Capturing that moment...

I photographed a very special birthday last weekend and not only had a lovely time but I am delighted with some of the images...here are a few to wet your appetite...   

        

(If you were a guest at this party and require a reminder of the gallery address or password, please email me.)

"Oh my ears & whiskers, how late it's getting..."

So for those of you who don't know I also work a p/t job as well as being a tog....a girls gotta know she can get that new paid of shoes!  Anyway it has been madness the last couple of weeks or so as our office is being made redundant.  Not so good.  On the plus side I am braving the Photography Full time - AAHHHHH!  This does mean though I am packing in meetings and jobs and spending a lot of time awake, in my car and generally moving from place to place at a speed otherwise reserved for Concorde.  The week has thus far been exciting though with a birthday party on Saturday, (yes photographing not drinking!) An event with Caroline Spellman and Engage Group this morning and two further meetings for the rest of the week with a Citrus flavored Ad agency and a fashionista accessories designer.  Here is hoping it continues and come the end of March, I have not resorted to other, more illicit forms of earning money.  I feel a Pretty Woman moment coming on.

Say Hello with a Smile...

The end of a rather interesting week with a few more meetings in the diary for the coming weeks, an interview with food photographer Howard Shooter (pretty confident I didn't get it. It was one of those days you think 'What did I just say...Why did I just do that?!" I was not on form. Shame as him and his assistant Ria were really lovely) and two shoots coming up over the next couple of days. Also a fantastically productive meeting for the Limited Ink Fashion shoot fast approaching on 6th Feb.

On top of that I have also come up with some lovely Corporate Portrait Packages that I think clients will be pleased with. For a start my charges for an individual and a whole office are no longer the same - doh!

So with the New Year in full gear and with many business's refreshing their brand or reviving their website design and in particular doing more and more to communicate and relate to the public, why not think about a "Hey this is me...Welcome" portrait image. It can be as white walled or as creative as you dare to go, after all its all about you! Enquire within dear Sirs.

With this Ring I Thee Wed....

Another fantastic interview here at Carli-Art photography and we have the very talented, Creative strategist Doug Hewett from Engage Group, London. Specialists in communications, branding and employee engagement.

We met Doug in his office...(yes of course he made me a cup of tea!)

GET ENGAGED!

****

• Doug, what 3 objects on your desk best describe Engage and why?

1. My mini
‘Munny’ doll - whenever anyone joins Engage Group they get given a little white plastic toy to design up however they like. It’s our way of saying you’re part of the team, and celebrating everyone’s individuality. We’re building a shelf to put them all up in the foyer…

2. My potted plant - last year we ran an internal competition called ‘Plant Idol’ to see who could grow the best desk plants. Our HR manager Emma won it easily, her Bonsai was awesome.

3. An old antique letterpress - when we left our last office I saved this from being thrown out. It stamps our very first company logo, before we joined as a number of companies to become Engage.

• I love a cake, anything sweet really tips my scales so is there a cake Friday arrangement at Engage or another advocate of biscuits who we can thank?

Shuk is our resident chocoholic - she’s always got a great stash. And we have cup cake ‘bake offs’ every now and again for our company charity. We have breakfast for everyone on Friday mornings (and beers on Friday afternoons).

• Engage state they transform relationships. Now being a fan of Dear Maggie columns when younger how would you answer the following reader question: “Dear Doug, I am thinking of proving to my boss we can work as a team, what would you recommend?”

Haha. Um, well I’d say good bosses appreciate people that see problems as challenges and opportunities. Be yourself though, that’s the most important thing.

• Pick one and why?

o Telephone

o Good old Letter

o Twitter

o Post it note

Hmm… everyone loves a letter, but I’ll have to go with Twitter - I’m a big fan of social media, one of our main growth areas has been collaboration online for employees. We help turn employees into brand advocates, which in turn affects customers.

• In an age of such modern communication methods and less face-to-face experiences, do you think this makes your job harder and do you think this year may see a return of the more personable approach?

Good question - I think modern communication methods like social media and web 2.0 functionality can be profoundly personal and engaging when used in the right way. Face-to-face communications will always be really powerful, but you need to invest in talent to get great line managers. The real answer is that a combination works best - it depends on the needs of your people.

