It was so much fun to build this website for Malibu yoga teacher Natalie Backman! Natalie teaches a light-hearted and soulful practice that fluidly evokes the calming effects of the ocean. So what better place to photograph her work than at the world-famous El Matador Beach! 

Natalie's website is based on beautiful photos and cheerful pops of yellow to invite website visitors to subscribe to her newsletter, sign up for virtual classes, and learn more about her international yoga retreats.

With class descriptions and links to her recorded classes on YouTube, this website connects Natalie's social media presence with her home on the web. Check out the home page in detail below or click here to view the live website and click around between the pages >> 

It was an honor to develop this beautiful and functional website for one of Malibu's beloved yoga teachers. Namaste Natalie!! 

** The website was built using Wix, one of the many browser-based website builders that I use. My philosophy for building websites is that you (the owner) should feel comfortable making updates and simple edits (think text and images) to the website and not need to hire me for every little update need. To that end, every website project I do concludes with a "pass off" meeting during which I screen share with you and show you the nuts and bolts of logging in, posting to your blog (if your website has a blog), and making basic edits. If you're in need of a brand new website or long overdue for some edits to your existing website, shoot me an email and let's talk >> cecily.breeding@gmail.com 

Natalie Backman is one part gumby, one part philosopher, and all dynamo yoga teacher, based in sunny southern California. She's one of my favorite people to shoot because she's like the Audrey Hepburn of yoga—exquisitely beautiful and photogenic and spunky but also soulful and authentic and down to earth. 

You may recognize Natalie from her wine country wedding to the dreamy Ivo >>

Yoga is beautiful. Nature is beautiful. Yoga in nature, well, it's pretty mind-blowing. Beth and I hiked out to these lovely little meadows in Zuma Canyon in Malibu in April to snap these pretty shots. If you're in the LA area and you love a good, safe, aligned, and also challenging yoga flow, check out Beth Prandini and hit up one of her classes.

Every month, just in time for the full moon, MoonBox subscribers receive a package on their doorstep that's packed with essential oils, crystals, a special tea blend, and a guided meditation, all grounded in what's happening with the moon and stars this month. "It's a full moon ritual in a box!" the website says. 

Imagine Fest is a yoga and music festival that occurs in Malibu, CA, every year. The vibe is natural, youthful, and artistic, sprinkled with a generous helping of palo santo smoke. This photo shoot provided the foundation for their promotional efforts this year: from poster backgrounds to social media posts and website banners. 

After the Holy Yoga Retreat, Heather and I took a little detour up the 64 north to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Being early May in the high desert, we naturally got a spectacular sunset, followed by a night of rain and a morning of snow. After having breakfast at the historic El Tovar Hotel (Polenta Corn Hot Cakes with Prickly Pear-Pistachio Butter), we headed for the Hoover Dam, because who doesn't want to see the world's longest concrete arch? 

Like these? Making women feel beautiful is one of my favorite things to do. Whether you're a yogi, a mom or a rocket scientist (or all three), I would love to put together a shoot that feels authentic to you. Email me. 

...or click through the photos/explanations below!

As you can see, the site looks as great on mobile as it does on a laptop. That's important because over 40% of browsing now occurs on devices such as smartphones or tablets. The site is responsive, which means it senses the size of the viewing window and adjusts the content (photos & text) accordingly.

As you click through the slideshow below, you'll notice that the site is heavily image-based, with full-width banner images on each page. All the photos were taken at the same time/location, so the lighting and style create a cohesive thread throughout the site. I wanted the site to have some style, with a subtle color scheme and design elements that reflect Malibu's southern California style. The off-center text, bold page headings, and gold buttons on a white page background bring in a clean, magazine page layout feel.

My personal website philosophy is that YOU should be able to make updates to your site. Too often, a business will shell out thousands of dollars for a site that they can't. even. update. To me, that is unacceptable. I'll make the site beautiful, organize the information in a way that makes sense, and create a cohesive representation of your business. Then I hand over the keys and teach you to make basic edits to the existing content, such as changing/adding text, changing/adding photos, and even creating new pages. Of course I'm always available to jump in and help with updates if you get stuck, but I want you to feel empowered and excited to take control of your online presence.

If your website is a dog, think of me as the obedience trainer. I'll create the masterpiece, but you get to take it from there. Do you like how that sounds? Need a website for your yoga studio, or private training business? I love working with clients in the health and wellness space because there is SO much potential for beautiful photography and positive messaging. Let's talk about creating you a website you love! Shoot me an email or check out the rest of my website projects.

Got to design a fun little set of invitations and post cards for lululemon athletica, one of my all time favorite clients! These pieces will accompany a swag bag, filled with all the necessities for getting the most out of Wanderlust Oahu, compliments of lululemon. I used lululemon's custom island illustration asset that will be printed on shirts and show up throughout their festival collateral and tied it all together with the company's brand fonts & style, with a little flair.

(above) front & back images of a 4x6 post card invitation

(below) front & back images of a half page (8.5 x 5.5) schedule

Got a practice or studio you love? Let's capture some of those moments in time for you! Shoot me an email or check out more on my fitness/sport photography page.