Carla Watkins Business & Branding Photography - editorial, commercial and personal branding photography in Essex, Suffolk and beyond - for the colourful, magical dreamers
  • Home
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Work with me
    • Personal Branding Photography
    • Professional Headshots
    • Commercial & Editorial Photography
    • Glorious Headshot Days
    • Mentoring
    • Stock Photography
    • Lifestyle photography
  • Blog
  • Personal Work
    • Short Sight
    • New Roots
  • Client Area
  • Contact
Select Page

Filling your creative well

by Carla | Jul 4, 2016 | Blog, Creativity, Love Your Business, Multipod Life & Business, Musings

Recently, my body and brain and heart have all told me in no uncertain terms that enough is enough. (This fluffy cat of mine also regularly gets in my way enough to give me a hint that I should be cuddling her, not working…) They are tired and they need to stop....

Why a day job isn’t always a bad thing

by Carla | Apr 22, 2016 | Blog, Love Your Business, Multipod Life & Business, Portfolio Careers, Tips, Tricks and Tools, Work Happy

It can be really easy, when you’re looking for advice about your beloved business, to get bogged down in other people’s opinions rather than finding the advice you needed in the first place. I’ve noticed, among some of the mentors/teachers/gurus out...

When the muse deserts you

by Carla | Apr 2, 2016 | Blog, Love Your Business, Multipod Life & Business, Musings

Some days, you just don’t want to blog. Or, more accurately, you want to blog, but the words are just not coming.  And yes, I fully appreciate the irony of this being a blog post. The endless sea of gurus telling you “you should blog” “blog all...

Business Soloist Sessions: Janine, In Love With Colour

by Carla | Feb 15, 2016 | Blog, Business Soloist Sessions, Love Your Business, Photography, Work Happy

This session was ridiculously fun! The lovely Janine runs In Love With Colour, where she does colour analysis – finding the best colours for each person, to make them look their best. (And I do mean at their best – the blusher she recommended to me makes...

On Purpose

by Carla | Jan 17, 2016 | Blog, Love Your Business, Musings, Tips, Tricks and Tools, Work Happy

A few days ago, I saw a link to an article on living life on purpose. I loved the phrasing… on purpose is exactly how I try to live and design my life, and why I get so frustrated (and I know you do too) when people look at what you’ve created, and say,...

How to DIY a business retreat

by Carla | Jan 3, 2016 | Blog, Love Your Business, Multipod Life & Business, Tips, Tricks and Tools, Work Happy

You see those amazing retreats for business, in gorgeous places, with experts on hand, and cocktails in the evening, full of likeminded people, and you think to yourself how wonderful it would be to have three whole days to work on your business, uninterrupted. Then...
Next Entries »

Here you’ll find:

Recently:

  • Celebrating small businesses
  • Introducing the Improper Job Collective
  • Book launch: Be A Free Range Human, at LIBRARY, London
  • Full circle & proud moment – I’m in a BOOK!
  • Open Studios – see behind the scenes!

Previously:

Let’s be friends

You know you want to!

email email email email email email

hello@carlawatkins.com
@catalystcarla everywhere on social.
The best way to contact me is by email!

