Fitting for a journalist on assignment, I’d say. Lee shared that magenta, pictured in the space above my head, symbolizes characteristics of being artistic, while the orange toward the photo’s edge could represent a craving for new experiences.

There’s an array of interpretations for each shade, which helps the photographed person identify with their image however they see fit. Colors corresponding to that energy then appear around your figure in a printed Polaroid photo. When the photographer hits the shutter button, the plates send information about your energy to the camera. First, you place your palms on a pair of metal plates, which are connected to a camera. But Lee suggested she take my portrait first, and we’d dive into my curiosities once we had an image to reference. It takes about 10 seconds to photograph an aura. Despite having previous experience with aura photographs, I still had a lot of questions. Lee was setting up her equipment inside a geometric indoor tent when I arrived. KLUG, AGE 12, PHOTOGRAPHED AT A WOMEN’S EXPO BY A FORMER BERKLEY-BASED ASTROLOGICAL FOUNDATION. I was grateful for an opportunity that felt like the chance to reconnect with an old - super spiritual - friend and I was eager to see if we’d still find common ground. When she’s back at her home base in Southwest Detroit art gallery Grey Area, appointments are only available one week out at a time.

Since launching in 2017, Aura Aura has grown increasingly popular. Yet, when I had the opportunity to meet with Eileen Lee, owner of Aura Aura, the aptly named Detroit-based aura photography service, I was immediately intrigued.

Aura photo