The Healing Power Of Photography

Have you ever thought about using photography as a therapeutic tool? The creative process of photography can bring relief from stress, pain, heartbreak, and other negative experiences we need healing from, and can be a valuable tool for self-healing, inner peace and personal growth.

I personally felt the healing power of photography in my past, and this is the story about how I got started with photography. Back in 2009, I spontaneously bought a DSLR camera. But the truth was it collected dust in my closet the first couple of months. It wasn’t until I experienced a loss of a loved one that I started taking photos.

The person I lost was my mother-in-law and we were extremely close. She was like my mother and my best friend. I was hit by an overwhelming grief that made it impossible for me to go to work for a while, so I took some time off. And it was during this grieving process that I picked up the camera.

The camera quickly became a healing tool. The act of taking photos transported me to a better place. In those moments, I felt relief from my pain – a pause from crying, hurting, anxiety, and missing the person I’d lost. A feeling of getting my head above the water so I could breathe and see the world with fresh eyes and not through the “grieving eyes.”

In the moments I spend with the camera I could briefly reconnect with joy again. I started noticing the beauty around me and was reminded of the little things to be grateful for. I became more present in my body, which slowed down my racing thoughts. In that time of my life the camera became my dear friend and my way to self-healing.

What I didn’t know at that time was that just ONE year later I would be a full-time photographer running my own business. So that’s the story of how I got started with my passion for photography.

When we engage mindfully in taking photos, our minds, bodies, and spirits are all focused on the moment. Through photography, we connect with our emotions, gain new perspectives, engage with mindful awareness, and find space to express ourselves.

3 Ways Photography Can Help You Heal

#1. Photography can help shift your focus

If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, stress or heartbreak, chances are that you may think predominantly negative thoughts. You worry about things that have happened in the past or things that might happen in the future. You might also experience negative self-talk that are bringing you down.

The beauty of photography is that it can help you break the habit of being worried and self-critical. Because when your mind is occupied with being creatively playful, it becomes a mental pause, a form of meditation and a break from thinking of the bad and sad stuff.

Where focus goes, energy flows. Meaning that what you focus your attention on will consume you and set the tone for your emotional well-being.

Getting creative with your camera can help you shift your focus from something negative to something positive. The more focused you are on your photography, the less attention you’ll have for those negative thoughts and things in life that are hurting you, draining you or making you insecure. The stress will diminish the more you immerse yourself in your photography.

#2. Photography can help you align with your true, authentic self

Sometimes we get lost and the feelings of “not knowing who you are” or “not being in touch with your true self” can take over. By playing with your creative expression through photography, you can begin a beautiful journey of re-discovering yourself – a safe space free from judgment to express your thoughts, feelings and stories.

Your photography journey will reveal what you are passionate about and what evokes joy in you. And if you pay attention to what you discover about yourself, you will build a solid connection to your authentic self. And by capturing images representing your emotions and experiences, you can better understand yourself.

#3. Photography can help you find creative freedom and grow your confidence

Taking photos can be both a super simple process or a more in-depth creative process. Simple when we just snap a quick photo with our iPhone and more time-consuming when you pick up the big camera and edit on your computer. Personally, I love to do both – depending on my mood.

Some days I really want to go deep into my creative process. I take my time planning the photos I want to take. I play around with the scene and style it in different ways. I play with composition, light and shooting angles. I test different camera settings to find the one that I like and finally, I spend time editing the photos on my computer, using Lightroom and Photoshop.

I can spend an entire day creating just ONE photo I LOVE. For some people, this would feel like a waste of time, but for me it’s pure joy.

I get to decide how nerdy I get with my craft, and I always learn something valuable when I allow myself to spend a good amount of time on my passion without stressing about time or efficiency.

I’ve noticed that when I improve my skills and deeply explore my creative abilities, I get so much personal satisfaction and my confidence grow.

Too often, photographers rush through their creative practice like they are in a hurry to take the photo. Why? Because we have all learned that we need to be efficient to be productive and get things done.

The truth is that by slowing down, you will feel more creative freedom, and your skills will grow with tremendous speed, and when you see positive result from your focused process, you will become much more confident in your skills.

That being said, there’s also a lot of creative freedom in taking photos with the iPhone. Some days, I just don’t want to take out the big camera. I just want to snap some quick photos and then cuddle up in the couch and relax with some editing.

I love relaxing with a cup of coffee while I play with my favorite editing apps. It’s like meditation for me and I forget what else might be going on in my life at the time. It’s the perfect little break during the day.

