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Creating Community and Capturing Connection with Adrianne Shelton · Luxe & Legacy Podcast

Welcome to the Lux and Legacy Podcast.
I'm Marie from Marie Elizabeth Photography.
And I am Amber from Light Live in Photography.
We created this show for photographers who are ready to run a luxury business with clarity, intention, and elevated artistry.
Each week we uncover the strategies behind high level brands from shooting and styling to client communication, to marketing, to designing heirloom products that increase your value.
If you want to attract aligned clients, produce, work with a recognizable aesthetic and build a business that supports the life you want, this podcast will guide you there.
Let's dive in.
Welcome, welcome you guys.
Today we have a very special guest on the podcast.
She's a friend of Marie's and someone who I am so excited to talk to today.
She's someone that a lot of people in our community really look up to.
And today we're gonna actually talk to her a little bit about how she creates community within the photography world in such a positive, beautiful way.
And we are also gonna pick her brain a little bit about.
Posing because we know you guys absolutely love our posing episode, and we are really wanting to bring other people on for their perspectives so you guys can get more, more perspectives on how to pose families in a really natural way.
That feels beautiful and let's real moments unfold.
Today we have Adrian from Beatific Visions Photography on the podcast.
Adrian is a family photographer who focuses on beautiful organic connection and interaction.
She's based outta Richmond.
She founded the Kindred Path, which is an online family photography publication, and she also hosts content Days in the Virginia area called Connect and Direct, as well as artistic retreats with Sarah of Willow Canvas.
I met Adrianne through Instagram back in 2020, which I'm sure she'll share about a little bit later, but I wanna bring up that she cold DMed me.
With this idea to join in on the kindred path, and that is where our friendship started.
But the idea of reaching out to someone on Instagram that you don't know and then becoming friends with them was something I could never have imagined years.
Prior, even that year.
It's also something that I would be terrified to do myself.
So I am so, so grateful that she did, and from this gesture, you know, from her heart, Arienne created this beautiful community of the Kindred path, which has blossomed and.
She has grown so many other parts of her photography business.
So today we're gonna chat with Adrianne about her heart behind creating these opportunities and how other photographers can create and foster community, and how to create such beautiful art in her work.
So Adrianne, we would love to start off by having you tell us a little bit about yourself and the kindred path and why you started it.
Well, I am Adrian Shelton, as you guys said.
I'm located in Richmond, Virginia.
Born and raised here.
Moved around a little bit, but I'm back in the area, so it was great to come back.
Owner of Beatific Visions Photography, I've been in business for about 10 years with that.
And like you said, also founder of the Kindred Path and I do love to talk about community.
Started that back in 2020.
It was literally March of 2020, so we are six years old now That was a time when like everyone was struggling, like really, really struggling.
Even the introverts like myself, you know, we long to connect whether we know it or not.
Instagram, it felt like at that point was the only place you could connect at that point.
Don't know about you guys, but for me, everything really, really slowed down.
It slowed down so much that I was like, I think I'll have a third baby now.
I mean, we had nothing to do.
It was crazy.
I had always wanted to start a family photography publication just because I was so inspired by the ones that I did see.
But I didn't see any that were welcoming of even beginners.
You know, everyone from every session has at least one image to be proud of.
Like, they did something outside of their comfort zone.
They thought of something new they really got creative or you know, they worked with a new family or a new location.
So I just wanted to be a publication that in.
inspired, but also welcomed everyone no matter what part of their journey that they were in.
I was not that far into mine.
Now, like I said, the Kindred path is six years old.
My business is only 10.
So I was four years in very part-time, still learning.
I had gone to one workshop and I was just so invigorated by being around other people that enjoy doing what I do as much as I did.
so when everything slowed down, I was like, well, now's the time.
Let's get this rolling and it picked up so, so quickly that, that is what led me to reach out to Marie literally just months later because there were so many submissions coming in.
we got to do like some fun community activities, even from afar by, you know, mailing a hat around and having a competition for everyone to photograph this hat in different ways.
And you know, getting the hat in return as the prize.
So we were able to get creative.
