Bring clarity & momentum
to your photography in 2024.

Gathering Light

• Do you wish you spent more time with your camera in your hands, but your photography is stuck on the back burner while you tend to everything and everyone else?
  

• What kind of artist will you become when you make space in your life to thoughtfully create the images in your heart?
  

• Do you think deeply about the creative process, so surface-level and technical-only conversations leave you bored and dissatisfied?
  

• How would your creative output change if you didn’t have to figure everything out on your own?
  

• If you made a brand new commitment to your creativity today, how many beautiful images will you have made by the end of 2024? 
  
  

Say yes! to the creative practice 
your heart is asking for.

Led by photographer, curator, and arts educator Laura Valenti, Gathering Light is one full year of weekly lessons, creative prompts, and meaningful conversations about the heart and soul of photography. 

No more forgetting to make time for your photography practice.

No more letting your creativity stagnate.

Gathering Light helps you create space in your everyday life to honor your creative self. It’s a soulful commitment to your art, your evolving vision, your creative goals. 

How does Gathering Light work?

In Gathering Light, you’ll get access to a new lesson every week of the year (52 weeks!). The lessons are hosted in a private online classroom and can be accessed any time, night or day.

Lessons are regular doses of inspiration and insight on topics like:

• How to find your authentic voice as a photographer

• How to build creative confidence, let go of “shoulds,” and navigate the path of a true artist

• How to choose your strongest images without relying on rigid rules and formulas

• My best suggestions for moving through creative blocks (based on 20+ years as a working artist, curator, juror, and professional portfolio reviewer)

• Gaining an audience, selling prints, crafting portfolios, and navigating social media (a healthy dose of practical wisdom)

• How to source inspiration from unexpected places - so your images feel original, not derivative

• How to add mood and emotion to your images (instead of just taking "pretty pictures")

• Exploring untraditional styles and techniques to keep your practice fresh

• How to make deeply personal and self-aware images

• Plus! Behind-the-scenes studio sessions where I share what I’m working on

• And much, much more
  
  
  

Gathering Light also includes:

Monthly Creative Experiments:

Whether you want to step beyond your creative comfort zone, or you’ve got a million ideas and need help focusing, these experiments will be your creative guide. Some experiments are thematic and some are aesthetic, but they’re all 100% creative, rather than technical or mechanical. 

The Photographer Interviews:

Every month, I’ll share a heartfelt interview with a wonderful contemporary artist. We’ll dive into each artist’s personal process and unique working method, and hear their perspective on what it means to live the creative life.

You’ll hear from 13 of my very favorite photographers over the course of the year. It’s so helpful to hear established artists talk about things the general photography community doesn’t discuss openly. These conversations are rich explorations on vital creative topics that are often overlooked. You’ll hear from: Kate Breakey, Jim Lommasson, Granville Carol, Lauren Grabelle, George Nobechi, JP Terlizzi, Jo Ann Chaus, Geralyn Shukwit, Susan Bein, Nolan Streitberger, Smith Eliot, Jason Langer, and Blue Mitchell. (Personally, I would join Gathering Light for the interviews alone.)

Creative Practice Check-ins:

Every four weeks, I’ll share a check-in with reflection questions to guide your creative exploration. Over my 20+ years as a working artist, I’ve found that without these intentional check-ins, our practice can stall or become haphazard and confusing. Each month, the check-in gives you a framework so your photography is beautifully aligned with your goals.

And if you want it…creative community:

If you’re craving a year of solo creative exploration, Gathering Light is right for you. There are no time-sensitive components, group projects, or expectations to share your images.

But, if you’re longing for more artist friends, you have the option to join a private online classroom where you can post images, share ideas, and connect with fellow students. There, you’ll find lively discussions, honest (always kind) feedback, and meaningful encouragement from a truly supportive community of artists. I’ll also join you there every week, to support you with new ideas and suggestions.

There are two ways to experience Gathering Light...

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

Step 1: I will review your past photographic work, website (if you have one), and any portfolios you’d like to share. (I really will look at ALL of it.) 

Step 2: Then, we'll schedule a 60-minute mentoring call. Ask me anything - it’s your time to use however you like. I’ll offer detailed feedback and personalized advice on your images and we’ll chat about your photography goals and any creative challenges you’re experiencing. 

