Michele Beckwith Photography

06/05/2022

04/27/2022

Updating website galleries today and realized I have soooo many beautiful unseen images to share. This is especially true of my mothers and babes portfolio! My Austin portrait studio is now open, and I have several Bay Area dates coming up for sessions. Send me a DM to book. I can’t wait to see how big your bambino’s have grown! ☺️

10/26/2020

How excited does Celeste look to be a big sister?! Congrats to my sweet friend and her husband on expecting baby #2. I can’t wait to meet bébé 💕

10/12/2020

Parenting Hack: Every morning I “Breakfast with Bach” while I make the kiddos breakfast and savor my three cups of coffee. Then while I tidy I listen to playlists of piano pieces that are on my bucket list to learn. And finally whilst I cook dinner I play another list called “peaceful piano” or “Mozart for babies” to help the kids transition from play to the dining table. At first I felt a bit silly, but man does it really do the trick when trying to create a calm atmosphere in the house. I’m even dipping my toes into opera! With nonlyrical music and the scent of apple cider candles drifting through the air, I find it helps me lower my stress levels and focus on my thoughts. Heck it even brings joy to daily tasks like dishes and laundry. If you’re anything like me and 7 months in with having your kids home almost 24/7, you’ll try just about anything to keep the constant whining (and political and covid news) from sucking the happiness out of your day. So give it a try! Much better than the tv cartoons chattering in the background all day 😂

Styling:
Invitation suite:
Styling board:

09/04/2020

Oh hello September 👋 My pumpkin spice candle is burning and now I’m itching to shoot some family sessions this Fall 🍂 Half price sessions are 30 minutes and $500. You get 30+ high res images as well! I’m shooting in Austin, TX only this fall (I’m so sorry Bay Area, it’s Covid’s fault 😭). These sessions can be used for holiday cards, maternity, engagement, headshots, and more. Send me a dm to book ☺️

05/29/2020

Live on today is this stunning East Indian meets Italian Villa wedding! This couple had 5 days of wedding festivities, so be sure to check out the feature (link in profile) to see the compilation video and all the pretty details. It’s a pretty one! 💕

Photography
Event Planning
Venue
Florals
Linens
Invitations
Stationary .co
DJ
Rentals
Catering .papillon_
Ice Cream Cart
Cinema
Film Lab
@ Montalvo Arts Center

04/06/2020

As much as I love my husband, being home 24/7 with him hasn’t always gone smoothly these past 3 weeks. We feel safe in our little family nest. However this nest feels too small. The situation is made even more stressful with frequent nighttime wakings, stir crazy kids and trying to get real work done with littles underfoot.

One thing I didn’t expect during this time was to growing closer to my spouse. At first there was shock and I felt resentment at the increased strain having all three children full time and running the house would be. But with heartfelt long talks, acknowledgement of our new roles, and deciding together to approach this temporary challenge as a team player, this weird reality is slowly becoming the new normal.

I now look to my partner as my rock with whom I can come to when I’m feeling anxious about the world and when all my inquiries and jobs have dried up. Most importantly he lifts me up when our thoughtfully laid out plans are put on hold and I let a scarcity mindset get in the way of my dreams for 2020.

This time to reflect has reminded me why I love weddings sooooo much and that I need to believe in abundance. As a hopeless romantic, every time I photograph a ceremony I renew my vows and draw strength in the fact that I am so incredibly blessed to not have to face this life alone. I draw strength from love, from my faith in knowing that people will come together and we will get through this.

02/23/2020

I feel a shift coming in my life as I come to end of my 37th year on this planet. Many of you may not know this, but I gave up my nursing dream after working in a hospital for 8 years. I had completed all the crazy hard prerequisites, like inorganic chemistry and anatomy/physiology, and was applying to programs to get my BSN.

At first my family thought I was crazy. To give up on getting a degree and guaranteed career path was irresponsible and just a phase in my healing process post an abusive marriage I escaped from at the tender age of 24. But I knew deep in my soul that I would never be happy living to please others after that experience. That life is too short to be unhappy and I still had so much life ahead of me to live.

So I picked up a camera again as therapy and needed up booking 14 weddings my first year in business. Five years in I hit a plateau and felt something was missing from work. So at 29 I moved to SF by myself and enrolled in art school, and I loved every freaking minute of it. I rediscovered my love of film and have been shooting film at wedding for 7 years. Seeing and creating those dreamy images makes my heart sing.

As I inch my way closer to my 40’s I’m feeling that itch again. To grow and challenge myself and apply the skills I’ve learned these last 12 years in weddings and start something new. I believe as an artist it’s imperative that you always be learning and pushing yourself creatively by experimentation.

