Acousto-optic imaging is based on light interaction with focused ultrasound in a scattering medium. Thanks to photorefractive holography combined with pulsed ultrasound, we perform a time-resolved detection of ultrasound-modulated photons in the therapeutic window (780 nm). A high-gain SPS:Te crystal is used for this purpose and enables us to image through large optical thickness (500 mean free paths). We are able to generate three-dimensional (3D) acousto-optic images by translating a multielement ultrasound probe in only one direction. A 3D absorbing object is imaged through a 3 cm thick phantom. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America