Women reclaiming their beauty and strength through portrait photography.
Galina Semenova, a San Diego photographer, empowers breast cancer survivors through her innovative portrait photography. By founding the Womanity Portrait Foundation, she offers personalized sessions that help women reclaim their beauty and identity after battling cancer. Her approach, known as ‘visual medicine,’ promotes self-acceptance and confidence, transforming the perception of beauty amidst adversity. Semenova’s initiatives extend to workshops and community engagements, aiming to create hope through visual storytelling and art.
San Diego – A San Diego photographer is on a mission to empower breast cancer survivors through her innovative approach to portrait photography. Galina Semenova, who migrated from Russia 16 years ago, founded the Womanity Portrait Foundation, focusing on the healing power of art to help women reclaim their beauty and strength after their battles with cancer.
Semenova’s approach, dubbed “visual medicine,” allows breast cancer survivors to see themselves not just as patients but as resilient individuals deserving of love and admiration. The foundation provides free, personalized portrait sessions, enabling survivors to express their identity and confidence during a challenging time. A notable feature of these sessions is the collaborative element, where clients can view images as they are taken. This real-time experience fosters a sense of empowerment and self-acceptance.
Originally trained at the Moscow Academy of Photography, Semenova initially captured landscapes and events. However, her life took a transformative turn in 2018 when a friend asked her to photograph her. This experience ignited a passion for portrait photography that she did not know existed. The pivotal moment came when another friend was diagnosed with breast cancer; a dedicated portrait session with her changed both women’s perception of beauty and strength. This impactful experience laid the groundwork for Semenova to launch the “Portraits of Resilience” project and formally establish the Womanity Portrait Foundation 18 months ago.
Through her nonprofit, Semenova offers survivors more than just a photograph; she provides an opportunity for personal transformation. Each session is designed to help clients shed their inhibitions and appreciate their beauty anew. Beyond individual portraits, Semenova also hosts workshops aimed at teaching self-portraiture as a healing technique. These workshops are conducted in collaboration with organizations like the Living Beauty Cancer Foundation in Los Angeles, enhancing their reach and effectiveness.
Semenova’s initiatives continue to grow. One of her newest projects involves a one-day retreat in San Diego that combines self-portraiture and mindfulness practices tailored for breast cancer survivors. Additionally, she has secured a Chula Vista Performing and Visual Arts Grant for a yearlong project focused on Stage 4 breast cancer survivors within the Hispanic community. This project will culminate in an exhibition celebrating their stories and triumphs.
Throughout her work, Semenova emphasizes the importance of finding beauty amidst life’s challenges and the strength embedded within the human spirit. She aims to create hope through storytelling and visual documentation, allowing the narratives of women’s experiences to shine through art. Looking to the future, she envisions expanding her efforts to include global projects that document the diverse experiences of breast cancer around the world.
The fundamental goal of Semenova and the Womanity Portrait Foundation is to empower women through visual storytelling, celebrating not only their journeys but also daily victories in the face of hardships. In each photograph, there lies a testament to resilience, healing, and the enduring spirit of women facing breast cancer.
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