To investigate the effects of basic photography education and practices on health-related-quality-of-life (HRQoL), self-esteem, life satisfaction, and moods of children with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

Twenty children with diplegic CP who did not have an intellectual or communication disability were included in this prospective randomized controlled clinical study and divided into two equal groups using a computer-generated list of random numbers to receive either eight weeks of basic photographic training or a control group. Basic photography training including a total of 20 hours theoretical and 30 hours practice was given during the eight weeks in this study. HRQoL, self-esteem, life satisfaction, depression and anxiety were assessed at baseline and at the end of the training.

At the end of the treatment, statistically significant improvements were found for self-reported HRQoL, life satisfaction, and self-esteem in the basic photographic training group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant between group difference was found for parents’ version of the HRQoL (p > 0.05).

The findings suggest that basic photography training can improve HRQoL, life satisfaction, and self-esteem in children with diplegic CP.