An Open Letter to The Internet

June 4, 2017 Rebecca Patton

a new title might evolve as I write, but for now, I'll offer this rant as an address to the Internet, its users, followers, criticizers, and victims.

As I post this, I'm hoping to follow my guidelines for blog topics, which is that blog posts should fall under at least one of three categories: aspirational, inspirational, or informational. I hope you find this as useful in seeing the truth behind the posts, the photos, etc. and move forward with this information (and ventilation). (...fingers crossed that's the noun form of 'venting')

NUMBER ONE

Posts should be INSPIRATIONAL, ASPIRATIONAL, or INFORMATIONAL. If you've taken it upon yourself to hold the title of "blogger," "influencer," or the like, you are posting for the benefit of others. You aren't posting for praise or gratification, you are posting because you have something to say, something to share, a VOICE. It doesn't have to be profound, or even novel, but it should be original and honest. Your voice can be your sense of style, how you decorate your home, how you navigate parenthood. It can be as simple as "I'm human, this is me."

INSPIRATION comes in the most humble of forms. For me, if I see someone post that they WENT to the gym, I'm inspired to do the same. I don't care how their workout went, or what their body looks like, I'm just inspired to get off my couch and at least do as much as the next person.

ASPIRATION is when I see someone's beautiful, designed, (expensive I'm sure) home - decorated with fresh flowers, antique rugs, and custom cabinets - and I think, "one day" but until then, I can at least clean my apartment, put on lovely music, buy some Trader Joe's flowers, and light some candles.

INFORMATION is pretty explanatory, yet severely lacking in most of what is going on social-medially.

So there's #1

NUMBER TWO

Copying versus being inspired.

This touches again on originality.

I'll keep this pretty simple since it seems to be misunderstood quite often.

It is totally normal - and in my opinion a wonderful part about sharing so much on the internet - to see someone doing something and want to emulate the same. I love seeing images that "make me feel some sort of way" (how my intern put it that in a way I could never say better myself). I love being drawn into a scene and seeing more than what the photo is giving me. I see things in a new light and want to create that same mood or feeling in my photos. Pinterest comes to mind in these examples - this photo especially:

This image always speaks to me - there is a fun story about who she is, and where she's going. Her clothes influence the way I dress, and the scene makes me want to pack a picnic and wear Madewell every weekend.

BUT I would NEVER have a model or blogger wear white jeans + blue button down + hat + berkenstocks and be getting a picnic basket out of whatever Jeep/Bronco/SUV for the sake of recreating this image.

It DOES make me want to raid Madewell and go on a photogenic picnic adventure myself - which is great because I'm pretty sure this was an ad.

So emulating the same mood, feel, tone, etc. - great. You learn as you go and you'll see things the more you practice and you'll be able to create scenes without reference photos.

Wearing the same thing at the same location posed the same way as someone else - NOPE.

NUMBER THREE

View with caution. We all know the internet is mostly a funnel where only the most glamorous, well-lit, best-dressed gets through. I do it too - of course I'm going to post Instagram stories of myself right after I do my hair, why wouldn't I? (Not that I have to, but again, why wouldn't I?)

Still, I hear all the time about people believing that what they see is what's really happening. I take this notion pretty seriously as it's my job as a photographer to make things look good, but I always keep honesty in there. That's where "LIFE. STYLED." comes from. I really do try to keep my office clean, exercise (...moderately...), visit beautiful places, etc. I like having a photogenic life. I don't wipe off one corner of my desk just for the sake of a photo; I'd rather set a timer for 7 minutes, clean the room, and then photograph it.

Hopefully other people do the same, but they don't. Not everyone at least. And if you find yourself COMPARING and thinking "she dresses like this all the time, what am I doing with my life wearing yoga pants to the mall"... another NOPE. It would be wonderful to think "that's such a cute outfit, that makes me want to spruce up and put on something cute to run errands" OR "that's nice that's her job to look good in the photos she posts. These leggings are really comfortable and hide the salsa I just spilled on myself" (another truth: life isn't ALWAYS "LIFE. STYLED.")

Just realize the more and more people post, the more and more manufactured these images become. I am paid to photograph up to 6 outfits at a time for bloggers to post throughout the week. It does create a wonderful image that they are out and about looking great. (Every client I can think of really does dress cute, and care very much about the content of their blog) But the point is that OBVIOUSLY these images only show the best of the best. Please don't compare yourself. Find the nugget of inspiration, aspiration, or information and move on. And if you aren't getting those things, don't pay attention and get on with your own beautiful life.