• Where does the name Engage come from?

When we came to developing the brand, it summed up our approach of engaging people with art (beautiful creative) and science (measurement).

• You have some great clients including Action Aid, O2 and Transport for London. Can you tell us a little more about these assignments and why these companies chose you to take on the challenge?

Sure. With ActionAid we created an online hub for people to build profiles, collect donations and keep their friends and family updated with blog entries. We’ve built a long-term relationship with O2 - we’ve done everything from developing a social network for employees, to measuring brand engagement across the UK. And TFL are another big client of ours - we’ve created campaigns to support sustainable travel, and developed microsites that allow Londoners to collaborate online. I’d like to think that they choose us because we’re good people to work with, we understand their needs and aren’t afraid to challenge them with new ideas.

• If you weren’t at Engage what would you be doing?

Travelling around the world to somewhere I haven’t been before…

• Like most offices there is a constantly a fair amount of gossip doing the rounds….so anything exciting you can reveal?

There was a good one the other day - turns out one of the Account Managers has a dad that was in the Human League.

• What does 2010 see for Engage?

Lots. It’s a big year for us. After a tough 2009 for everyone in the industry, it’s about pushing on now - offering better services for our current clients, and winning new clients with great new ideas.

• Final question….back to the sweets….your boss leaves a box of Thorntons in the office, a total of 35 beautiful chocolate wrapped delights. He takes 2, the mob in the office take 19 but then Sarah from HR brings a further 47 chocs in. Add these to the 15 you have stashed in your desk & divide this by the number of letters in Engage. How many chocs?

I have 15 chocolates stashed in my desk?!

It's all in a question....

Wow I really do need to get better with these Foto Tips Fridays, this was has been relegated to a Tuesday!

I have been asked a lot this week about starting a business and getting clients. With really taking mine by the horns & giving it and myself a much needed kick up the butt I suppose it attracts these kind of queries but to be honest... I don't have a clue! I often turn to friends, family and colleagues (yes including other photographers) for advise and find nothing better than just talking a really good way to start the brain ticking. If you and solely you are your business then it is hard to step outside the box and look at what others see or at what opportunities you have around you. This really is probably the most important bit of advise I can give. Grasp every opportunity you have around you, speak to others about getting your work out there and let everyone know you exist and are in the market to take some pics. Do not be afraid of criticism & once you start building client relationships...ask them what they think and why they use you. Thats it, thats the advise....don't be afraid to ask, ask, ask and grab, grab grab at opportunities!

(Image courtesy of blog.nbc.com/ross_blog/ captain_answer/)

Frolicking Fashion...

Front cover of a Pan-European (what does that mean?!) Fashion, Lifestyle and generally all round awesome magazine.

Thank you to the models, stylist, make up and hair, my Mum (who helped out loads!) and Alice at Running in Heels. Big snogs.

See it HERE

Beg and Borrow...Limited Ink Geek chic style...

Things for the Limited Ink shoot are coming along well however I daren't breath a sigh of relief as no doubt 3 days before the big day something will happen! Anyway, I have a beautiful female model confirmed, the male model confirming the date, a wonderful and fully 'lets get stuck in' MUA and hair stylist and a wardrobe stylist who just never fails to get what is needed and always delivers. I also have an assistant along for the day so, so far so good. Now all I need...oh yeah all of the props and remaining garments.

Anyway, here are some sketchbook tears and sneak preview pics to keep you entertained and also a list of what I am currently trying to source - feel free to contact me if you have anything you are willing to donate!!

Final Pics to come in Feb!

The benefits of a professional...

You may think that using a photographer in these hard economical times (phrase of the decade!) may not be the most cost effective method and that Jane in the office is fab with a camera and being lent Bob's 35mm (yes with changeable lenses and 15 megapixel's) will produce just as good results.

I am not denying that there are some very talented individuals out there who are not professional photographers and with the introduction of digital photography and the fact you can purchase a 35mm digital camera with a manual setting at about £400 has given may people opportunities to use their imagination and explore photography that they just would not have had before. It is truly great to see so many people expressing their artistic side. However (yes here it comes i hear you say!) time, practise, education and a creative eye are not something that comes from visiting Jessops at the weekend. I have trained for 4 years to become a photographer and learn about light, ISO, Aperture and White balance settings, but that aside a professional photographer can give you something else Jane in the office cant - experience and understanding.

