A Brief History of Photography as a Tool for Reflection, Connection & Healing

Did you know I offer The Veteran Project?

Complimentary Mini Portrait Sessions Offered in a 1-1 setting

and

Mindful Photo Walks Offered in a group setting (cell phone cameras work!)

Why?

Because 1 in 3 women Veterans tell their VA health care provider they experienced sexual harassment or assault while in the military. It might be called the Veteran Project, but anyone looking for a calm supportive space is welcome.

Non-clinical phototherapy has been used for healing since the beginning of photography.

MID-1800s:

Dr. Hugh Welch Diamond, one of the earliest psychiatrist-photographers, used portraits to help patients see themselves with humanity and dignity at a time when people with mental illness were often dehumanized. His work highlighted something powerful: the simple act of being seen can change how a person understands themselves.

WORLD WAR II:

Josephine Herrick expanded this idea.

During the war, she led teams of volunteer photographers who used images to keep families connected: servicemen were photographed in USO halls and canteens so they could send a glimpse of themselves home.

As the war continued, Herrick pioneered a new effort:

teaching photography to wounded veterans.

Cameras and darkrooms became tools for rebuilding confidence, regaining motor skills, and reconnecting with life outside the hospital.

These programs grew quickly, and in 1944 the U.S. Navy’s Surgeon General formally adopted and expanded them.

By 1946, photography classes and bedside darkroom setups were available in dozens of military hospitals, allowing even immobilized veterans to participate.

1940s and BEYOND

As demand for these programs grew, the mission widened. After the war, Herrick’s organization (eventually renamed Rehabilitation Through Photography, now Josephine Herrick Project) extended photographic education to veterans, seniors, youth organizations, people with disabilities, and communities facing hardship.

Photography became a bridge: a way for individuals to express themselves, build new skills, and reconnect with their sense of identity.

1970s:

Psychologist Judy Weiser developed formal “photo‑therapy” techniques: using photographs to guide reflection, growth, and healing in therapeutic settings.

TODAY:

Modern therapeutic photography continues this legacy.

It’s not clinical treatment, it’s a creative practice where images help you reflect, reconnect, and see yourself with honesty and compassion.

During your session, you’re given space to slow down, and breathe. To create a moment of clarity, connection, and recognition.

​Portrait or photo walk, the experience invites you to slow down and see differently.

Therapeutic photography is a non-clinical, creative process and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. Photo-therapy is conducted by licensed therapists; therapeutic photography does not require a clinician.