( This will be wordy and sappy for a bit, so if you’re just here for the giveaway then skip to the bottom! )
Every so often a creative will reflect and rebrand and redirect their focus. It’s interesting and fun and often needed, but always takes longer than you’d expect and can be more more emotionally-involved than you’d prefer, simply because anytime you and others heavily critique your work you begin to question the meaning of work and purpose and life and struggle to find that “voice” we’re supposedly so chummy with and eventually find plenty of reasons to talk ourselves out of what we initially hoped to do. (Orrr maybe that’s just me?)
I don’t want to get too melodramatic, (being a day into 26 has made me so wise and nostalgic) but I do want to mention why this day feels so significant. Work started on the rebrand of a simple website (simple as in 127 pages of color-coded galleries arranged by editing style and emotion) last spring, and I feel like the process for designing has been the same for life in the year since:
A brickload of honest critiques, coming to terms of what I’m ok without, and a quiet contentment with the goodness that remains.
After months of burnout I went half-time with photography this year and got another job to make up the difference. I didn’t talk about it much but I just hit a pretty apathetic low of life. A few weeks ago I left for England hoping that some time away would help me find direction, since I was this close to quitting altogether. It was a weird place to be mentally since there was nothing else I wanted either, and then there’s the how-much-are-we-really-supposed-to-love-our-jobs argument that I have no clear answer for.
I prayed for peace and direction but didn’t quite have the faith to believe that God would answer…but He did beyond everything ever.
I had some of the best days ever during those weeks away, and as an answer to prayer I can say that I have that next step I was hoping for. It’s all still a work in progress and I don’t know how some new developments will play out, (hopefully a lot more work in Europe though!) but through peace and joy and a piece of caramel cheesecake – I’m fully back to photography and so happy to be here : )
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Soooooooo the website!
The design was a collaboration of my darling friend Jennifer and myself, with snippets of beautiful life thanks to the best clients in the world.
It’s wonderful to have a friend who is a graphic designer, and it’s even better to still be friends after a project like this haha. Jen is one of the most encouraging and influential friends I’ve ever had, and I can’t imagine life without her generosity, her sarcasm, and every beautiful thing that comes out of her kitchen.
For the website I wanted the feel of a guided tour through an art gallery in a Victorian home, (you can see my inspiration here on Pinterest) and she did exactly that! Over the months we changed and simplified the look a dozen times, and I can’t thank her enough for patiently making adjustments and coming up with so many fresh and genius ideas.
Here are bits of my favorite parts, but please go look for yourself! It’s meant to be something of an experience, so take your time wandering through.
THE FUN PART
So what’s a happy day without some presents?
To celebrate both the launch today and my birthday yesterday, I’m giving away a few pretty things to one lucky person.
- One of my favorite home-decorating books, to inspire your spaces
- Hair chalk, for the temporarily adventurous
- 100 darling hand-lettered post cards, which can also double as wall art!
TO ENTER:
Like my business page on Facebook, like this post, and leave a comment with your email address.
Super easy!
I’ll pick a winner by random Thursday night, and mail it out right away. Best of luck!
With much, much love,
Rebekah
Wow!! Your new website is so gorgeous and unique!!! Love it
Happy birthday and new website!! 🙂 msllim88@gmail.com
Yay! Website launch! Ashley.bennett0312@gmail.com
i looked at your website earlier today and i keep thinking about it. i love love love it! it’s so you. and reading through it, i forgot how much we are a like. sometimes i feel like i have a slightly alternate personality living inside of me in tiny form and most of the time it’s very much like you. haha. (i sure hope that makes sense)
and i would love to win this contest because those are the most awesome prizes ever! i’ve seriously been wanting to color the ends of my hair pink, but i’m way too terrified to do it with real dye. and hand lettered notecards are like my love language. haha
on a side note, i think we need to plan a time to get together because i miss your lovely self. 🙂
Aw, your new website is great! I am also greatly intrigued by hair chalk.
SO BEAUTIFUL. absolutely love it.
your new website is amazing. I feel like I could play on it forever. seriously so gorgeous, I’m in love. and email address for the giveaway–myunoriginaloriginality@gmail.com. excited for you!
Rebekah, I love your new website! I admire you for following the desires of your heart and listening to that small, still voice which is the Lord!! Keep clicking for HIM!!
and the email address is….. tibekty@comcast.net !!!!!!
I love, love the new look ! and I liked your FB page and I loved this post ! my email- pinklemonadestand2@y7mail.com
Love the redesign. The music is lovely and amazing. I’m going to be leaving your homepage tab open frequently. 🙂 Sorry to hear about your burnout and struggles. But glad that God answered your prayers in England (I mean, really, what better place to go to seek God?).
I love the hair chalk and the cards! Like, if I don’t win I want to buy them, love. 😀
Thanks for the giveaway! (From a lurker who is comment for the first time)
Your website is truly one of a kind – wonderful job!
amdavis09@gmail.com
I know I already gushed about it on FB, but serrrriiiiously, it’s so so amazing. easily the best rebrand I’ve ever seen. thanks for inspiring us all!
I liked your business page long ago, and I’m liking this post!
jessica@jessicashae.com
Love the new site. Congratulations and happy birthday!!
Like I said earlier, your website is incredible–as are you.
Amazing gifts…I was just thinking I’d adore some stationery!
