Summer Style. Coffee Sippin'.

BECKLEY LATELY

Intentions were set - intentions were so clearly set! And here I am two and a half months later finally posting to the blog. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Slow and steady wins the race."? Of course you have, but have you really heard it? I've found I am an all-or-nothing worst kind of perfectionist, but something that managed to sink in a little deeper than the Aesopian platitude: "Better done than perfect." 

Of course I want BECKLEY to be perfect. Who wouldn't strive for perfection? But each little task, project, and post doesn't have to be perfect every single time. Sometimes things have to get done, and that's a truth sure as death and taxes. 

BECKLEY LATELY - a simple way of showcasing favorite photo shoots that otherwise might never see the light of day on our channels.

There was no option other than to start with an ode to coffee. Two summer styles showcased in the diffused light of sweet coffee shops.

Lauren - Disco Daydream 

Travel Recap: NYFW SS2018 | Part One

Ever since my first trip to New York Fashion Week in the fall of 2016, I decided I was going to go to every September and February, unless I had a major reason not to (like my mom's birthday celebration last September - I consider that a pretty good reason.) 

This February was special. I was there with my very best friends - most live in the same city as me, but of course we found a way to see each other across the country more easily than it is for us to get together in Dallas. 

It was a whirlwind trip, but here's a highlight real of my favorite shoots, where we [wish we] stayed, where we ate, and how we fashionably avoided the rain. 

This is probably about half the looks I shot while I was in New York, but this post is destined to be photo-heavy as-is, and I don't think you need to see EVERY outfit I shot. I don't even want to see that.

Day 1 

Packed day of shoots, counting the my oat milk lattes as meals, and wishing I had sprung for a cute boutique hotel to feel fancy AF on my "business trip." 

10:00 AM | Amy | Fashion Jackson | Ludlow Hotel

12:00 PM | Stephanie | Stephanie Taylor Jackson | Midtown Manhattan

1:00 PM | Nita | Next with Nita | Midtown Manhattan

2:00 PM | Amy | Fashion Jackson | SOHO

4:00 PM | Rachel | Pink Peonies | Meatpacking District

Breakfast: Oat Milk Latte sipped while working in the lobby of the Ludlow Hotel

Lunch: Butternut Squash Soup at NOMO SOHO 

Dinner: Vegetable Curry Bowl at Jack's Wife Freda 

The Best Equipment to Use for Photographing Fashion Bloggers

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive: "Love this shot of ________, what lens do you use?!" It's a great question, and one that I would probably ask too, ...

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Creating Consistent Photos for Your Brand

BRANDING. There's that wonderful word again. Part of branding is having consistency, well all of branding is having consistency - it just depends on how you define that. 

There are a million different directions I could go with this blog post, but I am going to start with just one: Instagram. 

"How do I get a consistent feed?!"

I'll tell you.

Little home away from home 🤍 where all your dreams come true 😉
Street style baby at heart 🤍 Photos for @ashleyrobertson
Best martini recipe: find a friend, make martinis 🍸 Optional: can replace martini with Sancerre Interior design: @cindysontag • • • • #BECKLEYCO #dallasphotographer #dallasblog #dallasblogger #dallashomes #dallasinteriorde
We have fun 🤍 More moments from the 13th Nastia Liukin Cup because enough is never enough • • • • • • #BECKLEYCO #dallasphotographer #dallasblog #dallasblogger #nastialiukin #nastialiukincup #nastialiukincup2022 #b
The real OG: magazines. Pure, unfiltered, free from algorithms and likes, inspiration.
It’s always been hard to pinpoint exactly “what” BECKLEY “does,” but “shooting everything like it’s ‘behind the scenes’” is getting dangerously close. 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜️ 96% The last few days have

REMEMBER: What you enjoy looking at and what inspires you, might not be what you are good at creating. One of my favorite bloggers is Julia Engel (Gal Meets Glam), but my Instagram feed looks nothing like hers. I learned I tend to shoot and edit with more contrast and am drawn to cooler tones... and a lot of denim. I will shoot more similarly to her brand from time to time, but I've learned to play to my strengths and market myself a certain way. 

I asked, and you all told me your favorite instagrams to follow - the people whose feed you look at and you just think, "I like this vibe!" 

