Ahh, wow... I just got back from the most amazing time shooting in STUNNING Santorini. It's so dreamy... SO DREAMY! I'm feeling so grateful for the opportunity to go there and shoot in such a beautiful place with such inspiring people.

My dear client Venessa (who I photographed last October at her light filled home in Cyprus) booked a Greek villa for her next shoot. Now that she's using Instagram and social media in a bigger way, she wanted more location based photos with some stunning destination backdrops to evolve her personal brand and take it up to the next level. She invited two of her lovely clients that were also in need of new photos to join us out there!

It was such a special and fun time being together and sharing the experience... Soaking up the beauty of the island, talking business and dreams, sharing ideas and of course creating the most stunning new personal branding shots ever!!

I so enjoyed our time together and it's gotten me thinking about hosting an intimate destination retreat + photoshoot experience later this year... Ooh I feel excited about this idea!! If it calls to you let me know, and I'll keep you in the loop as I map this out! I'm dreaming of California, Indonesia, India, Southern Italy??... Which destination would YOU would most love to go to for the retreat and photo-shoot??

So - I hope your new year is going really wonderfully so far. How are you feeling about 2017 and the intentions you set at the beginning of Jan? I'm heading back home to Brighton this morning and going to an awesome event called Living the Dream 2017 with the lovely Kate Taylor, Lucy Sheridan and Gail Love Schock to properly look at what happened in 2016 and feel into my desires for the new year. Looking forward to seeing those lovely ladies and taking some time for me.

I've got two spaces left for photoshoots in February now, so if now feels like the time to really expand in your business, raise your visibility MASSIVELY!, refresh your social media, Facebook ads, website photos with gloriously 'ahhhhh I LOVE it!!!' new photos, book in a call with me here and let's explore what we can create!: calendly.com/beckyruiphoto

Wishing you a magical weekend,

Love,

Becky x

You know that feeling of giddy excitement when you see or hear something that resonates so deeply with you and is so perfect, you almost feel that your work here is done!?! And at the same time it gets you so fired up, you go straight into your work with more love, passion and dedication than ever before?!

There have been some seriously awesome books and podcast episodes that have touched me this year in so many ways, and it's been so nice reflecting on what really stuck with me and added to my life. There's also gorgeous music that was new to me this year I so enjoyed listening to while painting and working! I wanted to share the best bits with you here and pass it on... This is such a gorgeous time of year for revisiting podcast episodes, dipping back into favourite reads and music.

I hope 2016 has been full of magic and wonder for you in your life and business... What have been the highlights for you?

Sometimes we can take for granted the achievements we have made, opportunities we said YES to and created for others... Times we were kind to ourselves when it would have been easy to get down on ourselves, when we went deeper into truth instead of denial, when we chose to show up and embrace our fullness instead of hiding or playing small. I'm going to my heart (and through my diary!) to look back on my own year and celebrate all of those successes.

I'm grateful to say this year has seen me massively stepping up in my business, traveling joyfully in Australia for two months, flying out to destinations such as Paris, Florence, Miami, Philly, Cyprus and around the UK for shoots with amazing, brave, soulful clients(!), moving to London (and now down to Brighton), embracing more expansion through investing in my own coaching and a personal branding shoot, and attracting the most amazing romantic relationship, which has certainly brought an incredible new level of self-discovery and beauty to my world!!

I hope it's been an amazing year for you too... And if we've worked together this year, I trust your photography is serving you delightfully and continuing to enrich your experience of your business and the kinds of clients that are flowing to you!!

Here's my list of recommendations from 2016...

 1.  Podcast: How to Ride the Wave of Transformation That's Occurring in 2016 by Samantha Nolan Smith

This podcast episode made me cry on the train in such a good way! Samantha shares such a powerful and beautiful message about reclaiming our divine feminine power, rising above victimhood as women... the age of the Feminine is here, the world has evolved. it is our time now to really be seen and honour our gifts and inner wisdom... I have listened to this episode many times because I found it so much shifted me into my greatness, it is moving and powerful and I highly recommend. Listen to it here (and all of Samanthas other amazing episodes!!). (17 mins)

2. Book: Pussy by Mama Gena.

This book also radiates with feminine power! I found Regenas personal story and learnings fascinating and beautiful. It helped me to relate to the world as a powerful woman (as we all are) and look at the beliefs I have around what it is to be a female in this world, lovingly challenge ideas I have blindly accepted about what that means... Like the episode mentioned above, this book really got me tapping in to divine femininity in myself and all, and my personal learnings through reflecting on everything echoes throughout my life and work. So so powerful and beautiful. ALSO made me cry on the train!...

