Jaana Askola

Everyone has the right to feel unique, special and loved. The basic idea behind an empowering photo is simple. It’s a conscious choice to highlight wholeness over feelings of insecurity. It’s a self-discovered ability to treat yourself more lovingly. Photography itself is not a therapeutic tool, but how it is used. In empowering photography the power lies with the person being photographed, You. I listen and take pictures, the photo session takes place according to your wishes. My job is to see you, your wholeness, even if you don’t believe it or if its still fragile. I can guide and encourage you to be yourself. It Is a deeply healing process of self-acceptance, self-love and self-liberation. The focus is on the truth that you are wonderful, enough and perfect just the way you are. What is seen through the photos is confirmed and fixed in the subconscious.

I’m also generally quite shy around other peoples cameras. Honestly, portraits are tricky for me, but I’m working on this. My mission is to support people through an imaginative, playful photo sessions. I strongly believe that my personal experiences support and encourage others. My life journey has been long and winding, but at the same time soul nourishing. Every passed stage in my life has given me a lot of valuable experiences. I believe that my personal experiences can support  and encourage others. I use my life experiences and my gifts for the highest good, spreading kindness.

When I was young I was bullied really bad. I did not fit in. Other kids made fun of my shyness. Suicidal thoughts were my constant quests. I know what deep depression and total lack of self confidence means. For a long time I suffered from social anxiety and depression because of the challenges at school.

Fast forward now….

And I also know how liberating it is to rise like a phoenix from the ashes again and again. I believe that my personal experiences support and encourage others. I am interested in self-help techniques and holistic therapy. Nowadays I like to explore issues with self-esteem through creative photography and I offer empowering photography. If you want to support your healing, do a photo shoot with me.

Showing my faith in people comes naturally to me. I want people to realize how wonderful, beautiful and powerful they really are. I radiate a loving, warm, free and appreciative attitude towards each individual. My driving force to bring more kindness into the world. Every person is unique and valuable just the way they are, and they look their best when they have realized this and started to love themselves and their journey. People who think good thoughts , shine regardless of their figure.

The basic premise of empowering photography is that you have a feeling, a thought , or a desire to base it on. The thought may deepen, expand, or change during the course of photography, and all this is accepted and correct, good and right. Think about what things you want to show about yourself, or what things you want to know about yourself right now. If you want, I can help with questions and suggestions to think about how to carry out the shoot. After an empowering photo session, you will feel calm, grateful and more like yourself. Dark night of the soul starts to show its blessings.

LOCATION

You can also choose the place where you want to take a pictures of yourself. Pictures can be taken in a lovely, important environment for you, for example in landscapes similar to childhood memories or in an environment that reflects your own mental landscape. Empowering photos can be used in any way that serves you right now. If you want, you can include pets, collectibles, important, cute things, some objects or jewelry-anything you like in the session. Remember it’s about YOU!

EMPOWERING PHOTOGRAPHY IS FOR YOU WHO…

• to discover a new idea or a new perspective

• wish to take time to play and explore the way you did as a child

• want to embrace your authentic self

• want to find freedom within yourself, freedom to be liberated from self-judgement

• otherwise are not particularly fond of photo shoots

• your self-esteem needs a boost

• don’t know how to be in pictures and feel that the pictures fail you

• want to learn to see yourself more gently

• want to describe different aspects of yourself, process your feelings, and use images therapeutically in the process of self-empowerment

• are creative and dare to throw yourself into the unknown

• are at the crossroads entering a new life situation

• want to strengthen your bond with your child, parent, sibling, friend, spouse, family, circle of friends, interest group, or for example, a work community

• want to find something new

• want empowering pictures for yourself

• want to get to know different aspects of yourself

• long for a moment of rest in the midst of the rush

• want to experience an empowering moment with yourself in a place that is important to you

• don’t know what to do with the pictures, but you want to experience what it feels like to be photographed, by an understanding, calm, emphatic photographer, who creates a safe space for you

• photograph others, but you yourself are often not photographed, because you think that you are not worth it

• need a space to express yourself freely

My goal is to provide a safe environment so that you can express yourself freely. My task is to act as a gentle mirror. I am supportive, friendly, and calm. Someone can consider me to be completely merged with nature, even invisible. One might think I’m dead 😉