NUMBER FOUR

I'll wrap it up after this - it's been four days of writing this post and I forgot the rest of the points I was going to touch on.

Just because everyone else seems to be doing something doesn't mean you have to. Be original. Be inspired. Be fresh. Be real. People like that and people like engaging with the truths behind the post.

Taking a Breather with a Pizza Picnic and Lots of Wine

May 22, 2017 Rebecca Patton

Last night I enjoyed an al fresco evening with my husband Andrew and ended the evening feeling so much more inspired and cleansed of petty stressors that occur when you simply spend too much time "plugged in."

Favorite components of a relaxing picnic that I look forward to recreating many times this summer:

1. Get Outside

Obviously a picnic is outside. But just the act of sitting on a picnic blanket, with a couple pizzas and a bottle of wine was so much more relaxing than being in our apartment or in a restaurant with all the distractions of work/home life or other people. Once in a while it feels so good to step away into your own world outlined by the edges of your blanket.

2. Bring Books and Magazines

Broaden your horizons and and ignite a fire of inspiration. Just from one story that takes you to a far off land or an article that exposes you to something you thought you would never find interesting, you can dream up ideas, trips, experiences of your own that you can look forward to someday in the future - either distant or very near.

I read aloud to Andrew about a writer's experience understanding jazz. Music that demands presence, living in the moment, but that can quickly become dull when performed "too right." It left us with imagery and a topic to talk about - because let's be honest we usually just talk about our dog Truman and the kind of house we want "when we grow up"

My favorite publications: Darling Magazine | The Art of Being a Woman, Kinfolk, and Food & Wine

3. Listen to Music

We all know why we need music. It heals and inspires. It offers a soundtrack to our lives and is our best friend. Andrew and I bring our Jambox EVERYWHERE...

4. Keep it Simple

Local pizza and a fresh salad - we just brought a couple bowls and snagged paper plates, plastic forks, and paper napkins. If anyone is in Dallas looking for the best pizza around - Cibo Divino is our favorite spot. I love Neapolitan pizza already, but BONUS it's ready so fast because it hardly takes any time to cook. So we just picked it up and were on our merry way. It really did make us feel like we were somewhere other than Dallas, with the authentic char of the pizza bringing us the taste of Italy, and the fresh Buratta salad melting in our mouth with sweet bursts of cherry and tangy arugula... obviously I was very pleased with not cooking and simply enjoying the food we bought.

5. Drink the Wine

Just drink the wine. Breathe in the fresh air. Read out loud. Laugh. Think. Listen. Eat an extra piece of pizza. Drink the wine. Taste the wine. Enjoy the present. Think about the future. Reminisce about the past. Unplug, unwind, relax.

SHOP THE POST

How to Stand Out as a Fashion Blogger

May 17, 2017 Rebecca Patton

from behind the lens

a BECKLEY series of tips for businesses and bloggers as told from my perspective behind the camera

The blogging world seems so simple: put on an outfit, try out a product, write about it, and include some photos to go with the post. But now there are hundreds of bloggers popping up every day, and it might feel difficult to differentiate yourself or to stand out in the crowd. After photographing bloggers for three years, I've noticed tips and tactics done by some of the top fashion and lifestyle bloggers.

1. Add dimension to your outfit

Layer pieces by adding a coat, hat, scarf, or sweater. Or try something different by pairing a day dress with a simple white shirt underneath.

For spring and summer, think about adding detail and texture to your outfits. An interesting sleeve, or a lacy bralette, plus some chic sunglasses add interest to the photo without piling on hot layers.

pictured: (top and bottom left) The Fashion Barr, (top and bottom right) Fashion Jackson

2. Define your style

It's so easy to be inspired by and want to do everything, but defining your sense of style and your voice will go a long way in forming your brand and letting your readers know what to expect and why they follow you. It will also help with that elusive 'perfect quilt' that is the first people see when they find your Instagram account.

You don't have to put a name on it, but finding silhouettes, color schemes, brands, and accessories that feel true to you will help establish your brand as a fashion blogger and let your readers know what to expect when they start following your blog.

A goal should be that if your name and face aren't on the photo, people are still able to identify you.

Pictured: Always Coco Noelle

3. Shop Local

Take advantage of your community. Shoot outside of local restaurants or grab some shots inside a cool coffee shop. When people can engage with what you're doing, it bridges the gap between just scrolling through photos on your phone and the real world.