Important Stuff

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal & Disclosure
  • Contact

catalystcarla

Instagram post 2193797433159124767_3960994362 It's #smallbusinesssaturday today! You've probably seen some posts on your feed today even if you don't run a business. I'm celebrating a few of the small businesses & their owners who have made my 2019 spectacular...⠀
⠀
https://carlawatkins.com/celebrating-small-businesses-2019/ (or click link in bio then "read the blog")⠀
⠀
Featuring @benchspacesilverschool @verityclarkehair @louiserosecouture @sarah.wayte @chloeredfernembroidery @photoseolab @bothwellschoolofwitchcraft @voolvegancool @artist_philly @alifemoreextraordinary1985 @inkdropsbox @carlawphoto @mermaidinguk - phew!⠀
⠀
#gratitude #collaboratenotcompete #smallbusinesscommunity #improperjobcollective #happinessishandmade #lifestylenotajob #feelinglucky #supported #smallbusiness #solopreneur #improperjob #somuchlove #womeninbusiness #liftingeachother #womensupportingwomen #risingtidesociety
Instagram post 2193138155519799413_3960994362 Wow, November was a whirlwind! Just starting to catch up on my editing and this is the ridiculously fabulous @verityclarkehair, who I'll be visiting for salon-based personal branding in January, but who in the meantime has been amazingly creative with her headshots from Studio 19... go see what she's done with them: http://www.verityclarkehair.com/about.html⠀
⠀
December and January are fully booked and February is filling up fast, but I would LOVE to help start your 2020 with some gorgeous shots of you, in your favourite surroundings, doing your business thing.⠀
⠀
And just think of the time you'll save by having photos you love already to hand!⠀
⠀
Book yourself a virtual cuppa and let's have a chat: https://carlawatkins.as.me/virtual-cuppa⠀
⠀
⠀
#personalbrandingphotographer #personalbrandingphotography #personalbranding #colourfulhair #tattooedgirls #hairartist #colourmagician #magicalhuman #studio19ardleigh #happinessiscolourfulhair #lifestylenotajob #instahair #haircolourist #freelancehairdresser #fkinghair #lovemyjob #photographerlife #brandphotographer #wooyay
Instagram post 2187437875620392501_3960994362 Nothing like a good muddy walk with a magical new client and her bouncy doglets on a drizzly autumn day!

And shots like these are the little details I love to capture in a branding shoot - the stories behind you and your business.

What are you getting up to this week? Tell me in the comments!

