Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Beamer.
Hi Bianca, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been an artsy person. I was born and raised in South Philadelphia, the arts were a part of my upbringing. At fifteen my love of photography was sparked by watching SUICIDE GIRLS : FIRST TOUR on a DVD I shoplifted from Tower Records on South Street here in Philadelphia. The footage of the photoshoots with the models, the control of the set, connection with the model ; it hooked me instantly. I started with a little 5 megapixel Kodak point and shoot, and found models on Model Mayhem that agreed to work with a fifteen/sixteen year old. I hung out with photographers twice my age in the Alternative/Goth scene here in Philadelphia, just wanting to learn as much as I could. I saw the dark side to the industry early, and I navigated myself through it the best I could. Until one day on Facebook ( late 2005/2006) I got a message from a guy in New Mexico. The story he told me was he worked for Suicide Girls as an Internet Tech and was fired because he was caught doing IT work for their competitor website Gods Girls. He liked my photography and wanted me to move to Albuquerque to launch a website with him. I was a senior in High School and signed myself out of school (dropped out) and two weeks later I was on a plane to New Mexico. My parents were horrified, but I was eighteen so they couldn’t stop me. But the joke was on me, I moved there and didn’t even end up doing photography. I was thrown into working for a group of entrepreneurs – they flipped properties (go green era type – concrete floors and sinks, rain catching systems, etc ) and would resell them. The front of the warehouse, which I ended up living in on a couch in the seating area for a while, had lightly used appliances they would sell. The guy who ran it was a retired Opera singer who would wake me up by singing Opera at 6am every day. His wife was a retired Ballerina from the Russian Ballet (I know crazy these two were in ABQ). They taught me the hustle of a business, all while teaching me to be an adult at the same time. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, but Albuquerque was definitely the place where I found myself as an artist. Eventually the company started failing, and as a young kid of nineteen at that point I was one of the first to get laid off. I ended up homeless and was donating my plasma every few days to just survive. Finally, I called it quits and moved back home to Philadelphia.
In 2008 I purchased my first real camera (Nikon D80), not a cheap point and shoot which I was used to using, something that would match what I was seeing with my eye. Through social media I found my way into opportunities organically – working with girls who were aspiring models, and bands like August Burns Red and The Human Abstract. But, unfortunately as a young artist, to survive I also had to make money. My life quickly became more complicated when I chose to adopt my nephew and get him out of a difficult living situation. And the things I was doing with my photography, well, it wasn’t making money at that point. Not nearly enough to raise a kid. Over the years I worked random jobs – serving, hosting, painting houses, even cooking professionally. Cooking was another artistic outlet that gave me the same feeling that photography always had. Creating something beautiful and having a connection with people. Having them enjoy it.
All through my odd jobs, I kept photographing. It evolved to weddings, family sessions, solo portrait sessions (the pricing I would agree too was appallingly low). But at the end of the day, I was still doing what I had always wanted to do. Photography. I loved doing it all. Having that connection with people in front of my camera was a habit I could never kick. Four years ago I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to quit my full time sous chef job (my husband gave me my “pretty woman” moment and told me to quit my job and follow my dream: BLKCLD PHOTOGRAPHY & FILMS -full time. I was working for so many years just to survive. I never really had the time to give my photography (and now videography too) my all. My husband purchased my FUJI XT4 (I was converted to the FUJI church easily. They have a classic way of using today’s technology to create cameras/lenses that help me make images with a timeless feel). And it’s been a wrap ever since. I organically made connections with people online and at events, found opportunities through the grapevine, and my business has continued to grow. Even though I photograph a majority of weddings now, I don’t categorize myself as one type of photographer. I love photographing everything. From political moments in the streets, to corporate headshots to family sessions, concerts, and local artists, to a satirical wrestling league called AWFUL WRESTLING – I photograph and film it all. I guess I am just a hoarder of moments. The natural raw emotion, freezing them in time, in a picture. In 2025 I was contacted by PEOPLE magazine for a wedding I photographed of two identical twins getting married at the same time. That truly was a high moment for me.
A question I am often asked is; “Why BLKCLD?” (pronounced Black Cloud), and my answer is… Because even when I felt like I was failing at life, and things would be hard – I would make luck by being open to new opportunities and connections. Beautiful things can come from hard times.
The urge to make an image, to make art, has consistently brought me into places and situations that I would have never experienced otherwise. I can only show my gratitude by continuing to practice my craft and profession, and sharing it with the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to get to where I am now wasn’t an easy one. But hard times can make the best artist. The person who can fail, fail, and fail again… To keep going regardless of failure and strive to continue to do what I do.. Taking the trials and giving myself constructive criticism to grow and be better version of myself than I was before. All the bumps and dings add character.
At eighteen, when I lived in New Mexico, I got my chest tattooed. It says “Face what’s ahead” – a motto I believe in to this day.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in freezing moments for people who don’t realize how short life can be. After losing my mother this April I see now how priceless a picture can be. A picture can be all you have to remember a moment in time. From weddings, family sessions, and any other life milestone – I create something timeless for my clients. Not only can they trust me to document something so special, but I create relationships with them that continue on long after we work together. I have had families and groups of friends continue to hire me over the years and it’s such an honor and a beautiful feeling.
What makes you happy?
Connections with my clients and the people I meet through my work. Having them believe in me sometimes more than I believe in myself.
Pricing:
- $3,500 for 9 hours wedding day coverage
- $3,500 for 9 hours videography coverage
- Pricing for events can vary depending on details
- Engagements are included in my wedding packaging
- Local family sessions & headshots $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blkcldphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_blkcld_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BLKCLDPHOTO
- Other: https://vimeo.com/user196178731