As an experienced photographer, coach and therapist, I go a lot deeper into the topics above through my Lifestyle Photography Academy. Many of my students tell me how the program has changed their lives by growing their confidence, reconnecting with themselves and learning photography in a safe space free of judgment and critique. You can read all the positive feedback on the course page here >>

The doors to The Lifestyle Photography Academy are currently open for enrollment. I’m truly looking forward to spending this season doing what I love the most; helping you capture amazing pictures and shine creatively!

This Lifestyle Photography Academy is for you if:

✅You believe it’s time to nourish your creative soul and make space for what you love.⁣

✅You have a goal to feel confident as a photographer and capture beautiful photos that will kick-start your creative career. ⁣

✅Your dream is to dramatically improve your photography in just a few weeks and learn EVERYTHING it takes to bring your passion to the next level.⁣

✅You wish to attract more customers, followers and clients via beautiful, professional, storytelling images for your blog, website and Instagram.⁣

✅You’re ready to discover your artistic vision, and learn how to find your signature style, connect with your audience and profit from your work.⁣

This program is my baby, my joy and passion. If you would like my help to increase your skills in photography, styling, creative confidence, visual storytelling and photo editing, then I would love to invite you to join me on this wonderful journey.⁣⁣

How To Shoot Dark & Moody Still Life Photography: 7 Essential Tips

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Dark and moody photography, also know as Low Key Photography, can be challenging but also incredibly fun and rewarding. In my first years of photography, I was only shooting images in the bright and airy style, so when I started playing with the dark and moody style I struggled. It took me about two years to really master this style, and I almost gave up along the way.

Today, I enjoy this style so much, and it gives me so much creative joy. So let me share some quick tips to help you get started with dark and moody images. It doesn’t matter if you use your phone camera or a mirrorless/DSLR camera. You can shoot the moody style with any camera, as long as you consider the tips below.

7 Tips For Dark & Moody Still Life Photography

1. Use Good Light

Just because you’re going to create dark and moody images, it doesn’t have to be in a dark room. You can create this style almost everywhere. You still need soft and bright daylight to light up your scene. This will also help you avoid graininess and keep your images sharp and clear.

Soft light is what is preferred for this kind of photography and hence an overcast day can be one of the best days for moody photography. If you are shooting indoors, you can use window light and if the light is a bit harsh, you can diffuse it using curtains, blinds, or other diffusing material.

Look at how light falls and illuminates the subject and then make changes by moving the subject near or far away from the light source to get the desired mood. Using a black reflector will help to absorb light and reduce the amount of light falling on your subject.

2. Experiment with Camera Settings

To achieve the dark and moody look, the most important thing is to not overexpose your image. By nature, dark and moody photos are less exposed than ordinary ones. As a result, you’ll want to slightly underexpose the pictures you take on your camera. When underexposing your photos, try not to go too far. Otherwise, you’ll add unwanted grain and lose important details.

Camera settings to consider when capturing moody images are:

Use shallow depth of field to make the subject stand out and soften the background. I often shoot on f/2.8 or f/2.0. This also allows more light into your camera.
The higher your shutter speed, the less light will enter your camera. I recommend starting with shutter speed 1/100 and then raise it until you get the look you desire.
ISO will help lift the shadows and let in more light – which can be helpful on overcast and rainy days. Use it only if you need it.
If you find that autofocus is tricky in low light, then put your camera on a tripod and use manual focus.

3. Stick to a Dark Color Palette

Black, brown, and gray colors are often the staple of dark and moody photography, but you can also experiment with other dark colors, like green and blue, to create moody and atmospheric scenes. Some of my favorite backgrounds are made of wall paper or canvas. Canvas has a fine and natural texture that adds dimension to an image without distracting the viewer from the subject. I often paint them in the desired colors using chalk paint.

When I use wallpaper, I cut out what I need and tape it to the wall with masking tape. This helps change a scene in an instant. Items that you may already have around the house to use as backdrops can be tablecloths, scarves, fabric, cardboards or even a backing tray.

Make sure your choice of props complements the background as well as the surface. You don’t want any color to stick out too much. Be careful to add white plates and cups; instead, go for more beige/brown tones. This will calm the image and make everything blend better in harmony.

4. Embrace Shadows

Shadows are key! They add depth, texture, and drama to your images. Try to use it to your advantage. This will also help you achieve a deeper contrast. Dark and moody photography often relies on high contrast to create an intense atmosphere.

You can add shadows simply by placing a dark object next to your scene. This could be a piece of cardboard, a dark curtain or just a person blocking the light.

5. Use Negative Space

Negative space, or the empty space surrounding your subject, can help create a sense of isolation and moodiness in your images. It’s also a place for the eyes to rest and helps make an interesting composition.

The space around your subject is just as important as your subject, so make sure to give it some attention. Also consider the parts of your image that you most want to bring out and make sure your star is in focus.