Even when everyone was still a little bit tentative about getting together in person.
I am a major introvert, so reaching out to someone on Instagram is like, actually great for me.
You know, I could be a, I could be an Instagram warrior.
Totally different.
I think that.
Starting the kindred path and opening that opportunity for these photographers to submit things and seeing the trust that immediately happened, like immediately.
They had no idea who I was.
I was very small at the time that caused me to believe in myself more.
And I think we can't believe in ourself.
We don't get ourselves to the next level until someone else believes in us first.
It's a beautiful answer.
Thank you.
I love the Kinder Path magazine so much.
It's so beautiful and it's really special to see it in person.
Like so many magazines don't exist anymore in person, it's all online, so I really love that you created that.
Thank you.
Well, I gotta give all the credit for for that.
Real quick to Kayla Victor, because she came to us a few years ago and literally brought the magazine and she does every single detail of it.
She's just amazing.
And exactly what you said, we talk about getting things in our hands all the time, but there aren't really many people doing that.
So Kayla's amazing.
I love that.
What advice would you give to photographers who feel alone in their area or markets? So chances are very, very high that you're not the only one.
Sometimes you do have to take that risk.
Take that first step.
I know.
You can look at it as a community or you can look at it as a competition.
it is way healthier if you look at it as a community.
And yeah, you aren't gonna click with every single person in your area and that's okay, being the first person to reach out and keep in mind, offer more than you take.
Just go ahead and lead with that intention.
don't DM someone by saying, Hey, where's this location? Hey, where's this dress from? Like, hello, nice to meet you.
My name is Adrianne.
I think we probably shoot at some of the same locations.
Maybe we should meet up sometime.
Like, would you like to do a headshot swap? Get to know people like who they are before you ask them for something.
Definitely we've got a couple of Instagram chats going on in different regions that I'm a part of, and the referral network is amazing the way that we collaborate or I see.
All the time.
I'm in one closer to Marie's area.
I don't shoot up in the DC area very often, but they have like a running conversation about how much construction is up around the monuments, and like they're warning each other, okay, this one's down now, now this one's up.
So that they don't show up, you know, not ready to deliver to their clients, and, and everyone has something to offer.
So taking the first step, but being humble about it and being intentional about it is the most important thing that I would say.
I was not nodding vigorously to all that.
Yes, yes, yes.
How can photographers find or create community or relationships in their local photography scene? Like what practical steps can they take? Yeah, once you start a group message, I mean, literally anytime I meet someone in person, if i've recognized them from Instagram and I see them when I go out to shoot once I've met someone in person or I've actually started talking to them online, I add them to that local group so that we can talk.
and I'm a logistics person.
Like I'm really good at organizing events, so I'm the first person to say, Hey, who wants to get together on Friday evening? Bring your families.
We'll just all take pictures of each other.
Sorry.
So if you're willing to, and you're that person and, and you think that that's your gift, do that.
And if not, then make connections with just a few and figure out whose strengths that you can use, you know.
Who is good at organizing these events, who is good at being an extrovert and reaching out you know, who's more behind the scenes, who's better at just making people feel welcome and, and things like that.
But the more thought you put into it upfront and the more you come in again with that, that humble, like, hey, we are equals.
Not like I've been in business for 20 years and this person just started, you know, really building the community up.
And as you do that.
You're going to get referrals back.
You are going to become a part of something bigger and you're gonna raise, you're gonna raise the overall value of the photographers in that market together.
Yeah, I remember hearing about how important it was to have a network of local photographers and a community back when I was teaching and I didn't really give it too much thought.
But now that I am, you know, doing this every day.
I'm home every day by myself every day, and it's so easy to feel like you are the only one going through this experience and like different client situations that can come up.
It's easy to make everything feel heavier and bigger than it needs to, whereas we're all going through so many similar experiences and it's nice.
To have a water cooler moment.
You know, maybe that's the Instagram chat of local photographers and just sharing something that happened to you or a question about a location.
So having that on hand is so, so valuable.
A hundred percent.
now we are going to segue into talking a little bit about.
Posing because I know that's one of your most asked questions.