3.  Podcast: Testing The “Impossible”: 17 Questions That Changed My Life

I listened to this in the car the other day on my way into London and OMG, it was so funny, so insightful, so inspiring and thought provoking... I love Tim Ferriss's work and this was an awesome compilation of very powerful questions to ponder and journal on. I highly recommend listening to the episode, and the questions can be found here too! I'm so looking forward to reading his new book Tools of Titans which just came in the post! Even though it's the biggest book I now have on my shelf!! (52 mins)

 4. Music: Positive Force by Delicate Steve

I have listened to this album hundreds of times - it's so good!! Loved putting this on while I was painting and drawing, processing photos, writing (no words in this music to distract me!), dancing, road tripping... So good. It's not new but I only found it through Spotify this Summer, and so glad I did.

5. Light is the New Black by Rebecca Campbell
 
I was a little slow to pick this one up, and it was the most incredible book that I started the year with with while away in Australia. It gave me goosebumps with every page I turned, and inspired so much connection in me. I believe that the new depths I went to as I soaked in Rebeccas channelled words enhanced the way I saw the world this year, I found even deeper connection to myself, divinity + purpose. So much serendipity was occurring all around as I read this too, in the places I was being called to go, the people I was meeting, timing working out in perfection! (hello 11:11, 22:22!) I'm excited to read her new book Rise Sister Rise!

6. Podcast: "You Have a Screaming, Not a Calling." Featuring Sarah Jones

I love Elizabeth Gilberts work and message, and so enjoyed reading Big Magic last year. When I heard that she was doing another series of her podcast Magic Lessons I couldn't wait to check it out. She interviews and coaches a guest who's experiencing blocks around their creative work in each episode, and has a friend join in to share their advice too. In this episode she has the HILARIOUS Sarah Jones on the line, and the transformation she facilitated was awesome to feel unraveling. I particularly loved this episode for its huge humour and compassion. (75 mins of WORTH IT)

7. Music: At Ease by Dharma Moon (Various Artists)

Such a beautiful selection of calming and devotional music, so gorgeous. Love this for starting the day, writing with, practicing yoga or just creating a cosy and peaceful atmosphere in my home or in the car!

I'm sure you'll really enjoy these...

What were your favourite tools and resources of 2016? I would love to know what you'd recommend!

I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the most beautiful, joyful and sparkly time over Christmas and New Years, and that you take some time to celebrate all you have been, all you have felt, all you have achieved this year <3

And if you're thinking about starting 2017 with beautiful new photography for your website, emails, Instagramming, Facebook ads, sales pages, book launch, or just for your gorgeous self, I have ONE SPACE LEFT for a January shoot.

If this calls to you, email me at becky@beckyrui.com or book in a call here and we'll get joyfully clear on your personal brand, the kinds of photographs that will best serve you in your business this year, and make magic together!

With so much love and hugs!!

Becky xx

On any other Monday at 6:30am I'd have probably still been in bed, but this morning was different. The excitement through my body reminded me of Christmas day when I was little !

Something I'd been dreaming of for eight months was about to come true... My love in Australia was coming to be with me in England, and I was at Heathrow Airport to get him! My heart was sparkling, my whole being felt so light. The next part of our adventure was beginning…

Skipping through the airport car park I could hardly believe we'd be together again… Through most of 2016 we'd been in constant conversation and had a connection that totally transcended the 10,000 miles between us. But we just had no idea what would it be like now, all this time later...

It was an absolutely amazing moment to see him waiting for me there, and we've had the most magical time exploring what's next for us both. If you've been following me on Instagram you'll see we're now down in Brighton, and things are going so beautifully! It's such a blessing to have my beautiful business, and the freedom as I continue to travel around for shoots, and soak up the nowness! At the same time, in all new situations there are challenges and new things to learn - and I am learning so much from my love!!

My relationship is getting me looking at what authenticity, honesty and truth means all over again, in the light of love… These values are at the heart of my personal branding work too.

I know that truth heals. I know that truth starts with us. I know that facing the truth is scary or even painful sometimes, and it is always worth it. 

I believe that telling the truth is the only sustainable way to build strong foundations in our relationships - not only with ourselves, our lovers, friends and family but in our businesses and with our clients too.

What I'm coming to understand more and more and more, is that when we believe that the people in our world can handle our truth, we empower ourselves and them. If we don’t believe in people and show up authentically, not only do we stay small and hidden, but we also do them a dis-service. Your truth can inspire, educate and raise consciousness.

The people we're interacting with in this life are ready for us, otherwise we would not be here together. I believe that the circumstances we're experiencing and their timing is divine.

If we were never challenged, we would not grow. How many times have you felt in some way provoked by the way someone else authentically shows up, and then see how their bold honesty opened your mind and enriched your life?

There's just no time for making ourselves the path of least resistance to please others, and there has never been a more perfect time to express yourself fully.