I hope you will follow along as I try new things, because the journey is also part of the reward!

From our Spring editorial 🌸

Photography
Florals
Coordination and tablescape
Jewelry
Beauty
Rentals
Linens
Invitation and Calligraphy
Love Letter
Gowns
Tulle gown
Embroidered gown
Cake
Shoes
Model
Agency
Rentals
Cinema

02/10/2020

Still feeling all the glamourous vibes after watching the Oscars last night! 🤩 So today I find myself reminiscing about this black-tie editorial in the desert styled by . The gown, the groom's style, all so trés chic ✨

Creative direction, styling + florals
Editorial Workshop hosted by
Gown:
Paper goods:
Linens:
Beauty: of
Models: .m.owen of
Ring box:
Shoes:
Silk ribbon:
Chair rental:
Sponsors:
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@ Las Vegas Nevada

02/01/2020

Recent feature on ! The most gracious couple with a truly timeless wedding. Link in my profile to see the feature! 💚
Planning
Florals
Catering
Gown
Beauty
Entertainment
Venue

01/22/2020

That motherhood bliss. Those sweet moments of daydreaming what your child will look like. What it will feel like to finally hold them in your arms. To see you partner that you love so dearly hold your child for the first time. Choosing their name with care and folding all their tiny clothes. Feeling those little kicks as you rest on the couch. Oh the sweetest of moments that I will forever treasure while waiting for you to arrive 💕

Full disclosure, if you have a bathtub and I shoot your maternity, you will most likely be taking a luxurious milk bath at some point 😍

01/19/2020

Currently enjoying a brisk 25*F morning with snowy views out my window. Taking kids on vacation isn’t really a “vacation”. In fact it’s downright exhausting 🤪 BUT giving my children memories that will last a lifetime is priceless. Cheers to impromptu weekend adventures because life is too short to stay home all the time 🥂
From our winter editorial ❄️

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Planning & Design:
Florals:
HMUA:
Dresses:
Accessories:
Paper goods:
Styling surface:
Cinema:
Rentals:
Cake:
Model:

01/13/2020

New year, new you.

January used to be a just a another cold winter month for me. It wasn’t until a few years ago did I actually become more reflective and mindful about setting realistic yearly goals. I sit down, I journal, I make a list and start mapping out how I’m going to achieve my dreams.

In 2019 I changed my mindset to be one of abundance instead of scarcity. I stopped being afraid that I wouldn’t book enough weddings to keep my business going. I stopped believing that the wedding market is over saturated and that I needed to give up on my dreams and how hard I had worked to get to this point. I educated myself on marketing, I took initiative and dreamed up styled shoots for each season, aI started putting my self care first. Most importantly, I started to believe I was first and foremost still a woman with dreams and desires, and not just cling to being a wife and mother as my sole identity.

The past two weeks I have been purging the house of clutter, objects that no longer bring me joy and donated half of my closet of clothes that used to fit my old body. 2020 is a year of excitement and renewal for me. I can’t wait to share more about our family’s plan for our tiny house and my vision for the future of my photography. All I can say for now is that the 2020 looks bright and beautiful and I couldn’t be more optimistic 🌟

From our winter editorial ❄️
Photography:
Planning & Design:
Florals:
HMUA:
Dresses:
Accessories:
Paper goods:
Styling surface:
Cinema:
Rentals:
Cake:
Model:

01/01/2020

Feeling joyful this first day of the decade as I discover that one of my images is a finalist in the 2019 End of the Year Awards. I’ve linked in my profile where to vote. Be sure to check out the other finalists, who are oh so talented and I’m so grateful to be among them 🥰

01/01/2020

2019 was a year of personal growth for me. From nurturing a tiny human (or three 😂), 4 collaborative and beautiful seasonal editorials, my diastasis recti repair surgery, and launching a new website, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities this year has given me 🙏

Cheers to a new year, new decade and new beginnings 🥰

12/27/2019

Kids are tucked into bed and I’m using this quiet time to reflect on Christmas. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush of getting ready and finding that perfect gift, but for me Christmas is about taking the time to cherish your loved ones and letting them know how much you care. I like to do this through warm hugs and gathering around a 🥘

Happiest of holidays to all my sweet and cherished clients, friends and my loving family. It is all of you who make my heart full ❤️

Photography:
Planning & Design:
Florals:
HMUA:
Dresses:
Accessories:
Paper goods:
Styling surface:
Cinema:
Rentals:
Cake:
Model: