Photography and design with Bec Creative
I first met Rebecca from Bec Creative on Instagram and like many friendships formed in this day and age, we bonded over long, heartfelt DMs and our love for food and creativity. Bec was actually the reason why this website started moving when it did. After nearly a year of me ‘owning’ the domain and dreaming about what this space could be, I joined an Instagram competition for a logo package on Bec’s page and she created the logo for Loudly Quietly. I knew that we were going through life and creativity in the same pace when she sent through the first draft of the logo and did the wave with the ‘L’ and joined them together. I hadn’t even told her that the synergy of the ‘L’ when you type out loudlyquietly was my favourite part of it and yet there it was, presented to me in the most stunning visual form.
I loved her work so much I commissioned her to create the illustrations from the first ‘launch announcement’ visuals on our Instagram and that idea turned into the category section that you can see in the homepage. I am absolutely obsessed with it! It feels fitting to have Bec as our first interview feature for this website.
She is one of the most well-travelled person I know and her photographs have this magic to it and I credit that to Bec’s ability to capture the place in that time and space as authentically as it is in that moment. I look at her dreamy photos of the places she has been and it feels like I’m there too. Like if I just close my eyes, I can hear the traffic in LA, I can feel the sun touching my skin, and I am bathed with the city’s electric energy. It’s incredible how a single photograph can make us feel and Bec’s work masters that perfectly.
How did you start getting into illustrating/designing/photographing?
I have always loved photography - I studied it in year 12 at school but felt too confined by the projects given to me, so I dropped it. That year I also studied graphic design and I remember my sweet 80-something year old male teacher telling me that this was my path. I loved everything about graphic design and took it the following year, topping my class and receiving a small scholarship to AUT.
However, I didn’t take the scholarship because I had other ideas, and left it as a back-up option. In hindsight, it would have been a very straight forward journey for me if I had pursued the graphic design route because look where I ended up! But hey, I took the scenic route.
Anyway, I applied for the journalism and PR degree/masters at London College of Fashion, not really expecting to get in - but I did.
So off I went. I lived in London for 6 years studying, and it that time I met some amazing creatives and interned/worked in magazines such as Harpers Bazaar and Tatler. In 2017, I moved to Monaco with my partner and the 70’s aesthetic and culture really re-ignited my love for photography. I started walking around the streets of Monaco, shooting with my grandad’s film camera, and eventually started selling my prints.
Describe your style/aesthetic in give words?
I honestly don’t even know what my own style is! I like what I like - and stick to it. It’s definitely changed a lot over the years but I feel most ‘myself’ now. I definitely don’t find myself buying as much fast fashion anymore as I’d prefer to have quality over quantity. I am VERY partial to a good quality oversized blazer - and a blazer is my ‘uniform’- I have never really been into feminine winter clothes, its just not me. In summer I like to dress more feminine - lots of blouses, Panama hats etc.
SO, 5 keywords for my current style would be: classic, quality, masculine (winter), timeless, white (summer).
I really love your photographs because you really capture what I imagine the vibe of that place at that space in time was, like your LA photos! What interests you in a subject? How do you choose which bits to capture?
I have this thing where there has to be at least one person/animal, car/yacht, or moving objects in the shot - otherwise I feel like a postcard photographer!
Tips for budding photographers or even for non photographers who wants to create aesthetically pleasing Instagram grids?
Lighting is always key. The outcome and mood of the shot is always dictated by lighting - thats how golden hour came about! If someones taking a photo of me, I always make sure the suns in front of me (behind the person taking the photo) and make sure theres not too much chaos around me.
How are you staying creative in lockdown?
I run my own creative agency, Bec Creative, and I currently have 13 amazing clients -who I’m creating branding and websites for.
You juggle your time between NZ and Monaco – how does that help you with your work/art/creativity?
It works perfectly! Different places inspire me in different ways. Monaco and the French riviera is my photography haven, especially in the summer months. I take my camera with me everywhere because there is quite literally something beautiful and out of the norm around every corner. I love London in winter, the energy leading up to Christmas is like no other. I also have a decent network in London and can gather clients very easily - theres also epic spots to work freelance from. When I am home in NZ, I tend to gather a lot of cool, smaller jobs for start ups - we are more entrepreneurial down here.
You also seem to travel a lot! Where will you go first once it’s safe to see the world again?
I am fortunate enough to have a partner who travels for work. Last year he raced all throughout America which was amazing as I absolutely love LA - the weather, the billboards (weird I know), the Fairfax markets, the Caesar salads!!
What do you love most about your creativity?
I see beauty in literally everything. Being so into photography has made me look at things from every angle and appreciate the unique vibes a place gives off- even the dirtiest back street of LA, I will be like ‘oh that rusty car is so cool next to that billboard!’
Favourite photo you’ve ever taken?
Oh gosh, impossible to say. I must of taken millions. Each one is so special and has so much emotion behind it - it would be like trying to pick a favourite child! My French Riviera and Italy ones are a big hit though!
What’s your dream creative gig?
I spend so much time branding and advising for others, that my dream creative gig would be branding for my own thing. I may even have something in the pipeline…
Follow Bec here:
Personal @rebeccaimogenkate
Business @bec_creative
