The Healing Power of Smartphone Photography, with Joe Van Wyk

Photography isn’t just about capturing images—it can be a powerful tool for healing and presence. Joe Van Wyk‘s journey from struggling graphic designer to mindful photographer reveals how smartphone photography transformed his mental health and creative expression.

Growing up with artistic talent, Van Wyk initially took a conventional path, pursuing an MBA and international business to emulate his successful father. When this left him deeply unfulfilled, a chance encounter introduced him to graphic design, awakening his dormant creativity. As technology shifted and depression crept in, Joe discovered that street photography produced an unexpected “high”—a profound sense of presence that pulled him from dark thoughts into the moment.

This revelation became the foundation for Van Wyk’s book “The Mindful Photography Field Guide: 15 Smartphone Photography Practices for Inner Peace.” His approach centers on three principles: Focus (grounding in your body with hand on heart and breath), Capture (documenting present moments without perfectionism), and Shine (sharing with others as an act of service). It’s a practice that works regardless of your belief system, though he openly integrates it with his Christian faith.

After years investing in expensive camera equipment, he’s gone all-in on smartphone photography, using just an iPhone 16 Pro Max and simple accessories. His “walk around videos” shot in ProRes demonstrate how powerful this approach can be, producing stunning results while eliminating technical barriers.