S6, EP7: Chatting with The Wedding Painter

This episode is extremely long and best listened to in full as an audio podcast, but below is a detailed summary of the discussion!

Introduction and the “A-plus” background

Hosts Aleks and Eddy introduce Rebekka Lord-Johnson, known professionally as The Wedding Painter. The conversation quickly reveals that all three are “high achievers”. Bek confesses she was a straight A-plus student who eventually achieved a 99.4 ATAR score, while Aleks (96.9) and Eddy (89) also admit to being “smart-pants” at school. This sets the stage for Bek’s perfectionist approach to her business and art.

The “four dropouts” origin story

Bek shares her winding path to becoming a world-renowned wedding artist. At 17, she had the business idea, but her mother discouraged it, pushing for a “secure” career like law or medicine.

• The struggle: Bek attempted and dropped out of four university courses: Communication Design, Midwifery (she realised she couldn’t handle blood), Teaching, and Real Estate.

• The pivot: During the COVID-19 lockdowns, she gave herself a three-month crash course to teach herself how to paint, as her previous background was strictly in drawing portraits.

• The goal: She told her mum she wanted to be “worth” $5,000 for a painting one day. Her mother’s response: “You better lower your expectations.” Bek eventually surpassed that goal within two years and now jokes about CC-ing her mum on her invoices.

Going viral and the 700k milestone

The podcast was recorded on the day Bek hit 700,000 followers on Instagram. She explains that her business exploded after her third-ever paid painting went viral, leading to 70 bookings in just three months.

• Stats: One of her TikTok videos reached 78.1 million views, and another hit 30 million on Instagram.

• The business perspective: Despite her massive following, Bek finds brand collaborations difficult because she is a business entity with a broad audience, rather than a traditional “stand-alone influencer.”

The process: Reference photos and “tweaking”

Unlike some artists who paint strictly from life, Bek takes a specific photo shoot approach to ensure the highest quality artwork.

• The shoot: She takes 200 to 400 photos in 3.5 minutes. She prioritises the couple’s connection over the background: “I want the moment to be the most important… the background should envelop them and make them look good.”

• The hierarchy: She notes that “what makes a beautiful photo and what makes a beautiful painting are not the same thing.”

• The “enhancements”: Bek is open about editing her reference photos to make couples feel comfortable, such as smoothing an arm or adjusting a double chin. She offers one round of changes before varnishing to ensure the couple is 100% happy with their forever piece.

The importance of professional DJs and MCs

As someone who stands on the sidelines for the entire reception, Bek provides a unique perspective on wedding flow.

• Amateurs vs. pros: She argues against using friends as MCs, noting that it pulls them away from the party and they lack the experience to “read the room.”

• The vibe: Bek emphasises that a professional DJ builds anticipation. She recounts a wedding with a non-professional DJ who left 20-second silences between songs: “When a song ends, so does the dance floor.”

Logistical nightmares and the “danger zone”

Bek has strict rules about where she sets up to avoid disaster.

• The dance floor: She refers to the dance floor as the “danger zone” after being pressed against her easel at a Jewish wedding during “the dance” (the Hora).

• Guest interactions: She recounts a “horror” story of a child at a 500-person wedding who had a tantrum and tried to smear her painting while Bek was trying to take a bathroom break. “I had to ask the parents to make a little ring around the painting… [The child] defiantly looked at her hand being like, ‘Did any paint come off?'”

• The “bug” incident: Once, a guest tried to pick a bug out of the wet oil paint and smeared the bride’s face right before the reveal. Bek had to “blend her face back together” with a napkin.

International travel and the Italy “abduction” story

Bek discusses the stress of transporting gear internationally, using custom “pizza boxes” for canvases and flying strictly with Virgin Airlines in Australia because they handle her work with care.

• The Italy story: While travelling from Milan to Bellagio with 40kg of gear and a canvas, she faced cancelled trains and was targeted by fake taxi drivers at the station. After being extorted for $450 for a short ride, she ended up walking 40 minutes uphill in 36-degree heat.

• The ghosting: Hilariously (and sadly), the couple from that Italian wedding – who paid in full – eventually ghosted her. She still has their painting a year later.

Future outlook

Bek is currently fully booked through 2026 and 2027, with 2028 bookings already starting to fill. She remains humble and happy to “let life take the reins” after her explosive success. If you’re booking your 2028 wedding, get in touch with her ASAP!