“We Call It A Movement”: Couple Releases Photography Book To Elevate Beauty Standards For Black Kids
Interview With ArtistPhotography is not only about creating an image—in the right hands, it can become a tool for inspiration and especially in this case—empowerment. A husband and wife photography team uses art to redefine the beauty standards for black children and shatter any negative stereotypes of their representation in the media. Atlanta, Georgia-based couple Kahran and Regis Bethencourt are behind CreativeSoul Photography and they’re helping kids to come out of their shells and jump-start their confidence.
Bored Panda connected with this heartwarming couple so you can get to know them and check out their mesmerizing work below.
More info: CreativeSoul Photography
Husband and wife photography team uses art to redefine the beauty standards for black children
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
The two artists obsessed with unique and visual storytelling have been in the industry for over 10 years. Recently, they started the AfroArt series to recognize and celebrate the versatile beauty of the African diaspora. Kahran and Regis’ main focus is regular everyday kids and their representation. “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.”
The photographers’ intention is to empower children of color
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
“We definitively 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.
Their work portrays black excellence and enables a sense of pride and self-love
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
Recently, they’ve released a book with over 100 breathtaking photographs and essays about the children. The images are not only there to be admired—it’s the stories of the kids from various backgrounds in their photos that add an extra dose of empowerment. They’ve had many revelations during the creative process, but what really stood out was how diverse the subjects were in terms of their stories. “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.”
Their models are usually down with whatever crazy idea the photographers have
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
The couple celebrates everything African culture as they convey it through their photos. They love photographing kids as it gives them unlimited creativity: “The sky is the limit with them and they’re usually down with all of our crazy ideas.” Kahran and Regis also hope that their book will open up conversations within black families, from domestic violence to kids not being accepted because of their skin tone.
The authors hope to ignite conversations within black families and celebrate African culture
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
They love photographing kids as it gives them unlimited creativity
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
CreativeSoul Photography have put together a photo book as part of their AfroArt series
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
GLORY: Magical Visions of Black Beauty is one of the Bethencourts’ 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.”
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
Image credits: CreativeSoul Photography
Kahran and Regis met on an online graphic designer forum
Image credits: DFinney Photography
Kahran, who is 40, and her husband Regis, 43, started out in the marketing and design world, but fell in love with photography while dating long-distance. They met on an online graphic designer forum. “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.
They would often go to photo dates to take pictures of each other
Image credits: Naomi Hopkins Photography
And perhaps that’s why they love spending time 24/7 and working together
Image credits: Auston Robinson Photography
They admitted that they’re one of those weird couples who love being together 24/7 and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Kahran and Regis think that their long-distance relationship had a lot to do with it. “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.”
While they both work hard, Regis is usually the one who has a shut-off button and needs some time away from the photo world, and Kahran, on the other hand, dreams about ideas in her sleep.
You can have a sneaky peek into what their work looks like during the photo shoots in the video below
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Share on Facebookstunning. the outfits, the colors, the culture, absolutely amazing, and the creativity of the photographers is wonderful
"Redefine beauty standards" usually means showing how normal people are beautiful too, not just models, without the need for makeup, photoshop, elaborate costumes and sets. This goes exactly the other way. These are perfect kids, perfect faces, perfect weight, perfect skin, perfect makeup, etc. They are absolutely stunning, no doubt, but his isn't 'empowering black beauty' in my book. This is 'empowering perfect people in perfect circumstances who happen to have dark skin'.
I hear exactly what you're saying, but I remember in my childhood lots and lots of books and movies depicting magical, romantic and fantastic scenes with golden haired white children. They were fairies, princesses, mystical beings and marketed to kids for the sake of fostering a deeper imagination. I never saw people of color represented or of they were it was a token black person here or there. There is a positive space for this. This need not right every wrong. But I hear what you're saying. Perhaps a follow up volume will address other issues.
Load More Replies...I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 These kids are so beautiful.
I am black and I really needed this. Thank you both. This is empowering.
I want one for asians. xD I grew up the ONLY asian in an entire school, and it was miserable. For an asian I am not that short. Not my fault. But people teased the heck out of me and associated shortness with being asian, and I wish I could tell other kids that they are ok, and that their height is somewhat subjective, but even if they are short or tell it's not bad.
