Hello and welcome to my creative universe as a dance photographer!
After extensive research into crowdfunding and support platforms for creators — and talking to other photographers and creatives in the field —, I made the decision to create a Buy Me a Coffee space.
This happened at a strategic moment of decisions in my life as a dance photographer (which I will share later in future posts) so that I could continue to be creatively stimulated, not only through support from a community that admires my work, but also through content. After all, I've always loved to share about my creative processes, challenges, and reflections as an artist.
As a Creative Director, designer, entrepreneur and artist, I believe I possess an interesting combination of skills and have a lot to offer young creatives, aspiring dance photographers and even other dance industry professionals.
I've been in this industry for over 15 years and have accumulated many valuable stories and experiences that shouldn't be confined to me. I strongly believe in the importance of community and collaboration, especially as a freelancer and an artist. In recent years, I've been asked a few times for tips, got questions about my background, how I develop a concept, how I send a quote, how I contact people etc. And after meeting a few people in online meetings or even in person, I realized that I have a lot of knowledge to pass on, and that people are not only open to it, but they need this closeness, this transparency, this clarity, and simply to see themselves in the other.
A loved one once told me that there was a lot of emotion in my work. That everything I set out to do, I needed to feel it deeply, in my soul. And this simple statement opened my eyes to how I engage with my work, with dance, with the world. By sharing it with someone, I understood more about myself and my art.
So, that's my biggest goal and expectation with this space. I see photography as a medium. My focus isn't just on talking about technique and equipment. There are thousands of courses and YouTube channels about that. I want to talk with you about how to find a creative signature, what inspires you, how we can get more out of our craft... I want to talk you about feeling. Because it was my passion and artistic vision that gave me the courage to get to where I am today. They were my greatest motivation and still keep me insisting on my desire to make art through photography. So, I hope you also feel inspired to embark on this journey with me.
Love,
Carol
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Photo: Yasmine Naghdi and Calvin Richardson as Titania and Oberon, in Frederick Ashton's The Dream, at Royal Ballet and Opera, 2024. All rights reserved.