Everybody loves Chocolate....

This is it, the Extra Special Pre Xmas interview with non other than CHOCOLATE BLONDE!!! If you do not know who this lady is then where the hell have you been?! She is a fast rising star injecting her electric personality and foxy moves into hip hop / pop / RnB / lets just get giggling and moving music. Plus she has the pleasure of my new style interview technique....hold on to your seats ladies and gentleman cos its gonna be a big one........

So we are going to be conducting this interview in the bathroom. Ok stay with me here. So, this is the scene:

You’re in your bathroom at home, you’re getting ready to go out for a gig and unusually have loads of time to spare. There is a glass of your favorite tipple on the side and some music blaring from the uber cool inbuilt sound system.

- What is the first thing you see as you open your bathroom cabinet?

A note saying well done for upgrading the bath room - an uber cool inbuilt sound system for me - well done, there would then be a second note - saying make sure you upgrade your sitting room next as listening to songs threw your mobile as entertainment for guests is not cool haha

haha!!!!

- Your toothbrush, good old manual or an electric dream?

Always electric set my teeth alight !!! - bling!

- This tipple that currently balances on the side of the bath… what is it?

It is empty

- Ok so for those that don’t know you, give us four bathroom items that best describe you and your music.

Dove - i like to leave you feeling refreshed and sky high

Domestos - bleaching keeps the place and the mind clean

Shower head - always faithfull- HAHAHA

My towel - always ready to wrap you up and make feel good

- You’re a pretty feisty lady with some serious sexual attitude….have you always been like this and what do you put your positive female attitude down to?

Erm---- yes i suppose ive always been like this all though every day i seem to learn something new - the postive side defenately comes from my mum and my friends that i keep always an insipiration all so special as individuals. All my female friends and my mum are all straight up - no long ting lol

- I heard Italy has been on the cards for you recently, as well as telling us a little about what you were doing out there can you tell us did you stay in a hotel? Was the linen and towels etc up to scratch? Oh, did you come back with any fancy soaps or shampoos or possibly even a free dressing gown?

I was Naples had a brilliant time stayed with the family that owned the club. Mukcumba beach club, absolutely beautiful. I was well taken care of treated like one of the family , performed in front of some very important people. In 2010 Italy and myself should definitely be spending some chocolate time - whoop. There was no soap stealing - the dove, it always

gets me threw lol.

- Shave, Wax, Cream or Epilate?

Ha i shant say forests always keep you guessing!!

- Is there a boy waiting patiently outside the bathroom for you?

Erm - ill have to check one second.............. 10 hours later still checking

- What are your goals for 2010?

To be in your shower booming around the room and being sung from your vocal chords.

- If you could visit anyone’s bathroom in the world who’s would it be and why?

Mine as its my favourite place to be - relaxing in the bath woooooooooo lovely

- From where do you seek inspiration?

That has to be coversations i have with friends family etc.

- And as a final question; there are 6 rubber ducks in your bath. Your mum buys you 2 more and then your friend a further 9. You feel there isn’t enough room for you so remove 3. What is the square root of the remaining number of ducks?

I could’nt tell you to busy playing with the 3 I had to start with good times !!!!! hahahaha

Well what can I say.....pass me that Dove. If you want to see more of le Chocolate then check her out on the links below.

My Space

Facebook

Twitter

Drape Jackets, IFE and some chocolate....

Been a little lame on the posting front but have been really busy and then the last 2 days actually steered clear of the laptop and had some days where I don't work - miracle!

Anyway back on it as have a week away from the P/T job to get my head down and figure out my big plan basically. Get some marketing done, clear my editing, sort out my huuuuggge filing pile and update my portfolio. Plus look properly at when I can move to London and go at this full time. It was a hard decision quitting my full time job a couple of years ago as for me at the time, it was a career. I was on the design team for a production company designing menswear for the likes of French Connection and Ted Baker, my salary wasn't bad at all and I loved it. I was however not creatively challenged enough and buttons were not being hit, so here I sit today 18 months down the line with a part time job to get the cash and ploughing ridiculous hours a week into making photography work. Well its not going to work unless I do it full time basically. Yes part time supplied much needed funds and stability and its a massive catch 22 situation but its time I did this and I did it right. I have to make this really work for me now cos I cant live like a student forever! So here is to actually going for it and taking the leap to freedom!!

