Context and Questioning

This project was born from an observation: the image of coaches I see on social media does not match what I encounter in supervision. This isn’t surprising; the spaces, representations, and expectations differ. Yet I notice very few—if any—images that truly reflect what I see in my office when I accompany a coach.

What makes a person a coach?
What happens when they connect to their values, pillars, and resources?
What do they look like?
How does the posture of listening, openness, and accompaniment manifest?
How can we capture the micro‑expressions of this particular posture?

These questions gave rise to this project.

Hypothesis

Do values become visible?

Methodology

The photo sessions took place between late August and mid‑October 2025, in Lille, on the 11th floor of a small 8 m² office, facing due north and bathed in natural light.

1. Pre‑session interview: Presentation of the project, explanation of the process, signing of an image‑rights release. No financial exchange occurred between the photographer and the participants.
2. First series of photos: Taken at the start of the session, after reminding participants of the framework.
3. Discussion: The person shares what makes them a coach.
4. Writing three identity values: The participant writes the values that define their coaching posture at that moment.
5. Connecting to values: A second series of photos is taken when the participant reconnects to those values.
6. Experience feedback: A few days later, a debrief is offered about the session and the images. Participants receive a copy of the photos they may freely use.

The entire protocol is embedded within a supervision session: confidentiality of statements, respect for the coaching code of ethics. Only the images and written words will be published.

Biases and Limitations

The project is biased from start to finish. It is neither artistic— the photos have no aesthetic pretensions, even if I perceive a certain beauty—nor scientific: the protocol remains lightweight, the number of participants is limited, and there is a lack of quantifiable data. Thus it is a trace of a supervision exchange, perhaps even a simple wonder at reflecting on the coach’s posture.

This raw authenticity, precisely, forms the heart of the project.

Perspectives

Why limit the work to coaches? Could the same setup apply to anyone invited to introspection? Certainly—it is an invitation to extend the experience to other audiences.

The Images

• Left: First series of shots.
• Center: The three identity values of the coach.
• Right: Shot taken while connecting to the values.

What change do you see?