With affiliate programs that give commission through certain stores, it can be tempting to post only items from those brands, but don't forget about personal connections. Try going into a local boutique, finding something that speaks to you and putting a good word out for the spot. Chances are other people are also a fan of the store and there's one more real life connection to make with your readers.

Pictured: (top left, left to right) Always Coco Noelle, Fashion Veggie, Fashion Hour at Filament, Deep Ellum; (top right) Dropcap Design at Houndstooth, Sylvan Thirty; (bottom left) The Charm Scout at Weekend Coffee, Downtown; (bottom right) One Small Blonde at Stirr, Deep Ellum

4. Study

Know the trends, practice the poses, know the cool local spots, and know what people are excited about. Reading magazines, local newsletters, and following other bloggers are a few ways for bloggers to study their field. Not to be confused with copying, but it's important to know what's on trend. And if you're particularly inspired by something that you want to make your own, it's always worth a shoutout to your inspirer - another great way to connect!

5. Engage with the scene

Nothing draws people in like portraying a feeling or mood in a single photo or photo story. By interacting with your surroundings, it paints a picture of who you are, what you're doing, and creates an aspirational image that makes people want to see more.

Pictured: (top left) Mom Crush Monday, (top right) Labels of Freedom, (bottom left) Living with Landyn, (bottom right) The Mode Crave

BECKLEY Editing | Favorite Lightroom Presets

May 15, 2017 Rebecca Patton

Ask and you shall receive.

With exciting ideas bubbling up about live tutorials, helpful advice, camera tips, and the like, the most pressing question I have been asked is "what presets do you use?", so I am here to share some of my favorite Lightroom presets.

All of these come with some trial and error. I love to think of my photo as a canvas - I know what lighting, composition, and colors I want to bring to the table and which preset will enhance these features to create the image I see in my head. I encourage you to try one, see what you like or don't like about it, and then go from there. These are not cheap filters to throw on a photo, they are an investment and meant to enhance your brand to help you create consistent photos to deliver to you clients or to post for yourself. But mostly have fun with it! One of my pet peeves is when people post a photo and say "one click!" - that's great and that's kind of the reason people spend hundreds of hours perfecting their presets to sell, but I love making it my own, adjusting the lighting, contrast, grain, colors, etc.

NOW I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU!

What are your favorite presets? If you download and try any of these, or find others you like let me know! Leave a comment if you've found one that does work perfectly with "one click", or if you run into some trouble, I want to know about it.

I'd love for you to find something that suits your style so that you can look forward to sitting down and editing your photos

xo,

Becca

THE BASICS | An Introduction to Taking Better Photos

April 18, 2017 Rebecca Patton

First we started with point and shoot film and disposable cameras. We'd pick the maker, Fuji, Kodak, etc. and the ISO - KODAK 400, for example. Photos were pretty easy. You'd load the film, click, drop off the film, and they'd either come out good, or not so good.

Then we had digital point and shoots. Throwing up deuces and duck faces. Selfies and indoor flash. And they'd either come out good, or not so good.

Now we have smart phones. We point, we shoot, we edit, we filter, and they usually come out pretty good. But we can get into that later.

What I want to talk about now, though, is DSLR cameras. Most of us have worked our way up the ladder to own some sort of DSLR, wether it's a Canon Rebel or a Nikon D3300, or something even more heavy duty like a Mark IV... The great thing about these cameras is the ability to change lenses and shoot in manual mode.

I've had many people ask me how to move up from Auto settings to start taking clearer, sharper, all-around better images. And before we get into specific examples, we need to cover the basics.

There are three components to shooting in Manual mode: SHUTTER SPEED, APERTURE, and ISO.

All three factors can be changed to work with each other to create a well-lit, clear, detailed photo and they all relate to how the camera uses light

A guy in college told me as he was ruffling through his camera bag of lenses.. while I stood there with my one Canon Rebel and one lens - Painters use paint as their medium; Photographers use light

ISO | the camera's sensitivity to light

In film cameras ISO indicated the film's sensitivity. In digital cameras, on a scale usually ranging from 100-6400+ it is the sensitivity to light. On a bright day outside, the camera needs to be less sensitive because there is plenty of light available - you would probably shoot with an ISO of 100. In a darker setting, like outside at dusk or at night, there is less available light, so the ISO has to be higher - ISO of 500+ depending on how much light is available.

