Meet Rebecca “Bexx” Francois | Photographer, Producer, Director \ @BlackGirlPod Co-Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca “Bexx” Francois and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca “Bexx”, what role has risk played in your life or career?

I process risk taking as leaping towards rewards.

One time in Vegas – while docu-recording Kamala Harris for her primary campaign – I decided I was going to jump off the Strat Hotel Tower.

By myself.
At midnight.

My excitement carried me through the process, eclipsing any fear or doubt. I took the elevator to the top floor and stepped out onto the ledge.

My confidence shattered.

All the scenarios of failure flooded my mind & my spirit.

Seeing the vast horizon & the thousands of twinkling lights on the ground brought me to tears. I was crumbling under fear. I was desperate to turn around. I’m sure the instructor to my side had seen & heard it all; & definitely wasn’t phased by my now swollen & wet face. But his words that night, struck me: “You can turn around if you want…. but you’re here. Right now. What do you want?”

I gave it to God & jumped – screaming at the top of my lungs!

Three seconds later, I went silent.

All of a sudden, the sight of the horizon & twinkling lights on the ground turned magnificent. I was flying. I was in awe. I was present. I was living.

I reached the ground and was immediately overwhelmed with myself. A complete stranger, who had watched me leap from the top floor, rushed to console me; repeating “you’re ok” as I sobbed into her shoulder.

I hadn’t felt that free, that inspired, that exposed, that GOOD in a very long time.

I felt… rewarded.

I would have never experienced any of that beauty had I not leaped.

And all I had with me, was my faith… & the body straps securing me to the top floor/ledge, of course.

I often reference that moment & apply it to how I move in my life & career. The leap I took to move across the country solo, to share my work, to believe in my eye, to create*, to seek mentorship, to push myself into spaces of discomfort.

Leap towards decisions that progress your life and your spirit.

Standing still… standing in fear…. living* in fear, bears NO fruit. No experience.

No reward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

As crazy of a ride as it’s been, I think I’m most proud of the way my career has kind of naturally graduated itself. I would have never thought I’d exist in this line of work, but I always loved creating and building. I used to build homes & decks with my father. (Yeah. For real.) Draw. Paint. Choreograph. “From idea to finished product,” for consumption/use, has always been a fascination of mine. A natural interest.

And I was doing just that in my production career: ideating, creating, packaging, presenting. Gradually it changed from giving direction to executive producing, to picking up the camera and pressing record myself. The shifts and changes weren’t easy.

I’ve experienced and executed a lot of roles in the production space – scripting, lighting, editing, coloring. And it carries over into how I capture photos; like I’m building a story within them. I also love capturing black men – specifically black men’s joy and freedom. A necessity.

What do I want the world to know about my brand and/or story? 

My images are intimate.

Storied.

Intentional.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Do I want to give away all my spots?! Ok, fine. lol

I’m fairly new to town, but there are a few places that I’ve enjoyed thus far – Fresh on Sunset, Moonshadow in Malibu, Mama Shelter in Hollywood, Gracias Madre in West Hollywood.

& if you’re lucky, a table at château @RellyCrocker.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I want to shout out QUEENS, NYC! Where I was born & raised!

All of my teachers and educators who either pulled me to the side or pushed me to the front.
My father, who showed me what hard work and reward looked like. My mother, who influences my eye, my home, my self. My Haitian heritage, for its history, beauty and RESILIENCE. My best friends who love me deep, no matter which version of myself shows up in front of them! Ha! My tribe who inspires the sh*t out of me, and expands my heart’s capacity. My work families turned life-long friends, who turn production nightmares into “laugh-till-you-piss” memories.

Shout out to BLACK WOMEN.
period.

& shout out to BLACK MEN.
PERIOD!

We are SO deeply beautiful.

Website: BexxFrancois.com

Instagram: @BexxFrancois

Twitter: @BexxFrancois

Facebook: Rebecca Francois

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv6nEJI_W_gWR4RpBoOkZEw

Other: Black Girl Podcast: @BlackGirlPod (IG/TWITTER)

Image Credits
All photos captured by me.