Through creative lenses: Investigating the personal growth and well-being benefits of photography and videography

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71028/jescs.v2i3.59

Keywords:

Photography, Videography, Hobby, Well-being, Creativity

Abstract

This study explores the impact of photography and videography as hobbies on individuals' well-being, creativity, and personal growth. It investigates how these art forms contribute to skill development, self-expression, and social engagement, and examines the perceived benefits and challenges associated with practicing these hobbies. A qualitative approach is used, incorporating in-depth interviews with both amateur and professional photographers and videographers. Thematic analysis is employed to identify and analyse the patterns and themes within the interview data, providing a deeper understanding of the participants' experiences. Thematic analysis is conducted in a structured process. This includes initial familiarization with interview transcripts, generation of codes, identification of recurring themes, refinement of those themes, and the development of a comprehensive narrative. This process ensures that key insights relating to well-being, creativity, and personal growth are captured. The study concludes that photography and videography play a transformative role in enhancing well-being and mental health by offering stress relief and increasing life satisfaction. These hobbies also encourage creativity, self-expression, and skill development. Furthermore, they foster personal growth by boosting confidence, self-esteem, and social connections. Although challenges such as financial constraints and time commitments exist, the overall impact of these activities is overwhelmingly positive, contributing significantly to personal development and community involvement.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice-Hall.

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman and Company.

Barton, J., & Pretty, J. (2010). What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A multi-study analysis. Environmental Science & Technology, 44, 3947–3955. https://doi.org/10.1021/es100303h DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es903183r

Barton, J., & Pretty, J. (2010). What is the best way to reduce stress? The Journal of the Arts in Psychotherapy, 37, 225–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2010.01.002

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Bresson, H. (1952). The decisive moment. Simon and Schuster.

Bresson, H. C. (1952). The decisive moment. Simon and Schuster.

Brossmann, J., & Islar, M. (2020). Living degrowth? Investigating degrowth practices through performative methods. Sustain Sci, 15, 917–930. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00756-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00756-y

Buchanan, M. (2021). The art of videography: Capturing the moving image. Video Arts Publishing.

Buckland, D. (2018). The rise of visual storytelling: A history of photography and its influence on modern media. Journal of Visual Communication, 34(2), 78–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/17545869.2018.1417583

Chang, T. K., & Park, J. (2020). The influence of social media platforms on visual storytelling: A case study of Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Journal of Visual Communication, 36(4), 480-493. https://doi.org/10.1080/17545869.2020.1765261

Chappell, K., Redding, E., Crickmay, U., Stancliffe, R., Jobbins, V., & Smith, S. (2021). The aesthetic, artistic and creative contributions of dance for health and wellbeing across the lifecourse: A systematic review. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2021.1950891 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2021.1950891

Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2013). Teaching thematic analysis: Overcoming challenges and developing strategies for effective learning. The Psychologist, 26(2), 120–123.

Cohen, S., & Pressman, S. D. (2006). Positive affect and health: What do we know? Psychological Bulletin, 131(6), 160–174. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.160 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.925

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01

DeCoster, V., & Dickerson, J. (2013). The therapeutic use of photography in clinical social work: Evidence-based best practices. Social Work in Mental Health, 12, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2013.812543 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2013.812543

Dwivedi, Y. K., Ismagilova, E., Hughes, D. L., Carlson, J., Filieri, R., Jacobson, J., Jain, V., Karjaluoto, H., Kefi, H., Krishen, A. S., Kumar, V., Rahman, M. M., Raman, R., Rauschnabel, P. A., Rowley, J., Salo, J., Tran, G. A., & Wang, Y. (2021). Setting the future of digital and social media marketing research: Perspectives and research propositions. International Journal of Information Management, 59, 102168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102168 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102168

Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.100.3.363 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0033-295X.100.3.363

Fisher, R., & Newell, S. (2021). The power of videography: Using moving images to shape narrative and evoke emotion. International Journal of Media Arts, 29(2), 56-71. https://doi.org/10.1080/1747982X.2021.1929139

Gertz, M., & Alexander, S. (2019). Democratizing creativity: The impact of digital media on visual arts. New Media & Society, 21(9), 1870–1893. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444819827364

Green, L. (2015). A history of photography: From daguerreotypes to digital images. Routledge.

