Therapeutic photography
Photography and the process of being photographed as a part of psychological work.
If you want to be grounded and find your way back to senses - it's here.
This process supports the growth of self-worth, dignity, self-esteem and unconditional love.
If you want to be grounded and find your way back to senses - it's here.
This process supports the growth of self-worth, dignity, self-esteem and unconditional love.
Being independent from other people’s opinions is an act of courage.
At first I thought, wow, that’s bold — not for me.
But then my body remembered that joy: the joy of being photographed, the joy of photographing others. And I became curious to get answers to my own inner questions:
Do I feel the ground beneath my feet?
Do I feel my own sense of self, my inner fullness?
Do I want to be liked by the outside world, to please it with my appearance, with the quality of my body?
I was nervous, I’ll be honest.
At first I thought: What nonsense — you just go, pose in your underwear, and that’s it.
But immediately I felt the urge to suddenly lose weight, remove extra hair, become a slightly “better” version of myself.
Funny, right? :)
I’ve always noticed that I like myself in the mirror in the morning, but not in the evening — especially after that peaceful moment when you can finally eat after a long workday.
In the end I almost overslept. I didn’t manage to “beautify myself,” lose weight, get a manicure or pedicure — and that was perfect.
So it was just me, my wild curly hair (which seems to live its own life), my amber necklace, and that was enough. That’s who went to meet Marka.
It turned out I am brave.
I’ve wanted to be in front of the camera like this for a long time.
I didn’t want to take off the amber — amber is almost like skin, like the body of the earth itself. So it stayed with me.
And I was brave — almost a conceptual artist.
Not a single thought crossed my mind like:
“Pull in your stomach!”
“Straighten your neck, don’t sit like a goose!”
Everything felt harmonious, truly. And that happened largely because of Marka.
She is gentle and intelligent, and that made my time in front of her camera peaceful, even though I was still nervous inside.
I left the studio feeling: I exist. I am who I am. I like myself — even if others don’t.
And I will protect my inner vessel of femininity as best as I can.”
Elena
But then my body remembered that joy: the joy of being photographed, the joy of photographing others. And I became curious to get answers to my own inner questions:
Do I feel the ground beneath my feet?
Do I feel my own sense of self, my inner fullness?
Do I want to be liked by the outside world, to please it with my appearance, with the quality of my body?
I was nervous, I’ll be honest.
At first I thought: What nonsense — you just go, pose in your underwear, and that’s it.
But immediately I felt the urge to suddenly lose weight, remove extra hair, become a slightly “better” version of myself.
Funny, right? :)
I’ve always noticed that I like myself in the mirror in the morning, but not in the evening — especially after that peaceful moment when you can finally eat after a long workday.
In the end I almost overslept. I didn’t manage to “beautify myself,” lose weight, get a manicure or pedicure — and that was perfect.
So it was just me, my wild curly hair (which seems to live its own life), my amber necklace, and that was enough. That’s who went to meet Marka.
It turned out I am brave.
I’ve wanted to be in front of the camera like this for a long time.
I didn’t want to take off the amber — amber is almost like skin, like the body of the earth itself. So it stayed with me.
And I was brave — almost a conceptual artist.
Not a single thought crossed my mind like:
“Pull in your stomach!”
“Straighten your neck, don’t sit like a goose!”
Everything felt harmonious, truly. And that happened largely because of Marka.
She is gentle and intelligent, and that made my time in front of her camera peaceful, even though I was still nervous inside.
I left the studio feeling: I exist. I am who I am. I like myself — even if others don’t.
And I will protect my inner vessel of femininity as best as I can.”
Elena
Scars. How to accept it?
Do you ever feel that the vibrations around us are shifting, and that everything we intend is manifesting faster?
It feels as if it’s enough to form a clear intention in your mind — and soon it comes to life through a strangely perfect chain of events or an unexpected meeting.
The moment I truly felt ready to drop the chains that had bound my hands and feet since childhood — ready to open up and trust the world — I suddenly came across an interesting woman on Instagram: Marka, and her incredible project.
