History of the Too Tired Project

The Too Tired Project is a mental health advocacy initiative that uses photography as a tool for healing and destigmatizing depression and mental health struggles.

Origins (2018)
The project was founded in 2018 by photographer Tara Wray. It emerged as a response to the positive support she received for her personal photobook Too Tired for Sunshine, in which she used photography therapeutically to express her own experiences with depression and anxiety. Recognizing the power of creative expression in dealing with mental health challenges, Wray launched the Too Tired Project on Instagram as a platform for others to share their stories through images.
The project quickly resonated with photographers worldwide. Using the hashtag #tootiredproject, people began submitting their work, and the initiative rapidly grew to more than 17,000 Instagram followers. Over the years, the project has received more than 20,000 submissions from photographers across the globe.

Expansion (2020)
In 2020, Kelly Burgess joined as Executive Director, helping to expand the organization's operations and impact. That same year, Burgess founded Too Tired Press, a publishing arm designed to support photographers in bringing their mental health-focused projects to life as physical books. The press operates on an equitable model that aims to reduce the financial barriers typically associated with art book publishing.

In 2023, founder Tara Wray made the decision to step away from the Too Tired Project to explore new creative paths. Kelly Burgess, who had been instrumental in the project's growth since 2020, assumed the role of permanent director. Under Burgess's leadership, working alongside the board of directors, the Too Tired Project has continued to build upon its foundation, maintaining its core mission while expanding its reach and impact.

Nonprofit Status
The Too Tired Project is based in Vermont and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, underscoring its commitment to supporting those struggling with mental health through collective creative expression.

Programming and Impact

The project has developed several key initiatives:

  • A traveling exhibition series featuring slideshow presentations followed by panel discussions with photographers and art therapists, hosted at universities, galleries, and arts institutions across the United States and internationally (including shows at the Leica Gallery in Warsaw, Poland, and in Melbourne, Australia)

  • Publishing photobooks through Too Tired Press

  • Maintaining an active online presence through their website and Instagram

  • Creating diverse, inclusive platforms that amplify voices from all backgrounds and communities

Recognition
The project has received press coverage from outlets including NPR, HuffPost, and Polish Vogue, helping to spread awareness about mental health and the therapeutic potential of photography.

Mission and Philosophy
At its core, the Too Tired Project believes that everyone has stories worth telling through images, regardless of training or background. We view creative expression not just as art, but as a form of healing, working toward a world where mental health is discussed as openly as physical health.