 

1. DEFINE YOUR STYLE

Each of these bloggers has her own sense of style. Some are feminine, some are summery, some are vintage, some are laid back... Having a sense of style doesn't mean only wearing certain things, but it means knowing what makes you feel like your best self and expressing yourself through you clothes, accessories, or home decor in a way that is uniquely you.

2. HAVE A COLOR SCHEME

Identifying with a color scheme is one of the easiest ways to start adding continuity in your feed. Editing and filters can only go so far - WHAT you take photos of matters the most. For example, Ashley (Teacher Diva) is good about keeping a thread of soft pinks throughout her feed, and finds the color everywhere - flowers, drinks, clothes. Pick a few colors that work for your brand AND are what you happen to see every day. Try to pick a couple neutrals and then a pop of color, like green, blue, cream, with a pop of peach or orange 

3. SHOOT IN CONSISTENT LIGHTING

Something that may not be as obvious at first glance, but a huge way to have consistent photos is to shoot in the same type of light as much as possible. Either in the shade, or at dusk, in the bright sun, or inside with cozy ambient light. Once the first two are nailed down, and you are shooting in consistent light, you will start to really see all your images coming together. This really helps keep your whites and blacks consistent, which creates a huge impact when looking at all your photos together. 

4. PICK A FILTER OR TWO

Since we are talking about Instagram, let's talk about VSCO - the app that is the easiest way to add consistency in your feed without using Instagram filters and picking what suits your brand best. Because life cannot all be one color scheme, or one type of light, I suggest you buy all the filters - maybe a total of $20, and play around with the filters to find what fits your brand. This helps keep your color tones (whites, blacks, etc.) the same throughout your feed, even if the photos were taken by different people at different times. Be careful about using them subtly, I can speak for every photographer when I say there is nothing like delivering one batch of photos and then seeing something COMPLETELY different on someone's feed. But when used correctly, by all means, add a filter at a strength of 20-30% to add some continuity to your feed. When executed well, it's a game changer. 

Other good editing tools: Snapseed & Filmborn

5. USE A PLANNING APP

For a while I was against this, because if you are doing the first four, they should all go together. But I have learned, especially when I am sitting on a lot of content that needs to be posted, it helps to see it all laid out. 

I send myself 3 or 4 photos from only 3 or 4 shoots, and then add a few detail shots of other things that go with my color scheme, run them all through VSCO (adding a slight filter), then open them in my planning app. Then I rearrange them until there is a good thread of each color or texture running through the 9-12 photos. And if I'm traveling or out and want to post a photo right there from that night, great! Nothing should stop you from being spontaneous and posting what you love. Even if a photo doesn't fit sometimes, if you love it, you should post it, and then just pick up right where you left off in your feed. 

Favorite planning apps: Planoly & Preview

Tag me if you try any of these tips! I'd be so excited to see how you apply them to your own feeds!

As always, have fun with it! If it's stressing you out, take a step back to remember why you do what you do and what makes it enjoyable. Give yourself a reasonable set of boundaries to establish your brand, and then go wild!

Also note: what's really on trend right now is not giving a s*** - so shoot in mixed light, wear a funky accessory, don't highly edit your photos, and you will surely be on-trend. 

How to Shoot Product Photos for your Blog

Mail day! (Really every day in the blogging community) One, two, even three times a day, a courier arrives at the door trading you a package for your signature. Door closes, package ripped open: more products. More products to try, photograph, and post about. Cosmetics, hair products, snacks, teas, grooming essentials, kitchen gadgets - all mailed to bloggers all the time to post. Some make the cut and their pretty posed photo makes it to the pages of the blog! Some never see the light of day and end up in the guest bath or given to your best friend because - well how much Clinique does a blogger really need? (And we can talk about that later - discerning what makes it to the blog and what doesn't). But let's talk about photographing these beauties. 

product photography beckley shampoo

Some easy tips whether you're using your phone, mirrorless camera, or DSLR: 

1. Find a spot with good lighting

Usually by a window or well-lit spot in your home, this makes capturing clear images so much easier. When you find a place or two that work well for you, stick to those spots, and style them according to what you're photographing. Usually the bed, side table, and maybe a windowsill, balcony, or patio are great go-to's. 

