For every topic, there will be an Action Assignment Worksheet that includes skill-building and personal growth resources to watch, read, or listen to; reflection questions related to that month’s topic; and a photography exercise that gets you out and experimenting. You’ll bring your learning, questions, and images to each session for a facilitated group conversation.

• APRIL Session 0 | A week or two before Session 1: program orientation meeting to review logistics, establish group agreements, and discuss the personal project

•  Sessions 1-2 | May & June: Internal Motivations and The Search for Meaning, we start by examining our core values that drive our desire to photograph in order to commit to and start a personal project; Experiments and “Failure”, develop technical courage and creative vulnerability, which allows the artist to take risks without the paralyzing fear of a poor result. 

  Image Coaching Clinic | July: A review of initial concepts, finding direction

•  Sessions 3-4 | July & August: Photographing with Intention (Presence and Curiosity), this module introduces "Miksang" or contemplative photography; The Cycles of Creativity (Flow States and Blocks), we learn to identify "flow state triggers," such as specific pre-creation rituals or environmental setups, to move past creative blocks.

•  Session 5 | September: wild card (group choice)

  Image Coaching Clinic | September: Progression

•   Sessions 6-7 | October and November: Project Building, as the midpoint of the year, these sessions focus on project structure and sharing progress. Participants set an intention for their ultimate final year-end gallery, with milestones and defined scope of their final imagery. Consistency is prioritized over intensity. We also take a look at inspiration and influence beyond the scope of nature photography. 

•  Session 8 | December: Patience, we explore the art of slow photography which emphasises observation and presence rather than clicking the shutter. 

•  Sessions 9-10 | January & February: Finding Your Vision and Voice, participants learn to tell their story, not just their process. We draft artist’s statements and learn how to speak about our work with an authenticity that creates connection. We also dive into the art of self-critique, when to be objective vs. subjective, and identify successes without becoming overly harsh. 

•  Session 11 | March: wild card (group choice), suggested final group image critiques prior to project completion. 

•  Session 12 | April: Closing Project Review and Maintaining Momentum, the program concludes with a celebration of the finished galleries. Participants establish future goals and outline rhythms over routines, ensuring they can maintain their creative energy in the years to follow.

Monthly Session Format (2.5 hrs)

• 5 minutes: Welcome and getting centered
• 45 minutes: Group discussion on the Read/Watch/Reflect Action Assignment items
• 30 minutes: Topic Presentation, skill-building and/or techniques & processing
• 5 minutes: Comfort Break
• 30 minutes: Image sharing from Generative Photography Exercises
• 30 minutes: Project Updates, Questions, Challenges, Wins, Open Discussion
• 5 minutes: Close out