We recently caught up with one of our photographer friends, Michelle Posey, owner of Michelle Posey Photography, and she told us about an amazing service she offers her brides and grooms, as well as other clients.
It's called "Beloved," and she's adopted it in an effort to help her clients get the most sincere and emotion-filled photos ever. We decided to ask her a bit more for you, brides. Keep reading for the scoop!
Arkansas Bride (AB): What is a Beloved session?
Michelle Posey (Michelle): Beloved is the idea of bringing out what is most beautiful about human beings – what lies within. I can't take credit for creating it. That belongs to a guy name Jesh de Rox, who took what was working for him in photographing couples and created a series of questions, activities and simple games known as "expression invites" to achieve beauty and openness in their portrait sessions. Photographers use the techniques for families, individuals, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, siblings — just about any photo session can be a Beloved session.
AB: When did you adopt this technique?
Michelle: I heard about Beloved a couple of years ago, and incorporated it into my very next session. Up into that point I had been doing what most photographers do, just saying things like: "Love on each other," "Talk to each other," or "Whisper in her ear," which worked about half of the time (only with the couples who were NOT nervous!). Once I incorporated Beloved, the very first session produced photos that were so much more beautiful and moving than my previous engagement sessions. I was immediately sold on the concept.
AB: Why do you think couples get so nervous in regular sessions?
Michelle: I think there are two ends of the spectrum on this. One is the couple that is really nervous about having photos taken, the couple who feels awkward in front of the camera. Often, it's the guy who feels this more than the girl, because guys don't spend their formative years posing in front of the mirror like us girls do! Some couples can feel really inhibited about having their photos taken.
The other end of the spectrum is the couple that is really good at posing, but they do it self-consciously. The photos then look "correct," but can lack true emotion. This is a problem I came across often when I photographed the fashion section photos at the newspaper. We actually used some of the techniques incorporated in Beloved (way back before Beloved even existed) to help our models relax.
AB: What will couples take away from their Beloved sessions?
Michelle: On a daily basis we are distracted by work, television, video games, smartphones... Simply making space to connect can be a profoundly moving experience for us. Many couples have reported a "Beloved effect," a sort of afterglow that can last days or even weeks. I can attest to this myself, having had a Beloved session with my husband.
AB: Are Beloved sessions more expensive than typical engagements?
Michelle: All of my engagement sessions now draw from Beloved. I wouldn't think of doing an engagement session any other way!
AB: What do you love most about shooting Beloved sessions?
Michelle: There is a point during almost every Beloved session that I shed a tear. The expressions are so beautiful and the connection between the couple is so strong. If I don't cry, then we all usually laugh until there are tears in our eyes.
{Photographers} Michelle has tickets to hear Beloved founder Jesh de Rox speak in Kansas City and wants to give you a chance to go and learn more - for free! Email her at MPosey@MichellePoseyPhoto.com to chat with her about attending with her. She's really so passionate about this technique and wants more Arkansas photographers to offer it to Arkansas clients.
For more information about booking a Beloved session, email Michelle at MPosey@MichellePoseyPhoto.com, or visit her Facebook page or website.
