, you’re welcome to keep your images private. If you’re opposed to sharing on social media, you’re welcome to find different avenues to share with family and friends. You can make the choice that’s most aligned with your needs. That said, this class will encourage you to share the message of your art more widely.

What happens if I fall behind?

There’s no such thing as falling behind in this class. You'll have access to all the lessons for three full years, and you can do them at your own pace. You can also revisit them as many times as you like!

I have another question…

No problem! Pop me an email and I’ll get right back to you.