Sessions & Courses
The Wellbeing Photography sessions and Photography courses are available either separately or can be combined with each other. The program can also be delivered digitally to both groups and individuals.
Photography for Wellbeing
Wellbeing Photography serves to enhance general wellbeing and is also employed with patients to assist them in externalizing concerns, exploring coping strategies, and gaining insights from their peers.
Wellbeing Photography is integrated into the broader framework of Therapeutic Photography. For any practice to be deemed "therapeutic," it must contribute to an individual's self-understanding. One practical method of achieving this is through the reinforcement of coping strategies and the reduction of internal conflicts. Through Wellbeing Photography, participants not only derive pleasure from capturing images but also have the chance to question their photographs, explore the content and discover more about themselves. This process can lead to positive outcomes such as improved self-esteem, increased self-disclosure, enhanced self-efficacy, and empowerment.
Within Wellbeing Photography interventions, participants are encouraged to reflect upon their experiences. The act of taking photographs simplifies the expression of emotions and the externalization of challenges, requiring no specialized skills, prior experience, or advanced equipment. A mobile phone camera is sufficient.
The program is structured on the Bronfenbrenner socioecological model and aligns photography tasks with the themes present at each level of the model, incorporating other relevant theories into the program.
Wellbeing Photography program
All courses can be taken individually or in combination, offering a comprehensive and versatile learning experience.
The proposed program combines all three available sessions and courses over the span of six classes:
Wellbeing Photography Sessions
Participants delve into self-discovery and learn to perceive the world from a positive perspective. The power of photography aids in rediscovering oneself, contributing to overall well-being. Through these sessions, participants create images to explore and enhance qualities such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-disclosure, control, support, and empowerment.
Photography Courses
The participants learn how to operate and master their camera, along with various techniques. Participants gain familiarity with both basic and advanced composition techniques. They acquire fundamental knowledge about utilizing the camera's automatic and manual settings to achieve different effects. Moreover, the course covers basic and advanced photography composition, complete with illustrative examples from photography masters. Upon course completion, participants gain full control over the functions of a photographic camera.
Photovoice Project
Photovoice involves a process in which individuals employ photography to identify, represent, and enhance their community. It serves as a photography project can builds upon the practices learned in Photography courses and Wellbeing Photography sessions. The Photovoice project entails participants collaborating on a shared theme, which can subsequently be presented or exhibited.
References & useful links
Gibson, Neil. Therapeutic Photography: Enhancing Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy and Resilience. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2018.
Judy Weiser. PhotoTherapy, Therapeutic Photography, & Related Techniques.
Infomation about Photovoice and related projects.
Online/Distance sessions & courses
The online programme delivers assignments with the suitable guidance and feedback to the participants. The participants will be guided to explore themselves through tasks and benefit from the medium of photography. Available both in groups with a common discussion forum or individually with one to one feedback.
Duration. This is a 6 sessions online programme but can also be attended in the participant´s desired pace. The online/distance sessions are provided for well-being improvement. Additionaly can be combined with classic photography courses and a Photovoice project.
No previous experience is required. Remember that you do not need to have any previous experience in photography or any special photographic equipment, your phone camera or the most basic camera is more than enough.
Book your first session. Sometimes making the first contact can be challenging. Do not worry or over think about this, I will do my best to put you at your ease. I am very approachable, take contact and together we can design the session/courses that best fits your needs.