In a bid to fill myself even more so of creative juices and drown in the 'buzz' I am currently going to London at least 2 or 3 times a week (even if its just to drive through Shoreditch!) I am planning another 2 fashion shoots to complete before the end of the year and I am buying magazines like there going out of production and tearing out my favorite pages and sticking them on my wall! I love it. My working environment is starting to come together!!

One of these 'creative' moments urged me to go shopping (no really it was the creativity!) so off I went into town to get some business bits and bobs and also generally ogle at clothes. I found a beautiful jacket that I justified spending £70 on by telling myself not only could I wear it out but also it would be perfect for photo jobs where a little stylish smartness was required. Well, all in the name of Carli-Art photography!

Today see's me flicking through Harpers Bazaar, replying to some photography job posts I have seen and delving into the inspirational publication called Image Makers Image Takers. A great book to immerse yourself in and give yourself some much needed arse kicking. I will also, as tradition has it, be sat here at my laptop editing. I cant wait to finish the fashion pics as for once in quite some time, I am actually really pleased with my images from the shoot! Yay!

Over and out - till I get bored later and write again ;-)

Naked People & Diary disasters...

I have a tendency to overbook myself. Not because I am unable to use a diary (although I swear if my blackberry linked to my Mac it would make my life a whole much easier!) but just because I find it really hard to say no. I want to do everything, see everyone, commit to all kinds of clubs and meetings, socials and networking events or just helping out my rentals do some cleaning. But I say yes and then fail to contemplate I have already said yes to 3 other things on that very same night. It's like I don't even realize I am doing it, not of course that somehow that justifies it.

Anyway, today I begin by paying more attention to the colour coded labels in my diary, the amount of time it will take me to edit things, the fact that no next Tuesday I had already promised somebody else I would help to construct an Ikea bookshelf and help clear out the spare room so yes, I am already busy.

This new enthusiasm for reliability and determination to get further organized is a sure indicator I feel I need to do better in my business. It is also a sign that I am just trying to improve things which can't be a bad thing. Either way it should produce positive results but still leaves me with a slight sour feeling in my mouth as it is also admitance that things need to improve and therefore have been not so great in the past.

Dwell not I reassure myself and look forward to tomorrow and the positive steps I can make there too! (Pass me those incense sticks and tarot cards)

On to some pleasing news I am getting more hits on my blog, my new website seems to be attracting some lovely comments and great feedback (thank you and if you haven't taken a browse yet check it out, I would love your thoughts) and I have definitely finished both the Chocolate Blonde and the TwoWeeks Charity Event editing. Yay! All pictures to follow once clients have previewed. Oooo on top of that actually I have a special interview with Ms Chocolate Blonde herself so keep watching.

Oh, I also got sent a picture today which featured a male and his genitalia, it wasn't some medical thing or even junk mail but a model portfolio - now where is that diary so I can get him booked in! (I joke here, Carli-Art does not make a habit of taking pictures of naked humans or animals, it makes me feel a little funny.)

C x

Live and Kicking...

No I am not talking about that old skooool Saturday morning program (although I did love that show) I am referencing the fact that today my sparkly new website went live.

I am sadly very excited and even sadder keep finding myself logging onto my own site and having a browse, as if something is going to change or its suddenly not going to be there! Anyway should you have a mo or two then check it out - it SHOULD be easy to browse through and even easier to find information that you want so fingers crossed that for the audience, the site works.

www.carli-art.co.uk

I feel a little odd today. I keep having massively elated moments where I get dizzy about the fab new site (shut up about that already I hear you cry) and then really low moments where I wander where its all going and if I am ever going to finish the huge pile of editing I currently have staring at me.

The thing is the editing isn't screaming its tapping, consistently and accurately against the inside of my head slowly driving me insane and even more frustrating, making me feel ever so slightly panicky that there 'Just isn't enough time.' (Said like that Rabbit out of Alice in Wonderland) In reality, there probably is. Or I need to stop procrastinating by doing blog posts and checking facebook and actually get on with processing in Photoshop.

Anyway, one thing which is almost complete is the Chocolate Blonde PR shoot which was photographed last week at Stratstone Harley Davidson in Chingford. Not decided my final view on the images yet but take a look and let me know what you think.

I will be interviewing Chocolate here soon so keep your eyes peeled for that one.

Right I'm off to do some work, and eat something chocolate based. Always guaranteed to put a smile on my face for at least 5 minutes.

Fruitless in more ways than one.....