Can you share with us your approach to leading natural family sessions? Yeah.
Number one, you have to be natural yourself.
try to be someone else, you know? I love watching other people shoot and I love seeing what they do, but I can't duplicate that 'cause it's not me.
So have to figure out what system works best for you.
Like go back through your sessions and say, okay, these went really, really well.
And kind of look at that.
What did I do differently or, or was it, what did the family do differently? How were they more comfortable in this scenario? What were they not having to worry about? So, but for me, what I've learned, I'm pretty reserved.
I'm quiet.
I think that it actually shows in the end image.
If I'm not adding that energy to it, their energy kind of comes down to my level.
So part of that also is once you figured out who you are.
What works for you, being confident in that because they're paying you for a service because they trust you, because they like your previous work.
your work is more consistent when you are more consistent.
And that doesn't mean that all of my sessions are like totally laid back.
I mean, we photograph toddlers, you never know what's gonna happen with them.
But just keeping that in mind, if you do have more energy, you're a more energetic person that.
shows in your images, whether you think so or not.
You have an infectious personality.
You know, that's just, it's gonna show every time.
That's why we're artists.
That's why, you know, everyone's work is different.
Even if we're at a workshop and we're all shooting the same thing, everyone's perspective is different, their energy is different.
but my rule, when I first get to a session.
Of course I send them a guide in advance that says pretty much everything I just said, like, just be yourself.
Don't fuss at your kids.
You can bribe them, but don't.
Don't warn them, you know, don't tell them in advance you're gonna be in trouble if you don't do something let me take care of them.
So just setting them at ease.
Constantly telling mom and dad that their kids are great.
Their kids are exactly what they're supposed to be right now.
Just let them do it as long as they're not in danger.
But when I start my sessions, because most of the time dad and the kids of course have not read my guide, mom has, I say, okay, I have two rules.
You either need to be touching a family member or looking at a family member.
Do not look at the camera unless I tell you to.
Dad always looks at the camera anyway, so he wasn't listening to the memo, but that's okay.
later on in this session, when that happens over and over again, I say, look at your beautiful wife.
When in doubt, look at your beautiful wife and they're nine times outta 10.
Great at that.
Once they get that direction, they just need to know.
It's like, what do I do with my hands? What do I do with my eyes? What am, why am I here? Yeah.
Now the kids don't always follow the rules and that's okay, but they can be running around chaotic, and I'm totally fine with that as long as they're staying in the frame.
But then it gives me an opportunity to pull them back and say, Hey, remember, you either have to be touching someone or looking at someone.
So oftentimes that gets them to run back and like poke their mom and run away.
But it's cute.
it's very low amount of direction.
But just some boundaries is how I said it.
Other than that, when it comes to posing, I move around a lot.
Like I was telling Marie, we were just in Florida last week, I am a okay, sit here, take photos here, run over here, let's go here, we're gonna explore this.
If I rented this entire property, we're gonna see this entire property.
I'm very much a, let's not sit in one spot and do the same thing over and over again.
And it allows the kids to play as well.
And.
Floor.
And if they really wanna run off, we're just gonna follow them.
Somehow I can get the kids to think that it's their idea to come back to the beautiful spot that we started at.
will figure out how to do that.
but that's my style.
And give small prompts like, you know, especially to mom and dad.
I want you to lean in for a kiss or almost kiss.
We're gonna do it a couple times.
Can you swish your dress while you're doing it? I wanna see some movement.
but I always.
Start just with those simple rules.
And I also always start by saying, okay, you guys just stand over there.
I just want you to interact for a few minutes.
I'm gonna test my light.
And then we really never come out of the light testing phase.
I never tell them that we're starting, they, they didn't realize they've been in the session for 10 minutes.
They had no idea.
So the more you can trick them into not being nervous, the better.
Is how my approach is.
So when I'm leading shoots and everyone wants to know exactly why I'm doing something, it's just so natural for me.
I have to be intentional about describing why I am doing it the way that I'm doing it.
But that doesn't mean it's gonna be right for everyone.
Yeah, absolutely.
And I know Adrian has photographed my family now.
He was.
