An American in Provence: How Photographer Jamie Beck Starts Her Mornings

What's the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before diving into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine.

Tune in every Monday and Friday morning here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.

When photographer and visual artist Jamie Beck moved from Manhattan to France for her sabbatical, she had intended to do so for only a year. Fast-forward four years and a baby daughter later, Jamie and her husband, Kevin Burg, are just as in love with the French countryside as ever. 

Her fondness for Provence and its culture has also influenced her body of work. Her photographic art draws inspiration from the Baroque period with its ornate detail and rich color palette. Most recently, as a response to the stay-at-home orders, Jamie has committed to creating one original piece of art a day for a series called #IsolationCreation. Through this process, she has been able to produce affordable fine art and inspire a global community of creatives.

Keep reading to see her typical morning as an American living and working in France.  

Sun is up and so is the baby. Our 16-month-old daughter, Eloise, is our daily alarm clock. But before we do anything, we have a good amount of morning cuddles in bed together, have some water, and share a small yogurt before approaching the day. Eloise and I have matching pj’s from LoveShackFancy.

I do two applications of skincare using only La Bella Figura twice a morning—once when I first wake up and then again before I apply my makeup late in the morning. I fell in love with La Bella Figura skincare because of its raw, organic ingredients approach and sustainable-focused small-farm sourcing.

For the morning routine, I start with La Flora oil, Daily Elements Defense face oil, finished with Crema Supernova day cream.

Eloise and I head out for our morning run through the French countryside. We have a Thule running stroller, which is great for the bike trail and even off-roading onto wooded hiking paths.

I’m usually listening to a handful of favorite podcasts: The Daily by The New York Times for what is going on in the world, A Thing or Two With Claire and Erica to keep in touch with what’s happening in New York, Coffee Break French to practice my French pronunciation, A Drink With James to hear what is going on in the digital space, Frame & Sequence to be inspired by industry creatives, or the History of Photography by Jeff Curto because I’m a photography nerd who loves to listen to the history of it!

Some mornings, the run can take quite a bit of time, as I stop to photograph the nature or forage subject matter for that day’s photograph.

Get the baby dressed. Today, she’s wearing one of my favorite baby brands, La Coqueta Kids, with a handmade French bow by Five /Eleven. Eloise usually has scrambled eggs, wheat bread, and fruit for breakfast. Though, on Saturdays, we all have croissants, which I made the subject matter of my Day 50 #IsolationCreation!

While Daddy drops Eloise off to crèche (daycare), I begin getting ready. I finish my morning coffee, take a shower, and do my second application of skincare. If I’m going to wear makeup that day, I’ll apply it now, and I'll usually toss my hair into a low French chignon using Kristin Ess French hairpins.

My makeup is very minimal. I do a sheer sweep of Clarins Skin Detox Fluid With SPF, Chantecaille Liquid Lumière for highlighter, Tata Harper Cheek Tint in Very Naughty on both my lips and cheeks, By Terry Growth Booster Mascara, and Nilens Jord Brow Pomade to fill in my eyebrows. 

I always finish my face with a spritz of La Bella Figura Jardin de Fleurs Skin Revitalizer. I will do this multiple times a day to keep my skin hydrated and cool, especially in summer in Provence when it becomes very dry and very hot!

My husband makes perfect eggs over Petit Épeautre, ancient wheat grains, toast served with the daily seasonal fruit, and we discuss what each of us is hoping to accomplish for the day.

I then get dressed and head downstairs to my photography studio. Typically, I wear very long and flowing fashions, not only because I like it for my personal style but because it really protects you from the heat in France. Keeping the sun off your skin and wearing loose, light-colored, breathable fabrics is the only way I survive.

Once dressed, I always begin in the studio by turning on my "Provence Work Music" playlist and lighting a candle. This ritual is so important to get me in the right headspace for creativity. It is, in a way, my creative meditation music and ambiance.

I always burn candles, such as my current Diptyque Fig scent, that is a local scent to Provence. To create work that lives and breathes a specific place on Earth, I'll try to surround myself in only that world. The fig candle is just an extension of the fig tree outside my studio window.

Next up: How Jewelry Designer Anna Sheffield Begins Her WFH Mornings