Picture This…

When we’re young we like to think that there are a plethora of places to go and so many things that we can accomplish. We dream big and envision the lives that we want for ourselves. We try to pinpoint our destiny, but in reality life doesn’t work that way at all.

 No matter how hard we try to map out our lives, there are pathways already paved for us; It’s simply up to us to trust ourselves to pursue that destiny. In our hearts we know that we have a greater purpose: we may not want to go to school, or work that hard nine to five, but we suck it up because we don’t trust that we can run our own business or pursue that music career, that acting dream, that artist’s life.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always emphasize the importance of knowledge; however, a formal education is not always essential to be successful in what your heart desires. Following your passion can actually create success in the long run! And this “picture perfect” husband and wife duo, Regis and Kahran Bethencourt, are an excellent example of how following your heart and believing in your dreams can mold your ideal reality.

Where It All Began

Kahran, born in Greenville, South Carolina and Regis, originally from Suitland, Maryland, were following separate pathways that somehow ended up intertwining with each other. That intersection was where they discovered a mutual passion for photography and started their successful business together. 

Kahran went to Clark Atlanta Universityto study Computer Science, eventually getting into marketing and graphic design. With their mutual interest in graphic design, the couple met in an urban online graphic designer forum. Not knowing that they both would eventually call each other husband and wife, their relationship grew from an online meeting, and the rest is history.

They began doing graphic and web design under the name CreativeSoul Designs, the name originating from the bond of having two creative souls becoming one. Then as time went on a new interest in sparked. Photography even invaded their dating lives; they use to go on “photo dates,” where they took photos of each other and things that interested them. 

Regis attended school for photography while Kahran learned photography on her own from taking intimate photos of her friends and family at events and gatherings. 

Their respective passions for photography grew boldly, more so while they were together. Photography went from a passion and hobby to a fully fledged business when they came together to start their own company. They kept the name CreativeSoul but now it was CreativeSoul Photography.

Photos Worth Taking

When you think of the word creative, you think of a vision that goes beyond words; that is exactly what their photos have unveiled to the world. They decided to go a different route than any photographer had ever done and portray uncelebrated beauty. They identify the uniqueness in Afrocentric culture that needs to be admired. 

The inspiration for this idea came from their photo shoots for kids. They realized that the girls with naturally curly would always come with straight hair, not admiring their natural beauty of kinks and coils. Then one day they did a “ Roller Girls” shoot with three gorgeous curly haired beauties in roller skates embracing their true selves with their adorable afros, and that photo rocketed their Instagram following from 2,000 to 20,000 followers in less than a month.

They, of course, continued doing phenomenal photoshoots aimed toward youth, all to inspire children to be their true selves and to know their beauty and worth was absolutely perfect just the way they are — no changes necessary. This passion that they discovered as a couple took them places they never imagined they could go. Their work has been seen all over the world (you read that right–not the country, but the whole world), and it all started from one vision.

The couple has interviewed with The Real, CNN News, BBC News, Teen Vogue, CBS and the list goes on. However, this road to success was not a walk through the park on a sunny day with fluffy clouds in the sky. They most definitely had mountains to climb and rivers to cross. Due to the fact that they’re husband and wife, they’ve had to find a balance of being in a marriage and running a business. This has become second nature to them as time goes on.

Growing Stronger

There were many doors closed in their faces as well because many did not understand their vision at first. Kahran stated “ the biggest obstacle was to carve our own path and staying true to ourselves”. However, failure is what made them stronger as a couple and as business owners. They continued on following their dreams and paved the road for themselves and others. They’re an inspiration, daring their followers to be courageous enough to press through failure.The couple stated for any aspiring photographer or business owner to focus on business and marketing strategies in addition to photography, because if no one ever see your work or is not aware of your product the business will flop. They didn’t know that one day they would have a successful photography business that would be seen worldwide, but their paths were meant to cross so that they could become the dynamic duo that they are now. 

I truly admire their story because it is still being written to this day. It all took faith and trust to be where they are now. Success is when you can truly say you put your blood, sweat and tears into a dream to make it become a reality. Success is inspiring others through an amazing testimony. Follow your heart, and don’t be afraid to fail because failure doesn’t break you–it molds you. Embrace it and grow just like the Bethencourt’s did. Trust yourself to not be a wisher or a wanter, but be a doer. Can you picture this?