I'm a little torn here. While the photos are super aesthetic, they all show kids looking serene and acting like adult models. They are all flawless, beautiful, models. That's not exactly helping to boosting kids' confidence or empowering them, totally regardless of skincolor.
Stunning photographs! I love how many of the photographs incorporate elements of African culture. The children in the photographs are gorgeous.
To say this "shatters black beauty standards" implies that because the children/pictures are beautiful, that the standard of blackness is "ugly". Great pics. Horrible title and very distasteful message.
I see they changed the wording from "shatters" to "elevates" but its the same thing. The word "standard" should not be used. Just say "here are some beautiful black children". So sad whoever authored this cant get it. Do they have black ppl writing for BP? Bc they need at least one to look over stuff like this.
Load More Replies...Misleading title to this page. I mean, sure the kids look great, they are kids playing dress-up of course they are going to look cute. The photography is great as well. I think they have done a great job overall. However I don't see how anyone could say that they 'Shatter Black Beauty Standards'. The photos of Kahran and Regis do a much better job towards that goal, they are a beautiful couple.
They photos are beautiful but how is putting kids in grown people makeup changing beauty standards......I think they would have spoken louder volumes with a more natural look
Unfortunately this just comes across as an advert for a pair of photographers, nice pics though but those kids look heavily airbrushed. Beauty is completely in the eye of the beholder anyway so what one person sees as attractive another finds meh, the trick is to not give a crap what others think of you and just be the best you you can, inner beauty is far more appealing to genuine people than a face slathered in cosmetics.
I didn't realize how much this was missing until I saw it. These photos are phenomenal. I wanna be one of these little girls. How magical!
I like the pic of the girl holding a book. Books are awesome!!
Cool photos they look amazing compared to my lousy yet somewhat good photos
This is absolutely AMAZING! The photos are stunning and I love the emphasis on Black hair and culture. I am so sick and tired of seeing the whitewashing of Black and Brown faces.
WOW!!! Absolutely amazed at some of the costumes, beautiful, just like the children!!!
The 4 little girls in the church was a gut punch. The symbolism was not lost there!
The photographers have allowed their creativity to 'bloom' on these beautiful children. Love it.
uhm yeah, does anyone in the world not think afro hair looks good? lets SHATTER the thing everyone already agrees on!
My hair is greasy af... I wish I could have an afro
Load More Replies...That's pretty incredible work. Such beautiful artistry and composition. What a truly talented team!
In other words.........whoring up your kids at an early age to make money off of them.
Beautiful photography, but am I the only one who noticed that the only one where the kids themselves appear to be happy is the church photo where they are dressed "normally"? I get that the book is "magical visions", but kids are already magical without being dressed up as they are in the book. They just need to know it.
The older I become, the angrier I get that I am STILL being denied diversity in movies. Netflix is sometimes doing a decent job, but so much of the rest is still all white males between 25 and 40. I am so f*cking bored at watching these white males. I want COLOUR! WOMEN, different ethnicities, abilities and ages - a tapestry of humanity!
I don't see color.....just gorgeous, gorgeous young ladies.......I'm loving this on this cold morning. Thank you!
This is a celebration of Blackness. If you don't see color, you're missing the point. Here's a great article about "not seeing color" : https://theeverygirl.com/i-dont-see-color/
Load More Replies...Kids understand race, especially Black kids. Studies show kids recognize race by 6months and most develop racial biases by the age of 3.
Load More Replies...We simply want to have something that represents US as beautiful while not looking European and I think you know it. I don't race is THE issue. I have this book and it's magical and empowering to black children who are going through a lot right now.
Load More Replies...stunning. the outfits, the colors, the culture, absolutely amazing, and the creativity of the photographers is wonderful
"Redefine beauty standards" usually means showing how normal people are beautiful too, not just models, without the need for makeup, photoshop, elaborate costumes and sets. This goes exactly the other way. These are perfect kids, perfect faces, perfect weight, perfect skin, perfect makeup, etc. They are absolutely stunning, no doubt, but his isn't 'empowering black beauty' in my book. This is 'empowering perfect people in perfect circumstances who happen to have dark skin'.