#muddyboots #autumn #personalbrandingphotographer #personalbrandingphotography #personalbranding #blueboots #englishweather #wellies #longwalks #countryside #happiness #howisthisactuallymyjob #lifestylenotajob #dirtybootsmessyhair #fromwhereistand #brandphotography #smallbusinessphotos #websitephotos #businessbranding
Instagram post 2181503578413545201_3960994362 Finding the traditional working world (not to mention the world in general right now, but that's a different post) an utter headfuck?⠀
⠀
Struggling to get your head around what people consider "normal" (ick) and expect you to do for your entire working life?⠀
⠀
Don't want a Proper Job even though that's what everyone tells you you should have?⠀
⠀
Yaaaaay - come and join the Improper Job Collective, a safe haven for beautiful business misfits around the world.⠀
⠀
I don't care whether you're starting a business, CEO of twenty locations, still debating what your first steps might be or just want a hassle-free, flexible job instead of a "proper" one - if you want to create a happier working life, the Improper Job collective is for you. ⠀
⠀
We hold each other accountable, we share the ups and downs, and we work out how we want to show up in the world - which is really what branding is all about.⠀
⠀
Want to join us? You're already so, so welcome <3⠀
⠀
http://eepurl.com/dx8AHv (or click link in bio & then "join the free Improper Job Collective" button)⠀
⠀
#improperjobcollective #happierwork #happywork #jobrebel #magicalmisfit #businessmisfits #beyourself #creativelifehappylife #rebrand #personalbrandingphotography #personalbranding #brandexpert #personalbrandingexpert #createyourbrand #whoyouare #brandbeautifully #properjob #woohoo
Instagram post 2179797321033520039_3960994362 Ooh, hello! If you've been around for a while, have some glittery hugs (or air hugs, depending on your preference).⠀
⠀
If you're new round here, hi! I'm Carla, the magical pink-blue-purple haired photographer behind the camera, creating colourful photos of brilliant businesses for a living - and feeling really very lucky to do so, while also acknowledging the sweary, stressful side of business.⠀
⠀
The very excellent Amy at @women_whocreate interviewed me for her blog recently, and I'm so excited to share it here.⠀
⠀
https://www.womenwhocreateuk.com/blog/2019/11/13/women-who-create-carla-watkins (or click link in bio and you should spot a button for it)⠀
⠀
#brandphotographer #brandingphotographer #personalbrandingphotography #interview #womenwhocreateuk #creativewomen #risingtidesociety #rainbowhair #pinkhair #sonyshooter #canonshooter #dualsystemphotographer #glitterinthedaytime #proudmoment
Instagram post 2177917933580349902_3960994362 Where better to use your magical new photos than in your emails?! And if you don't have a list yet, it's the perfect excuse to set one up.⠀
⠀
Karen at @benchspacesilverschool has done just that, and it made my heart so happy to see this land in my inbox yesterday. I'm also doing her beginner course, as silversmithing has been on my daydreams list for years - and I am absolutely loving it - made my first silver ring the other day and have spent most of this week admiring it 😂⠀
⠀
What would you tell your people, if you had the right photos to illustrate it?!⠀
⠀
#personalbranding #personalbrandingphotography #emailmarketing #emaillist #businessbrandingshoot #businessbranding #businessbrandingphotography #jeweller #silversmith #benchspace #silverschool #brightlingsea #makersgonnamake #doitfortheprocess #creativelifehappylife #meetthemaker #happinessishandmade #silversmithing #newthingthursday #learningstuff #socialmediaphotos #websitephotos
Instagram post 2175448649046963517_3960994362 Getting organised for 2020? Did you know I also offer mentoring sessions to help your business fly?⠀
⠀
From a one-off enthusiasm boost & problem solving super-session, to a bespoke series covering whatever currently has your knickers in a twist, I'll help you sort out your content, systemise & strategise (but in a fun way), deal with your website demons and move forward in your beloved business with joy.⠀
⠀
Past clients have used my Supercharging Sessions to:⠀
⠀
*sort out their website woes⠀
*rewrite their about pages⠀
*come up with a content plan which works for them⠀
*shift their business from side hustle to income generating⠀
*start a side hustle⠀
*sort out the headfuckery that is running multiple businesses (this is one of my extreme specialities)⠀
*streamline their systems⠀
*get some systems in place⠀
*work out what to keep and what to ditch⠀
*develop new offerings⠀
*fall back in love with their business⠀
⠀
I have space opening up in January for two fabulous humans - are you one of them? Book a free virtual cuppa and let's see what's bugging you and if I can help sort it: https://carlawatkins.as.me/virtual-cuppa (link in bio too)⠀
⠀
#plan2020 #getorganised #mentoring #superchargingsessions #smallbusiness #smallbusinessmentor #businessplanning #coaching #help #business101 #smallbiz #startup #sidehustle #sidehustleschool #sidehustlesaturday #loveyourbusiness #lovewhatyoudo #dowhatyoulove #entrepreneurlife #startsomethingamazing #buildyourbusiness
Instagram post 2171397875078846426_3960994362 Not much online action this week - I've been struck down with a winter (autumn?!) cold and this little fluffy love needed an unexpected vet visit today too :( She's feeling much more herself this evening and has a ten day medicine plan - I am feeling sorry for myself, and self medicating with hot chocolate and toast 😂

Today I am mostly grateful for vets, and wifi so I can do a bit of work from the sofa this evening!

What does your week look like?

#cat #lifewithcats #fluffycat #sofapost #selfemployedlife
Instagram post 2166336728383080944_3960994362 Had the actual best time at Marianne Cantwell's Be A Free Range Human book launch last night - seeing her in person was lovely as it's been about five years since we last met, and I got to hug some old free rangers I'd either never met in person, or haven't seen in real life for years <3 *And* met a whole host of other amazing free range people!⠀
⠀
Being in the book was, and is, a very proud moment, but being there to see everyone and feel the atmosphere and the electricity of people who think like me was nothing short of magical.⠀
⠀
Finding MC and her free range thinking was my very first inkling of another, better life - and mine has changed almost unimaginably in the years since.⠀
⠀
More pics to come, here's @freerangemarianne herself with her beautiful little book which changes lives...⠀
⠀
#freerangehumans #beafreerangehuman #mariannecantwell #booklaunch #happiness #freedom @librarylondon #brandingphotographer #eventphotographer #sonyadventures #photographerlife #oldfriends #newfriends #london
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Don’t want a Proper Job? Yay, come on in!

Collective logo
I would like to receive email updates too:

  • Multipod delights (other things I do):
  • Lifestyle & pet photography
  • Stationery by subscription
  • Lifestyle blog (since 2004)
  • Mermaid stuff for grown ups
  • My cats on the internet