Becca Haydu Photography & Videography

Since 2015, a group of dedicated community members have been creating diverse opportunities for arts and culture in the small Maya town of Yaxkukul, Yucatan, Mexico. Today, our collective calls itself Centro Cultural Green Neek’ , which means green seed, symbolizing growth and new beginnings.
This project began as the vision of Guadalupe Verde and Gener Chan, local teachers with a passion for supporting creativity in their community. Over the past few years, we have created a community radio station, published a book about local oral histories, performed our own original plays, and more.
The mission of Centro Cultural Green Neek’ is to promote the arts and celebrate indigenous Yucatec Maya culture. In addition to creative workshops, we also offer courses in Maya language, culture, and literature.
After years of evolving and changing, we are excited to announce our new permanent location in Yaxkukul. We finally have a space to call our own! Our cultural center hosts our workshops, community events, a library, and more. Our goal is for our space to be a safe place for community members of all ages to come and learn, teach, or just hang out. We charge a small fee for our classes which keeps our programs sustainable and accessible.
Because we keep our fees low, we are in need of some additional support to improve our space. We are just getting started and there is a world of possibilities! Our immediate goal is to make our space more comfortable and inviting for our students, teachers, and all community members.
This is just the beginning to create a permanent home for art and culture in Yaxkukul! Our track record of working in the community since 2015 guarantees that your donation is in good hands. Our fundraising link can be found in my bio!

Happy 8M 💜 In 2017, I exhibited a collection of my protest photography featuring women’s movements from Guatemala, Mexico & the US. These are still some of my favorite memories of International Women’s Day. 💜
First two photos are feminist movements in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico (my home away from home).
3-5 are from my time spent with the incredible women of AFEDES in Guatemala,
6 is another women’s group in Guatemala City on 8M 2017.
7-8 are the day after the 2016 presidential election in New York City.
9-10 are the big Women’s March in Washington DC.

SLOPPY JANE brought their theatrical art rock show to Underground Arts this weekend and totally killed it! More on mylifeinsound.com

DEAP VALLY was truly incredible last night at Underground Arts. They played their album “Sistrionix” in its entirety in honor of their farewell tour. Long live Deap Vally! Check out more on mylifeinsound.com !

More favorite moments from Sundance 2024, the 40th anniversary of the fest! Gaucho Gaucho doc stars see the film for the first time; Napoleon Dynamite turns 20; Maite Alberdi accepting her award at the Gala; Jodie Foster at the Gala; the cast of Sujo having fun on the press line; Park City Miners Hospital; Cinema Cafe with Aisha Harris, Andre Holland, and Steven Soderbergh; The magic of the theater; Selfies at the Muslim House; and a walk on Main Street at night

Sundance 2024 recap pt1! Julia Fox & Lucy Liu for “Presence” by Steven Soderbergh; Robert Downey Jr gives Christopher Nolan an award; Kristen Stewart talks with the press; Door Dash branded winter looks; “Stress Positions” Covid period piece; the Egyptian Theater in the snow; “Gaucho Gaucho” from Argentina; a rainy night on Main St in Park City; “Ekbeh” short film ❄️

Lady in red ❣️

Happy New Year 🍉

I recently created this video story for ¡Presente! Media highlighting a new campaign by Juntos. Watch and read here:

New Video Story: ICE Out of Courts with Juntos I recently created this video story for ¡Presente! Media highlighting a new campaign by Juntos. Watch and read here: “On December 4, Juntos and the ICE Out of Courts Coalition hosted a critical press conference at the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice in South Philadelphia. The focus...

Matera: the ancient cave city of Puglia, Italy. This city has been inhabited for 8,000 years, an incredible juxtaposition of ancient and modern life. It was overwhelming to experience! And yes I’m still finding photos from my trip with that I haven’t shared!

It’s time I reintroduced myself! My name is Becca Haydu and I’m a visual storyteller in Philadelphia. I’ve been using a camera to tell stories for fifteen years. In 2018, I graduated from the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at Maine College of Art. Since then, I have been creating full time here in Philly. One day I could be found capturing a young couple madly in love on their wedding day, and the next I might be in the photo pit at a concert.
No matter the project, I’m always interested in the relationships between people and our environments. My first subjects were my immediate surroundings while growing up on a farm in rural South Jersey. I aimed my camera at nature, myself, and my friends and family. Storytelling has long been a tool for me to make sense of my inner and outer worlds, and where the two intersect. In 2009, I learned to use the darkroom at a program for high school students at University of the Arts, and have not put down my camera since.
As an undergraduate student, I became fascinated with documentary photography. I studied with masters of the craft at schools like the International Center of Photography in New York. I learned about more than just making pretty pictures but about how photography can change the world. I combined photography and anthropology while living with indigenous communities in Mexico, projects I continue to nurture today.
By far the best part of this work is the people and places I get to know through it. I have found myself surrounded by Hollywood actors at Sundance Film Festival and marching alongside indigenous activists in Guatemala. Having a camera and being a storyteller opens up worlds that would otherwise remain unknown to me. A born introvert, I suddenly found the courage to talk to strangers and they surprisingly want to talk to me (most of the time).
Storytelling has brought me invaluable gifts and I hope I have been able to return some of these gifts to both collaborators and audiences.
I’m inspired by how seemingly everyday personal stories can somehow connect us to something greater than ourselves. I plan to keep telling stories while growing and evolving in this medium for as long as I can.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to work with Chef Cristina Martinez for a story about Latinx entrepreneurs in Philadelphia for ¡Presente! Media. Be sure to check out for the full story!

I loved creating some new headshots for 💕 be sure to check out their films & all the amazing work they do for the community!

Marta 💚

The first chill of autumn always makes me miss summer. (Sorry to all the pumpkin spice girlies) Polignano A Mare this June with

Me in the wild! My busy wedding season is almost slowing down which means I’ll be available for other projects November through the winter! Let’s shoot!! 📸🎥

Book your session today! Click here: https://book.usesession.com/s/uvU73b66L

Some highlights from Fall wedding season so far ✨It’s always an honor to join couples and their families for such a special occasion. Follow along with me at 💖 I’m booking for 2024-25 weddings and for Fall portrait sessions on November 4th 🍁

I had a great time photographing the NLGJA conference!

The view from the top! It was my privilege to photograph The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists convention this weekend! I was blown away by how many brilliant, kind, talented, and inspiring people I met! I even got to reconnect with some old friends. A huge topic of the conference was representation of LGBTQ+ people in media and the responsibility of journalists, so I encourage everyone to checkout their style guide as a reference.

Guadalupe in Sisal plus an incredible rainbow & sunset 🌈

New post on Substack with photos from the beach in Yucatan!

A new decade I turned 30 on the beach in Mexico!

Running around the olive groves with & 🫒 Giada actually makes olive oil with her family at it’s delish!!

Take me back🦩(the people voted for more Italy photos but I’m sharing from my birthday trip to Mexico first!)