Back in 2020, Adrian.
Is that right? It was a, had two kids no, I had two kids.
One was a baby, so, gosh, easier times in terms of the, the juggling to my circus.
But do you find that you typically.
Provide prompts to the kids or to the parents, to everyone.
And I know you mentioned you might have parents like leaving for a kiss.
Can you share with us some prompts that you provide throughout a session? Yeah..
So kids, I only give them prompts if they are interacting with me.
If they are shy and they just wanna snuggle with mom, then most of my prompts are gonna be about where she's putting her hands.
If she's playing with curls, you know, I, I'm a detail person, which is.
Another struggle I have when I do workshops or styled shoots because I, I wanna get like right in their face and I can't do that.
So there's a difference in style when you see those two with kids.
A lot of tag, maybe some hide and go seek some peekaboo, some running around.
If there are brothers or even just siblings close in age, they're always going to race.
They're gonna do it anyway.
So if I can just give them a direction on how to do it, I usually have them come back.
Leave mom and dad alone.
We're gonna tell.
Tell 'em I have something for you to do.
But we're gonna let, we're gonna get a couple pictures of mom and dad, can you come over here and get their attention with me and then I'll kneel down and let them know.
Okay, now we're ready for your time, your time to shine.
I want you to specifically go that way, run around parents two times, and then I want you to give them a big group hug.
But I need to see your face.
It depends.
does not met that.
They're definitely not gonna follow all of that, but they're gonna do something really cute and the parents don't know what they're gonna do.
So the, the like expressions on their face to not know what's about to happen is one of my favorite parts too.
And ultimately what I cherish in getting the photos of is them actually doing the action, not the final image that we're hoping to get in the end.
I absolutely love that.
Sometimes what I honestly struggle with certain kids, like I had five little boys at a session recently and a lot, it was a lot to manage, but sometimes getting the, the shot that you want or like getting something flattering at the same time with all that movement or when they're really spread out, like thinking about process of.
Who you're focusing on.
Can you kind of give us a little bit more detail on those factors? Like I like how you mentioned, you said go around twice and then make sure I can see your face that added little bit, make sure I can see your face is really important.
'cause otherwise they might be completely backwards the whole time.
Yeah, exactly.
And if we don't nail it the first time, then we do it again.
Like, can you do it faster this time? And then make sure when you end we're gonna freeze, or we're gonna do like red light, green light, you know? It, it really depends on the kids.
But if, if we don't have them all in the frame, we want them all in the frame, then I get to come back to my original rule that they need to go touch one of their parents or they need to touch their sibling or go give mom a kiss or something.
So oftentimes they, they kind of compete against each other.
If you have multiple siblings.
Especially if they're old enough to understand.
So making anything a competition is really helpful.
sometimes dad will be like, yeah, he loves to go on my shoulders.
And then you go to put the kid on the shoulders and he's like, ah, why would you do that to me? You know? So.
You have to think on your feet.
You have to be really quick in the moment.
But if they do love to ride on dad's shoulders, that's a great way to get them back in because they're playing around or, you know, have dad swing one upside down while mom's holding the baby.
You know, ask the parents what do they like, like what, what do you not do very often? That they're like, can we do this? Can we play in this way? Are mom and dad willing to like, get on the ground and like throw them in the air.
I, I ask the parents what they're comfortable with because I know sometimes mom and dad don't wanna get their hair messed up and things like that.
So I typically kinda, you know, sidebar ask a question to them before I do anything that's going to affect them.
But with, with games, like we're just having them race or we're having them run around.
That's how I do it.
And at the end of a session, I always ask, are there any other shots that you were hoping to get? And then you, I love how you mentioned at the beginning of the session you kind of say your kind of guidelines.
I do that as well, especially since.
Dads always wanna look and smile at the camera 'cause that's what they're used to doing.
So you have to really be intentional about that.
And then the other thing I tend to say is like, if we're playing or throwing or you know, going nose to nose, try to make sure you're bringing your chin out because a lot of the time when we're playing with little kids, we tend to go back like this.
Is there anything you would suggest for flattering moments while still in these really playful, natural environments? Yeah.
