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MICHAEL BECK PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Unstuck Woman Project
  • Video
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Recent Work

The Unstuck Woman" is a passion project that took root in my heart around four to five years ago. It began with a simple yet profound idea: to capture the essence of inspiring women through photography and intimate interviews, with the aim of guiding and connecting others on their own journeys.

Driven by a desire to spotlight the strength, resilience, and wisdom of women from diverse backgrounds, I embarked on a mission to seek out these remarkable individuals. What started as a personal endeavor soon blossomed into a community-driven movement, fueled by the empowering stories and experiences shared by the women I had the privilege to photograph and interview.

Word of mouth became the lifeblood of the project, as each woman I had the honor of capturing on film became a beacon, spreading the word to others who were equally deserving of recognition. Through this organic process, a network of support and empowerment began to take shape, weaving together the threads of shared experiences and aspirations.

Each photo shoot and interview became not only a celebration of individual triumphs but also a testament to the collective power of women supporting women. From artists and entrepreneurs to activists and everyday heroes, "The Unstuck Woman" has become a tapestry of inspiration, offering guidance and connection to all who encounter its stories.

As I continue to document the journeys of these incredible women, my hope remains steadfast: that their stories will serve as beacons of light for those navigating their own paths, reminding us all that resilience, courage, and determination know no bounds. Together, we rise, united in our strength and unwavering in our pursuit of a more empowered future.


Featured posts:

  • July 2024
    • Jul 2, 2024 Oriana Poindexter Jul 2, 2024
  • June 2024
    • Jun 18, 2024 Danielle Black Lyons Jun 18, 2024
    • Jun 4, 2024 Kassia Meador Jun 4, 2024
  • May 2024
    • May 24, 2024 Janina Casanova May 24, 2024
    • May 17, 2024 Heathyr Smyth May 17, 2024
  • July 2021
    • Jul 29, 2021 Becky Mendoza Jul 29, 2021
    • Jul 5, 2021 Meredith Ambruso Jul 5, 2021
  • June 2021
    • Jun 14, 2021 Isabella Manning Jun 14, 2021
    • Jun 14, 2021 Janina Casanova Jun 14, 2021
    • Jun 10, 2021 Heathyr Smyth Jun 10, 2021
  • February 2020
    • Feb 18, 2020 Brooke Kelley Feb 18, 2020
  • December 2019
    • Dec 31, 2019 Caylee Hawkins Dec 31, 2019
    • Dec 9, 2019 Erin Falconer Dec 9, 2019
    • Dec 3, 2019 Staci Hall Dec 3, 2019
  • November 2019
    • Nov 21, 2019 Miriam Brummel Nov 21, 2019
    • Nov 19, 2019 Courtney Coles Nov 19, 2019
    • Nov 11, 2019 Cierra Xavier Nov 11, 2019
    • Nov 4, 2019 Sara Lezama Nov 4, 2019
  • October 2019
    • Oct 29, 2019 Becca Kennelly Oct 29, 2019
    • Oct 14, 2019 Amanda Benson Oct 14, 2019
  • September 2019
    • Sep 16, 2019 Casey Schostag Sep 16, 2019
  • August 2019
    • Aug 19, 2019 Nicole Aug 19, 2019
    • Aug 12, 2019 Caity Watson Aug 12, 2019
    • Aug 5, 2019 Allegra Michelle Jones Aug 5, 2019
  • July 2019
    • Jul 22, 2019 Gemma Jimenez Jul 22, 2019
  • June 2019
    • Jun 24, 2019 Kari Jaffe Jun 24, 2019
  • May 2019
    • May 27, 2019 Lexy Bowman May 27, 2019
    • May 21, 2019 Mackenzie Howe May 21, 2019
    • May 21, 2019 Tracie Garacochea May 21, 2019
    • May 20, 2019 Laura Jean Anderson May 20, 2019
    • May 6, 2019 Lauren Kim May 6, 2019
    • May 1, 2019 Whitney Skauge May 1, 2019
  • March 2019
    • Mar 4, 2019 Vicki Tan Mar 4, 2019
  • February 2019
    • Feb 25, 2019 Christina Chi Craig Feb 25, 2019
  • January 2019
    • Jan 21, 2019 Corina Rose Jan 21, 2019
  • December 2018
    • Dec 16, 2018 Diandre Fuentes Dec 16, 2018
    • Dec 3, 2018 Ashleigh Johnson Dec 3, 2018
  • November 2018
    • Nov 26, 2018 Golden Shyne Nov 26, 2018
    • Nov 13, 2018 Adri Law Nov 13, 2018
    • Nov 5, 2018 Jenavieve Belair Nov 5, 2018
  • October 2018
    • Oct 30, 2018 Shannon O'Conner Oct 30, 2018
    • Oct 15, 2018 Sara Combs Oct 15, 2018
    • Oct 9, 2018 Jen Hood Oct 9, 2018
    • Oct 2, 2018 Laura Rubin Oct 2, 2018
  • September 2018
    • Sep 18, 2018 Alex Ta Sep 18, 2018
  • August 2018
    • Aug 27, 2018 Amy Hood Aug 27, 2018
    • Aug 20, 2018 Amanda Gilbert Aug 20, 2018
    • Aug 6, 2018 Kat Renyolds Aug 6, 2018
  • July 2018
    • Jul 23, 2018 Kat Jul 23, 2018
    • Jul 9, 2018 Brittney Wood Jul 9, 2018
  • June 2018
    • Jun 25, 2018 Marissa Rascon Jun 25, 2018
    • Jun 16, 2018 Lex Weinstein Jun 16, 2018
    • Jun 12, 2018 Kristen Flores Jun 12, 2018
    • Jun 4, 2018 Judith (Rose Cuts Clothing) Jun 4, 2018
  • May 2018
    • May 29, 2018 Jenn Sinclair May 29, 2018
    • May 22, 2018 Jessica Stone May 22, 2018
    • May 14, 2018 Ginger Caranto May 14, 2018
    • May 13, 2018 RY May 13, 2018
    • May 7, 2018 Velia De Iuliis May 7, 2018
    • May 1, 2018 Arielle Estoria May 1, 2018
  • April 2018
    • Apr 24, 2018 Natasha Nicole Apr 24, 2018
    • Apr 17, 2018 Genevieve Apr 17, 2018
    • Apr 10, 2018 Veronica Lowe Apr 10, 2018
    • Apr 3, 2018 Tanika hoffman Apr 3, 2018
  • March 2018
    • Mar 15, 2018 Johanna Swanson Mar 15, 2018
    • Mar 6, 2018 Wesley Bird Mar 6, 2018
    • Mar 1, 2018 Renee Mooi Mar 1, 2018
  • February 2018
    • Feb 27, 2018 Taylor Carrozza Feb 27, 2018
    • Feb 13, 2018 Kelly Yazdi Feb 13, 2018
  • January 2018
    • Jan 23, 2018 Torrey Jay Jan 23, 2018
    • Jan 20, 2018 Sarah Larson Jan 20, 2018
    • Jan 9, 2018 Elise Crigar Jan 9, 2018
  • December 2017
    • Dec 18, 2017 Bleu Archbold Dec 18, 2017
    • Dec 12, 2017 Kestrel Jenkins Dec 12, 2017
    • Dec 5, 2017 Kaitlin Mogentale Dec 5, 2017
  • November 2017
    • Nov 28, 2017 Lou Samantha Nov 28, 2017
    • Nov 13, 2017 Buckley Nov 13, 2017
    • Nov 6, 2017 Kinley Danger Winnaman Nov 6, 2017
  • October 2017
    • Oct 21, 2017 Natasha Zoë Garrett Oct 21, 2017
    • Oct 16, 2017 Amy Leverton Oct 16, 2017
    • Oct 9, 2017 Sloane Oct 9, 2017
    • Oct 2, 2017 Nice Turner Oct 2, 2017
  • September 2017
    • Sep 25, 2017 HEIDI ZUMBRUN Sep 25, 2017
    • Sep 21, 2017 Monica Reyes Sep 21, 2017
    • Sep 18, 2017 Joy Lewis Sep 18, 2017
    • Sep 11, 2017 Lucy Mae Sunday Sep 11, 2017
    • Sep 4, 2017 Madison Isbell Sep 4, 2017
  • August 2017
    • Aug 28, 2017 Juri Ko Aug 28, 2017
    • Aug 21, 2017 Lauren Lilly Aug 21, 2017
    • Aug 14, 2017 Nouel Riel Aug 14, 2017
    • Aug 7, 2017 Ashmore Ellis Aug 7, 2017
    • Aug 1, 2017 GLORIA J. NOTO Aug 1, 2017
  • July 2017
    • Jul 21, 2017 Blake Spencer Jul 21, 2017
    • Jul 21, 2017 Anya Jul 21, 2017
    • Jul 10, 2017 Farron Feiner Jul 10, 2017
  • June 2017
    • Jun 29, 2017 Genevieve Davis Jun 29, 2017
    • Jun 20, 2017 Amy Reda Jun 20, 2017
    • Jun 20, 2017 Michaela Eichenbaum Jun 20, 2017
    • Jun 17, 2017 Beckie Peralta Jun 17, 2017
    • Jun 14, 2017 Tamara Raye Jun 14, 2017
    • Jun 9, 2017 Ally Ferguson Jun 9, 2017
  • May 2017
    • May 31, 2017 𝕮𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖆 𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖘 May 31, 2017
    • May 10, 2017 Jaime Dempsey May 10, 2017
  • February 2017
    • Feb 13, 2017 Sara Lyons Feb 13, 2017