One way to make an image brighter is to make the ISO higher. However, the higher the ISO, the more grain will appear in the image.

ISO 100

Midday outdoors there is plenty of light available. The ISO can be as low as possible

ISO 600+

At night, just after dusk, there is still a little bit of remaining sunlight available for the camera to sense, but very little. This has to be taken at a higher ISO, but grain starts to appear in the photo and it is less clear

APERTURE | light allowed into the camera (f-stop)

Aperture relates to the lens on the camera. Often lenses are referred to by (1) focal length and (2) f-stop. For example, I mainly shoot with a 50mm 1.2, meaning the lowest f-stop on the lens will be 1.2.

The lower the f-stop (the smaller the number), the more light is allowed into the lens. An f-stop of 1.2 will let in a lot of light, meaning the lens is set to be wide open to let in as much light as possible. The higher the f-stop, the less light will the allowed into the camera.

The lower the f-stop, the shallower the depth of field. So with an f-stop of 1.2, only a small plane of the image will be in focus. This is how to create a blurred background: shooting with a small f-stop (or wide open aperture).

The higher the f-stop, the deeper the depth of field. An f-stop of 5.6 will allow a deeper plane to be in focus. This is ideal for group photos with rows of people, to get all the rows in focus; landscape photography is another example where you might want to shoot with a higher f-stop, to allow more things to be in focus as you look out onto the horizon.

TWO main things are affected with f-stop:

1. The lower the f-stop, the more light is let into the camera; the higher the f-stop, the less light is let into the camera

2. The lower the f-stop, the more shallow the depth of field (more blurred background); the higher the f-stop, the deeper depth of field (allowing more things to be in focus)

f/2.0

To achieve a blurred background, shoot with a low f-stop. For this shot, shooting at 2.0 allowed me to get all of the subject in focus, while keeping the background blurred.

f/1.2

For detail photos so only a small part of the photo is in focus, the f-stop was as low as it could go.

This was taken early in the morning with little light - with a wide open aperture, more light was allowed into the photo

SHUTTER SPEED | how long the shutter is open

Shutter speed indicates how fast or slowly the shutter opens and closes. The longer the shutter is open, the more light is allowed into the camera; the faster the shutter speed, the less light is allowed into the camera.

Movement, like people walking or talking with hand gestures, needs to be taken with a high shutter speed (1/160 or faster). Interiors, landscapes, and product photos where the subject is not moving can be shot at a lower shutter speed, especially in it's shot in a dim setting to let more light into the camera.

If the shutter speed is too low, the subject can become blurred if the camera is not held steady enough. This is when tripods are useful.

1/400 seconds

Action shots require fast shutter speeds to get clear stills. Walking photos usually require 1/200 seconds or faster. Running photos usually require 1/600 seconds or faster.

1/60 seconds

There was little available light, so the shutter speed was longer to allow some more light into the camera. He also wasn't moving very quickly, so the camera was able to capture him as pretty still.

ALL TOGETHER

bright outdoor portrait

ISO 100 | f/2.0 | 1/4000+

On a bright day, shooting with direct sunlight, there is more than enough light available - ISO 100

Shooting with a shallow depth of field by personal preference, plenty of light was allowed in the camera - f/2.0

Because it was so bright, and it was shot with a wide aperture, the shutter speed was much higher to compensate - 1/4000+ seconds

natural light indoor portrait

This was taken near a window in the afternoon with a reasonable amount of light coming in. There were also lights on inside. And this was shot with a relatively low aperture, so there was a decent amount of available light - ISO 200-400

Both subjects were on the same focal plane, so by personal preference this was photographed at a low f-stop. This also allowed some more light to get into the camera. - f/2.0

The subjects were sitting relatively still and the room was lit but still a little dark, so the shutter speed was just fast enough to capture the subjects as stills and so there was no camera shake as the photo was taken - 1/100

moody lifestyle product

Indoors with very little light coming through the window as the sun came up, the room was pretty dark - ISO 6400+

To allow more light into the camera and blur the surroundings - f/1.4

To create a clearer image, this could have been shot with a tripod and a long shutter speed to let in much more light. But if shot with a high shutter speed, which lets in less light, and then a higher ISO to compensate for how dark the image will be with the high shutter speed, it creates a slightly darker, grainy photo that captures the mood of the morning. - 1/200+

BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE | practice practice practice

These three factors work together so you can create an evenly and well-lit image. Find your preferences and try tweaking different things to see what image it creates. The wonderful thing about digital photography is the ability to guess and check. The best way to learn your camera and your preferences is to practice.

