Catching Up With Jamie Beck

At this time last year, we were preparing for the event of the season when Jamie Beck stopped by our little French shop for a book signing of her first book An American in Provence! You can learn more about Jamie and her first book in the blog post of our initial interview last year.

One year later, Jamie has accomplished the incredible feat of publishing a second book! The Flowers of Provence is out now, and we’re excited to be offering it at Les Fleurs! Filled with breathtaking floral photography, this book will transport you to the magical place of Provence. It’s a look into Beck’s artisanal universe and romantic style. You’ll even find floral tutorials! See details below to order a signed copy of the book.

To celebrate the occasion, we caught up with Jamie to learn more about this new book!

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Congratulations on your new book, "The Flowers of Provence!" For those who haven't had the chance to explore it yet, could you give us a glimpse of what readers can expect to discover within its pages?

The Flowers of Provence is a collection of over 200 floral photographs; landscapes, still lives and other portraits from my body of work spanning over 6 years.  I dig deeper into the history and uses of flowers in this region along with tips and tricks from local artisans and farmers for cutting and preserving flowers.

Your work prominently features flowers. Being flower lovers ourselves, we love how you capture their beauty! Could you share what inspires you the most when  photographing flowers?

Each flower has its own story and personality, and truely evokes an emotion within me when gazing at them. I am inspired and in awe by them in their natural setting and I work to evoke the same feeling they give outside in nature, when photographing them in my studio. Though I shoot flowers in the gardens endlessly, I love to create, to play, and to dance with them in my studio. It is here where I can control the viewer’s gaze and, hopefully, evoke an emotion within you brought to life for eternity through my composition and lighting.

"The Flowers of Provence" includes a collection of previously unpublished photographs. Could you walk us through the process of how you chose and curated these specific images for this book?

With this book, I had the opportunity to create new work that had not yet been released to the public and to go back in my archives to select images I felt a strong attachment to but was unable to include in An American in Provence, my first book, which was the story of how I came to France and my life changed. There was more written story, leaving a tougher edit of selection on imagery.  The Flowers of Provence is more simply just about the beauty of Provence, art, and all her splendid flowers that have absolutely captured my imagination and wonder.

Your presence on social media has garnered a devoted following. How has the support and engagement from your online community influenced your creative journey as both an author and a photographer?

I have always loved photography. With that said, what makes a compelling photograph? It is in part due to storytelling and the satisfaction of the artist in its creation, expression, and creative decisions. I believe my ability to show my process and tell a story is what captivates people. I wouldn’t say that I do things for my online community, but I will say that I very much enjoy sharing the things in life that thrill me and finding the people to whom it can also bring joy.

Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or journeys you have in mind, and how these endeavors may continue to shape and develop your artistic expression?

I’m looking forward to exploring new forms of storytelling through new products we have been working years on creating, to bring to life the look, smells, taste, and thoughts of Provence, as well as launching a new community platform for creatives, artists, and of course, FRANCOPHILES!

You can keep up with all my news by following me on Instagram at @Jamiebeck.co and signing up for my newsletter here.

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We want to thank Jamie for taking the time to chat with us. We hope you enjoyed hearing about her journey and inspiration along with a peek inside the pages of her stunning new book. See the link below get a signed copy of The Flowers of Provence.

xoxo,
Sandra & the Fleurettes