A project about love and acceptance of one’s own body.
The body… exactly what I used to deny and reject. Something I couldn’t love because of the burns and scars I received in childhood. I’ve been working with this theme for years, and only recently did I begin to make peace with it — to accept it, and to thank it.
I am rethinking my relationship with myself and moving closer to my true Self.
You can’t simply call this process a photoshoot. It feels more like a session with a therapist. I walked out of the studio feeling more confident and more whole.
To find and reveal the beauty of my scars, to give them my full attention… I could almost hear the heavy metal bar sliding off the gates I had built around myself. Not all the gates opened, of course — but without taking this path, there is no way forward.
Marka, thank you. I bow to your talent and your authenticity.
This word came to me on its own, but it describes you completely.
Tania
It feels as if it’s enough to form a clear intention in your mind — and soon it comes to life through a strangely perfect chain of events or an unexpected meeting.
The moment I truly felt ready to drop the chains that had bound my hands and feet since childhood — ready to open up and trust the world — I suddenly came across an interesting woman on Instagram: Marka, and her incredible project.
A project about love and acceptance of one’s own body.
The body… exactly what I used to deny and reject. Something I couldn’t love because of the burns and scars I received in childhood. I’ve been working with this theme for years, and only recently did I begin to make peace with it — to accept it, and to thank it.
I am rethinking my relationship with myself and moving closer to my true Self.
You can’t simply call this process a photoshoot. It feels more like a session with a therapist. I walked out of the studio feeling more confident and more whole.
To find and reveal the beauty of my scars, to give them my full attention… I could almost hear the heavy metal bar sliding off the gates I had built around myself. Not all the gates opened, of course — but without taking this path, there is no way forward.
Marka, thank you. I bow to your talent and your authenticity.
This word came to me on its own, but it describes you completely.
Tania
Sasha
My body and I… we’ve never been very close.
It grew a belly, there are folds on my back, wrinkles on my neck, it’s hard to find clothes that fit, and it constantly wants a drink or some unhealthy food.
But it’s the only body I have, and somehow I need to learn how to make peace with it.
If it doesn’t want to exercise or lose weight — fine.
It’s doing its best.
It serves me.
It carries my not-always-wise head.
Marka showed me this body from different angles.
Exactly as it is — terrible and beautiful at the same time.
And she talked.
She was photographing and talking.
Not about me, but about something else, and through those words the truth opened to me:
I accept my body.
It has many sides, just like I do.
It is me.
And right there in the studio — standing in my underwear, in the bright sunlight pouring through the huge window, before even seeing the photos — I suddenly understood:
my body is worthy of love, first and foremost my love.
It grew a belly, there are folds on my back, wrinkles on my neck, it’s hard to find clothes that fit, and it constantly wants a drink or some unhealthy food.
But it’s the only body I have, and somehow I need to learn how to make peace with it.
If it doesn’t want to exercise or lose weight — fine.
It’s doing its best.
It serves me.
It carries my not-always-wise head.
Marka showed me this body from different angles.
Exactly as it is — terrible and beautiful at the same time.
And she talked.
She was photographing and talking.
Not about me, but about something else, and through those words the truth opened to me:
I accept my body.
It has many sides, just like I do.
It is me.
And right there in the studio — standing in my underwear, in the bright sunlight pouring through the huge window, before even seeing the photos — I suddenly understood:
my body is worthy of love, first and foremost my love.
To accept your body in its relaxed, non-ideal state — after four pregnancies and years of breastfeeding.
There are moments in a woman’s life when she reaches the peak of her beauty — when everything about her feels right, when she enjoys looking at herself, when she loves being seen, and delights in the effect she has on others.
Right now, I’m in a different phase. I’ve worked hard on my body for a long time, but at this moment I’m drifting a little. I’ve softened, relaxed — and for now, this state feels good.
It was fascinating to look at myself not in a period of “full readiness,” but in this more “unarmoured,” relaxed version. That’s why Marka Kondrateva’s project Body Landscapes became a unique opportunity to explore my body: to really see it, to move closer and further away, to shift my attention from small details to the overall impression and sensation of myself.
