Alicia Keys' children, Egypt, 9, and Genesis, 5, photograph her for magazine cover

There's a story behind her cover shoot. (PA Images)
There's a story behind her cover shoot. (PA Images)

Alicia Keys’ seemingly make-up free cover shoot for InStyle could’ve been shot by any number of photographers, but the truth is much cuter.

Keys had to enlist the help of her children, Egypt, 9, and Genesis, 5, to help her with the shoot because the coronavirus pandemic meant that she couldn’t work with a photographer.

The children - who are clearly photographers in the making - shot the pictures with help from their father and Keys’ husband, Swizz Beatz.

The front cover of InStyle magazine simply reads, “photographed by her family”.

Keys wore a simple white tank top on the cover with a hint of neon pink bra strap adding a pop of colour to the otherwise serene looking shoot.

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Genesis wasn’t very happy with his equipment, though, “he was like, ‘I want the smaller camera,” Keys shared with InStyle.

We can’t imagine a big photoshoot camera is all that easy to carry for a five-year-old.

While the photoshoot was very much down to the children and Swizz Beatz, the fashion choices were picked by stylist, Jason Bolden.

The fresh, summer look - with was in-keeping with the theme of the magazine - included a a light blue jumpsuit from the Givenchy and a floaty Fendi maxi dress in orange.

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The mini photographers-in-the-making aren’t the first celebrity family members to turn into professional shoot managers during lockdown.

Ashley Graham’s husband, cinematographer Justin Ervin, shot a photo of her breastfeeding her son, Isaac, for a recent issue of Harper’s Bazaar this month.

Drew Barrymore’s daughter, Olive, also tried her hand at photography for the actor’s Sunday Times Style cover earlier, too.

We wonder if in 20 years time we’ll see a wealth of budding photographers making their way through the ranks?

Speaking about the conversation she had with her daughter about the shoot, Barrymore wrote on Instagram: “The following is a dialogue between me and my daughter... ME: Olive will you take pictures for the @theststyle photoshoot. Its for a magazine people work for years to shoot for!

“OLIVE: Why are you asking me to shoot you mom? And who normally shoots you? ME: A photographer. But right now, the world is in a crazy place. Everything is an opportunity to do things differently! So what do you say? Do you want to be my photographer?OLIVE: I’m honored [sic] to be your photographer. I like taking pictures, so thank you. ME: Do you promise not to shoot me from below? OLIVE: Yes. And then you won’t look like you have a very big chin ME: Oh no, I’m worried about looking like I have NO chin!”

We’re suitably impressed, celebrity children.