A special Polaroid portrait reveals a colorful interpretation of Inner Bloom Aura Photography owner Nina Dani’s aura. Photos: Inner Bloom Aura Photography
Aura photography blends art, self-reflection and wellness.
For Linden Hills artist Nina Dani, creativity has always been about more than making something beautiful. It has been a way to quiet anxious thoughts, stay present and reconnect with herself. That philosophy is now at the heart of Inner Bloom Aura Photography, where Dani combines her background as a visual artist with her passion for wellness and spirituality, offering clients an experience designed to encourage reflection as much as create a unique portrait. “I see creativity as one of the greatest forms of self-care and self-love,” Dani says.
Originally from the Milwaukee area, Dani moved to Minneapolis in 2010 to pursue a fine arts degree. After studying at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, focusing on painting, drawing and printmaking. Her work has since expanded into abstract painting, hand-painted denim and screen-printed apparel.
Dani’s interest in mindfulness eventually led her to explore meditation, spirituality and the concept of auras—energy fields believed by many to surround each person. After receiving her own aura portrait in 2024, she found a new creative direction. “Seeing my energy reflected back to me through color felt incredibly meaningful,” Dani says. “It opened the door to a whole new way of thinking about creativity, wellness and self-reflection.”
Partygoers each hold an aura portrait, a visual representation of one’s emotion, energy and personality.
Less than a year later, Dani launched Inner Bloom Aura Photography. Each session begins with clients placing their hands on biofeedback sensors connected to an AuraCam 6000 camera. The sensors measure tiny physiological signals, which are translated into colors representing different energetic themes. The camera then creates a Polaroid portrait overlaid with those colors. “The result is a one-of-a-kind image that blends photography, technology and symbolic color interpretation,” she says.
After the portrait is taken, Dani guides clients through an aura reading, discussing the colors that appear, their connection to the chakra system and how they might relate to the person’s current experiences. “I always remind people that an aura portrait is a snapshot of their energy in this particular moment in time,” she says. “Just as we move through different seasons of life, our energy changes too.” Every client leaves with a Polaroid portrait and a keepsake card, explaining the colors, so they can continue reflecting on the experience.
Dani says the growing popularity of aura photography reflects a broader desire to slow down in an increasingly busy world. “I think people are craving opportunities to reconnect with themselves,” she says. “An aura session creates space to pause and simply ask, ‘How am I doing? Where am I right now?’”
Some clients are deeply interested in wellness or spirituality, while others simply want an eye-catching portrait. Whatever brings them in, Dani hopes they leave with a new perspective. “I don’t believe every session has to provide all the answers,” she says. “Sometimes, the most meaningful part is simply creating space to pause, reflect and see yourself from a different perspective.”
As Inner Bloom Aura Photography continues to expand through creative workshops and collaborations with other wellness practitioners, Dani hopes every session inspires curiosity. “My hope is that people walk away feeling a little more connected to themselves and more open to the wonderful world of energy around us,” she says.
Inner Bloom Aura Photography
Instagram: @innerbloom_aura
