Tamara M. Knox is a trauma-informed photographer and Associate Clinical Social Worker who was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She has a BA in Photography and Visual Journalism from Sacramento City College and an MSW from California State University, Stanislaus.
As a trauma-informed photographer, Tamara collaborates with her subjects to create empowered portraits that are responsive to their culture, gender, and history. She does this by prioritizing their comfort and safety, building trust, listening carefully, and responding to their ideas and preferences. At each session, Tamara creates a physically and emotionally safe environment by playing her subject’s preferred music and using their favorite color as the backdrop.
In 2023, Tamara was awarded a Seeding Creativity grant from the City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture to create the exhibit and accompanying publication, Surviving to Thriving: Narratives of Community Thrivers Surviving Traumas.
Tamara is the Director of Ethics and Social Responsibilities in Media at Ethical Narrative, merging journalistic expertise with the compassion of social work. Founded by professionals in both fields, their mission is to tell stories that resonate and foster positive change.
Trauma-informed photography is an opportunity to do better when working with people that have experienced trauma, and to acknowledge the emotional turmoil that can be drawn out in the photography process.
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