Yes, I fully agree that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and Marka sees you through the lens of her own beauty — inner and outer. She has the ability to look at you with loving eyes, the kind that don’t judge and don’t wound. My husband looks at me this way, and I’m deeply grateful to him.
Not everyone has the gift of acceptance, unfortunately. And accepting ourselves is just as difficult as accepting another. We all remain hostages of the “perfect image,” harshly judging the body as a measure of success.
My body has been through a lot: pregnancies, births, breastfeeding, gaining weight, losing weight. I’m deeply grateful to it — it has rarely failed me, it has supported me in everything I’ve done, allowed me to pursue my desires, and has given me so much joy and pleasure.
I’m grateful to Marka for the chance to see my body not through the eyes of a critical evaluator, but through eyes full of gratitude and love.
Anna
Right now, I’m in a different phase. I’ve worked hard on my body for a long time, but at this moment I’m drifting a little. I’ve softened, relaxed — and for now, this state feels good.
It was fascinating to look at myself not in a period of “full readiness,” but in this more “unarmoured,” relaxed version. That’s why Marka Kondrateva’s project Body Landscapes became a unique opportunity to explore my body: to really see it, to move closer and further away, to shift my attention from small details to the overall impression and sensation of myself.
Yes, I fully agree that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and Marka sees you through the lens of her own beauty — inner and outer. She has the ability to look at you with loving eyes, the kind that don’t judge and don’t wound. My husband looks at me this way, and I’m deeply grateful to him.
Not everyone has the gift of acceptance, unfortunately. And accepting ourselves is just as difficult as accepting another. We all remain hostages of the “perfect image,” harshly judging the body as a measure of success.
My body has been through a lot: pregnancies, births, breastfeeding, gaining weight, losing weight. I’m deeply grateful to it — it has rarely failed me, it has supported me in everything I’ve done, allowed me to pursue my desires, and has given me so much joy and pleasure.
I’m grateful to Marka for the chance to see my body not through the eyes of a critical evaluator, but through eyes full of gratitude and love.
Anna
Anxiety and curiosity in meeting your own body.
First, about the process.
I really liked how quickly and effortlessly you slowed me down and guided me into my own sensations. The anxiety disappeared instantly — I felt very comfortable. You directed me gently but clearly, and I never felt lost, even in such an unusual situation.
You asked good questions — the kind that stay with you afterwards.
About the photos: I was waiting for them with both curiosity and anxiety. My initial reaction was actually better than I expected from myself. And of course, the anxiety wasn’t about the quality of your work — it was about how frightening it still is to meet my body this closely.
Then something interesting began to happen.
(I’ve heard clients describe this many times, but I experienced it myself for the first time.)
As I looked through the photos again and again, I became less critical each time.
“Yes, this is me. This is what I look like right now.”
I smiled at myself.
Afterward, I started looking at my own reflection a little differently — with more curiosity.
I didn’t expect such an effect. Thank you.
It was important.
Natasha
I really liked how quickly and effortlessly you slowed me down and guided me into my own sensations. The anxiety disappeared instantly — I felt very comfortable. You directed me gently but clearly, and I never felt lost, even in such an unusual situation.
You asked good questions — the kind that stay with you afterwards.
About the photos: I was waiting for them with both curiosity and anxiety. My initial reaction was actually better than I expected from myself. And of course, the anxiety wasn’t about the quality of your work — it was about how frightening it still is to meet my body this closely.
Then something interesting began to happen.
(I’ve heard clients describe this many times, but I experienced it myself for the first time.)
As I looked through the photos again and again, I became less critical each time.
“Yes, this is me. This is what I look like right now.”
I smiled at myself.
Afterward, I started looking at my own reflection a little differently — with more curiosity.
I didn’t expect such an effect. Thank you.
It was important.
Natasha
Reasons to Choose a Therapeutic Photo Session
-
You want to accept and love yourself. To find your true face, to free yourself from shame, and to show up fully. - You are tired of fighting yourself and are looking for inner balance and harmony.