There are different modes on cameras that allow you to set just one or two of these and it automates the rest. This is a great way to move your way up from shooting on Auto to shooting on Manual.

CANON EQUIPMENT FOR BEGINNER DSLR USERS

Who Needs A Reason to Sit by the Pool and Drink White Wine Spritzers

April 14, 2017 Rebecca Patton

NOURISH | A part of the BECKLEY Blog I have been looking forward to curating for a while, and am exciting to start with some refreshing white wine cocktails. Good for the soul, good for letting good times roll...

I knew there was a jingle that went with this scene, it just took a full 24 hours for it to come to me

Goals for 2017 were pretty simple: learn to say "no"

because every time you say "yes" to something, you're also saying "no" to something else, like family time, personal time, exercising, whatever you need to do to live a balanced life.

Have I been successful at lightening my work load? No

But I've been good about carving out a little time for myself. This week - a whole Monday - Friday - I scheduled zero photo shoots. (I also had a minor procedure and 20 stitches in my head forcing me to avoid sunlight and people, but I did successfully schedule some time to catch up on emails, editing, and rest.)

Back to NOURISH. Lately meeting up with friends and family has done me a world of good in hearing fresh perspectives, caring about what is going on in other people's lives, and remembering that these connections are far more important in the grand scheme of things. A common denominator throughout most of these get-togethers - booze.

Here are three recipes for easy breezy beautiful cocktails - all made with slightly bubbly and sweet Moscato

is my basic showing?

SOME TIPS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOS

+ utilize your camera's focus points - try moving the highlighted dot around so you can play with the composition

+ make sure not to over-expose, especially when there are labels or small details you need to capture - always check your photos as you go

+ think about the colors and story you are creating - like these pinks and oranges pop against the blues and greens

+ for a blurred background, shoot with a low f-stop, but not so low that the product isn't all in focus - somewhere between 2.0-3.0 should do the trick

+ for styling, bring in elements that add height, texture, and depth to the image >> bar tools, multiple classes, marble serving board, bottle of wine, hand models

SHOP THE POST

Austin Recap - Can't Travel Without My Vital Proteins

March 28, 2017 Rebecca Patton

Is it a photographer thing to love grey skies and gloomy weather? If you follow my Instagram, almost every photo I post was taken when it was overcast, and then I went and did the unthinkable and posted a photo that was taken in full sun at high noon. I'm actually staring at my phone and it is giving me anxiety because #instagramaesthetic

oh good it got three likes

If there were ever a place to appreciate the gifts of spring, it's Austin. I actually walked by a house with beautiful blooms and told my husband, "I don't hate pink anymore." Talk about revelations. There is something about birds chirping and flowers growing that makes me want to be outside more, go for more runs, smell the roses...

Backstory: I have been eyeing Vital Proteins basically because I want the skin of a six year old. So I asked, and I got a lot of great feedback and got some for my own. Maybe it's this vibrancy of spring, but I really do have more energy and feel like my skin looks healthier. It could also be that I'm trying to drink more water and eat healthier, but I figure that, if anything, I'm getting an extra 9+ grams of protein one to two times a day.

So far I've tried Vital Proteins in my almond milk latte, grapefruit juice, coconut water, beet juice, and ginger lemon water, and it's pretty close to tasteless if you give it a few extra minutes to thoroughly dissolve. My favorite is one packet + 1 cup of coconut water in a ball jar, shake it up, and fill the rest with ice.

With the promise of youthful skin, hair, and nails, and letting Austin inspire me to pick up my camera and take more tourist photos than I usually do, I had Andrew take some photos of me while we were strolling waiting for a table at Cafe No Sé. (We spend all our time on South Congress, always). Maybe this could be left for another post, but who am I not to kill two birds with one blog post.

I need to jump in front of the camera more often because, well there aren't ever any photos of me, but mostly because I realize how hard it is to know what to do, where to stand, what it will look like... bloggers I respect you so much!! (and bravo to Mr. Patton for having the patience for met to teach him how to use my Mark III)

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you are thinking about getting vital proteins, buy some and see how you feel. I definitely recommend it in terms of feeling like my energy levels are better (coming from someone who needs to nap at 3 every day). Pretty close to flavorless, the travel packs are really handy, and they are kosher, so wins all around

SHOP THE POST

How Do You Define Adventure?

