Banff - An Unraveled Academy Retreat | September 2024 | Kerry - An Empowerment Session
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The Lens of Healing: Why in-person photography workshops are more than just technical training.
There’s just something about stepping into a field, camera in hand, with nothing but natural light and an unspoken connection between the photographer and subject. The in-person photography workshops offered by The Unraveled Academy offer so much more than just education; they offer transformation. Not in just how we shoot but in how we see: ourselves, others, and the world around us. And if you’ve had the pleasure of attending one of these retreats or workshops, you know how they truly are an amazing experience in every second you are there, surrounded by like minded individuals that are only there to support and encourage you on this path.
In September of 2024, I had the pleasure of photographing Kerry, an empowerment session that was lead by the amazing and talented Kade Bailey. In every movement, she embodied grace and strength, her presence echoing through the scenic mountain scape like a whisper and a roar all at once. She moved effortlessly like the wind; uncontained, unafraid. Her willingness to be vulnerable with a crowd of photographers surrounding her, to show the scars and beauty of her journey, reminded me of something photography so often teaches: we are not just capturing others, we are uncovering ourselves.
Many of us come to these workshops after navigating difficult chapters. Broken relationships, self-doubt, silence, a shift in focus, or a need for encouragement from like-minded people. But in the presence of a supportive creative space, where we are seen and encouraged, something shifts. The camera becomes a mirror. And slowly, gently, we remember our worth. We fall back in love with our own stories and how we share them.
Kerry wasn’t just a model, she was a mirror for resilience. Her tattoos, her openness, her power; they told a story louder than any words could. And as I watched her through the viewfinder, I realized, photography workshops like this don’t just teach composition, they invite composition of the self. They give us a chance to rebuild.
So if you’ve been searching for a space to reconnect, to your art, to yourself, to a sense of purpose, you might just find it behind the lens, out in the wild, surrounded by people who are learning to love themselves again too. The Unraveled Academy is the best place for anyone looking to reconnect with themselves, their photography or to gain a community of amazing, supportive and encouraging like-minded individuals.
