Atlanta photographers get book deal celebrating natural hair

Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, whose series of photos showing young girls with natural hair in period clothing went viral, now have a book deal.

The Bethencourts , owners of CreativeSoul Photography in Atlanta, recently signed a six-figure deal with St. Martin’s Press  for a project that will  focus on children of color with photographs showcasing a celebration of natural black beauty and empowerment.

Baroque was the one of the themes in the “AfroArt” series showing young African-American girls with their natural hair. (Hairstylist: LaChanda Gatson.) CONTRIBUTED BY CREATIVESOUL PHOTOGRAPHY (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

The book, which has a working title of “Halo,”  is expected to hit shelves in 2019.

“We are so excited,” said Kahran Bethencourt.  “It’s been a journey trying to get here, but we’re here and we’re ready.”

CreativeSoul Photography

A year ago, CreativeSoul Photography launched the “AfroArt” series, which featuredAfrican-American girls.

Related: Atlanta duo goes viral with photos of black girls with natural hair

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It went viral, thanks in part to social media shoutouts from celebrities like Taraji P. Henson, Morris Chestnut and Tia Mowry. 

Couple Kahran (left) and Regis Bethencourt, co-owners of CreativeSoul Photography, talk about the success of their recent project at their studio in the Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta. The couple, who learned photography together, has had an array of Hollywood celebrities approve of their natural hair-inspired project featuring young African-American girls. ALYSSA POINTER / ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Bethencourt said they plan to travel to several nations to select models. The book will have three sections - past, present and future, “which will give us a broad range of themes. Lots of times, people think our history starts with slavery. What about when we were kings and queens?”

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A model call-out will be held in the near future. She said they are looking for children and teens between the ages of five and 18.