Franklin’s Promise AIM Program to offer Therapeutic Photography

Tami Seaman

The Franklin’s Promise Coalition is making plans to incorporate therapeutic photography into their Arts in Medicine (AIM) program through an arrangement with a local professional photographer.  

The Coalition will utilize the services of Tami Seaman, owner of Photo-2-Voice and Sand Grain Photography to introduce participants of the program to therapeutic photography, which is a self-initiated activity that’s also self-conducted and is centered on photography, but includes no formal therapy. The pursuit of photography as a form of self-help is usually done as a means to gain personal insight, or a better understanding of one’s self.

The AIM program is designed to support Weems Memorial Hospital in their mission towards the overall health of both the community and individuals.

“Photography can be used as a powerful tool to bring people together, express creativity, speak out through pictures and help to bring healing to individuals, which results in a strengthened community”, said Seaman.

Seaman hails from the South Florida areas of Polk and Orange Counties, where she has worked as a graphic design artist for more than 25 years, eight of which as a professional portraiture photographer and trainer with the Disney Company in Orlando. Her passion to share the art of photography also led her to work with the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, where she served at the rank of lieutenant.  During her service, Seaman developed and instructed three National trainings sessions in cooperation with NIKON/USA to teach the cadets the basic concept of photojournalism.

Equally important and definitely worth noting is Seaman’s love of community and her passion to serve others as demonstrated through her involvement with Franklin’s Promise AIM program.

“Not only will this endeavor through the AIM program provide therapeutic types of things for participants to undertake, we will also be instilling a trade and training young people that they can actually better themselves not only for their own enjoyment, but as a possible career choice”, Seaman said.

While residing in the Polk County area Seaman logged in over 800 hours at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, where she volunteered as a Sheriff’s Service Officer; performing such tasks as setting up crime awareness events, conducting women's self-defense courses, and hosting fraud and scam awareness seminars. She also conducted wellness checks on senior citizens for the Sheriff’s Office.

Seaman has decided to give of her time in the Franklin County community by offering to take portraits of Franklin County School seniors free of charge and on location.  Seniors accepting Seaman’s offer will receive approximately 30 professionally taken photographs on a CD that can later be printed at their own expense.  Seniors that reside in the Carrabelle area and can’t travel to Apalachicola don’t have to worry either; Seaman had agreed to travel to Carrabelle to ensure that every senior has an opportunity to take advantage of the offer.

Seaman resides in Indian Pass along with her husband Keith of 28 years; the couple is the proud parents of 6 children and one granddaughter and is expecting the arrival of a second grandchild in the spring of 2015.

For more information about the AIM program please contact Franklin’s Promise Coalition at (850) 653-3930 or to take advantage of Seaman’s offer you can contact her direct at (850) 710-0770 or via email at sandgrainphotography@gmail.com.