Yeah.
Yes.
So I do have things like that in my guide that they read beforehand.
But you're right, like extending the neck not keeping your eyes open if you're going in for a kiss, things like that.
Even different ways that women hold their body.
You know, I love the one foot forward, like you're walking, but you're not.
It elongates your whole body, your shoulders roll back.
It kind of naturally puts them into that position.
I put that in my guide and I don't typically mention it in person because.
If I say it during the session, then I don't want them to think that they did something wrong.
You know, I if, if you're doing it prior to the session, like you said, you're giving like a rundown before you even start.
I think it's so important to do it.
Then to be really well timed if you're doing it during the session, because if you do it when they're already in pose and they're already pulling their chin back, just depending on.
You know, how mom feels about her own image, or even dad, you know, sometimes that can make them more self-conscious the rest of the time.
So I try to be intentional about saying things before they happen.
You know, like you can bribe your kid but don't, don't scare them.
You know, we're gonna talk about how exciting this is going to be.
and then I just make small adjustments.
So if they've got.
They're in it like a pose that I like and they naturally got there.
I'll move, I'll like bend an elbow or I'll move dad's hand or you know, elongate mom's body in a way that she doesn't know that the one previously wasn't that flattering.
I'll say, Hey, let me, I'm gonna get the light this direction.
Can I just move you a little bit? And I'll move them around without them knowing why I am moving them around.
Yeah, that's smart to.
Make them, you know, continue to feel comfortable and not like second guess what they're doing, because that definitely can translate into images.
If you were going to give, like, and you, you might have already shared this, but if you were just gonna give like one piece of advice with this natural posing set up, like what would you, what would you tell another photographer? What I typically say when people ask me is set the expectations before the session ever happens.
Like let them know, ma, make sure that dad knows that I am not a Posey photographer.
Like I'm not gonna tell you every little detail.
You're just gonna come play with your kids.
You're gonna have fun and we're gonna get a lot of beautiful pictures with it, and I'm just going to put you where it's going to be beautiful and make sure that everything is going well.
It's, so much of it is about prepping them before they ever get there.
Okay.
Tell us about what workshops or events you have coming up.
So I don't have any on the schedule.
I'm working on several right now, of course one with you, Marie, for the Kindred Path.
We will I.
hopefully be announcing where Gather 2026 will be sometime soon.
We're really excited about it.
And that is typically like a Friday dinner and then an all day workshop on a Saturday, and that is.
Go, go, go.
Like we pack a lot into that package.
I will also have another connect and direct coming up soon with Connect and Direct.
Those are styled shoots.
They are more for attendees to come play around.
I style them.
I put them in a beautiful location.
I am there to help and advise on anything that they want, but really the attendees can come in.
Pose the models and get creative and do things that they can't do when they have paying clients.
I think those are the main two coming up.
Marie, did I tell you any others? I don't think so.
I mean, that's.
the only, that's enough for 2026.
Where can listeners find you? Yeah, so I am beatific Visions photography on Instagram, my website is beatific visions photography.com.
When you're spelling beatific.
There's not a you in it.
People try to make it beautific, like it's beautiful.
I could get into the long-winded answer of why it's beautific, but in short, that is where I am.
I have a Facebook page, but I don't check the messages very often.
So that, and then of course, the Kindred path on Instagram and the kindred path.com.
Love the kindred path.
Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your perspective on community and connection and natural family posing.
It was such an amazing conversation and I think so many photographers are gonna really enjoy this episode, so thank you.
Thank you, Amber.
Thank you, Marie.
If there's one thing we hope you take away from this episode, it's that you're not meant to build your business alone and to find your own unique voice in your business, especially when it comes to things like posing the right community, can inspire you creatively, support you through the hard seasons, and remind you why you started in the first place.
Thank you so much for spending time with us today on the Luxe and Legacy Podcast.
We love being part of your journey as you build a luxury photography business that feels aligned and elevated.
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Like you discover the show and join this community.
Make sure to join us next week.
We have another conversation that's going to inspire and give you even more tools to grow your brand with confidence.
We can't wait to see you then.
Bye.