At the center of my work is a simple belief: photographs can create space for healing. They help us pause, be present, and honor the experiences that shape our lives.
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​I’m Melissa Blythe Knowles, and my work lives at the place where art and care meet. Through photography, curation, teaching, and my practice in arts-in-medicine and end of life care, I’ve spent over fifteen years supporting children, families, elders, and communities—especially in moments of transition and healing. My photographs appear in galleries, books, advocacy campaigns, educational resources, private collections, and healthcare environments.
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Photography for Health is where my creative work and my background in arts-in-medicine meet. I document family stories and legacy portraits, and I create fine-art photography and contemplative photography workshops designed for hospitals, clinics, community programs, caregivers, and anyone seeking a practice that brings them back to themselves—body, mind, and soul.
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My work has been shaped by my late partner, Geordie Gude, who taught me that photography is ultimately about holding space for the fullness of someone’s experience. And my mentor, Dr. John Diamond, M.D., a pioneer in holistic medicine and creativity who first introduced me to using photography therapeutically. Their influence remains a steady part of my work—reminding me that healing grows quietly, from the inside out, like the heartwood of a tree.
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Whether through a portrait session, a workshop, or a curated collection for a healing environment, my intention is always the same: to offer images and experiences that say, I see you. You matter. This moment is worth honoring.
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Photography for Health is the heart of my practice—where presence becomes art, and art becomes a way of caring for others.
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Offerings
Family Portraits
My joie de vivre lies in photographing families, sensitively and beautifully reflecting those fleeting moments in your lives. I offer family, engagement, and small wedding packages, along with cost-sensitive options for locals.
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During our sessions, I will gently guide you through natural and relaxed poses, meeting you where you are and creating an atmosphere that encourages authentic connections and emotions to flourish. I sincerely hope you leave our session feeling more connected to those you hold dear and to provide lasting memories that deepen your connection long after our time together.
Visual Storytelling
"Storytellers are the custodians of human history, the recorders of the human experience, the voice of the human soul."
As a visual storyteller, I keep my eyes open to, not to simply record or replicate an event exactly, but to find the core of the experience and give form to those moments of the human experience.
My projects with local media, non-profits, magazines, and cause-driven efforts include arts for healing, ending child labor, documenting human rights marches, ensuring food equity and housing security, and championing conservation, creativity, and education.
Legacy Portraits
After my beloved Geordie died, I began searching through my photo archives for pictures of him, bringing him and the feeling of us closer to me. During our time together, I learned not only the technical aspects of portrait photography but more importantly the deeper act of truly seeing him—and, in turn, being seen by him. Each time I found, adjusted, and printed a photo of Geordie, I discovered a window into the love we shared, and at times, to literally see myself through his eyes. These photographs are more than memories; they are living connections. They continue to help me cherish him and bring comfort and continuity to the people who loved him most.
Now, I offer this same kind of connection to others. I partner with nonprofits that support families navigating illness and hospice care, offering portraits that hold space for life, love, and what matters to you. These photographs are not just images—they’re a way of honoring presence, of holding onto the feeling of someone, and of creating something that can be returned to again and again.
First Aid Fine Art
During my partner’s illness, I'd bring photos of the outside into Dana-Farber with us, reminders that small moments of beauty can be found even in a treatment room. I started sharing some with our care team, and they became quiet points of connection when you need them most.
Geordie was a man deeply connected to nature, and each hospital visit, we'd choose a treatment room with a large window, where we could see this one tree—it's still so clear in my mind. When Geordie entered hospice, we'd walk to the cliffs that our home sits atop. The last time we did this, with him holding my waist tightly, a red-tailed hawk flew across our path. "You're ready to take to wing," I said. When he was too weak to walk to the cliffs, we opened our bedroom door, which led to the garden, and he'd take his shoes off to stand barefoot in the grass, and say, "I belong to the earth."
In our bedroom, where family and friends gathered to share their final moments with Geordie, I placed every printed photo around us—bringing the outside in and creating a healing space that reflected the natural rhythms of where we come from, where we’re returning to, and what we are forever a part of.
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Creating these photos continues to be a balm for my spirit, and I hope it is for you , too. Whether you are a hospital, clinic, or healing environment, looking for greeting cards, prints, or art installations that nurture through imagery, please reach out.
