Helping women be seen for who they truly are.

Celebrating resilience and raising awareness about women's health, social, and economic challenges.

Womanity Portrait Foundation's Mission

Our Mission

Based in San Diego and serving women across Southern California, Womanity Portrait Foundation empowers women through art, storytelling, and community. We create spaces for women to be seen, heard, and connected, and we share their stories to build empathy, raise awareness, celebrate resilience, and inspire change. Our current programs primarily support women affected by breast cancer, while our broader mission embraces the many experiences that shape women’s lives.

Our Vision

We envision a world where no woman’s story is invisible and no woman walks her path alone. By bringing women’s experiences into public view, we aim to transform individual stories into greater understanding, deeper belonging, and lasting cultural change.

Our Approach

We bring women together to create, reflect, celebrate, and connect. Through portrait experiences, creative workshops, wellness retreats, shared storytelling, and public exhibitions, we help women reclaim their voice, see themselves as whole, and share their experiences in ways that can support others and strengthen community.

At Womanity Portrait Foundation (WPF), our mission is to empower women through visual storytelling. We use photography as a medium of healing, visibility, and leadership - helping women, especially breast cancer survivors, see themselves as beautiful, powerful and whole. We provide a platform for women to share their stories and inspire others to heal, rise, and lead. By documenting women’s journeys - from personal transformation to social impact - we aim to amplify women’s presence, visibility, and voice, turning individual stories into collective awareness and lasting cultural change.

Our Partners

Our Programs for Women Affected by Breast Cancer

Through portraits for women, self-portrait photography workshops, and wellness retreats, Womanity Portrait Foundation supports women affected by breast cancer. Our programs combine women’s empowerment, breast cancer awareness, creative expression, and meaningful community connection throughout the year, not only during breast cancer month.

Breast Cancer Portrait

Free Portraits for Women Affected by Breast Cancer

We provide free portraits for women affected by breast cancer. Through visual storytelling, women’s portraits, and personal stories, participants can reconnect with their identity and be seen as whole people, not only as patients or survivors.

Each portrait of a woman honors her strength, individuality, and life beyond diagnosis. Together, these female portraits also help the public better understand the emotional, physical, and human realities of breast cancer.

a self-portrait of a happy woman with a sky and a word LOVE on the background

Self-Portrait Photography Workshops

Creative Expression, Healing, and Female Empowerment

Our self-portrait photography workshops use photography as a tool for reflection, creative expression, and female empowerment. Participants learn simple techniques using light, composition, and personal storytelling while exploring identity, body image, and emotional healing.

No photography experience is required. The goal is not to create a perfect photograph, but to help each woman see herself with greater honesty, compassion, confidence, and creative freedom.

Women’s Wellness Retreat

Healing, Mindfulness, Creativity, and Community

Our Wellness Retreat brings women affected by breast cancer together for a restorative experience centered on creativity, mindfulness, nature, and community.

Through guided art, photography, self-compassion practices, beauty wellness, gentle movement, and shared reflection, participants can reconnect with themselves, rebuild confidence, and form meaningful relationships with women who understand the breast cancer journey

Portrait of a woman participating in a Womanity photography session, expressing confidence and individuality

Lynette Brewer

Black woman with open breast sitting on the bed contemplating her breast cancer story

Dee Cee

A long-hair white woman with an unbuttoned blouse demonstrating an amputated breast

Heather Ray

A bold, sad looking woman with open breasts sitting backwards on a chair leaning on the chair back

Brianne Mejia

a portrait of a woman in a black dress

Ric Hockenhull

one-breasted white woman in a pink dress is holing a prosthetic breast

Isabel Smith

a portrait of a woman with a shaved head wearing a black tank top

Marissa Riccio

a portrait of an asian woman wrapped in a fur shawl

Ailen Manzano

Testimonials

This past week with Galina’s breast cancer photography event was the exact confidence building i needed to help me move past my 1 year and 8 months now. It has been exhausting draining and a roller coster of emotions dealing with my cancer. A million thank yous to Galina for making me feel confidant in my own mind and skin and hugging me and letting me cry on her shoulder literally.
a portrait of a woman in a black dress
Ric Hockenhull
Survivor
Being photographed by Gala was such an empowering experience. I am typically uncomfortable in front of the camera and originally had mixed feelings about being photographed with my bald head and just a week after my double mastectomy, but Gala has such a positive energy that she immediately put me at ease. It is obvious that she is a genuine person who truly wants to empower women during their breast cancer journey. I truly appreciate her for her kindness and for capturing this time period in my life, which I most likely would never have thought to capture on my own. Thank you, Gala!
a portrait of a woman with a shaved head wearing a black tank top
Marissa Riccio
Survivor
The experience of having photos with Galina was very therapeutic. I got a chance to try to embrace my new body after breast cancer took my left breast at age 38. I struggle every time I look in the mirror to try to accept my battle wound. The first time I looked at myself in the mirror, after my bandages were all gone, was traumatic. I was married to a cruel man who walked in on me while I was undressing in the mirror, trying to accept my scar. He made a noise as he saw me and at my most vulnerable moment, told me to “put that disgusting thing away” & said that I “wasn’t a woman any more”. I was devastated. As a single woman, I tell men upfront that I am a breast cancer survivor and strangers make me feel beautiful. Scars are reminders that we fought whatever tried to kill us and survived. I’m so grateful, by God’s grace, that I have been granted a second life. A life that I embrace and awake smiling every day, no matter what. I am determined to spread positivity and love throughout the community. No one will ever dim my light again. I am sunshine. I am a survivor
Women on a green background wearing pink dress holding a breast prosthetics and looking directly at the viewer
Isabel Smith
Survivor
My experience during the workshop was very special. Galina opened a whole new perspective with self-portraits and a new spark of confidence. Being diagnosed depleted my self-confidence. I lost a sense of who I was as a person and even pictures became unrecognizable. I became disconnected with myself and with people. With Galina's presentation I felt that connection. In my personal journey I felt that I have not been able to connect with anyone because being diagnosed it changes people. During the workshop I loved how she made everyone feel included no matter how old or how young you were, she shared her knowledge making it accessible. Galina's aura is just beautiful, she creates a safe space for everyone to feel and embrace what we believe can no longer be loved, she sees beyond that. Reminds us that we are more then a perfect pose of a pretty face. Her workshop has truly inspired me to embrace my journey. All I can say is I wish I would have met her sooner during my journey because being diagnosed not having the words to express through journaling opened a new way of self expression with self-portraits.
Maria Joseph
Survivor

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