- You want to accept the unique features of your body after trauma, surgery, childbirth, or congenital differences.
- You want to learn how to understand your emotions and how they manifest in your body.
- You want to feel grounded, find your inner center, and strengthen your personal boundaries.
Next steps in working with photos of your body
The Body Landscapes program opens access to the somatic space, supporting deep transformation and healing.
A form of psychological counseling in which photography and/or the act of taking photographs is used as a therapeutic tool.
In the “Body Landscapes” course, women photograph themselves using a phone or camera with a tripod. This allows them to take the position of an Observer in relation to themselves. Self-confrontation with one’s own body is highly effective: the client very quickly gains access to core information about the roots of their difficulties, without the mediation of a therapist.
The client sees and feels the difference between the outer and inner experience directly and, step by step, bridges this gap, becoming more integrated and self-aware.
This practice of self-photography combined with keeping an art journal also teaches the client to take a proactive position in relation to themselves and their life: I see what is happening, I see the cause, and I actively change my life for the better.
When there is a lack of connection with the body, specific body parts, or prosthetics, the client re-appropriates them through photography, somatically integrates these parts through tactile experience, and develops a new body image.
The body is a vessel that, over the years, increasingly reflects the emotions and states that dominate a person’s life. This is why the body never lies, unlike the intellectual, rational part of the personality. By photographing their body in different postures and focusing on different body parts, the client learns—from the first source—about their true feelings and needs.
Below are several psychotherapeutic functions of photography (A. I. Kopytin, Handbook of Phototherapy):
Do you want to know more?
Book a free call.
In the “Body Landscapes” course, women photograph themselves using a phone or camera with a tripod. This allows them to take the position of an Observer in relation to themselves. Self-confrontation with one’s own body is highly effective: the client very quickly gains access to core information about the roots of their difficulties, without the mediation of a therapist.
The client sees and feels the difference between the outer and inner experience directly and, step by step, bridges this gap, becoming more integrated and self-aware.
This practice of self-photography combined with keeping an art journal also teaches the client to take a proactive position in relation to themselves and their life: I see what is happening, I see the cause, and I actively change my life for the better.
When there is a lack of connection with the body, specific body parts, or prosthetics, the client re-appropriates them through photography, somatically integrates these parts through tactile experience, and develops a new body image.
The body is a vessel that, over the years, increasingly reflects the emotions and states that dominate a person’s life. This is why the body never lies, unlike the intellectual, rational part of the personality. By photographing their body in different postures and focusing on different body parts, the client learns—from the first source—about their true feelings and needs.
Below are several psychotherapeutic functions of photography (A. I. Kopytin, Handbook of Phototherapy):
- Communicative
- Focusing / actualizing
- Stimulating
- Organizing (integrative)
- Objectifying
- Reflecting the dynamics of external and internal change
- Meaning-making
- Deconstructive
- Reframing and reorganization
- Containing (holding)
- Expressive-cathartic
- Protective
Do you want to know more?
Book a free call.
Psychological work in which the therapeutic effect is achieved through immersion in the creative process (drawing, sculpting, music, drama, voice, dance, movement).
In the “Body Landscapes” course, I use drawing as a way to materialize images and abstract sensations that arise in the inner space. It is much easier to work with complex emotions or transform them when they are literally in your hands, visible in front of you.
It is important to note that the process of drawing itself is therapeutic: it releases inner tension, enhances focus, and brings inner experiences into awareness. At the same time, the analysis of completed drawings helps reveal deeper causes of existing difficulties—causes that are not accessible to the rational mind alone.
In the “Body Landscapes” course, I use drawing as a way to materialize images and abstract sensations that arise in the inner space. It is much easier to work with complex emotions or transform them when they are literally in your hands, visible in front of you.
It is important to note that the process of drawing itself is therapeutic: it releases inner tension, enhances focus, and brings inner experiences into awareness. At the same time, the analysis of completed drawings helps reveal deeper causes of existing difficulties—causes that are not accessible to the rational mind alone.