March 3, 2017 Rebecca Patton

Wanderlust hits us like a wave more frequently than we are able to do anything about it. I imagine hotel rooms with fluffy white sheets, camel rides through the Sahara, or Icelandic hikes ending in styled editorials.

What Do You Do When You Realize You Just Reached A Quarter-of-a-Century

February 14, 2017 Rebecca Patton

That's it. Officially twenty-five. I'm not complaining, I'm not anxious, I'm not really looking at this age as a ticker on a timeline, but I am becoming aware that I need to take care of myself now because I'm simply not as young as I used to be.

Five Lessons I Should Have Learned A Long Time Ago // NYFW Recap

February 13, 2017 Rebecca Patton

As a photographer, I'd say I walk a fun line between understanding fashion and completely not understanding fashion. I can appreciate the beautiful, the artistic, even the eccentric, but there are still some garments and getups that leave me at a loss.

Swoon Event Recap - Beautiful Wedding Vendors and A Stubborn Eight-Foot Table

February 2, 2017 Rebecca Patton

-THIS STORY HAS A HAPPY ENDING-

The Swoon Event is a well-crafted wedding vendor event bringing a select group of creatives together in a wedding venue to rock what they got for soon-to-be-brides

La La Land

January 8, 2017 Rebecca Patton

For many, "home for the holidays" means cozying up by the fire, hoping for a white Christmas, and donning festive flannel pajamas. Maybe I made most of that up based on my novelty idea of what Christmas means outside of a Southern Californian weather pattern. For me, "home for the holidays" elicits more of a generalized "vacation time with family and friends and hopefully hiking." Checked all of those off this year, with a handful of Yahtzee games and visits with family to boot.

Dallas, as I've stated and reiterated and and repeated too many times to count, is my second home sweet home. The more I live in and explore Dallas, the more I love it. But we all know that. Los Angeles is still a mystery to me. Eighteen years and some change of living in LA, and it still feels like a mystery to me. So I finally ventured out of my usual Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica destinations and did what any tourist would do - go to the most Instagram-worthy spots north of LAX.

First, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing my best friend and her family at a beautiful park off Arroyo Seco Parkway (the first freeway in the Western US by the way), aptly names Arroyo Seco Park

Second spot: coffee at POT Cafe and brunch at the Commissary at The Line Hotel. I will just say the greenhouse ambiance was really interesting and fun to photograph and I loved catching up with two good friends, and enjoyed a fun shoot with Fe who is in amazing LA blogger.

Third installment of my hometown adventures was rooftop drinks at the Ace Hotel, which is where I will likely return whenever I am back in LA, probably because it reminded me of somewhere I'd go in Dallas or Austin..

Also went to the Bungalow, but if my goal is to end this post on a high note, I won't go into it.

San Diego Recap + Favorite Fall H'orderves

November 3, 2016 Rebecca Patton

Princeton, New York, Houston, Austin, Napa, San Francisco, and Rome, but there is nothing like a laid-back weekend at my sister's house in Del Mar. It's my version of a perfect weekend getaway - mornings reading to my nephews and sipping coffee, and evenings playing bocce ball and cooking and visiting with family.

I thought this would be a fun time to try some new recipes (and utilize her beautiful kitchen).

HAM AND PEAR CROSTINI

Makes 2 dozen

Though these small bites are perfectly tasty made with an ordinary French baguette, choose a whole wheat or seeded one for a bit more flavor.

½ baguette (or 1 demi-baguette), cut into 24 slices
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 ripe but firm pears, halved, cored and cut into 24 wedges
1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley
¾ pound leftover spiral-sliced ham (or another flavorful ham), cut into bite-sized pieces and warmed (we used prosciutto)
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Brush baguette slices all over with oil and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake, flipping halfway through, until just crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, maple syrup, salt and pepper to make a dressing. Toss pears in half the dressing and arrange in a single layer on a large, parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast, flipping pears halfway through, until tender and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Toss parsley with remaining dressing. Top each crostini with a piece of ham and then a wedge of pear and few leaves of parsley.