I hear exactly what you're saying, but I remember in my childhood lots and lots of books and movies depicting magical, romantic and fantastic scenes with golden haired white children. They were fairies, princesses, mystical beings and marketed to kids for the sake of fostering a deeper imagination. I never saw people of color represented or of they were it was a token black person here or there. There is a positive space for this. This need not right every wrong. But I hear what you're saying. Perhaps a follow up volume will address other issues.
Load More Replies...I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 These kids are so beautiful.
I am black and I really needed this. Thank you both. This is empowering.
I want one for asians. xD I grew up the ONLY asian in an entire school, and it was miserable. For an asian I am not that short. Not my fault. But people teased the heck out of me and associated shortness with being asian, and I wish I could tell other kids that they are ok, and that their height is somewhat subjective, but even if they are short or tell it's not bad.
I'm a little torn here. While the photos are super aesthetic, they all show kids looking serene and acting like adult models. They are all flawless, beautiful, models. That's not exactly helping to boosting kids' confidence or empowering them, totally regardless of skincolor.
Stunning photographs! I love how many of the photographs incorporate elements of African culture. The children in the photographs are gorgeous.
To say this "shatters black beauty standards" implies that because the children/pictures are beautiful, that the standard of blackness is "ugly". Great pics. Horrible title and very distasteful message.
I see they changed the wording from "shatters" to "elevates" but its the same thing. The word "standard" should not be used. Just say "here are some beautiful black children". So sad whoever authored this cant get it. Do they have black ppl writing for BP? Bc they need at least one to look over stuff like this.
Load More Replies...Misleading title to this page. I mean, sure the kids look great, they are kids playing dress-up of course they are going to look cute. The photography is great as well. I think they have done a great job overall. However I don't see how anyone could say that they 'Shatter Black Beauty Standards'. The photos of Kahran and Regis do a much better job towards that goal, they are a beautiful couple.
They photos are beautiful but how is putting kids in grown people makeup changing beauty standards......I think they would have spoken louder volumes with a more natural look
Unfortunately this just comes across as an advert for a pair of photographers, nice pics though but those kids look heavily airbrushed. Beauty is completely in the eye of the beholder anyway so what one person sees as attractive another finds meh, the trick is to not give a crap what others think of you and just be the best you you can, inner beauty is far more appealing to genuine people than a face slathered in cosmetics.
I didn't realize how much this was missing until I saw it. These photos are phenomenal. I wanna be one of these little girls. How magical!
I like the pic of the girl holding a book. Books are awesome!!
Cool photos they look amazing compared to my lousy yet somewhat good photos
This is absolutely AMAZING! The photos are stunning and I love the emphasis on Black hair and culture. I am so sick and tired of seeing the whitewashing of Black and Brown faces.
WOW!!! Absolutely amazed at some of the costumes, beautiful, just like the children!!!
The 4 little girls in the church was a gut punch. The symbolism was not lost there!
The photographers have allowed their creativity to 'bloom' on these beautiful children. Love it.
uhm yeah, does anyone in the world not think afro hair looks good? lets SHATTER the thing everyone already agrees on!
My hair is greasy af... I wish I could have an afro
Load More Replies...That's pretty incredible work. Such beautiful artistry and composition. What a truly talented team!
In other words.........whoring up your kids at an early age to make money off of them.
Beautiful photography, but am I the only one who noticed that the only one where the kids themselves appear to be happy is the church photo where they are dressed "normally"? I get that the book is "magical visions", but kids are already magical without being dressed up as they are in the book. They just need to know it.
The older I become, the angrier I get that I am STILL being denied diversity in movies. Netflix is sometimes doing a decent job, but so much of the rest is still all white males between 25 and 40. I am so f*cking bored at watching these white males. I want COLOUR! WOMEN, different ethnicities, abilities and ages - a tapestry of humanity!
I don't see color.....just gorgeous, gorgeous young ladies.......I'm loving this on this cold morning. Thank you!
This is a celebration of Blackness. If you don't see color, you're missing the point. Here's a great article about "not seeing color" : https://theeverygirl.com/i-dont-see-color/
Load More Replies...Kids understand race, especially Black kids. Studies show kids recognize race by 6months and most develop racial biases by the age of 3.
Load More Replies...We simply want to have something that represents US as beautiful while not looking European and I think you know it. I don't race is THE issue. I have this book and it's magical and empowering to black children who are going through a lot right now.
Load More Replies...
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