Husband And Wife Duo Help Elevate Black Beauty With The Release Of Gorgeous Photography Book
“We Call It A Movement”
Photographers, both amateur and professional, will tell you that photography is more than just taking a picture. It’s an art form; they’re creating artwork, and in the right hands, it can also become a source of inspiration and empowerment.
With this in mind, a married photography team based in Atlanta, Georgia, Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, use their art to redefine and uplift the beauty standards for Black children, thereby erasing any negative stereotypes of their representation that may be found in the media. The two created CreativeSoul Photography, and with their talent and artistic genius, they’re helping kids build their confidence and come out of their shells.
The Bethencourts have been in the industry for over 10 years now, and they are obsessed with unique and visual storytelling. Recently, they created their AfroArt series to celebrate and shine a spotlight on the versatile beauty of the African diaspora.
The duo has shared that their main focus is on the representation of everyday kids. “The purpose of this series is to illustrate the story of our royal past, celebrate the glory of the here and now, and even dare to forecast the future. With this series, we aim to empower children of color to embrace their natural curls and the skin that they’re in.”
Their work portrays Black excellence, and with that, they have enabled a sense of self-love and pride. “We definitely feel that we’ve created a movement in terms of creating an empowerment space for Black kids around the world and a platform where we can display Black excellence on a daily basis. We are enabling a generation of future leaders, scientists, entertainers, and more who will hopefully have a stronger sense of pride and self-love than many of us had growing up,” shared the CreativeSoul Photography duo.
They have recently released a photography book as part of their AfroArt series, called GLORY: Magical Visions of Black Beauty, featuring over 100 stunning photographs and essays about the children. The stories of the children from various backgrounds, alongside the images, add an extra layer of empowerment.
The couple considers this photobook release one of their major achievements. “We’re able to leave our legacy of photos and stories showcasing Black culture in people’s homes around the world. It’s mind-blowing to think about families having our photos on display in their homes.”
Through their photos, the couple celebrates everything about African culture. They shared that they feel like they have unlimited creativity while photographing kids: “The sky is the limit with them, and they’re usually down with all of our crazy ideas.” Kahran and Regis also expressed their hope that their book will inspire conversations within Black families, addressing issues from kids not being accepted because of their skin tone to domestic violence.
The Bethencourts shared that they have had many revelations during the creative process, but the diversity of the stories their subjects shared was something that particularly stood out to them. “There are youth activists, scientists, musicians, and more. We wanted kids to be able to read the book and see themselves represented in some way.”
Continue scrolling to get a peek at what they’ve been working on.
GLORY: Magical Visions of Black Beauty
CreativeSoul PhotographyTo say their work is "Magical" is an understatement
CreativeSoul PhotographyAnd "out of this world" still falls short
CreativeSoul Photography
The Bethencourt's art dabbles in the futuristic ...
CreativeSoul Photography
.. and in the classic feel
CreativeSoul Photography
She looks like royalty
CreativeSoul Photography
This captivating picture is from their World Tour Photobook, captured in Kenya
CreativeSoul Photography
These ladies look like blossoming aristocrats in Victorian London
CreativeSoul Photography
The simplicity of the makeup mixed with the complexity of the beadwork
CreativeSoul Photography
A role model for future generations
It's commonly said that children need to see people who look like them in all types of careers in order for them to be inspired by all fields.
CreativeSoul Photography
Straight out of a fairytale
CreativeSoul Photography
These three look like they're part of an exclusive club
CreativeSoul Photography
Kahran and Regis are a real special type of relationship goals
The two met online in a graphic designer forum, and both fell in love with photography while they were dating long-distance.
“We would do photo dates to explore new locations and take photos of each other. When we moved to the Atlanta area, Regis decided to go to school for photography, and I learned along with him. We started our business together while Regis was still in school,” recalled Kahran.So, not only did they meet with a common interest, but they also enjoyed falling in love with each other while exploring and learning a new skill in photography.
DFinney Photography
They are with each other 24/7, and love it
They readily admit that they’re one of those exceptional couples who truly enjoy being with each other 24/7 and genuinely love being in each other’s company. The couple attributes the ease of constant companionship to their relationship beginnings as a long-distance relationship.
Auston Robinson Photography
They're such a heartwarming couple
“We knew that we ultimately wanted to work together, but weren’t sure what it would be. Working together is not always easy, but we always stay professional with our clients, so it’s hard to stay mad at each other during a shoot.”
Naomi Hopkins Photography
We found a video to get a sneak peek behind the scenes of their photography sessions
And you can watch the GLORY promo video below!
Their love for their art and for each other is easy to see and feel through their photographs. You can find out more about Kahran and Regis and their work at CreativeSoul Photography.
And you can help spread their message and art by sharing this with your friends and family!
