Through the viewfinder: Positive Exposure a year later

Abstract

Positive Exposure, a non-profit organization founded and directed by former fashion photographer Rick Guidotti and co-directed by psychiatrist Dr. Diane McLean, uses photography and video interviews to explore the lived experiences of people affected with genetic conditions. Positive Exposure challenges pervasive social biases and stereotypes about genetic variation and strives to broaden and enrich societal perceptions of human beauty and spirit. Presented here are the open-ended personal reflections completed by four individuals with craniofacial differences recruited from a support group, Inner Faces. These four case studies aim to relay the professional photo-shoot experiences of people who may be challenged by the stigma associated with craniofacial differences. Questions addressed issues of perceived self-esteem, stigma, hopefulness, and photography experiences. These personal reflections were gathered 1 year following participation in a Positive Exposure photo-shoot. Participants described the ways in which the photo-shoot has been a lasting and life-promoting experience. In addition, these individuals emphasize the integral and enduring role the photographer, Rick Guidotti, played in their personal awakening. Positive Exposure provided these individuals with renewed identification of both inner and outer sources of beauty. These four case studies suggest that Positive Exposure may serve as a sustainable intervention to bolster self-esteem and self-image. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Enzymatically crosslinked porous composite matrices for bone tissue regeneration

“…The background of each photograph was variable depending on the venue of the session. Each session lasted approximately 30 min and hundreds of photographs were taken of each participant [see Sutton et al, 2006 p. 262 for additional information on PE photo‐shoots].…”

Psychological and Social Factors in Undergoing Reconstructive Surgery among Individuals with Craniofacial Conditions: An Exploratory Study

“…This is a secondary data analysis from a study entitled Photographic and Video Experience (PAVE) that sought to explore the impact of Positive Exposure (PE)—a nonprofit organization that uses photography and videography to challenge social prejudices around genetic variation—on individuals with CFCs (Sutton et al, 2006; Loewenstein et al, 2008). PAVE interviews revealed that participants consistently initiated discussions about their experiences—positive and negative—with reconstructive surgery.…”

Foucault and Clinical Photography: An Analysis and Mitigation of the Clinical Gaze in Pediatric Craniofacial Plastic Surgery

“…The participant [was] not posed but [was] encouraged to be spontaneous and relaxed, even to move around and laugh, depending on how they [were] feeling." 5 Participants were surveyed and interviewed on personal topics such as self-perception, perception of how others perceive them, and their feelings toward photography, and were asked to describe their experience and feelings and reactions immediately following and 1 year after the professional photoshoot.…”

“…One participant reported that, a year after the photoshoot, he was still able to "see himself in a new light," while another reported that she "discovered that she can now see the beauty in herself." 5 In fact, the "4 participants described how their newfound self-perceptions as attractive and confident individuals persist[ed] [for] more than a year after their Positive Exposure photo-shoot experience." 5 While the study size was small, it was clear that treating the participant as a unique subject through this photoshoot, a medium which existed previously as a means of objectification but now manifested itself as an avenue of self-expression, helped the participants embrace themselves beyond the physical and move toward a healthier, more authentic selfimage.…”