Relationships can flow when there is openness. Personal branding is effective when we are in integrity with our work and the way we present ourselves comes from an honest place. When you show your realness, you’ll engage with beings on your wavelength. It is so much easier to attract your peeps when you show up as yourself!

If you’re still trying to fit in to an idea in your head of what you think people want (or some definition of 'professional' or 'successful') but it doesn't feel true, you’re probably feeling like I used to… Frustrated, confused and never enough. Yet since I started sharing more of my truth, I feel at ease, trusting, and with so much gratitude I connect with wonderful clients who are a beautiful match...

So as I continue on my path, opening up to more and more truth and freedom of expression, these are the ideas and questions I'm pondering, acting on and sharing with you today...

• What does it feel like to share my truth?
• Where am I blocking my full expression? What is being left unsaid? With whom? Where do I feel the block in my body, or behaviour... how does it manifest in my life, business, relationships?
• How has the truth of another inspired or helped me to grow in the past? In what ways am I embracing my truth?
• What truth or learning am I feeling drawn to share? And with whom?
• How can I support others to embrace themselves and live authentically? How can we open up more, together?
• In what ways can I acknowledge and value the light I see in others?

I think it starts with us, and starts with making a conscious decision to look at ourselves and our light. It starts with acknowledging any fears we have around showing up authentically, and being kind in the process. There is nothing you must do. It's also about learning to know when you're safe to be vulnerable in this way, and when it's time to find stillness, quiet, and be patient with yourself and others.

I am finding this so challenging and it will always be an ongoing unfolding, I'm finding my way every day... but as I look back on everything that's happened I see how far we have come!

I believe that every truth that challenges me can be seen as a gift, and comes with new learnings that enhance my life if I allow them.

If you'd like any support around bringing more of your truth to your personal brand, I would be honoured to assist you with this through coaching and photography. You can schedule a call in my diary here to find out more about how we can work together: https://calendly.com/beckyruiphoto

There are also two spaces left for January photo-shoots, so if you've got big dreams for 2017 and are keen to start the year with radiant new imagery for your business, email me at becky@beckyrui.com and we'll find a time to speak!

With love and light,

Becky

I hope you're having an awesome week so far and enjoying all the sunshine. Just a quick post today with a couple of updates!

First of all... I'm coming to Florence next week! Yay! I have some availability left for shoots between Friday 3rd June to Sunday 5th, so if you fancy joining me out there (or know someone who might) email me at becky@beckyrui.com or head to my online calendar to arrange our chat, and let's play! I've got a brand new mini-shoot offer available too.

Secondly I'm moving to London! Lots of big changes happening over here and I'm really excited. This nature girl is mixing it up and heading to the city! I'm lucky enough to choose where I want to be based - it is such a gift and I'm really looking forward to this new chapter. Let me know if you fancy your next shoot in London town!

Thirdly I have three spaces left for photo-shoots in mid/late June in the UK, so if you're ready to go ahead with your session head over here to book in a personal branding clarity call or email me at becky@beckyrui.com, and we can explore your business and the kinds of shots you'd love to have right now!

Big love, Becky x

Happy New Year.

Alongside getting back to biz this week I’ve been doing lots of clearing.  Its a GOOD feeling, to de-clutter.  I love the feel of energy shifting in my space.

My intention is to be traveling more throughout 2016 and I wanted to leave for Sydney this Sunday (OMG so soon!) knowing that I’d let go of a lot of stuff I don’t need anymore.

One of the most interesting things about going through stuff is finding notes and papers from when I first started my business four and a half years ago.  It is interesting to observe my processes back then.

I see from pages of old notebooks how much of the time I was in my head, trying to figure things out logically.  Back then I felt like I should be doing better than I was, and I got stuck working out how I was going to 'make it happen' and become more successful.

I remember feeling guilty for not achieving more. Trying. ‘Should-ing’. ‘How-ing’. It felt more like I was pushing my business rather than inviting it in.

I had really high expectations for myself and my work that sabotaged me at those young and vulnerable stages.  I was so in my head about what to do next, a lot of the time.

It is obviously important and exciting to get clear on our desires, map out our plans and look at our next steps (and this is a great time of year for it), but unless this is coming from an inspired, positive place, it doesn’t always serve us in the way we hoped, the way we'd been promised it would.

I found that when my to-do list was so extensive and rigid, I was overwhelmed and couldn’t move forward very productively at all. And then when I felt stuck, I was beating up on myself for not being further ahead, procrastination-planning and generally going around in circles.  Thinking back to that feels icky.

It was interesting to find all these notes, because I operate from SUCH a different place now.

