Seeing: Photography + Mindfulness
Discover presence, authenticity, and belonging through the camera lens
When you see differently through the camera lens—using a phone, fancy camera, or anything in between—you learn to see yourself, your life, and the world differently.
Unlike other art forms, photography allows you to interact with the world. The camera lens provides a fresh filter on life, removing mental chatter and awakening creativity.
In both photography and mindfulness, what matters most is not the circumstances, conditions, and equipment.
What matters most is how you see.
This online course provides inspiration for photography and mindfulness practice. Short meditations pair with photography lessons, so you begin to see (and feel!) differently.
You’ll see that light surrounds you, beauty is inside you, and authentic expression takes many forms.
Ultimately you’ll gain new insights about yourself and appreciation for ordinary moments in daily life.
does this sound familiar?
You want to explore creativity and spend intentional time with yourself, but you need inspiration and accountability.
You take pictures (with a camera or phone) yet aren’t sure what to do with them or how to thoughtfully compose a shot.
You’re interested in mindfulness but don’t know where to start or how to keep going.
You want a new creative outlet—a way to express (and a community to support you).
You seek more peace, presence, and joy, yet need practical suggestions for bringing these into daily life.
“This course got me excited about taking pictures again. I’m grateful for Joy’s teaching and her valuable feedback on my photographs. She helped me see differently in many aspects of daily life, way beyond my photography skills. I wish the course didn’t have to end. It has been a gift.”
This course allows you to…
explore creativity + daily self-care
quiet the inner-critic and express from your heart
get to know yourself better + let yourself play
feel satisfied with your photographs and the story they tell
By learning how to see through the camera lens, you’ll ultimately learn to see yourself, others, and life with more clarity, kindness, and appreciation.
“ My biggest lessons were to slow down and have patience with myself. Joy is approachable and responsive. She gives positive and timely feedback. She poses terrific prompts and shares an abundance of examples to delve into. I’m happy that I carved out time for creative me. I highly recommend the course! ”
Hi! My name is Joy. I'm a mindfulness teacher and a photographer, so I’m thrilled to offer my course, Seeing: Photography + Mindfulness. Both of these practices—photography and mindfulness—have radically changed my life in positive ways.
Photography allows me to access light, creativity, and insight. Mindfulness calms me, softens my heart, and opens my eyes.
I’m excited to show you how photography and mindfulness blend to help you live a more real, wholehearted, and joyful life.
“Through Joy’s Seeing class, I not only learned to be a better photographer, but I also learned to be more patient and gentle with myself. I’ve taken many classes in my life, but Seeing is by far one of my favorites. ”
Here’s how class works…
You access the course content on Joy’s website, so you experience lessons in the comfort of your home and at a convenient time for you.
You receive five lessons a week, so there’s a steady pace forward, yet it won’t overwhelm. (Each Tuesday post is an intentional pause. Each Friday post is a quiet reflection.)
There’s breathing room on the weekends, so you can revisit lessons, take “photo walks,” and play!
In the first week, there’s a live session, so you can meet Joy and the other participants, set an intention, and connect with community.
You get helpful instruction on photography and everyday mindfulness—scaffolding to form new habits.
This instruction comes in different forms—photography ideas and prompts, short audio-guided meditations, writing prompts, creative assignments, short videos, photographic inspiration—so the material feels fresh and you feel motivated.
You are part of a private group on Flickr, so you experience community—people on a similar journey.
Joy makes personalized comments on photos you post, so you experiment and learn based on expert feedback.
Each weekday, you receive an email message with gentle reminders about the weekly theme and class resources, and consistent encouragement (you’re never behind!).
Midway through the course, there’s another live session, so you can ask questions, feel community support, and reconnect to your intention.
“I loved Joy’s comments on my photographs—they were helpful and motivating. She guided me to look at potential photographs differently. Thanks, Joy, for providing such a warm, welcome, non-threatening, fun, encouraging, and beautiful environment!”
Outline (five+ spacious weeks)
prologue: logistics + intention
Live session on May 10, 7-8p CT.
week 1: watch Light
Refuge Space live session on May 17, 7-8p CT.
week 2: notice Details + gain perspective
week 3: capture the essence of people
Live session on May 30, 7-8p CT.
week 4: vision, emotion, and storytelling
week 5: Review, reflect, and see anew
Weekly format
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday posts focus on photography.
Tuesday posts encourage daily habits for mindfulness, photography, and life.
Friday posts are reflective—meditation and writing—as you move into the weekend.
Class material and private Flickr group open for two months after class ends—there’s breathing room.
Live Sessions (via zoom)
Wednesday, May 10, 7-8p Central Time
Tuesday, May 30, 7-8p Central Time
Plus, you get free entry into Refuge Space on Wednesday, May 17, 7-8p Central Time
“This course was a perfect blend of exercises to practice photography, mindfulness, and personal reflection. I was prompted to see with fresh perspective places I thought were familiar, and to expand my boundaries to places previously unknown. The course expanded my photography practice, allowing me to take richer and more meaningful photographs that bring me back to the present moment and awaken not just my sight, but all of my senses.”
faq
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No experience required. This class provides building blocks for photography. If you haven’t tried photography, you can start now! If you’ve taken thousands of photographs, you can see anew and practice mindful photography.
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You can use a phone, point-and-shoot camera, or DSLR camera. Through all these lenses, you can capture light, beauty, and emotion. No special equipment needed!
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I understand—technology can be frustrating! That said, it’s an important part of this class.
If your phone is your camera, you need familiarity and comfort using apps. (Specifically, the Flickr app.)
If you have a traditional camera, you need familiarity and comfort with uploading photos and navigating a photo-sharing website.
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We share photographs in a private group on Flickr. If you choose, you can keep your entire photostream private. The group provides community space for comments and inspiration. The private setting allows you to share in a safe place.
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This class is packed with teaching, information, and inspiration, not because I expect you to do it all (we can’t do it all!) but so you have choices. Each day, you’ll find something that resonates for you.
You can choose to dive deep—4 hours a week—or you can process the material slowly, at a pace that works for you (1 hour a week). Any path through this course will awaken your creativity and awareness.
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Yes! There are two live sessions (May 10 and 30) from 7-8p Central Time. Plus, you get free entry into Refuge Space on May 17, 7-8p CT.
It’s a chance to see, connect with, and hear from other class participants. And it’s an opportunity to receive Joy’s direct guidance in meditation and photography.
If you can’t make a live session, that’s okay! They will be recorded.
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You start again the next week! Mindfulness is a continual practice in beginning again. Photography gives us a lens to see anew. Start wherever you are—it’s all okay! The class material is available for two months after class ends, so you have extra space to create, experiment, and breathe.
Have another question? Contact Joy to get an answer.
“This class bridged a transition period where I started traveling again for the first time in over a year. I enjoyed bringing photography with me as a new way to process my experiences. The videos and meditations were bright spots in a tough period and helped me find moments of openness and possibility. ‘Seeing’ was part of my shedding the heaviness and isolation of the pandemic. I’m so grateful I found it at just the right time. I felt like it was created especially for me!”
By learning how to see through the camera lens, you’ll ultimately learn to see yourself, others, and life with more clarity, kindness, and appreciation.
look for light. emrace creativity.