Being photographed can be a healing experience, even a personally evolutionary experience for both the subject and the photographer. Is this an outrageous statement? At face value it certainly is. I certainly would have thought so years ago when I worked as a psychotherapist. Indeed, when I began my photography career I thought I had left my mental health work in the dust. Imagine my surprise when my photography clients and I often found ourselves emotionally touched, even moved, during our photography sessions.
There are distinct parallels between effective therapy and creative photography. Therapy can provide experiences whereby new behaviors are “sampled” or experimented with. Creative photography can provide similar experiences. Positive new dynamics can be experienced as the photography subjects, prompted by the photographer, interact in new ways during the photo session. These dynamics and behaviors are presented in a safe or non-threatening arena. After all, it’s “just” a photography session. The emotional impact, however, can be profound. The photographs later serve as a powerful visual reminder or “anchor” for the experience.
Even an individual portrait session can be a growth catalyst. An adept photographer can reveal hidden or latent facets of the subject. This can be as simple as someone who believed they were unattractive, or didn’t photograph well, being positively surprised when they see their images. A family photo session might encompass family members experiencing interpersonal conflict. Traditional photography might inadvertently exacerbate this dynamic as some individuals find being photographed stressful. Photographing with the distinct intent to create an extremely good family experience, not just good photos, is using photography as a “healing art.”
I’ve photographed several families where if the photo session were to run its “natural” course, an individual or family subset would be marginalized. A photographer sensitive to family dynamics and the healing potential of photography can structure the session so the family can experience new dynamics within a non threatening environment. This is not insight therapy. The photographer would not comment on family dynamics. The “healing” or positive experiences would impact the family via the experience itself. The photographer attempting to reinforce the positive experience via his insightful comments would only garner resistance and undermine the positive experience. As any adept therapist (and photographer) knows, “what’s resisted persists.” The wise therapist and photographer accept whatever dynamics the family or system presents, and then gracefully leads them to new experiences.
Creative photography doesn’t merely document our lives, it affirms it. It may be a heroic struggle with an illness or celebrating life’s transitions such as birth, graduations, marriage, and yes, even death. I’ve photographed numerous families where an individual had a terminal disease and knew this would be a final opportunity to include loved ones in a portrait session.
Good photography can reflect us at our best and serve as a catalyst for our future growth. When I do my best work, the subjects see a glimpse of the Spirit “peeking through,” reflected in their image. Serving as a photographer is a privilege and an honor.
Source by John Zeuli
Photography As a Healing Art
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