The Girl Behind The Lens: Kelsey Beesley

The girl behind the lens: Kelsey

Meet the runner up winner for our 2019 Film Contest, Kelsey Beesley. We are excited for you to get to know a little more about her, because we know you will love her as much as we do!

PS...be sure to check out her beautiful video, "The Pursuit of Enough", here.

Q: Tell us about yourself!

A: Hi there, my name is Kelsey. I’m a 28 year old Canadian from a Orillia, Ontario. My free time is filled with exploring new place and taking pictures and videos along the way. Nothing fills me up more than capturing the moments, big or small. You can find these snaps all over my Instagram @lifeasabee, although I am slowly starting to make the move to longer video content on my YouTube channel (Thank you Be More for helping push me in this direction). Along with my love for photography, film and creating, I can be found practicing yoga, studying astrology and all things “woo woo”, working on way too many DIY projects, listening to live music, drinking copious amounts of coffee [in ascetically pleasing coffee shops, of course!], and hanging with my pup Penny the Bulldog. 

Q: What influences your creative style and how did you get started in film?

A: I find I am drawn to creative content that possesses a level of authenticity and genuineness in the work. I am inspired by capturing moments of realness. My creativity is ignited through story telling that embodies the true essence of the human experience.

I have always liked the idea of creating video content. For me capturing moments has always been my form of art and creative expression. However, for a long time I told myself the story that I couldn’t actually create because “I wasn’t a creative person”. It wasn’t until I began to find my inner confidence and breakdown self-made blocks that I was able to embrace this part of me.  

Q: What inspired you in the making of your video submission?

A: The way my submission for the Be More Film Contest came about was very synchronistic. I had been playing with the idea of “I am enough” for a month or two prior and had actually writing out the dialogue featured in my film about a week before discovering call for submissions. When the contest popped up on my screen, I knew this was the push I needed to actually bring the ideas in my head to life. 

As for my film itself, the idea of “I am enough” has been something I have felt very passionate about in recent years. As I get older, I recognize that I have not been alone in my pursuit of enough and self-worth struggles. I feel extremely called to make content that helps us connect through empowerment and shared experience.

Q: If you could speak to your 13 year old self, what would you tell her?

A: Thirteen! Oh boy, that’s a tough age. Looking back, I think that’s when a lot of my personal insecurities started to form. I definitely had a lot of that teen angst energy going on, haha! I need to recognize that everything I experienced in my teen years and early 20’s was necessary. As hard as they were at times, those moments and experiences have made me who I am today. Without them I don’t know if I would have the same drive and passions I do, especially in regard to self-acceptance.

With that being said I do believe that the processes could have been little bit more bearable had someone told me to have more compassion for myself. I have always been incredibly hard on myself and in hind sight I can see how my self-criticism really perpetuated a lot of my personal struggles. I would also offer the advice to live a little more unapologetically. Your teen years are confusing by nature, but I definitely complicated the confusion by trying harder to fit-in then actually trying to just be me. 

Q: What do you commit to "Be More" of? 

A: To be more authentic to myself. That one is easy for me. I think the best thing we can do to “Be More” is to embrace all of who we are, the good, the bad and the amazing. Dive into those projects or hobbies that lights you up [even if the people around you don’t understand], be kind to the stranger on the street, set boundaries for things that don’t align with you, talk about your insecurities with a friends and listen and support them as they talk about theirs, cry when you need to cry and laugh when you need to laugh. Don’t be so afraid to be all that you are. 

Kelsey in her element!