* we added some honey drizzled on top to add a little more sweetness to balance the salt in the prosciutto

More recipes can be found on West Elm's Blog Front + Main. If you try out a recipe, every new food photo shared on Instagram with #westelmxwfm, West Elm & Whole Foods Market will donate $1 to the Whole Planet Foundation, helping to alleviate poverty worldwide

Rome: A Home Away From Home

October 11, 2016 Rebecca Patton

A quote I revisit every day: "Home is wherever I'm with you". Andrew and I have both been traveling constantly, and separately, for the past few months and this trip to Rome was the longest amount of time we have spent together since August. Along with spending quality time together, Andrew and I got to visit with friends - some of whom we haven't seen since our wedding in July of 2015.

Both Andrew and I had spent our semesters abroad in Rome in 2010 and 2011, and that was when we checked off most of our museum, monument, and church tours. On this trip, we simply strolled through the streets, sipped plenty of espresso and Aperol spritzes, and ate pasta and cheese to our heart's content.

Some highlights of the trip: gathering wine, cheese, prosciutto, and crackers from a small shop and walking to the Borghese gardens for a small sunset picnic laughing harder than we have in so long with some of our best friends. The group of us one day were shown around the city by an American priest who took us to to top of the seminary and the view was more than breathtaking. The entirety of Rome, from the Vatican to the "wedding cake" - it took us all several moments to drift back down to reality and realize how lucky we were to experience this together. Finally, the purpose of our entire journey, was the wedding of one of our dearest friends - a beautiful, magical sacrament of marriage at St. Peter's Basilica where I was asked to second shoot. Suffice it to say that will go down as one of the most magical wedding to photograph and I count myself truly blessed to capture at least part of it through my lens.

It's difficult to articulate a trip or an experience, and that is why I love photography. Jump in and explore - photos are an invitation to join in the moment and develop your own story around them.

“The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.”

— Michelangelo

Jon & Sam Downtown Dallas Engagement Shoot

September 9, 2016 Rebecca Patton

Romance is an adventure. The initial attraction to falling deeply in love; getting to know someone better than you know yourself and learning from each other to help each other grow. For this couple whose "hearts are in Dallas" we wanted a location that complemented the serenity and deep love for each other, while offering a vibrant and dynamic backdrop that set the tone for capturing Jon and Sam's passion and playfulness when they are together.

“When picking out this couples outfit for the engagement shoot, I knew I wanted to capture the simplicity of their love while highlighting their passions for one another. Starting with this dreamy wrap dress from Planet Blue with added accessories from Lion and Witch. To compliment her airy look, I decided to dress Jon in a blue suit from Suit Supply and then paired it with suspenders and a light pink tie. This look was completed not by just my styling and Rebecca’s photos, but how their love for each other makes you feel.
Words I keep thinking of when seeing these photos- Airy Romance, Passion, Sexy, Cool ”

— Alexandrea Cohen, Stylist

Simplicity: Styled Portraits with Courtney Newell

July 28, 2016 Rebecca Patton

QUIET CONFIDENCE was the inspiration for this three-part portrait series featuring Courtney of Always Coco Noelle.

Boyfriend jeans paired with a body suit mixes casual with sultry and didn't distract from Courtney's personality shining through.

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Jeans | Citizens of Humanity - Planet Blue // Body Suit | Blue Life - Planet Blue // Ring | Kendra Scott

styling | Alexandrea Cohen for BECKLEY & Co.

photography | Rebecca Kirstin for BECKLEY & Co.

model | Courtney Newell

EASY LIKE A SUNDAY MORNING // STYLED LIFESTYLE PORTRAITS

July 24, 2016 Rebecca Patton

We see portrait photography as more than a neutral background and twinkle in the eye (though, you'll see we are partial to that as well) - we view lifestyle portraits as an opportunity to photograph life as it is, and getting the beauty of the entire moment

Easy Like a Sunday Morning was inspired by Courtney's quiet confidence. A french press, slouchy sweater, and casual jean shorts in her own kitchen was stage enough for a cozy morning capturing the precious time between waking up and tackling the day.

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sweater | Planet Blue

shorts | Planet Bue

Darling Dinner x Lou & Grey

July 19, 2016 Rebecca Patton

Hosted by Darling Magazine + Lou & Grey, Darling Dinners are curated to foster conversation and community

Darling's mission statement inspires integrity, sophistication, authenticity, and creativity; ideals BECKLEY & Co. stands behind and strives for daily

We loved photographing this night at Americano and enjoying what felt like an Italian family feast with both wine and conversation flowing freely

florals and event design by Chelsea M Carter