The word “holistic” comes from the Greek holos, meaning whole. It was first used in the book Holism and Evolution (1926) by Jan Smuts, where it referred to the idea of the universe as being in a state of continuous becoming.
According to Smuts, wholeness is a fundamental characteristic of the universe. “Holism creates itself, and its final structures are more holistic than its initial structures” (Ferguson, 1980). Wholes are dynamic, evolutionary, and creative. They cannot be understood by breaking them down into parts.
Tatiana Chernigovskaya repeatedly emphasizes that reducing brain tissue to individual neurons will not bring us closer to understanding what consciousness truly is.
In my work, I view a person as a whole — a mind–body–soul complex embedded in a social environment. This is why the work unfolds through multiple creative modalities, alongside verbal therapeutic dialogue. The client gradually becomes aware of and feels the deep connections between the physical body and its parts, mental events, sensory systems, symbols, images, emotions, and different areas of life.
Work with embodiment and mindfulness practices is gaining particular importance today as a way to preserve both physical and mental health in a world shaped by technology and robotization. A holistic approach allows us not only to address a specific issue or symptom that a person brings, but also to build a more integrated and healthier understanding of one’s life as a whole.
This is why, in my practice, I invite clients to work through different modalities and approaches that resonate with them personally. Creative flows, like water, fill the inner space, integrate and connect, transforming information that previously felt fragmented or foreign into a coherent whole.
According to Smuts, wholeness is a fundamental characteristic of the universe. “Holism creates itself, and its final structures are more holistic than its initial structures” (Ferguson, 1980). Wholes are dynamic, evolutionary, and creative. They cannot be understood by breaking them down into parts.
Tatiana Chernigovskaya repeatedly emphasizes that reducing brain tissue to individual neurons will not bring us closer to understanding what consciousness truly is.
In my work, I view a person as a whole — a mind–body–soul complex embedded in a social environment. This is why the work unfolds through multiple creative modalities, alongside verbal therapeutic dialogue. The client gradually becomes aware of and feels the deep connections between the physical body and its parts, mental events, sensory systems, symbols, images, emotions, and different areas of life.
Work with embodiment and mindfulness practices is gaining particular importance today as a way to preserve both physical and mental health in a world shaped by technology and robotization. A holistic approach allows us not only to address a specific issue or symptom that a person brings, but also to build a more integrated and healthier understanding of one’s life as a whole.
This is why, in my practice, I invite clients to work through different modalities and approaches that resonate with them personally. Creative flows, like water, fill the inner space, integrate and connect, transforming information that previously felt fragmented or foreign into a coherent whole.
The combination of art and photography facilitates the interplay between conscious and unconscious forces.
Lambert notes: “Drawing and photography approach the Self from different directions. Drawing relies on the unconscious, bringing to the surface what has been sublimated and remains unknown to the Self. Photography relies on the outer aspect of the Self (objective data as well as a rich source of symbolic information). The external image is then generalized and integrated with the inner image of the Self. Drawing and photography complement each other well.”
The term “Body Image” was introduced in the 1920s by Paul Schilder, who later defined it as: “the image of our own body that we form in our mind—that is, how our body appears to us.”
I emphasize the word “appears” because all dissatisfaction with oneself and one’s appearance is rooted in this illusion, while its consequences affect real life. Our attention has a tendency to exaggerate whatever it is focused on. This distortion can only be transformed from within the client. It is the author themselves who must truly see themselves differently, in a new way. This is where the value of photography as a tool becomes evident.
The use of photo-art therapy in long-term work with clients who have a distorted body image allows for ecological change without pressure from the therapist. The client takes the photographs themselves, selects the images, and works with them directly.
In the “Body Landscapes” process, the client integrates their inner representations of the body with the physical body, reinterprets them, fills them with symbolic meaning, and ultimately arrives at a more integrated, mature, and satisfying body image by the end of the program.