I know now that feeling good is what I was always striving for.  I had thought that by being more successful in my business I would be happier.  But no matter how much business success I could or couldn’t achieve, joy was a vibration already within me, within us all, available and ready to be tuned into.  I was ‘wasting’ my time, energy and potential worrying and getting freaked out about the details of everything, because all along I could have been feeling more relaxed and playful about it all.

I know it doesn’t make sense to most of the world, to relax about our goals, some people think it sounds lazy or deluded (maybe people have accused you of this too, ha!?), but in my experience it’s a massively more powerful, creative and active place to be. And feels a whole lot lighter!

This is also a Virgo talking here peeps, this is an allowing practice I remind myself of daily.

When you’re truly allowing yourself to feel good, inspiration occurs that just wouldn’t have been born out of any pressured, fearful, pushing place you were in before.  This INSPIRED action will likely be so much more fun and effective than anything you’d have forced to happen before, and will open up more and more opportunities that seem quite magical.

If joy is our real desire, then I believe we can get into a more playful place about everything else, especially ‘how’ we’ll get to wherever we want to be/do/have/achieve.  The nudge to take the best action will be there in the best timing when we are in the best place for it.  We just have to tune in to ourselves and how we're really feeling about things as we make our decisions.

There are lots of things you can do to get into that good place to start off with, some of those for me are journaling - particularly about what I appreciate and what I am grateful for (write for as long as you can + feel it!), meditate on a really good feeling for 20 minutes, practice yoga - again even if only for a few minutes or just to stretch. Dance! Get outside and admire nature, whether you stand outside your door and watch the clouds for 30 seconds or go for a long, nourishing walk.  Everything is a sign, so follow what feels really good to you.

I wanted to share this message with you today, just in case all the GOAL SETTING that most of us do in Jan is getting you caught up anywhere, bringing up any unwanted feelings, and as a little loving reminder (to you, and myself!) to remember that joy is already within… To know your own desires, FEEL good about them and let go of the HOW.  Big love to you!

As I mentioned, I’m going to be heading to Australia on Sunday!!! - I am excited most about running my biz as I travel, exploring new places, having fun doing photo-shoots, enjoying really good almond chai lattes, making friends, floating in the sea, creatively writing and drawing, feeling warm in the sunshine, checking out cute shops and businesses, ahhh… Wanna come too!?

I have availability for photo-shoots while I’m down under, so if you fancy next shoot (where it’s Summer right now!) or have clients, friends or family interested in working together, do get in touch by at becky@beckyrui.com.  I have availability when I'm back in the UK again from 11th March 2016.

FIVE spaces are left for Sydney photo shoots.  Is one of them yours?

With love, smiles, and a happy dance for your most joyful year so far!

Becky

P.S. You can keep up to date with my adventures over on Instagram!

P.P.S. Remember to sign up to my mailing list to get these blog posts straight to your inbox before I share them here on my site! I'd love to see you there.

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Promised yourself you'd update your photos in 2015 but it just didn't happen?

Email me and let's find a time to connect. Over Skype we'll explore your business and dreams for 2016 so far and look at how we can most powerfully create together - helping you to shine in your marketing, engage with you peeps in the most joyful and exciting way ever, and take your business to the next level!

+ if you'd like to know more about the process of a personal branding shoot in the meantime, head over to this page, or sign up on my homepage for a free audio guide with more info and tips to help you prepare for your next shoot!

I’ve had the joy of working with many inspiring entrepreneurs in the UK (and around the world!), and over this time I’ve come to learn so much about the kinds of imagery that really work in branding, how it’s becoming a more and more crucial element in growing our businesses, and how to navigate ALL THE FEELS that come up around being visible in your business!

I wanted to share this guide with you so that you get in on all the goodness! Sign up to my list on the homepage or scroll down to the bottom of the site to get to the sign up form.

In this value packed audio, I'm delighted to be sharing with you…

• Why photography is such an important part of your business today + how your photographs impact your brand
• What you need to consider as you plan your session + how to prepare for your photo-shoot and
• How to use photography in your business to take it to the next level!

I’ve given talks similar to this in the past and I know the content has been really helpful and thought provoking - plus there's a lot of new stuff in here I've not shared before!

This is going to be great listening for you if you're wanting to get clearer on what personal branding photography is all about, connect with the power you have to evolve your brand in a way that EXCITES you, and if you want to feel more inspired about presenting yourself authentically!

And if you have friends, clients, colleagues or connects that you feel would benefit from this guide, I would love for you to invite them to sign up!

Let me know what you think of the guide; what you’d like to know more or less about, whether it shifted anything for you, inspired new ideas or action to take. I would be so interested to hear your feedback!

If you’re eager to explore how we can work together to create scrumptious branding photography for your website and social media, send me a message at becky@beckyrui.com and let’s have a conversation!