Brooke Kelley

February 18, 2020

Hi friends. Meet @bevyandbrine. Brooke is a surfer, artist, good vibes spreader, who has a very deep, gentle and kind spirit.

What have you had to give up to get where you are?
I guess some would say financial stability, being around family, the understanding and acceptance of others, consistency... but in order for those things to be given up, I would have had to have them in the first place. I have always had to give up something in order to gain something else. I grew up with divorced parents, and I always remember feeling torn between being happy to see my dad but then being sad I’m not with my mom. That was painful, but at the same time, it made me into a very adaptable person. It’s more comfortable and natural for me to have to give up things in order to move forward or to go where I feel led to go. I know that good is always around the corner. Naturally, I am a drifter and find excitement in the unknown and new beginnings. My mom taught me at a young age about the things we never have to give up: love, inner peace, joy, and memories.

Why is art important?
I believe that all humans have a deep longing to belong. There are hurts and pains in this world and throughout life that tend to make us feel isolated. I believe through art we can feel united and also receive deliverance from our pain. When we choose to be vulnerable and share our innermost parts with the outside world, it creates strength and courage. I feel like the best example I can relate to is thinking about a moment when I was experiencing extreme heartbreak and loneliness. I was listening to a song where the artist was also describing his heartbreak. I thought about how many heartbreaking songs there are in the world. I suddenly didn’t feel so alone in my pain. I thought, it’s ok, I’m not the only one that’s felt this before, and that created a little sense of company in the lonely moment. You never know whose load you can lift by being vulnerable with your creations.

What is God?
I think God is anything that you put above yourself. To me, God is indescribable. That’s what makes God so mystical and amazing. I feel like we humans try and put God into this box so that we can fully grasp who or what God is, but I have always been happy just feeling God. God is Love, God is Spirit, God is light.

As a global community, what do we need to focus our energy on achieving?
Loving ourselves and loving others.

Where did you catch your very first wave?
Hawaii. It was classic touristy family vacation vibes, haha. I stood up like a champ on the biggest soft top I have ever seen. A hot fireman did push me into it, but I’m still countin' it.

How does one cope with change?
Welcoming it with a hopeful heart and open mind.

Any tips for someone who is grieving?
My first tip is to come find me so I can give you a big hug, haha. UGH, but if that’s not possible, patience and kindness to yourself. And therapy when you are ready. When I was very young, my dad committed suicide. I didn’t truly go through grief until I was 28. They say you can’t go around grief; you have to go through it. I dodged that thing like the plague. But unfortunately, “they” are right. I developed lots of unhealthy coping mechanisms and was permanently in survival mode for about 15 years. The thought of grieving my best friend/hero’s death was absolutely terrifying, but now I realize that the pain I was stuck in and submitting to is more terrifying than the grief itself. There is peace and joy available to you again.

What is paradise?
Inner peace.

What have you learned from your van?
To slow down and to welcome issues with grace because you’s a darn fool to think they ain’t comin'.

What is success?
I think the definition of success is always changing. Only you can define what success looks like in your life. Sometimes it’s getting out of bed in the morning. Sometimes it’s starting your own business. I think what matters most is to define success for yourself, big success and little obtainable success. But most importantly, never ever forget to celebrate your success and never ever let your successes identify you. They encourage you, but they do not define you.

What is the best meal you can cook?
I make a really good veggie curry. It’s one of my best friend's recipes; I can’t take the credit. I love food that feeds all of my friends, and this one is a favorite amongst the homies.

What is something you learned from your grandparents that has stuck with you?
The importance of hard work. I never had the chance to get close to my grandparents, but I can definitely see what they instilled into my parents. I think about my dad and all of his brothers who grew up on their family farm. My favorite stories are from my uncles about how hard they worked on that farm (along with all the stories about how much trouble they got into, too). My dad then instilled that in me at a very young age, to work my hardest at anything I choose to invest in.

