Meet Bekah Marie

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bekah Marie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bekah, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Fresh out of high school I knew I wanted a career I truly enjoyed, but nothing seemed to fit. I wasn’t happy with where it seemed my life would head. So I started thinking about what I enjoy doing and realized I always loved taking photos with my moms camera, and capturing cool images. One of my best friends was majoring in photography at the time, so I started asking questions and talking to her about how to make a career doing that!

I quickly realized how much I loved even just thinking about owning my own business and taking photos for a living. My friend lent me a camera, I started taking pictures of friends and family for free, and next thing I knew I had a business!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
You’ll find a lot of my art is inspired by the people in them. Every session/wedding is so unique in how the couple interacts with me and each other, and I look at that to know how I want to pose them and shoot. They’re raw, messy, even a bit chaotic in their own way, but thats the thing that sets them apart – they’re real. You see the images and feel the love, the fun, the passion. My couples can see truly how they love each other in the photos, and it’s more than just a few pretty pictures. I’m proud of what my art can invoke for people, and man it was a journey getting there. Only just a few years ago I felt a bit lost in my photography journey and couldn’t find inspiration. I fell into a simple barista job to make ends meet. Finally I realized I wasn’t happy with where I was in life and needed to get back into photography. It was scary but I jumped head first, quit my job, and put all my energy into my business. I started marketing on every social platform, telling all my friends and family, and took some coaching classes from other photographers to really understand growing my business. It was hard, but the best thing that’s helped me was making sure I did something every day, no matter how big or small, to move towards my goals. Putting myself and personality into Bekah Marie Photo was the icing on the cake really. People loved knowing who they were getting, and someone they knew they’d be comfortable around. You can grow your skills and knowledge, but without a face for people to know and trust you wont get far.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of the first places I take anyone when they visit is Griffith Park & Observatory. The hike is always beautiful and fun, but the overlook of LA and the Observatory is like nothing else, especially during the iconic west coast sunset. The Santa Monica Pier is always a hit and a classic. Perfect for a chill beach day and photos! I love checking out the Elysian for any shows or comedians. They always have a great lineup.

For food and drinks, one my most recent favorites has become Tacos Tu Madre! A fun vibe, great food, and even better margaritas. Sassafras Saloon is a hidden gem for drinks, with one of the coolest aesthetics and amazing drinks.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My best friend, Ashlee Carrozza (Ashlee C. Photography) was the one who I first went to for guidance and help when I started even thinking about becoming a photographer. She’s been one of my biggest cheerleaders and always there for me and my business.

I wouldn’t have had the courage to make this jump without my incredible partner, Ryan, who always saw the potential in me and was there with me for every step.

Website: https://bekahmariephoto.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bekah.marie.photo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bekahmphotography

Image Credits
Bekah Marie Photo