Changing Your LIfe Archives | Page 5 of 5

September 3, 2014

in Changing Your LIfe, Greece, Italy, travel, What;s wrong with your life?

A Greek Island Dream House

Claire Lloyd and rescue dog Mavrula copyright Carla Coulson

Any of you who have been following along for a while know that I am nuts about the Mediterranean in particular Greece and Italy. Well, this summer I travelled to beautiful Lesvos and stayed in a very special Greek Island guesthouse owned by the fabulous designer Claire Lloyd and partner artist Matthew Usmar Lauder.

Felix passes the Iron bed made with antique linen copyright Carla Coulson

I knew I was going to love this place as I know Claire has a beautiful eye from all those years working as an art director in London and I adore her beautiful book My Greek Island Island Home. Throw into the mix Matthew’s divine art and his knack for creating individual pieces of furniture and objects from found and recycled products and it was sure to ignite something big inside of me.

Loungeroom from the front door copyright Carla Coulson

But as a photographer, I have learnt that the photos never do something really beautiful its true justice. It’s all those other dimensions that bring on the love rush, like the scent of jasmine, the exquisite view to the sea, the textures of floorboards under your bare feet, the sound of a homemade wind chime tinkling in the breeze.

A corner of the lounge room copyright Carla Coulson

You all know since the day I left Italy a piece of my heart has been hankering to go back to a simpler, slower way of living with a little vege garden out the back and to belong to a community. To belong to a community has been my lifelong ambition! I feel very fortunate to belong to a cyber community of wonderful people scattered around the world and for this, I will be forever grateful.

Beautiful bed linen and Matthew Lauders. Copyright Carla Coulson

So here in this exquisite house not only did Francesco and I have a chance to relax and enjoy the fabulous scented candles, the fridge stocked with Greek Yoghurt, local fruit and delicious local wine but we had the chance to taste what it would be like if we left our lives and went to live on a Greek Island.

Loungeroom copyright Carla Coulson

There was nothing touristy about this experience. We were in a small hill village about 4kms from the sea in a part of Lesvos that has no tourist shops or noisy bars just the local tavernas and a rich daily life.

Matthew’s art, a found table and vintage Turkish runner copyright Carla Coulson

I loved heading down to the Platia which is in the centre of the village, a wonderful tavern sits under a 100 year old tree (they just had the party to celebrates its birthday) which is akin to the village outdoor lounge room. Everything happens here, you can drink coffee, play cards for the entire day if your desire, eat lunch or dinner, check your Instagram, or wile away the hours swapping stories with the locals.

Detail Loungeroom Copyright Carla Coulson

And right next door was the vege garden of my dreams. I adored watching the man tending it dressed in white collecting the biggest zucchini flowers I had ever seen.

Corridor Downstairs Copyright Carla Coulson

And going on long walks with Claire and the dogs and dropping into’s Matthews heavenly studio (blog post coming soon) to see what he was up to.

Traditional Wooden box to display treasured icons Copyright Carla Coulson

I have long been in love with Greece, Francesco and I have spent the past 6 years trying to find the most out of the way Islands, to get as faraway as possible from our busy lives in Paris to recharge with long days swimming and resting.

Kitchen Copyright Carla Coulson

But this was the first time I felt like I actually was living there, when I dared to ask myself ‘what if..?”

Beautiful ceramic plates in the kitchen copyright Carla Coulson

What if we had the courage to walk away from the security? What if we could live a simpler life like the one like we had all those years ago in Florence? What would we do and how would we do it?

Francesco’s Hat on the kitchen chair and local woven rug Copyright Carla Coulson

What if we could give our cat a better life?? LOL!

Bedroom with antique French Linen sheets Copyright Carla Coulson

Together we explored the island, had long lunches down at Kalo Limani and long dinners where there were just the four of us, a setting sun and simple Greek fare of grilled calamari, fresh fish and local veges.

Corner of the bedroom – Copyright Carla Coulson

Matthew and Claire’s generosity has no limits, they took us to their favourite beaches, we ate in their favourite restaurants all over the island and showed us the wonderful co-operatives where local ladies make traditional products.

Corner of the Bedroom Copyright Carla Coulson

I adored popping down the road to see them, like we had all lived their forever, swapping ideas and advice on all things creative and practical and talking about our hopes and dreams.

Bedside table detail Copyright Carla Coulson

Matthew’s studio in the centre of town is filled with his beautiful artwork and found treasures. It’s also filled with curious locals who can’t help sticking their heads in to see what was going on.

Bathroom Copyright Carla Coulson

Collection of local plates in the hallway Copyright Carla Coulson

Lesvos is so close to Turkey we even jumped on the ferry for the day and went to Avyalik on bazaar day. It was a frenzy of photos and shopping before we took the evening ferry back.

View from the terrace to the sea copyright Carla Coulson

I wanted My Greek Island Home experience to go on forever!

Felix and Fluffy Boy catching up on a little sleep Copyright Carla Coulson

Oh and for a cat lover missing her baby, not a problem there were a couple of stand-ins to help out..

Claire in the courtyard Copyright Carla Coulson

So to dearest Claire and Matthew the stay at your house was not only the loveliest experience yet to happen for us in Greece it was something bigger, it was a catalyst just like that Thai Takeway all those years ago in Darlinghurst that set me on a life of adventure and going after the things that really mattered to me in life.