Mentoring is a good fit if you are:

• Struggling to find your voice as an artist, because your images feel “all over the place”

• Working towards exhibition or competition goals (and you’d love help from a seasoned curator and juror)

• Seeking clarity with your archive, aesthetic, or technique - and looking for an experienced eye

• Ready to brainstorm that dream project you can’t stop thinking about

• Wanting to know which of your images are strong - and which ones need help

If you have a vision of the kind of artist you could be, and you’d love deeper insights and a clear roadmap to help you make your dream a reality, the mentoring option is here for you. 

You can sign up for a single mentoring session or a five-session series to pepper throughout your year of Gathering Light.

Why Gathering Light?

My name is Laura Valenti, and I’ve spent 20+ years in the art world as a photographer, curator, arts director, and educator. At core, my work is about helping photographers become visionary artists.

When I was first making my way in the photo world, I was full of excitement, but I didn’t have many resources at my fingertips. Most books, classes, and websites seemed to focus on the technical and mechanical parts of photography - and I was interested in the creative process.

So, I started a critique group where we shared images and offered each other feedback. After a while though, regular in-person meetings can start to conflict with work commitments and family responsibilities, so what then?

I created Gathering Light so photographers at any level can grow as artists, no matter their schedule or geographic location. The convenient online format fits into your schedule whenever you like - 3am in your pajamas or 12pm on your lunch hour. Each weekly lesson is a reminder, a loving accountability nudge, and an invitation to make space for your creativity to emerge in new and interesting ways.

Gathering Light is everything I wanted at the start of my artist’s journey, and it’s a true privilege to offer it to you. 

Is Gathering Light right for you?

• Stuck in a creative rut? Wishing you could tap into a rich collection of creative prompts to engage the deep emotional heart of your photography practice?

• Does committing to a photography group that meets at an exact time and place every week or month simply not work with your schedule and responsibilities?

• Have you been saying that you want to spend more time making images, but there’s no intentional space for it in your life, so it’s just not happening?

• Do you hear a clear “I need this!” whisper (or shout!) when you imagine making 2024 a year of going even deeper into your creative potential?

If you said yes to any of those questions, Gathering Light welcomes you.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve taken Gathering Light before. Is this version different?

The 2024 version of Gathering Light is the same as the version offered in 2023. If you took Gathering Light prior to 2023, it was a completely different course.

What kind of camera do I need?

All cameras are welcome! You don’t need anything fancy to be a part of Gathering Light. DSLRs, point-and-shoots, camera phones, view cameras, pinhole cameras made from oatmeal boxes – I have a strict equipment nondiscrimination policy.

How good do I need to be?

Since the creative experiments in Gathering Light are all conceptual (not technical), photographers at every level are welcome. It's never too early to start thinking about creativity in a deeper way.

What happens if I fall behind?

There’s no such thing as falling behind in Gathering Light. Art doesn’t unfold on a timetable, so there is absolutely zero pressure to rush or force things. Some months, you might be creating image after image. Other months, you’ll choose to slow down and reflect. You’ll have access to all of the lessons for three full years, so you’ll have plenty of time to savor Gathering Light.

What’s the cancellation policy?

You’ll get access to the full year of Gathering Light lessons (and you’ll retain your access for three full years), so your registration is not refundable. However, if at any point you decide a different e-course would be a better fit, you can transfer your pro-rated registration to another course or one-on-one mentoring session(s).

Is there a live element? Do I need to schedule specific time for this?

There is no live element - you can participate in Gathering Light entirely on your own schedule. No commuting in traffic, no sitting in uncomfortable classroom chairs, no missing awkwardly-scheduled webinars, no annoying group Zoom calls. Cozy up and immerse yourself in the course when it's truly best for you. 

If I choose a mentoring option, when will the session(s) happen? How does it work?

After Gathering Light begins, we’ll connect and choose the time that works best for your schedule. If you sign up for multiple sessions, you can space them throughout the year in whatever way works best for you. For U.S.-based students, we’ll meet via telephone. For students outside the U.S., we’ll meet via Zoom.