Just a girl and a grey wall

I first found Becky's photos on Instagram through a friend. There was a serene, calming quality about her photos that made them a welcome change from my standard social media fare. Not gonna lie, I definitely spent the next chunk of my evening going through her blog! Here was something new, local and beautiful. Just some greenery, a handful of tasteful pieces and a plain wall made up many of her often minimalist still life shots, à la Kinfolk. Becky brings an elegant simplicity to everyday objects; a simple table, a ceramic vase and some wildflower stems become a sculptural tableau under her artistic eye. She has a natural knack for assembling and arranging pieces in a pleasing manner and creating beautiful images, a skill that is becoming more and more desired in the online world. Despite only starting a year ago with a painted grey wall in her garage as a photo studio, Becky has already collaborated with different artists and vacation destinations to feature their products in her natural and uncomplicated manner.

I followed her for awhile before getting up the guts to ask her to collaborate on a project together. She helped me style a beautiful photoshoot for my 7th issue which came out last May (photographed by the extraordinarily talented Nienke Izurieta) featuring pieces by local artisans. Always kind and positive, Becky was a pleasure to work with, full of ideas and very keen to make the smorgasborg of pieces work together in harmony.

Becky and Nienke have collaborated several times. You may have seen their Tidal Bride series which was featured on CBC, a photoshoot that took place in February right before a major storm. Incredible shots!

Another one of my favourites was a shoot she styled on the frozen Kennebecasis river in February.

Recently she has embarked on a new venture with a few friends, a supper collective called Lark.

Not one to boast of her achievements, or even give us more than a glimpse of beautiful face, Becky did agree to tell us a bit about what she has been up to.

Thanks for sharing with us Becky, keep up the good work! I can't wait to see what beauties you come up with next.

-MH

How would you describe what you do on your blog?

My blog started out as a hobby to satisfy my creative impulses.Over time it has has grown into an outlet to design and display beauty found in food, flowers and nature.I have also been focusing on capturing the different moods and emotions that occur when people come together over food.

I’d love to work more with artists, makers, brands and businesses I believe in. I find approaching this idea and putting myself out there, being vulnerable, is hard for me. This is something I am working towards.

What compelled you to start styling photos?

You know, I have no idea! It’s something that comes so naturally to me. My mom lent me her camera two springs ago, and I just started taking photos. Ideas and inspiration started fuelling my projects and the styled photos I create now came to life!

What have been some challenges you have come across in the past year since you started?

It’s challenging to find time to balance work, creative projects, time for friends & family, exercise and down time (I’m not so great with down time…but it’s something I believe is extremely important in order to recharge!). When I get excited about a project, it can consume me for hours, so I’m working on balance.

How do you dovetail your creative pursuits with your day job?

This is a tricky one as they are so completely different. Teaching French Immersion math during the day doesn’t spark a lot of creativity...but being around young vibrant students can be very inspiring! My students remind me about individuality and having confidence in who you are. They are so talented and brave.

In reality, my day job is a separate entity from my creative endeavours. I am present with my students during the day and I schedule meetings, collaborate with others and take photos during my time away from work. This becomes more challenging in the winter when the weather makes it more difficult to work outside and there isn’t a lot of daylight. My photos just get moodier!

What do you love about styling photos/experiences?

It’s hard for me to describe in words what I love about it. It’s more the feeling of bringing things together that are visually appealing. I love seeing an idea in my mind manifest into something tangible and complete. Usually it starts from a tiny inspiration: a piece of linen, a certain colour or a simple piece of fruit. I particularly love styling in nature, where sounds and smells all play into the setting.

Tell us a bit about Lark, your latest collaborative project...

Lark is a supper collective that came to life with a love for bringing people together over food, at a common table. The table setting and design is my passion, but having the incredibly talented chef Kimberley Steele, of East Coast Bistro, on board takes it to a whole new level. We have only just begun this little project, with our second Lark supper happening at the end of August, but we are dreaming up future dinners and we hope we can continue to create some unique experiences.

What can someone expect to experience at a Lark dinner?

Fine food, good wine, music, meeting new people and leaving full and content. It’s an experience that will appeal to all senses and something different. It’s easy to get into a routine of doing the same things, we hope Lark will help people step outside of that routine and try something new!

Tickets for the next Lark dinner, "Wood and Wine" are for sale and can be purchased here! It promises luscious decor, warm atmosphere and delicious food.

Keep up with Becky's styling adventures:

Instagram: @reenywallace

Web: beckywallace.co

Becky Wallace: Stylist gotta style