Higgins, L., & Hinds, M. (2016). The evolution of videography and its societal impact. International Journal of Media Studies, 42(1), 65–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/1472586X.2015.1040927

Kallio, H., Pietilä, A. M., Johnson, M., & Kangasniemi, M. (2016). Systematic methodological review: developing a framework for a qualitative semi-structured interview guide. Journal of advanced nursing, 72(12), 2954–2965. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13031

Kearns Murphy, C., & Fox, J. (2024). Turning on “the Photographer Mind”: Experiences of mental health service users in a tutor-led photography group in an Irish context. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 41, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2024.2340564 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2024.2340564

Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice-Hall.

Kross, E., et al. (2013). Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism: How you do it matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(6), 1006–1019. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032407 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032407

Langer, E. J. (2002). The power of mindfulness: A reflection on the ways mindfulness impacts creativity. Harvard Business Review.

Lindhout, P., Teunissen, T., & Reniers, G. (2021). What about using photovoice for health and safety? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11985. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211985 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211985

Liu, Y., & Thompson, S. (2022). Photography and videography: Art forms with social impact. Visual Communication Review, 14(1), 30-47. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244022110036

Lubarsky, S. (2018). Digital photography and its cultural impact. Journal of Visual Culture, 17(2), 217– 231. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470412918765152

Lucas, R. (2022). The mobile revolution: How smartphones transformed photography and videography. Journal of Digital Media, 14(3), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.digmed.2022.02.004

McNiff, S. (1998). Art-based research. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Merino, M., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Villanueva-Tobaldo, C. V., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024). Body perceptions and psychological well-being: A review of the impact of social media and physical measurements on self-esteem and mental health with a focus on body image satisfaction and its relationship with cultural and gender factors. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 12(14), 1396. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141396 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141396

Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful Sampling for Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis in Mixed Method Implementation Research. Administration and policy in mental health, 42(5), 533–544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0528-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0528-y

Popat, A., & Tarrant, C. (2022). Exploring adolescents’ perspectives on social media and mental health and well-being – A qualitative literature review. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28(1), 323–337. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221092884 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221092884

Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/358916.361990

Raeside, M. (2020). Photography as therapy: The mental health benefits of capturing moments. Art and Healing Journal, 6(3), 21–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artsmed.2020.02.007

Schaefer, J. (2017). The daguerreotype and its cultural significance. History of Photography, 31(4), 314– 330. https://doi.org/10.1080/03087298.2017.1416479

Smith, J. (2019). Henri Cartier-Bresson: Beyond the decisive moment. Photography Journal, 12(3), 112- 120. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502367.2019.1611573

Stuckey, H. L., & Nobel, J. (2010). The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of the literature. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 37(3), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2010.01.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2010.01.002

Taniguchi, Y., Costa, O., Ortega, A., et al. (2025). Personal growth through navigating the world as an artist: A qualitative study of the impact of creativity camp on adolescents with depression. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health, 19, 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00893-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00893-6

Törhönen, M., Sjöblom, M., Hassan, L., & Hamari, J. (2020). Fame and fortune, or just fun? A study on why people create content on video platforms. Internet Research, 30(1), 165–190. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-06-2018-0270 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-06-2018-0270

Tourigny, L., & Naydenova, I. (2020). Using therapeutic photography techniques to increase the wellbeing of college students. Journal of Counseling and Psychology, 3(1), Article 4. Available at: https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/jcp/vol3/iss1/4

Ulrich, R. S., et al. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7

Upton, C. C. (2022). An exploration of photography as a wellness tool for counselors-in-training. PhD diss., University of Tennessee. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/7718

Wang, L. (2018). Social media and visual narratives: The changing role of photography and videography in communication. Digital Communication Studies, 22(1), 102-117. https://doi.org/10.1080/15714308.2018.1432856

Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511803932

World Health Organization. (2020). Mental health and COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

Downloads

Published

2025-09-15

How to Cite

Agastya, I. K. W., Yudistira, C. G. P., Kasiani, K., Sutiarso, M. A., & Sharmin, F. (2025). Through creative lenses: Investigating the personal growth and well-being benefits of photography and videography. Journal of Education, Social & Communication Studies, 2(3), 200–215. https://doi.org/10.71028/jescs.v2i3.59