If you’re shooting using the camera’s “Live View” function this will help you compose your shots because you can clearly see the overall composition and look.

6: Play with Details

The best dark and moody images often have a story behind them. Think about the emotions and atmosphere you want to tell and experiment with expressing this.

Slow down and take time consider how you can use interesting details and textures to create an atmospheric scene. Do this by paying attention to layers, textures, props and shapes in your scene.

7: Edit Your Photo

Editing is a HUGE part of getting moody style right, but you often only need to do a little to enhance the dark mood in your images. Digital files often look “flat” straight out of the camera. This means that you have to add contrast in post-processing.

You can do this in Lightroom or Photoshop in various ways. You can tweak the contrast slider. Deepen the shadows with the curve tool or level tool. Reduce the highlights and lower exposure if needed. Try playing with white balance to see if your photos looks best with a warm glow or a cooler look. What works best for your scene is often a matter of personal taste.

There are also many great editing apps for smartphones and my favourite is the VSCO app which comes with a bunch of beautiful presets perfect for the moody style. Remember, doing just a little bit of editing can make a significant impact on your photo.

Lastly, have FUN and don’t be afraid of experimenting. When you are learning a new style and new techniques the most important thing is being playfull and allow for charming imperfections.

With love, Christina

PS. Want to learn more about Photography? Grab my FREE mini-course or register for one of my courses.

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How To Stay Calm In ANY Situation

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Calmness is your superpower. Your ability to carry yourself with dignity and remain calm in the eye of a storm will empower you in any situation.

And when you’re able to not overreact and take things personally, you keep your mind clear and your heart at peace. Staying calm is a form of self-respect. It’s how you strengthen your confidence and grow self-trust.

We all encounter individuals who bring negativity and drama into our lives. Whether it’s through testing boundaries, teasing, provoking, blaming, criticising or simply adding mental clutter, these situations can be challenging to navigate.

However, it’s important to remember that you have the power to choose how you respond to these situations. It’s always possible to set healthy boundaries, and it’s never too late to learn how to respond in a new way.

The first step is to understand that your response is always a CHOICE.

You can choose calmness over frustration, anger, and resentment. You decide to stay calm because it’s the most powerful response to anything. And when you make that choice, you don’t waste your valuable energy on something you can’t change or fix.

Here’s how you can be calm and stand in your power…

Don’t Take Anything Personally.

Whatever happens, don’t take it personally. Nothing other people do is because of you.

It can be easy to get caught up in the opinions and actions of others, but it is crucial to remember that their behavior has nothing to do with you.

Let go of the belief that others’ words and actions are a reflection of your worth.

The reality is, people, act out of their own fears, insecurities, and experiences, not because of you.

Everyone has their own view of the world; they might have a completely different mindset than you and perhaps also a very different set of values.

When we take something personally, we automatically give our power away. We allow the other person to control us and our emotions. No one deserves that power – especially not bullies, trolls, and energy wampires. You need to keep your power where it belongs – at home inside of you.

When you respond with calmness and silence, quietly and respectfully, you are the powerful one.

If someone leaves you a mean comment on your Facebook page or Instagram post, delete it. Don’t spend a minute of your precious time feeling hurtful, angry, or sad.

Why? Because what they wrote says absolutely NOTHING about you. But it says a whole lot about the person who wrote it.

That person is not a happy person, because no happy people put others down. Emotional mature people with healthy self-esteem and deep respect for other people know how we are all connected and that when you give kindness, you feel better. When you give love, and encouragement and share your joy, you are a happy person.

So remember, next time you are about to take something personal, just stay calm. Walk away. Leave it. Delete it. Smile at it. Laugh it off. Breathe deeply and know in your heart that it has nothing to do with you.

Learn to Pause, Not React

Instead of reacting, you pause. You stay neutral and calm. It will be a challenge in the beginning because you will properly feel an entire range of emotions on the inside, and that’s okay. It’s normal.

So allow your reaction to happen on the inside. But stay quiet on the outside. Just be still and remember to breathe. Remind yourself that you owe no one a response. You can choose to observe, listen and relax your body.

Say to yourself, “this is a great moment to pause and stay neutral. ” Then turn your attention to your feet and feel the ground underneath. Connect with your breath and focus on your belly moving in and out.

If you are in a conflict with a loved one, staying calm is even more important. Listen and ask questions instead of getting angry and defensive. Your willingness to remain calm will help build trust.

So that’s my little take on cultivating calmness as your superpower. If you would like to connect with me or ask me a question, simply reach out. I’m mostly active on my Instagram and of course you can also send me an email.

With Love,

Christina

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