Of course I’ve been a fan of your business page for quite some time now, but I’ll certainly like this post (and cross my fingers 🙂
This is lovely.
I am so impressed, not just with the website but also with the level of soul-baring you’re up for in such a public space. It reminds me of that gif you posted about not being sure whether to go for the hug or the handshake after a client meeting–you’re so great at getting beyond the ‘merely’ professional! I, for one, was deeply grateful for that. I was sorry to read about your ambivalence with wedding photography, but then I can imagine that someone committed to a life of authenticity and adventure has to let some things go in order to take hold of others. That said, I’m (selfishly?) glad I’ll still have a “Rebekah J. Murray photography” to enjoy, albeit in a new form. (Maureen dot and dot Dave dot 2012 at gmail dot com.)
Lovely new site. Congratulations and Happy Birthday to you!
Bekah, the website is absolutely beautiful! Kudos to you and Jen–two of the most lovely and creative women I know. So grateful you didn’t give up on photography and stay far, far away in England. Best of luck with your new endeavors!
What a great design for your new site, love it!
bdiaz21@knights.ucf.edu
LOVE the new site! So excited for you!
lauralizphoto at gmail dot com
I feel almost guilty commenting, as if I’m doing so merely to win a prize. But you know me better than that, so comment I will.
I love you. And all of the sweet bits of awesome and amazing that color your life and the love that infuses your work. All of the heart and soul and wrestling that went into this site. It’s SO PERFECT.
xoxo—forever
Welcome back!! I love how your site so beautifully reflects you!! Congratulations on such an accomplishment!
All the best to you. <3
(vanmyers@gmail.com)
love your site! thanks for sharing such a beauty… your work is incredibly touching and inspiring and surely makes many souls very happy! brianne.totman@gmail.com
Oh my, how I love you. I’m so so excited for you, the peace you’ve gotten & the launch of this amaaaazing site!!! Love love love. (And you have my email 🙂
ooooo hair chalk! LOVE LOVE LOVE the site 🙂
This just makes my heart so happy. Oh, Becka. Your website is beautiful and like a dream and so very you. Love it (and you!), friend. 🙂
imhannahnicole[@]gmail[.]com
Oh Bekah, the redesign is simply lovely! It seems to clearly reflect you…or what little I know of you! Elegant, creative, caring, deep…with a little whimsy mixed in 🙂 May the Lord bless and keep you. And may His face shine upon you and give you peace as you journey on!
I love the new website! I’ve always been a big fan of your works. 🙂 xx Love from Malaysia. p.s. My email’s anisa_fhiy@yahoo.com
love love love. 🙂
kiley@kileymarissa.com
rabridgwood@gmail.com
You know I’m dying over your website, but I’ll say it again. Just dying.
I used to go to your old website, browse and be inspired, and then leave it open as I did other work for hours… I’ve always loved that music! Your new site is beautiful and I am a huge fan and supporter of your art 🙂 And happy belated!
(jordanna.laman@gmail.com)
Your new design is quite simply you. It was really great to hear all about the process! charity.klicka@gmail.com
Rebekah, I am so happy that you’ve decided to stick with photography full time. God has blessed you with a beautiful talent. Your work is lovely!
Simply.laurenashley@gmail.com
Cutest giveaway! Email is ungriastell@gmail.com
Cutest giveaway! Shoot me an email at ungriastell@gmail.com
I’m so excited that you’re still in photography! Your work is amazing, and the website beautifully reflects your creativity!
Love the new website!! iamsarahelizabeth@yahoo.com
For archive purposes, I recommend putting up a screen print of a few of your ol’ website pages. Namely the great bio shot of yourself in your painting jeans! That shot made me understand your commitment to your craft and your playful, experimental delight in your art-making efforts. I realize it’s ol’ hat for you and that there is much more exciting, updated bits, but I do so love a nod to the past.
Email: antiquerain (at) hotmail (dot) com
I want treats!!! 😀 Beautiful, my friend. A job well done.
you are a marvel.
Beautiful!
Bhdelevante@liberty.edu
now that the internet is such a fixture in my life, it’s humdrum to me, and no website has stunned or excited me in months. your photography website is the exception. it is like an art tour, but more than that, it is an introduction to your passions & your wild creativity & the depth of your heart. utterly beautiful. i’m praising alongside you for the peace and clarity that God has brought.
so.she.dances@gmail.com
I love your new site! Beautiful design. Love it!
Lovely new site! Fun giveaway too. 🙂
Oh, I’m such a fan! As a college student trying to make my way into the world of wedding photography, your work is hugely inspirational to me. And it’s obvious that the work you do is blessing to your clients as well.
beadburrito[at]gmail[dot]com
So excited for you!
So%20excited%20for%20you!
well you are just the most talented and i hear you on the career soul-searching! i think C and i are kind of in that spot, too, hoping to get some light about how much we’re supposed to love our work and what would be the right jobs for each of us, that we can feel really deeply passionate about.
it’s clear that you bring crazy talent and soul to your photography–it shows in every single image.
also, those postcards are rad, and when i inevitably don’t win, i want to figure out where they’re from and buy some!
big hugs xoxo
LOVE the new website!! Feels like walking through a story. Perfect images & words. I want to keep exploring it! hannahteague12@gmail.com
LOVE LOVE!!