A former psychiatric nurse turned professional photographer in France is using a unique approach called phototherapy to help women struggling with self-esteem issues. Stéphanie Barillier opened her photo studio in early 2024 in La Saussaye, a small town in the Eure region of Normandy, where she conducts three-hour sessions designed to help women develop a more positive relationship with their bodies and self-image.
Barillier, who has been a professional photographer for a year and a half, combines her two passions: photography and human psychology. Her background as a psychiatric nurse informs her therapeutic approach to portrait photography. "I call these sessions 'being a woman.' For three hours, we work on self-esteem: accepting yourself as you are," explains the photographer. Her role is to guide clients to focus on their strengths rather than their perceived flaws, using photography techniques like lighting to accentuate positive features.
The photographer works with women of all ages and backgrounds, from teenagers to elderly women. Some clients come after battling cancer, others are learning to accept the aging process, and many are dealing with various body image issues. Each three-hour phototherapy session costs 210 euros, not including photo prints. Barillier serves clients ranging from those recovering from illness to women simply wanting to overcome their complexes about their appearance.
One recent client, 39-year-old Vanessa Fontaine, traveled about 25 miles from Autheuil-Authouillet to participate in her first phototherapy session. Fontaine, a perinatal companion and mother of two, admits she's "not very comfortable in my body, not the type to take selfies." Despite her initial hesitation about photography, meeting Barillier inspired her to give herself this opportunity to potentially see herself in a new light. "I want to find kindness toward my body again," she said before the session.
The phototherapy process begins with careful preparation. Clients must bring several different outfits: everyday clothes they feel comfortable in, an outfit they love but are afraid to wear, and finally, more revealing clothing or lingerie for the final part of the session if they choose. Fontaine brought a simple black top with a pink long skirt for comfort, a fitted pink dress she had hesitated to wear to her brother's wedding, and lingerie for the final segment.
Before facing the camera, clients receive professional makeup from Audrey Lecomte, Barillier's associate and makeup artist. Fontaine, who rarely wears makeup, received tips from the professional while maintaining her preference for a natural look. The session then moves into an interview phase where Barillier asks probing questions to understand the client's relationship with herself and her body.
During Fontaine's consultation, Barillier asked about her greatest quality. When Fontaine responded "generosity," the photographer pressed further: "Toward yourself or others?" This line of questioning revealed that Fontaine struggles with self-compassion. When asked what feeling she'd like to have toward herself, Fontaine answered, "To be proud of my body." She explained that weight gain over several years has created enormous mental burden, describing how she spent three months agonizing over what to wear to her brother's wedding and how every meal becomes a puzzle.
Fontaine's relationship with her body became more complicated during fertility struggles when trying to have children. "That you don't like your belly is not insignificant," Barillier observed, noting the connection between emotional experiences and body image. Despite her struggles, Fontaine identified parts of herself she appreciates: her eyes, hair, legs, and hands. Her goal for the session was clear: "I want to become friends with my body again."
The actual photography portion begins with the client's most comfortable outfit. Initially, Fontaine struggled to relax in front of the camera, unsure how to position herself naturally. To help her client let go, Barillier danced with her, played Fontaine's personally selected music playlist, and encouraged her to forget the photographer's presence. Gradually, as the music played, Fontaine was swept up in the supportive atmosphere and began dancing freely.
The session intensifies during the second phase, when clients must wear the outfit they're afraid to put on. The studio background changes from white to black, and the lighting becomes more subdued. Fontaine was invited to externalize her negative emotions and release them. With her hands placed on the belly she dislikes, eyes closed, Barillier asked her to let go through a scream. Accustomed to control and restraint, Fontaine initially hesitated, but when Barillier took her hand, she broke down in tears.
"It brings things to the surface: what put me in this situation, what I don't like about myself," Fontaine explained afterward. This emotional breakthrough represents a crucial moment in the phototherapy process, where clients confront deep-seated feelings about their bodies and self-worth. The supportive environment allows for this vulnerable expression of pain and self-criticism that many women carry silently.
The final phase of the session aims to help clients become who they want to be. Wearing lingerie – some clients even choose to pose nude – participants must look beyond their perceived flaws and focus on their positive attributes. This progression from everyday clothes to intimate wear symbolizes a journey from public self-consciousness to private self-acceptance. For many clients, this final phase represents the most challenging but potentially transformative part of the experience.
Leaving the session, Fontaine felt elated about the experience. Several days later, she returned to the studio to view the results and select which photos to keep. "In terms of ego, it boosted me. I realized I could find myself beautiful. I didn't think I was capable of that," she reflected. This transformation represents exactly what Barillier hopes to achieve through her phototherapy sessions – helping women discover beauty in themselves that they previously couldn't see.
The phototherapy approach represents a growing trend of using creative arts for therapeutic purposes. By combining professional photography techniques with psychological support, practitioners like Barillier offer an alternative method for addressing self-esteem issues. The three-hour intensive format allows for deep exploration of body image concerns while providing immediate visual feedback through professional-quality photographs that challenge clients' negative self-perceptions.
