Photography and It's Benefits on Mental Health
Donation protected
2 years ago I made the leap to start my own photography business. It was the scariest thing I've ever done and turned into one of the hardest times of my life. I never knew where the next check was coming from, if I'd have a roof over my head at the end of the month, or simply if I had food in the fridge. I know there are many souls worse off and I can't be thankful enough to my family and friends who have always had sustenance and smiles to share. One thing that many of them don't know about me is that I've battled with clinical depression for close to 20 years and the past 2 years have been the worst. The mental rollercoaster would climb and climb till it fell. At the bottom, there was only the ground to smash into. At times I would know what to do with myself but would be physically paralyzed, unable to step out the door or show my face to another person. It's a pain that can't be described, it floods your nerves and takes you over.
Support, love and the right help from a community can be night and day in regards to who we become. I'm blessed to have this in my life and it has helped me find my way out of the darkness. I'm finally at a point where I can begin to build a successful business. More importantly, build a successful self.
I'm looking to raise money for new equipment so I can expand my business and share what my community has taught me. I want to begin to teach the benefits of art/photography on mental health, how we can explore our minds through creativity, learn to interpret the world, and strengthen our self resolve. I plan to bring people to a variety of different locations teaching everything from landscape, portraits, athletic to surf photography. Then with a critique, we will work on composition, building a narrative, but also how we can use the camera as therapy.
I'm sharing a video I never intended on sharing. It shows how others might see me, but what you don't see in the video is what drove me to create my first "vlog". My depression and anxiety when I made the video were so heavy that earlier in the day I couldn't even get out of bed. The mental exercises I've learned over time and knowing that creating something new would help relieve the pain, I put on my happy mask and forced myself into the world. By the end of the day, I was gitty with joy and to this day I can't help but laugh when I watch the video.
I believe art is essential in our world and those of us that suffer from mental illness are given a unique perspective. When that perspective can be expressed as art, we relieve some of that pain and maybe, begin to explain how it feels to others.
I'm currently using lenses from high school and my camera for water photography was flooded. The funds would go towards equipment and the necessary expenses to begin teaching outdoors.
I'm offering a few different things for donations.
$25 - Signed 8x10 print of your favorite photo from my website.
$50 - Signed 11x14 print of your favorite photo from my website.
$100 -2 Signed 11x14 prints of your favorite photos from my website.
$200 - 1-hour photo session or 2 hours of photography tutoring in Marin County or SF.
$400< - 3-hour photo session or 4-hour landscape workshop in Marin County or SF.
Your help would go a long way. Thank you from the depths of my heart.
www.samuelhendersonphotography.com
Support, love and the right help from a community can be night and day in regards to who we become. I'm blessed to have this in my life and it has helped me find my way out of the darkness. I'm finally at a point where I can begin to build a successful business. More importantly, build a successful self.
I'm looking to raise money for new equipment so I can expand my business and share what my community has taught me. I want to begin to teach the benefits of art/photography on mental health, how we can explore our minds through creativity, learn to interpret the world, and strengthen our self resolve. I plan to bring people to a variety of different locations teaching everything from landscape, portraits, athletic to surf photography. Then with a critique, we will work on composition, building a narrative, but also how we can use the camera as therapy.
I'm sharing a video I never intended on sharing. It shows how others might see me, but what you don't see in the video is what drove me to create my first "vlog". My depression and anxiety when I made the video were so heavy that earlier in the day I couldn't even get out of bed. The mental exercises I've learned over time and knowing that creating something new would help relieve the pain, I put on my happy mask and forced myself into the world. By the end of the day, I was gitty with joy and to this day I can't help but laugh when I watch the video.
I believe art is essential in our world and those of us that suffer from mental illness are given a unique perspective. When that perspective can be expressed as art, we relieve some of that pain and maybe, begin to explain how it feels to others.
I'm currently using lenses from high school and my camera for water photography was flooded. The funds would go towards equipment and the necessary expenses to begin teaching outdoors.
I'm offering a few different things for donations.
$25 - Signed 8x10 print of your favorite photo from my website.
$50 - Signed 11x14 print of your favorite photo from my website.
$100 -2 Signed 11x14 prints of your favorite photos from my website.
$200 - 1-hour photo session or 2 hours of photography tutoring in Marin County or SF.
$400< - 3-hour photo session or 4-hour landscape workshop in Marin County or SF.
Your help would go a long way. Thank you from the depths of my heart.
www.samuelhendersonphotography.com
Organizer
Samuel Henderson
Organizer
Mill Valley, CA
