We’ve been planning on doing this Beloved session with Kat and Gareth ever since I attended Life {as an artform} in Manchester last year, and I asked Kat to be my guinea pig while still on the train back home. It took us a while to synchronise our busy calendars, but finally, nearly a year later, we made it happen!
Since Kat & Gareth have been together for nine years, of which they’ve been married for 3, they were the perfect couple to explore the Beloved experience with. Beloved sessions consist of different exercises, called invites, which have a way of bringing the couple into the present moment and into a state where they are not afraid to show their true selves and explore the connection they have. I’ve used some of the more physical invites in my engagement sessions to break the ice, but this was the first session where it was 99% Beloved techniques as opposed to traditional posing, so it definitely felt like a big step.
The weather was grey and a bit damp when we headed out to Richmond Park, but that didn’t bother us much, the energy between Kat & Gareth would be enough to keep a small village warm! I had such an amazing time, and it was so nice to see how even the more serious invites work beautifully. I’ve always been most interested in capturing the genuine emotion and the authentic dynamics between a couple, and I love the way I can really explore those with these techniques.
Do watch the slideshow of this Beloved session if you have a minute. Be sure to have your speakers on if you do. :)
P.S. If you are a photographer reading this, and interested in the concept of Beloved and in encouraging genuine emotions and interactions in both your work and in your life, do join me and others at this year’s Life {as an artform} in London.
What amazing photos!! I love them, and really interesting to read about the ‘Beloved techniques’….I am intrigued!! x
Genuinely beautiful. It’s like you can actually see the love!
A fascinating technique Marianne which I have to say would be beneficial to so many couples who are camera shy [moi]. The beautiful photographs are almost so intimate and genuine that you feel a little intrusive to look through them but that’s what makes them so amazing. Nice to see Kat that you and Gareth are still both so happy together after 9 years. I’m feeling the love. xxx
Yes, exactly. It’s really not a ‘photo shoot’ at all, it does feel more like privilege to be able to witness the couple connecting.
Really lovely :)
You have done such a magnificent job of capturing the couples personality and the way they interact with each other. Not an easy thing to do. Very well done.
I love it. I think the beloved stuff is utterly fantastic, and the emotions you get with it are so authentic. THIS is how to show love. Great work.
UAU!!!!
These are lovely and so natural! Would love to do the course at some point!
So simple, but so beautiful!
Ahhh! These are so beautiful…. love the raw, honest openess about these. x
Beautiful session Marianne. I just incorporated Beloved into my new approach and cannot wait to do my first ful-fledged session. These images are beautiful and beautifully inspiring. Very nice work.
I’ll look forward to seeing your Beloved work!
Gnarly couple, kick-ass photography and a big effort clearly put in all around. Can’t shake a stick at that!
These are gorgeous. I love how easy they are.. and her hair is badass.
What a beautiful session! You can just feel their love! :D
Great work as always!
Ah! What a great couple! Your black and whites are incredible! Love the tones so, so much. Awesome session! :)
I love Kat’s hair!
Beautiful images as always, Marianne :)
Oh Marianne… these are beautiful. I have to say I am in love with the third frame from the top. Something about it is so tender. Amazing work, my dear.
Beautiful work here. Love all those smiling shots. They are so completely into each other.
This set should be gracing the pages of Rock N Roll Bride, awesome work!
:) http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2011/03/kat-gareths-beloved-session-with-marianne-taylor/
Thank you for all your lovely comments! xx
Maybe the weather was grey and damp nut they certainly brightened everything with their energy and love. So awesome!
What a cool concept!!! I love where they are touching noses. They seem so at ease and in their own world.
They both look so happy, vulnerable, and romantic. Kat always looks so fierce (not that she doesn’t look absolutely stunning) but it’s so lovely to see her in context of her husband. I obviously love this session. Beautiful work, Marianne!
Rockin Roll!
Super well done Marianne!
What a fun, beautiful and emotional set!
Love it! So many wonderful and intimate moments between them captured perfectly. Nice!
These are fantastic! So much personality and love. The location is absolutely stunning, as well. Great work!
Funky, fun, fresh! LOVE it!
I saw these on Kat’s blog and just had to comment here too as this shoot moved me so much. Beautiful, honest, raw emotion. this is exactly what you want from a wedding/engagement shoot and I welcome more photographers moving towards this style of shooting. It is just beautiful and like Charley says above you almost feel like an intruder looking at them as they are so intimate….but in a good way. Truly genuine love that comes through because they are so evidently relaxed with the photographer, like you’re not even there! Fantastic, I am dreaming of the day I get to have my own Beloved session with you!. Michelle x
Thank you for such a beautiful comment Michelle! x
Marianne, how do you always manage to get the most awesome clients?! These are beautiful.
Oh my gosh.. these are amazing. Seriously.
I adore that first black and white one! What a gorgeous couple, these are awesome!