Today we’d like to introduce you to Becka Vance.
Hi Becka, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started playing with photography in my late teenage years and videography in middle school years. During those years though (the 90s) it was just a great way to beat boredom – pre-internet living at its finest. I suppose it all started with late-night sleepovers in middle school making “commercials” and just finding free forms of expression within those video takes. Then it progressed to film photography as seeing the final product seemed easier to obtain in those days. I recall falling in love with photography specifically while sneaking in some B&W photos at one of our family’s Amish gatherings. The contrast between the two worlds has forever captivated me.
These roots have always led me to be drawn to organic true expressions and have really created a thirst to capture things as they reside. I am grateful that this hunger/passion has fueled me for over 25 years now. With a biodiverse upbringing and one wild ride, my eyes are naturally drawn to the raw beauty of human & elemental connections and authenticity.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t, and yet it has, ya know? It’s art- and art takes time, and finding your way within that is also a whole creation process of its own. A metamorphosis.
I suppose that’s true for most of us, though. If anything, confidence and belief in my art have allowed me to stay rooted and grounded. This has always provided a guiding light home, even though the processes may have taken its twists and turns. I am so grateful for that.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Community has always been the center of my work- it is the heart and root of everything. So – I’m hopeful to be known for specializing in local community events/brands/humans and showcasing the light and contrast within those realms. Specifically, though: farm, local businesses/brands, skate, and my view on Oceanside / North County.
I’m most proud of just going with the flow in my work and allowing the art to evolve honestly. Most recently though, I am most proud of working alongside San Diego Magazine and Edible San Diego for editorial work and a co-collaborated Art Exhibit now up at VITAL SOCAL.
I would say what sets me apart from others may just be the ability to interact with each photoshoot/subject in their natural element. I do my best to capture that spark as it resides and for my images to feel more alive and real. In doing so- we tend to have a lot of fun on our shoots and they’re not ‘superposed’ or calculated. Just living in the moment and capturing that essence.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was a pretty spunky yet introverted child growing up. Living in between the English and Amish worlds I found comfort in my inner awkward creativity. My interests included rollerblading, singing/choir, coloring/drawing/painting, and the perpetual interest with animals and plants and their explorations. I always felt more comfortable performing or creating than I did in smaller conversations that didn’t seem to focus on the power of play and co-creation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beckavancephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckavancephotography/
Image Credits
Becka Vance Photography
