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Embracing Mindfulness and Photography: Lessons from My Morning Walk


This morning, I decided to break away from my usual walking routine and take a mindful walk.

Table of Contents hide
1 Discovering New Perspectives in Photography
2 Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Activities

I live near the Richmond Lock so I went along the beautiful and peaceful path along the river. Armed with just my phone (not my trusty professional camera), I embraced the opportunity to be fully present and appreciate the beauty of the world around me.

Mindfulness and photography: lessons from my morning walk

As I strolled beneath the gentle morning sun, I made a conscious effort to pay attention to my surroundings. It’s amazing how much we miss when we’re caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life. The familiar path I walked suddenly seemed different, filled with new details waiting to be discovered.

One thing that struck me was the play of light and shadow dancing among the trees. The branches created intriguing patterns on the ground, and I couldn’t resist capturing these moments with my phone camera. It’s incredible how a simple shift in perspective can transform something ordinary into something extraordinary.

Discovering New Perspectives in Photography

I’ve never been particularly drawn to landscape photography, I’m a portrait photographer after all, but today was different. I found myself appreciating the shapes and contours of objects, seeing them in terms of light, shadow, and shades of colour. The landscape took on a new life as I explored this fresh perspective.

collage of 4 photos capturing the sky throughout the trees.

While snapping photos, I began visualizing most of them in black and white. I imagined the contrast, depth, and impact that monochrome could bring. It’s fascinating how changing the way we see things can open up a world of possibilities.

As I continued my walk, I realized that mindfulness isn’t just about meditation or deep breathing exercises (though those are wonderful too!). It’s about being fully engaged with the present moment, whether you’re taking photos or simply observing the world around you.

By the end of my walk, I felt invigorated and inspired. The photos on my phone served as reminders of the beauty that surrounds us every day, waiting to be noticed and appreciated. I’m excited to explore more of this mindful photography, capturing moments of presence and discovery in my everyday life.

Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Activities

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut or disconnected from the world around you, I encourage you to try incorporating mindfulness into your daily activities. Whether it’s a morning walk, cooking a meal, or even washing the dishes, approach it with curiosity and openness. You might be surprised by what you discover!

Incorporating mindfulness and photography into our lives doesn’t require fancy equipment or extensive training. All it takes is a willingness to slow down, pay attention, and embrace the beauty of the present moment. So, grab your phone or camera, step outside, and start capturing the world with fresh eyes. Have a look here at the photos I took on my walk.

Related article: How Photography Can Bring Mindfulness to Your Life

Related article: The Power of Digital Minimalism: Why Less Screen Time Means More Life

black and white photo of boats shot through trees
2 people canoeing in the river
path signs: mindfulness and photography
leaves shadows on the street
texture and shapes in nature: mindfulness and photography
footbridge and its architectural shadows
details in the light and shadows
bridge stairs in the light and shadow

Curious about the black-and-white photography in this post? I deliberately chose this style to capture a unique mood and perspective. Black and white photography often emphasizes contrasts, textures, and shapes, evoking a timeless or nostalgic feeling.

How does it make you see everyday scenes differently compared to colour photos? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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Six weeks ago I shared a glimpse behind the scenes of this session. Today, you get to see what we made.

She arrived with her props already chosen.

Nude stockings. The kind her mother wore. The ones women mended rather than replaced.

She knew exactly what she wanted to say.
My job was simply to hold the space and let her say it.

This is what a portrait session can be.
Not a makeover or a way to fit an idea of beauty. But a conversation between a woman and her own story, made visible.

Dyana is an artist, activist and doula. She explores identity, the body, and everything that lives between and beyond definition.

I am grateful I had the chance to photograph her.

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Open post by by_valentina with ID 17861247726689326
Six weeks ago I shared a glimpse behind the scenes of this session. Today, you get to see what we made. She arrived with her props already chosen. Nude stockings. The kind her mother wore. The ones women mended rather than replaced. She knew exactly what she wanted to say. My job was simply to hold the space and let her say it. This is what a portrait session can be. Not a makeover or a way to fit an idea of beauty. But a conversation between a woman and her own story, made visible. Dyana is an artist, activist and doula. She explores identity, the body, and everything that lives between and beyond definition. I am grateful I had the chance to photograph her.