2. Shoot with a low f-stop (but not too low)

This applies to people shooting with a mirrorless camera or a DLSR. The f-stop is how blurred the background is, and affects how much light is let it. A lot of people are looking to achieve a really blurry background, so they set the f-stop as low as it can go. For some lenses that's an f-stop of 3.5, others as low as 1.2. That blurry, creamy background is beautiful, but you want to make sure that enough of the product is clear and in focus. Try shooting with an f-stop around 2.0-3.0. If you still want a really blurry background, put the products far away from the background, so there is more room for the background to be blurred.

3. Set a scene

It doesn't have to be fancy, but gather some items in your home that make you happy and relate to the product. They can be the same color scheme, or just relate to each other in some way. This puts the product in context, and gives you a way to represent yourself and your own brand.

4. iPhones are really great for flat lays

Save yourself the headache of adjusting the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed for getting all the products perfectly lit and in focus for the flat lay you envision. iPhones are really great for capturing products and it's much easier to see when you're getting a straight, clear image on your phone. 

Product photos should be a fun chance to capture something you love and want to share. It doesn't have to be literal - this isn't an e-commerce shoot. What's important is to capture how it applies to you, and by finding good lighting, getting a clear photo, and staging it properly, you can have fun with the rest.

Happy shooting and happy mail day! 

S H O P  T H E  P O S T

Inspiring Spaces - Dallas

Society by Jackson Vaughn

SOCIETY

Bishop Arts District

SOCIETY by Jackson Vaughn is a tiny candle shop in the Bishop Arts District that looks - and smells - exactly like you walked into someone's candle-filled study. It's eclectic but cohesive. Knick knacks and enough scents to spend a whole afternoon smelling. Walking in is instantly relaxing and cozy, and even though it's small, it's easy to get lost in there.

dropcap-11.jpg

HOUNDSTOOTH

Sylvan Thirty

Houndstooth Coffee is a slightly mellower Houndstooth than it's sister location on Henderson. The muted greens, natural wood, and sleek blacks and whites, make this a perfect place to get some work done, but mostly chat with a friendly neighbor. It makes the city of Dallas feel like a small town, where most people who walk through stop to say hello, catch up, and go on with their days. Natural light streams in, and the palm fronds that lean against the side windows make you feel like you could be anywhere in the world (other than Dallas). 

Set and Co Dallas Davis Street BECKLEY

Set & Co.

Davis Street

Housewares, magazines, furniture, and every other perfectly-curated trinket you can imagine. Walking in to Set & Co. is like walking into your interior-designer-friend's house and wanting everything for yourself but then actually being able to buy it. It is owned by a husband and wife who are just as cool as their store and it is always a welcome space where you can wander, peruse, and treat yourself.

Place on Parry Event Space

Place on Parry

Fair Park

Place on Parry is a blank canvas plus a little bit more. An all-white event space that is literally anything you want it to be. Rentable as a photo studio, workshop space, a place to host a dinner or engagement party, it's lofty ceilings and open floor plan are perfect for letting your creativity take over. It has a huge window in serving as the street-side wall that let's in so much light, that would make any photographer swoon.

Americano Dallas the Joule Darling Dinner

Americano

The Joule Hotel

The food is amazing, that's a given. But the color palette at Americano is what makes this Italian-American restaurant inside the Joule Hotel so special. Lovely hues of turquoise, red, and green against a black grid of windows really transports diners into a world where siestas and afternoon Aperol spritzes replace the mid-afternoon slump and another cup of bland coffee. It's comfortable, it's happy, there's pizza - it's wonderful. Added bonus: there's a neon sign in the very back that reads: IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD. (what Instagram dreams are made of)

Local Press and Brew Oak Cliff Dallas

Local Press & Brew

Oak Cliff

The best place about Local Press & Brew is that this coffee shop slash juice bar not only makes all their products locally, but they also sell and support work of local artisans. It's sleek and contemporary without losing any sense of hospitality. White subway tile, minimal wood stools, marble tables, a wall of mirrors, and beautifully displayed local goods make Local a perfect place to stop in, grab a green juice, take a breath, recharge, and tackle the rest of the day.