What Is Aura Photography?

How It Works & What Your Colors Mean

You’ve probably seen the photos: a portrait wrapped in glowing clouds of magenta, teal, or gold. They’re beautiful, a little mysterious, and everywhere right now. But what is aura photography, and what do those colors actually mean? Here’s everything you need to know before you sit for your own.

What is aura photography?

Aura photography is a portrait technique that captures a visual impression of your energy field — your “aura” — as bands of color around your body. Instead of just documenting how you look, an aura portrait is meant to reflect how you feel: your mood, your energy, and the tone you’re carrying in that moment.

At Inner Light Aura, every session ends with a one-of-a-kind portrait plus a reading that helps you understand the colors that showed up for you. It’s equal parts keepsake, conversation starter, and moment of self-reflection.

How does an aura camera work?

An aura camera reads the subtle electrical energy from your body — most often through your hands resting on a set of sensors. That biofeedback is translated into color and layered over your portrait as it develops, so you watch your aura appear in real time.

The result isn’t a medical scan or a fortune-telling device. Think of it as a snapshot of your energy right now — a playful, meaningful way to see your “true colors” on a given day.

What to expect at an Inner Light Aura session

Most people feel a little nervous before they sit down — that’s completely normal, and our team is there to put you at ease. Here’s how a session flows:

1. Your aura portrait. A trained photographer captures your image while the aura camera reads your energy.

2. Your aura reading. We interpret the colors that appeared and what they may mean for you specifically.

3. Your take-home keepsake. You leave with a printed portrait and a color guide!

How should I prepare?

We recommend wearing dark, solid colors with no busy patterns so your aura field reads clearly in the portrait. Come as you are — there’s nothing you need to “do” to have an aura.

What do the aura colors mean?

Every color carries its own energy. Warm reds and oranges often speak to passion, drive, and creativity; yellows to joy and confidence; greens to growth and heart-centered healing; blues to calm and clear communication; and violets and whites to intuition and a deeply spiritual nature. What matters most is how those colors relate to you and where you are in life right now.

Want the full breakdown? Check out our full Aura Color Guide Page!

Does your aura change?

Yes — and that’s part of the magic. Your aura shifts with your mood, your season of life, and your energy, which is why so many people come back for an “aura check-up.” The portrait you get today is a snapshot of this exact chapter.

Where can I get an aura photo?

Inner Light Aura is a women-owned team of aura photographers and readers based in Philadelphia and New York City, available for pop-ups, private sessions, and events nationwide. We’d love to help you see your true colors shine.

• Is aura photography real?

  An aura camera captures real biofeedback from your body and translates it into color. Whether you read it spiritually or simply as a beautiful, fun keepsake is up to you.

• How long does a session take?

  We work in 10 minute appointments which leaves time for your aura photo to be taken and then a deep dive on what your energy means.

• Can two people be in one photo?

  Yes — our camera can capture up to two people in a single aura portrait, which makes for a gorgeous couples or best-friend keepsake.

• What should I wear?

  Whatever you feel best in!

  But seriously - we recommend dark, solid colors with no patterns photograph best.