Tomorrow I have a newborn session and a 1:1 training day with a photographer travelling from Switzerland to spend the day with me.

But before any of that, the work had already started.
It starts with a conversation. Learning about your birth, your family, how things have been since you came home. Then comes the studio prep, making sure the space is warm, clean and ready for someone very new to the world, with attention to every small thing that makes a family feel safe and held.

After 15 years, this is still how I do it. Every time.
That same care is what I pass on when I teach.

If you are a parent looking for a photographer who takes this seriously, or a photographer thinking about training, this is what I stand for.

📩 Links in bio for both.

21 3
Open post by by_valentina with ID 18100153727039017
Tomorrow I have a newborn session and a 1:1 training day with a photographer travelling from Switzerland to spend the day with me. But before any of that, the work had already started. It starts with a conversation. Learning about your birth, your family, how things have been since you came home. Then comes the studio prep, making sure the space is warm, clean and ready for someone very new to the world, with attention to every small thing that makes a family feel safe and held. After 15 years, this is still how I do it. Every time. That same care is what I pass on when I teach. If you are a parent looking for a photographer who takes this seriously, or a photographer thinking about training, this is what I stand for. 📩 Links in bio for both.

She almost didn’t come.

She told me she wasn’t feeling confident.
That she didn’t know how to pose.
That maybe I should photograph someone else.

I hear this more than you’d think. From women who are more reserved and introvert but also the ones who are funny and so alive in person. Women who have simply spent too long seeing themselves in a fixed way.

We spent a morning together. Just her, the light, and a space where nothing needed to be fixed or hidden.

The woman in these photos? She was there all along.

If you’ve been telling yourself a similar story, I’d gently ask you this: what if you’re wrong too?

48 10
Open post by by_valentina with ID 18093137645180251
She almost didn’t come. She told me she wasn’t feeling confident. That she didn’t know how to pose. That maybe I should photograph someone else. I hear this more than you’d think. From women who are more reserved and introvert but also the ones who are funny and so alive in person. Women who have simply spent too long seeing themselves in a fixed way. We spent a morning together. Just her, the light, and a space where nothing needed to be fixed or hidden. The woman in these photos? She was there all along. If you’ve been telling yourself a similar story, I’d gently ask you this: what if you’re wrong too?

This is the part that gets me every time.

Seeing the images inside the album, in print, held in your hands, is completely different to seeing them on a screen.

They become real in a way a digital file never quite manages.

This little one will grow so fast.

But these pages will stay exactly as they are.

Newborn photography in Richmond and Twickenham.

20 6
Open post by by_valentina with ID 18062378156418997
This is the part that gets me every time. Seeing the images inside the album, in print, held in your hands, is completely different to seeing them on a screen. They become real in a way a digital file never quite manages. This little one will grow so fast. But these pages will stay exactly as they are. Newborn photography in Richmond and Twickenham.

It never gets old.

Every time one of your albums arrives at my door it feels a little like Christmas morning. There is something about holding it for the first time, knowing what is inside, knowing what it meant to be in that room with you.

If I feel this way, I can only imagine what it feels like for you.

Follow along, the next reel shows what’s inside.

Newborn and maternity photography in Richmond and Twickenham.

19 0
Open post by by_valentina with ID 18097082300325134
It never gets old. Every time one of your albums arrives at my door it feels a little like Christmas morning. There is something about holding it for the first time, knowing what is inside, knowing what it meant to be in that room with you. If I feel this way, I can only imagine what it feels like for you. Follow along, the next reel shows what’s inside. Newborn and maternity photography in Richmond and Twickenham.
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VALE@PHOTOGRAPHYBYVALENTINA.COM

07577 978246

LONDON NEWBORN & MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER

Based in Richmond, I work with families across London to capture life’s most meaningful milestones through portrait photography.