The tiredness is taking over and my efforts to work are fruitless, my picture editing is average a ridiculous time per image & all the creative juices that usually flow so freely in and out of other useless thoughts have retired for the evening. I think I will follow them.

Yesterday was a long day but a seriously good day, lots of fun and a great team of people that had come together for their love of their passions. It was a promo shoot for Chocolate Blonde. If you have not heard of her yet her booty shaking antics and infectious smile will soon take hold!

Together with the Stratstone Harley shop in Chingford, Assistant photographer Megan and make up artist Lucy, plus a whole heap of overweight and heavily tattooed bikers pictures were made!

Some great names in fashion, shoes and jewelry got involved (all will be credited when I remember everyone's name!) and after leaving the shop having brought them out of their biker chick T-shirts (we all had to have one!) and consumed probably half a ton of marshmallows, cake and skittles.....we can all be chuffed with the results. I have just downloaded them and there are some raw, juxtapose images in their which I look forward to getting my teeth into.

Just not now....now I need tea, bed and a TV. Does anyone else feel like they have been hit by a bus this evening?!

Cx

PS: Behind the scenes and sneak previews of final pieces to come this week!

it felt like a kiss......

Seriously need to pick up on this blogging thing but all good cos have been busy. So it was the awesome Fat Talent Sunday and even though I had to leave early there were some great acts. Performers just keep improving and my arms and legs saw more goose pimples than ever before. A few that got my interest in particular were the following people.....check them out if you have some time, it'll be worth it.

Jeremy St John

Sarah L Palmer

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Photographed Summer Swing last night at Kew Gardens....what an amazing setting! The Botanical Gardens looked totally stunning and the light show and fireworks were second to none. Really hope that I get to photograph there again sometime and having not even downloaded the pics from the camera yet, I am excited about seeing how they came out. Previews to come after the weekend of course! Keep your eyes peeled.

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This weekend See's me in Cheshire visiting the man and as great as that is I have something even more amazing to get excited about - the Punchdrunk performance. If you have not heard of these YOU ARE MISSING OUT!! Their performances are truly awesome and are not bog standard theatre productions with sweaty toffs sitting in velour seats. This is on your feet for 120 Min's, walking and exploring 5 stories of dark building where the acting takes place around you by small groups of actors, all doing different parts of the play. You are given a mask when you go in so you don't recognize the other guests (so you cant stick to your mate all night!) and you are thrown into a mind f*** of wonder! The smells, the atmosphere, the noises, the actors....it is all astonishing. 2007 saw Masque of the Red Death and my friend being dragged into a small room by a lady, something odd being whispered in his ear then a bucket of water being thrown over him! I experienced climbing through a small fireplace to find a small girl on the other side crying (an actor fear not!) and myself on a mission to find as many small bugs as possible from the clues given. Check it out here if you want to learn more and keep in touch about when their next performance may be.

So other plans at the moment apart from bringing you more pics is to launch the new look website in the next 2 weeks, collaborate with Chocolate Blonde on a seriously fun filled fashion shoot watched by rather a few people - nothing like pressure! Ha ha, she laughs uncomfortably. Following that another catwalk opportunity and also some pics for a charity. I like to stay busy so remember, you want corporate, PR or portrait images get in touch. All you Fat Talent performers or models - you even get a discount!!

Shola Ama, Giggs, Ghetts, Choc Blonde & more household animals....

So much to catch up on and I know you guys are still waiting for the 'regular' photo tip and also the interview with digital erotic artist - well they will be coming this week! Specific photo tips or photoshop tricks are going to have a bit more structure to them and are now going to be featured fortnightly on a Friday.

Right.....so Friday saw the Stand Up Honors and Award show held in East London. It was a really good event and very well produced. All images are now live on my web gallery if you wish to see them all....check them out here.

Sneak Preview above for your ref as well!

Oh and going on the animal theme and finding a one eared goat in my bedroom last week, today I found a little robin in my kitchen which had got in through a window. Very cute....

PS: OH VERY excited!! Guess who is doing a shoot with Chocolate Blonde!? We are getting together with Ady from the amazing Fat Talent and producing some awesome pics which will be featuring in the soon to come FT magazine, on Choc Blonde's promo material, facebook and so forth and possibly even feature in the documentary she is currently being filmed for. Oooo watch this space for further details cos its an open shoot and we already have an audience of Harley bikers, BBQ and all! If you have not heard Chocolate Blonde before you are seriously missing out, click here to see some of her stuff.

Laters x