Britney + J’Son // Steamy Session // Joshua Tree, CA
I met Britney & J’Son back in February in Joshua Tree, Calfornia, during the Funk You Workshop I was attending, hosted by the incredibly talented @ChuyPhotos. It was our first day of the workshop, and myself and 4 other creatives had arrived only a few hours earlier. I remember feeling so nervous! I was still settling in after my long journey from Toronto, getting familiar with a group of people I had only just met, and anticipating learning and photographing in a way I hadn’t had the experience doing before with a photographer that I absolutely admire, when we are introduced to Britney & J’Son, our first couple that we would be photographing for the workshop. After a few minutes of sharing space with B + J, my nervousness melted away. They brought this energy that was warm and respectful, curious, and engaging. I knew, before we even started shooting, that we were going to create magic together.
During our 4 hours together, I got to know B + J a little more; about how they met, their hopes and concerns for the shoot, and their relationship to their bodies and each other. What has stayed with me about this steamy session — more than the incredible images that to this day I can’t comprehend that I took — is the embodied memory of my experience of co-creating a space of safety, exploration, playfulness, and vulnerability, and the beauty and expansiveness I feel in my heart from witnessing two people embrace their bodies, each others bodies, and allowing themselves to be vulnerable in confronting their fears, What I realized after this time with B + J is that, the experience is actually more important than the images, and that I am a facilitator in the experience that my clients have. Thank you Britney + J’Son, for allowing yourselves to be photographed in this way, and for providing me with a breadth of learning about myself, relationships, and the human experience, that I cannot fully put into words.
Britney + J’Son’s Story:
Britney and J’Son met in 2019 with the help of the universe, bringing them together at a house party that neither of them should have been at. J’Son was in LA from New York for business, and Britney snuck into the party during a night out with her friend. They both spoke of feeling instantly drawn to each other that night, and after a night of flirting and dancing, J’Son extended his ‘Business’ trip in LA by 3 months to spend more time with Britney, and then later moved to LA to be together. They now live in Santa Monica together.
When we asked B + J what motivated them to volunteer to be models for the workshop, and put themselves in front of 6 photographers, I was surprised and moved by their responses. Initially was expecting to hear something like, “We thought it would be fun”, or ‘We have been following Chuy’s work for years and jumped at the opportunity to be photographed by him’, instead what we heard was: “We want to learn to love our bodies”, and “We are practicing embracing the uncomfortable”. J’Son shared so vulnerably and beautifully saying, “I’m on a journey of body acceptance. I have body dysmorphia because I was overweight as a kid”.
J’Son later shared more about how his relationship with Britney has allowed him to connect to himself more deeply, and has taught him how to be vulnerable, He shared that this photoshoot was an opportunity to practice leaning into vulnerability and working through his fears. He shared that, ‘ Growing up in NYC as a Black kid/youth, I had to protect myself by having my guard up so I wasn’t harmed or taken advantage of. I also was never taught or encouraged to ask for help. So being with Britney has been a lesson and process of learning to be vulnerable, and being vulnerable allows me to love more deeply’ (paraphrased).
Words from Britney about her experience:
Britney generously provided me with her answers to reflection questions I asked her, a few weeks following the Funk You Workshop.
In response to being asked, why did you decide to do the steamy shoot, Britney said:
”i decided to do the steamy shoot because I have never been comfortable in my body, and there has never been a time in my life that I like what I see, no matter how skinny or fit I am. I did the photo shoot in an attempt to accept and love my body as it is, right now. I did it to step outside of my comfort zone, to grow, to stretch”
When asked about what worries she had coming into the shoot, Britney shared that she was “worried that it would feel extremely weird and awkward, and that it would show on camera. That I would get too nervous, and my partner would get too nervous, I was worried about how I would feel being naked in front of so many people, which is something I have never done before”.
I followed up with asking how she ended up feeling through the experience, and Britney said: “It felt really good! As soon as I stepped into the space, I no longer had any worries; I felt like I was home. Everyone was really authentic and genuine, the energy was relaxing and calming and reassuring, without anyone having to say anything — And that’s why I knew I was in the right place”.
“This experience exceeded my expectations. I had so much fun! It was so much fun connecting with my partner. It brought us closer together by doing something that we were both afraid of. We grew in love during this photo shoot. Afterwards we were high off of the love in the room. I felt very present, like I was in an alternate universe. It was very psychedelic for me. It felt like me and my partner were in our own world. We were locked in to each other ”
Words of advice for couples considering a steamy session:
“I would definitely recommend that every couple do a steamy shoot. It will bring you closer together, and allow yourselves to be in the moment.
If I had to give any advice it would be, just let go and be present. Have fun! Bring your favourite cocktail, favourite plant medicine, and just vibe. Enjoy the experience, enjoy your partner, and just vibe with each other”