Lambert notes: “Drawing and photography approach the Self from different directions. Drawing relies on the unconscious, bringing to the surface what has been sublimated and remains unknown to the Self. Photography relies on the outer aspect of the Self (objective data as well as a rich source of symbolic information). The external image is then generalized and integrated with the inner image of the Self. Drawing and photography complement each other well.”
The term “Body Image” was introduced in the 1920s by Paul Schilder, who later defined it as: “the image of our own body that we form in our mind—that is, how our body appears to us.”
I emphasize the word “appears” because all dissatisfaction with oneself and one’s appearance is rooted in this illusion, while its consequences affect real life. Our attention has a tendency to exaggerate whatever it is focused on. This distortion can only be transformed from within the client. It is the author themselves who must truly see themselves differently, in a new way. This is where the value of photography as a tool becomes evident.
The use of photo-art therapy in long-term work with clients who have a distorted body image allows for ecological change without pressure from the therapist. The client takes the photographs themselves, selects the images, and works with them directly.
In the “Body Landscapes” process, the client integrates their inner representations of the body with the physical body, reinterprets them, fills them with symbolic meaning, and ultimately arrives at a more integrated, mature, and satisfying body image by the end of the program.
Meditation has long taken its place in practical psychological work. It helps reduce levels of pain, anxiety, and stress. By changing brain structures responsible for emotional regulation, meditation increases stress resilience, emotional stability, and overall well-being.
Meditation has a cumulative effect: with regular practice, these positive changes become increasingly noticeable. Its effectiveness is scientifically proven. Just 10–15 minutes a day is enough to begin feeling the effects within two weeks.
Mindfulness, grounding, centeredness, and presence in the here and now enhance quality of life, bring clarity to complex issues, and support emotional stability and stress resilience—ultimately making you more effective across all areas of life. By strengthening your center, you strengthen your foundation.
During each session of the course, we practice meditations and guided imagery. I recommend meditating daily to maximize the effectiveness of the program. However, the choice is yours. I offer the full version of the practice—you are free to choose the level of engagement that suits you best.
Meditation has a cumulative effect: with regular practice, these positive changes become increasingly noticeable. Its effectiveness is scientifically proven. Just 10–15 minutes a day is enough to begin feeling the effects within two weeks.
Mindfulness, grounding, centeredness, and presence in the here and now enhance quality of life, bring clarity to complex issues, and support emotional stability and stress resilience—ultimately making you more effective across all areas of life. By strengthening your center, you strengthen your foundation.
During each session of the course, we practice meditations and guided imagery. I recommend meditating daily to maximize the effectiveness of the program. However, the choice is yours. I offer the full version of the practice—you are free to choose the level of engagement that suits you best.
Each woman comes to the photoshoot with her own inner question, curiosity, or fear.
- YanaI really loved how quickly we found connection, and how comfortable I felt during the photoshoot. What was most valuable for me was how much truly useful insight I gained and how I moved one step closer to self-acceptance.
When you sent me the photos from the shoot,
I was genuinely surprised by how different I can be —
and still beautiful. - VictoriaI had so many insights during the photoshoot — especially about how important it is to clear your mind of the belief that something is wrong with you. Life is so short and so interesting that it’s simply foolish to waste time and energy worrying that your arms aren’t right, your legs aren’t right, or your nose isn’t right.The photoshoot process itself brought me an enormous amount of positive emotions.
- TaniaThis is an incredible project — it’s not about posing, and it’s not about creating ‘sellable’ Instagram content. It’s about becoming aware of yourself exactly as you are.
Marka, thank you for the experience, for the new perspective, and of course for the push forward. Some people call it a ‘magical kick,’ but we know that it already lives within us. And there should definitely be a soundtrack here: 'Am Proud to Be a Woman'
The body is created by nature — a vessel that holds the entire experience of your life.
The body is unique, like the bark of a tree, the lines of clouds, the patterns on sand. Life itself is a performance that lasts a lifetime.
The body is unique, like the bark of a tree, the lines of clouds, the patterns on sand. Life itself is a performance that lasts a lifetime.