If you had one memory you could carry with you for the rest of your life, what would it be?
There is this constant memory that flashes into my mind from time to time. Most consistently when I am feeling hopeless, I would say. I was 13. I was in my hometown, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. A large snow had fallen, and it was common for me to go and get lost in the woods all day long, seeing as I would get quite stir-crazy. This was something I would do with my dad most days, but he had just passed, so I was left with Jack Johnson in my iPod. I was crunching through the woods, stopping only to throw a rock or two into the frozen lake. A song by Jack Johnson called "All At Once" came on, and it is now the theme song for this moment in time. Although my worst nightmare had just happened, I was ok. By myself. Getting lost in the woods and the wonders and possibilities of life. I began to think for myself and dream for myself and plant seeds for my future. I planted hope. I think I realized that I was in charge of creating hope and joy. There was more out there, and I was going to go and do it. I liked myself in that moment. It’s easy to lose yourself when you get older. We get tossed around and roughed up in the world, but it’s important to not lose sight of our child self. They will continually lead you back to who you truly are.

How can we support you?
Wow, probably the nicest question. I think I feel most supported when I am wanted for a rad job with rad people.

What is your favorite movie to watch on VHS?
A Knight's Tale, duhhhhhhhhh.

Do you believe in Karma?
I actually don’t think that I do. I try not to think about Karma because sometimes I feel like when we focus on Karma existing, then we start to do good out of selfish reasons so that we will get good back. I feel as though when we love ourselves and accept love, we tend to operate out of love. Not because we need it back, but because it is a free gift to give and receive.

Tell me one Brooke fun fact....
I don’t know about fun facts, but I have a lot of weird facts... I get shit-faced after one drink because I have one kidney. I have a weird talent for rationing food. I was pretty poor all of my life, and I am known to make one breakfast muffin last for three days. Nickname's Borky. I have been trying to kill off parasites inside me for the past two years but have now come to terms with them, and we call them Perry.

What is the biggest realization you have had about yourself?
How important it is to be there for yourself and to treat yourself with love and kindness.

What are your thoughts on the ocean?
The ocean. Mmm. Probably my same answer for what is God, hahaha. That question could be taken a lot of different ways, but I guess my immediate thoughts on the ocean would be: teacher. The ocean has taught me so much. It humbles me. It forces me to let go and have fun and peace while not being in control. It’s my healer. Many days when I have not been able to escape my pain and anxieties, the ocean has always been there to soothe my pain in a healthy way.

← Heathyr Smyth Caylee Hawkins →
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email: michaelbeckphoto@gmail.com

phone: 949-491-2074

What would you like for your next birthday?⁠
@allisonbroberts :⁠
I pretty much want the same thing for my birthday every year… A warm destination with a fun little wave & dreamy beaches! I’m pretty consistent in this category! Hahaha
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#womenwhosurf #skaka #surfgirl #californiasurf #ladieswhoshred #aloha #surf #surfing #lovesurfing #surfeveryday #dogood #surfsurfsurf #ilovesurfing #welovesurfing ⁠
What life skills are rarely taught but extremely useful?⁠
⁠@allisonbroberts :⁠
I think communication and expression are one of those life skills that could use more focus in the youth of our culture. We’re taught to think and live in a box, in
How do you keep yourself psychologically healthy?⁠
@allisonbroberts :⁠
I wish I could say I have this mastered… There’s times when my self-care game is on point & I feel really centered, and other times when I get swept up in the gri
What are things that bring you joy in the world?⁠
@allisonbroberts :⁠
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The things that bring me joy are really so simple… It’s warm morning air & birds singing in my backyard… sipping morning coffee… hearing my daughte
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#womenwhosurf #skaka #surfgirl #californiasurf #ladieswhoshred #aloha #surf #surfing #lovesurfing #surfeveryday #dogood #surfsurfsurf #ilovesurfing #welovesurfing ⁠
When do you know if it is the right time to change things up and why?⁠
@allisonbroberts :⁠
I think our intuition deserves heaps of credit for this one.  It really holds the key! I think if you listen to your gut…when it’s telling somethi
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#womenwhosurf #skaka #surfgirl #californiasurf #ladieswhoshred #aloha #surf #surfing #lovesurfing #surfeveryday #dogood #surfsurfsurf #ilovesurfing #welovesurfing ⁠
What does the perfect day look like?⁠
@allisonbroberts :⁠
Mmmm… A perfect day is waking up feeling healthy! It’s lighting a little incense while the coffee is brewing. It’s opening all the doors to let in some warm fresh air &
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#womenwhosurf #skaka #surfgirl #californiasurf #ladieswhoshred #aloha #surf #surfing #lovesurfing #surfeveryday #dogood #surfsurfsurf #ilovesurfing #welovesurfing ⁠