what is Beloved? it's a question with many answers...
Beloved is... a journey that began 3.5 years ago for me, after i took a sabbatical from shooting weddings to give my full attention to exploring an intriguing phenomena i'd stumbled across while photographing my couples.
in a search to witness and express the deep inner beauty of those i served, i learned much about inviting a space where the walls between people dissolve, the connections between them surge, and the truth we most often keep under close guard is instead given freely. experiential photography, i called it.
my original intention was to see these walls removed so i, as the witnessing photographer, could capture this most important part of who a person is. what i didn't expect - what i was and continue to be awed, humbled and thrilled by - was that during these sessions, the walls that slowly build up due to our natural processes between most anyone in relationship often began to dissolve, too. sometimes dramatically so.
as i delved deeper into the discovery, some sessions were simply light and joyful, leaving the couple feeling refreshed and carefree - excellent and worthwhile states in their own right, and great for the purpose of photography. in other sessions,,, it is difficult to describe well, but to put it as straightly as i can, i saw people fall in love again.
Beloved is... powerful. it's one thing to say all this, it's another thing entirely to see it with your own eyes. to feel it, only a few feet away as love unfolds itself, from wherever it lays waiting, and rushes in, drawing two closer than either knew was possible. it's better than the best movie i've ever seen, and it exists in every single person on earth.
Beloved is... in my opinion, the future of portrait photography. i believe in ten years, it will be difficult to compete as a portrait photographer without inviting those you work with into powerfully beautiful experiences using this technique or one related with another name. already, many who are integrating Beloved into their businesses are experiencing and exchanging higher investments of trust and value with those they serve, just as what happened in my own business.
Beloved is... what the couples who have experienced it are saying about it:
- "...he talked to me more last night than he has in the last 12 years..."
- "...reminded us of the fire that burns so bright for one another..."
- "We are forever grateful... haven't stopped talking about how amazing it was..."
- "Can we take you with us everywhere we go?"
- "Doing the beloved session with you was the one of the best things that we ever did as a couple."
Beloved is... a dream that a social ritual may be created in which thousands of couples around the world could experience a joyful remembrance of what matters most, in a space made by photographers who were well compensated for something they found deeply fulfilling. a hope that all those tiny ripple affects would reach even to touch future generations.
Beloved is... something i have poured much of myself into these past three years. i'm doing this one more big push to get Beloved out there this year to as many people as possible, and then i'll be letting it go grass roots.
if you would like to learn more about Beloved, how it can benefit you, and even see it demonstrated live, you are welcome to watch this preview video for the Beloved: Web Series that's launching next wednesday. the video will be available until then.
if it's in you to join in the exploration, we'd love to have you, and if not, i wish you all the best, wherever your journeys take you.
in kindness and respect,
jesh *