True, there are actually a lot of photographers that do not give you that but one thing that has been consistent from my clients is that I listen. I listen and use my skills, creative judgement and passion to be the best I possibly can to produce images that leap off the page. Pictures that give you that fluttering excitement in your belly because they work so well with your PR or Marketing package, website or printed media. Pictures that just sum up...YOU.

Anyway, that is enough about me....what I am really getting at is that I want to learn about you. I really, really do because it's what I love to do. My interest is about giving you images you adore and that communicate your values effectively and to do this, I feel its about creating a positive long term business relationship and that means knowing a little bit about you! So drop me an email today or comment below and tell me one thing I didn't know about you or your company before. Here is one to get you started....

"We all divulge in lots of cheese on a Friday!" Victoria Mann, Waitrose.

Getting to know you...

Take a look at the Carli-Art Newsletter, being sent to all lovely Carli-Art clients every quarter. (Not often enough to be annoying, I know how many emails people get....sillyness!)

The newsletter has some news, some ideas about 2010 and also the chance for you to tell me about, well you! Yes YOU. My business is your business and I cherish all of my professional relationships, I want to get to know you maaannn. So, boast a little and tell me something and you never know, maybe there is something we can do for each other.

Read the Newsletter

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Say 'Olla' to Carli

Cyber sabbaticals...

After reading an article that Lily Allen is giving up facebook, twitter and has even locked her laptop in a box now safely stored under the bed I wonder if it is to be a year where for once technology and communication go on a sabbatical.

Maybe they are having a tiff and need a 'break' for some time out alone. Will 2010 be a year where conversation becomes real again with actual human interaction, where your thumb regains feeling and you call instead of text, where blogging isn't the in thing to do and your hand doesn't creep to your bag / pocket every 30 minutes to check for tweet updates? How in a world so reliant on cyber communications will this romantic notion of writing a letter or popping round for a cuppa thrive? Who knows but it has given me plenty of ideas for a shoot later this month.

Looking back @ 2009...

Whiskey and Lemsip...

(Image courtesy of the JamJar.com)

Having been in bed since midnight Boxing day my hours have clocked well over 115 and now, at 10pm I decide I have the energy and the urge to write a post.

Anyway, looking fully ahead to the New year and 2010 (in my case being celebrated with a shot of whiskey in a Lemsip) is high on the agenda. Having never written a business plan and my marketing plans starting at 100-mph and quickly halting to a stand still, I feel it really is time I pulled the finger out and got some solid plans down. Therefore my new notebook (any excuse) is now clearly adorned with asterisked goals that by this time next year I hope to achieve. Some realistic, some aiming high and some just frankly ridiculous. (I don't see Ricky Whittle and myself getting married anytime soon, yes my embarrassing but guilty pleasure!) Anyway, onward and upwards with me new notebook, my new goals and now my points on how I plan to achieve each one. My first one is learning to manipulate natural light better and for that I have already purchased a Holga. I cannot WAIT to get some pics up.

Anyway Happy New Year to one and all and here is wishing you all the best for 2010.

More blogging to follow once my paracetamol hangover has subsided.

Time for some family this Christmas....

Snnnooowwww...ow..ow..owww

I refuse to moan about the snow...its just so magical! (Yes that was said while spinning in circles and wishing on the pretty flakes it will be a white Christmas)

However after being stuck in my car for far too long yesterday and almost losing a toe to frostbite, I thought camera tips may not be handy, a quick guide to escaping the snow in a car might be however. Ladies, Enjoy.

* Don't get in the car in the first place, stay at home like 'they' said.

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

The nights are drawing in...

Lets face it, the nights are well and truly drawn in and by 4pm you are dreaming about getting home in front of the warm fire and tucked up in your favourite big cardi, slippers on and a glass of your fave tipple on hand. The last couple of hours at work are spend essentially clock watching.

Well take up some of that time by entertaining yourself drawing lines all over your screen and then watch Santa sleigh down them to collect his presents...watch out of the nasty volcanos (I know, who thought they were in the North Pole?!) and the reindeer. Have fun!

Rescue Santa here!