We recently connected with Soul Aglow and have shared our conversation below.

Soul Aglow, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Soul Aglow came about when I began photographing the splendor of the great outdoors. Capturing the breathtaking beauty of towering forests and pristine lakes, especially during dazzling dawns and dusks, made me feel whole again after losing my mother, father and brother within a few short years of each other.

During COVID-19, I escaped to a cabin that I inherited from my parents in Lake Arrowhead, California, a cozy and quaint community in the San Bernardino National Forest. Artfully photographing magical moments in the mountains and posting them on Instagram at Soul Aglow (@soul.aglow) helped me honor the memory of my family. Plus, my images and motivational mantras brought healing and hope to people who were feeling a lot of stress and anxiety during the pandemic.

Through my creative compositions and content, I spread the word about setting our souls aglow by spending more time in nature, enjoying the benefits of mental health awareness and saving our forests. I also gained control of my grief, an unexpected worldwide following of 11,000 people on Instagram, and a new creative professional path of selling my 16×20 portraits at art shows and boutiques.

Soul Aglow, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi there! I am the nature photographer known as Soul Aglow on Instagram (@soul.aglow). I find light and enlightenment in the woodlands and lakes of Southern California. My images and 16×20 portraits, as well as my inspirational insights on social media, provide mindful moments for those looking to minimize chaos and maximize contentment.

I specialize in forest sunrises and sunsets that speak to the soul. The awe and wonder of my serene skyscapes convey a sense of calm, comfort and connection, where endings feel like beginnings, and positivity and possibilities prevail.

Consumers appreciate the poetic peacefulness of my photo art. In addition to presenting the magic and magnificence of the natural world, my portraits also provide a profound awakening. It’s like standing on the edge of the universe, only you’re watching the glistening glow of an alpine lake twinkle like a distant galaxy and birds soar across the sky like shooting stars.

We don’t just enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, we surrender to them. This resonates with my clients and followers, because the change of scenery and leisurely pace encourage people to slow down, soften their outlook, and let go of the past to gain a better perspective of the present and future.

They say life doesn’t come with instructions on how to live, or manage our mental health and overall wellbeing. However, it does come with trees, sunsets and smiles, so make sure you become a seeker of soul satisfying scenery—which is what Soul Aglow aims to provide.

Please feel free to see my full gallery on Instagram at Soul Aglow (@soul.aglow). Follow or DM for soulful nature portraits.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started Soul Aglow (@soul.aglow) on Instagram on World Mental Health Day in 2019. I initially attracted a following of several thousand people, but it soon stabilized at 4,000. At that time, I focused more on visual rather than written content, but I always included motivational mantras that people appreciated and responded to with comments such as, “Thank you, I needed that today.”

Then, COVID-19 shut down the planet. The pandemic gave me the opportunity to spend more time in nature and process the grief of losing my entire immediate family, including my mother, father and brother, to various health conditions like heart disease, cancer and Crohn’s.

Based on my experience with loss, I decided to open up about how I got through challenging times. This prompted me to pair my nurturing nature images with posts about overcoming the traumas and dramas of life. Sharing my journey with grief, and lessons learned from personal up and downs, helped me connect with people on a much deeper level.

The change in content messaging immediately clicked with people. By baring my soul, my audience soon doubled from 4,000 to 8,000 followers. It has now expanded to 11,000. Ultimately, I achieved success at providing a luminous visual and reading experience to a broader base by putting the power of transformation and transcendence within closer reach to those who needed it.

Popular topics that resonate with my followers include:

—Positivity pick-me-ups.
—Nature therapies that heal your mind, body and spirit.
—Tips to control anger.
—Mindset resets and mindful makeovers.
—How to unlock your full potential.
—The benefits of embracing your inner child.
—Ways to fill your heart with gratitude.
—Reframing the sad and the bad.
—How to grow and glow, and live your dream life.
—Satisfying self-care strategies.

I learned by trial and error when building my presence on social media, but I suggest five “EEEasy” ways for beginners to attract a following. It’s a structured approach, but it gets you to a place where you can create impactful and purposeful content in a free-flowing frame of mind.

1. Entertain: Use enjoyment to capture attention.
2. Enlighten: Provide value through knowledge.
3. Engage: Encourage interaction and participation.
4. Empower: Instill confidence and a sense of capability.
5. Excite: Generate interest and buzz with imaginative ideas.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes, I’d like to recommend four books that have had a positive impact on my creative journey.

1. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin.
This book provides a blend of inspiration, philosophy and practical advice for artists across various disciplines. It contains lots of helpful Areas of Thought: “Nature As Teacher,” “Breaking the Sameness,” “The Abundant Mindset” and many more.

2. The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker.
This read explores the importance of being present and attentive in a world filled with distractions. It serves as a useful resource to enhance your observational skills and creativity.

3. The Power of Wonder by Monica C. Parker.
This book offers insights from psychology, neuroscience and philosophy to illustrate how the concept of wonder can enhance our wellbeing and creativity. It shows us how curiosity and daydreaming allow us to be more open to the world, new experiences and other people.

4. The Overstory by Richard Powers.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel intertwines the lives of nine characters, all connected through their experiences with trees and the fight against deforestation. You’ll never look at trees the same way again, and it will convince you about the need for intelligent conservation work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @soul.aglow