“Photography allows me to explore those layers visually, to give form to what often remains invisible — and turn it into something you can feel.”
Visceral Vision: Where Photography Meets the Psyche
At the heart of Amandine Grulois‘s creative universe lies a rare convergence of visual artistry and emotional depth. Based in Belgium and working fluidly as both a photographer and a therapist, Grulois carves a unique space where inner realities are translated into photographic form. Her work focuses on the unspoken—the emotional undercurrents that linger in silence, gesture, and gaze. Rather than presenting polished facades, her images gently expose what lies beneath: vulnerability, strength, and the nuances of human complexity. Her dual profession informs her craft intimately, allowing her to not only see, but also to understand the intricacies of what others carry inside. The camera, for her, becomes more than a tool—it transforms into a means of emotional translation.
Grulois’s work is deeply rooted in therapeutic photography, with a strong commitment to confronting and transforming societal taboos. She photographs adults and young adults dealing with trauma, illness, or emotional rupture—individuals navigating experiences often silenced or stigmatized: burnout, PTSD, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and life-altering transitions. In these sessions, nudity becomes a symbol of honesty rather than exposure; a way to confront shame and rewrite self-perception. Her sessions aren’t just photoshoots—they are shared rituals of reclamation. Everyone is welcome in her studio: all genders, bodies, temperaments, and stories are embraced, and the outcome is not merely a collection of images, but a journey toward healing. Through these photographs, self-love, acceptance, and a renewed sense of dignity emerge.
This mission—to reveal truth and honor personal narratives—is central to her entire creative ethos. Grulois uses naked photography not to provoke, but to empower. By showing the body as it is, without the constraints of perfection or expectation, she invites viewers to reimagine beauty through the lens of authenticity. Her portraits are not about aesthetic ideals but about emotional truth—each image becoming a mirror in which both sitter and viewer might see something real, raw, and resonant. In celebrating physical diversity and inner strength, she’s not just changing how bodies are seen; she’s changing how stories are told.
Amandine Grulois: From Survival to Calling
Grulois’s artistic identity was not crafted in studios or classrooms, but shaped by personal necessity. Her first encounters with photography were not motivated by ambition but by the need to survive. During a deeply painful chapter in her life marked by depression and an eating disorder, she found herself in a hospital. There, among other women also navigating fragile states, she began taking photographs. This process—initially an intuitive attempt to reconnect with her own sense of self—quickly revealed itself as something more. Through her lens, she witnessed the vulnerability and strength in others, and in return, they told her how powerful it felt to be seen in that way. This mutual recognition sparked something irreversible.
Her camera became an extension of her intuition—an instrument through which she could translate emotion into visual form. It was never just about composition or technique; it was about resonance. For Grulois, creating art began not as a choice, but as a calling—a necessity born from struggle, gradually evolving into purpose. This origin story defines not only the intimacy of her work but also its sincerity. Every portrait she takes today still echoes that beginning: art as connection, art as survival, art as recognition. Her images aren’t just photographs; they’re emotional records, capturing invisible truths.
Today, that foundation continues to shape the direction of her career. The softness, empathy, and bold honesty found in her photography stem directly from her lived experiences. Her work speaks especially to those in liminal states—people on the brink of change or grappling with profound inner shifts. She’s not interested in capturing posed perfection. She seeks those delicate, in-between moments when something essential is cracking open. The people she photographs aren’t subjects—they’re collaborators. Each frame is the result of mutual trust, a shared willingness to show up fully, without masks.
The Architecture of Intimacy
Grulois approaches photography not as a visual hunt for striking images, but as a deeply relational practice. The act of photographing someone begins with conversation, with connection, with presence. Whether she’s working indoors or outside, her priority is always the same: creating a space where people feel seen and safe. She likens her shoots to emotional cocoons—environments intentionally crafted to nurture vulnerability. Music often plays a crucial role, not just to set a mood but to ground the emotional tone of the session. For Grulois, photography begins long before the shutter clicks; it starts with emotional attunement.
Distractions, when they arise, are not dismissed as nuisances but treated as signals—indicators that something inside is asking for attention. Instead of pushing through fatigue or mental clutter, she pauses. This responsiveness to inner cues is an extension of her therapeutic philosophy. Creative presence, she believes, cannot be forced; it must be invited. This approach fosters a sense of mindfulness that carries through every part of her process, allowing authenticity to guide the direction of the work. The result is a practice rooted not in control but in emotional listening—both to herself and to those she photographs.
Her artistic influences reflect this emotional sensitivity. Belgian photographer Stefan Vanfleteren’s heavy, intimate portraits have left a lasting impression, while fellow photographer Elien Janssens has become a kindred spirit in the field, both artistically and personally. But Grulois’s inspirations are not confined to photography alone. She draws strength from voices that speak courageously about emotional truth—writers, speakers, artists who articulate the messy, beautiful terrain of being human. Jay Shetty’s storytelling, for instance, affects her the way a photograph might: vivid, resonant, and grounding. These varied influences enrich her work, providing a multi-dimensional lens through which she crafts her own distinct voice.
Amandine Grulois: Honoring Lives Too Easily Forgotten
Among all the projects she has undertaken, one stands out for its emotional magnitude and enduring impact. Grulois recalls photographing a young woman named Clarisse, whose life story mirrored many of her own struggles—battles with an eating disorder, severe depression, multiple suicide attempts, and psychiatric hospitalization. Clarisse made the decision to undergo euthanasia, and Grulois was invited to document her final journey. The experience, both tender and harrowing, became one of the most profound artistic encounters of her life. She captured Clarisse’s farewell rituals, her goodbye letters, and even her death notice. This wasn’t just about photography—it was about bearing witness to a truth often too painful to articulate.
The project continues to shape how Grulois approaches her work. It reinforced her belief in the power of art to hold space for stories that defy easy explanation. She doesn’t shy away from pain—instead, she steps closer, with empathy and courage. That series with Clarisse was not an act of spectacle, but one of reverence. Through those images, Grulois honored Clarisse not as a subject, but as a person whose life, choices, and emotions deserved dignity. The project became a testament to what photography can be when stripped of artifice: a means of preserving love, loss, and humanity in its most unfiltered form.
Looking ahead, Grulois is channeling her vision into another emotionally potent endeavor: a long-term documentary project centered on a woman named Maité, who is searching for her biological mother in India. The story promises to unfold as a narrative of belonging, identity, and healing—core themes that resonate throughout her body of work. Grulois envisions this as more than a series of images. She hopes to create a book, an exhibition, perhaps even an immersive installation that allows others to journey alongside Maité. It’s a deeply intimate project with the potential to speak to universal questions: Who am I? Where do I come from? How do I find peace? Through this work, she continues to challenge photography’s boundaries—not merely to capture, but to connect.