Courtyard Copyright Carla Coulson

Even though I have left my life once before it was beautiful reminder of what I hold dear. Thank-you for allowing me to see that again and experience your beautiful island and lives through your eyes.

Front door Copyright Carla Coulson

The beautiful My Greek Island Home Guesthouse has its own lovely website and if you would like to rent the guesthouse you can get in touch with Claire and Matthew here

Claire Lloyd is the author and photographer of My Greek Island Home and Sensual Living and you can check out Matthew Usmar Lauder’s work here.

If you would like more Greek Island Inspiration please click here.

“True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations. Time and love are the most valuable possession you can share.” Suze Orman

Please share if you dream of another life or love beautiful homes!

If you want to know how you can live more wholeheartedly, reconnect to your joy, creativity and purpose, click on the image above to join the free training.

January 22, 2014

in Auto Immune, Changing Your LIfe

by Carla

72 Comments

Grateful for Graves Disease – A Surprising Xmas Present

Me fooling around at Bondi by Loc Boyle

Gosh.. I have been meaning to say hello for the longest time and to wish you all a fabulous 2014 but something has kept me from the computer.

After living through an exciting week of my book launch in early December in Sydney and meeting so many gorgeous people, finishing the Get Published Workshop and meeting more gorgeous people I finally found some time to get a couple of things I wanted done including a blood test.

So when I received an urgent call telling me to come to the doctors on Christmas Eve I knew something was up (yeah.. I had already received a copy of the blood test and was onto Dr. Google with the results).

Seems I had something with the terrible name of Graves Disease, an auto-immune disease that attacks your thyroid and makes your heart race (even when hubby isn’t around) and your hands shake and lots of other symptoms you check out here. I clocked in at 11 on a scale where you need just 2 to be positive.

The doctor being doctors scare the crap out of you, tell you you have no choice but a lifetime of medicine and you MUST take it otherwise you could risk a thyroid storm (gees just the sound of this brought Steve Speilberg images to my head of guys arriving in white suits with kalashnikovs to attack my poor defenseless thryroid).

But you see I had already been onto Dr. Google and I had questions of my own, what about changing my diet? what about checking my vitamin levels? am I deficient in anything? etc etc.. A big straight NO was responded and I was escorted to the door.

And by the way I wasn’t feeling THAT bad..well I at least felt confident those storm troopers weren’t on the way over.

Gees.. Merry Christmas Carla!

But here are the reasons I am grateful for my unusual Christmas present.

Grateful to live in this internet age and for the people out there and the information they are sharing about their stories and alternative solutions like Sarah Wilson. Sarah who offers tonnes of tips and advice and also talks to the marvellous Andrea Beaman who ate her way back to good health.

I am grateful for sites like Weston A. Price and even the heavy breathing Dr Johnson (a little salesy at times) and his almost 2 hour video that walks you through Auto-immune and how to heal your body naturally. To friends who told me about Nourishing Traditions an incredible book by Sally Fallon that talks about the studies of Weston A Price and offers create recipes and tips.

Their information gave me the courage to say NO to the medication and to call a naturopath at Newton’s Pharmacy, one of Sydney’s oldest herbalists. The naturopath wasn’t even slightly alarmed, she changed my diet, no gluten, no lactose, no sugar, no coffee, no tea, no stimulants, no alchohol (you getting the picture) but loads of good fats and proteins and whole foods (I had almost been exclusively vegetarian for the best part of 5 years cause I intensely dislike the industrialisation of animals) and she said to have regular blood tests to see what happens. Wonderful herbal supplement to get my intestine working again and lots of food state vitamins. Oh and the really good news was I was told to sit in the sun and eat lots of organic butter. That’s when I started to like this condition!

Here’s the funny thing, I thought I was eating well, lots of pulses and rice, veges, fruit and salads and all of it organic but almost no fats.

I went to see my favourite acupuncturist and more good news, there were things that could be done.

But the wellness package (if I didn’t want to take the drugs) included me changing the way I do things, slowing down, having time out and giving my body and mind time to regenerate and heal itself instead of rushing onto the next thing. I was part of the problem and the way I do things.

So I pulled out the plug (literally) no dinner outs, no running around the city instead I swam, slept and learnt to meditate.

Within 3 weeks I was almost sympton free, even i was shocked. I learnt there were things that could trigger it off like SUGARY fruits (Sarah Wilson and her I Quit Sugar program is onto something) and indoor heated chlorinated Parisian pools.

You are probably wondering why I am telling you this? January is Thyroid Awareness Month and so I thought I would share my story in the case that any of you out there are in a similar boat and as confused as I was when I walked out the doctor’s door.

Also I ask forgiveness if I haven’t got back to you in the past month..

I am grateful to have had a wake-up call when I had always PROMISED myself to change things but never seemed to turn the corner or get to the bottom of the washing basket of tasks to do.

I am grateful for photography that is my balm, my meditation and one of the things that I love most in life and I look forward to a wonderful year of photos, memories and great people.

Thanks for coming along for the ride and I look forward to sharing lots of photography and tips with you in 2014.

Wishing you great health, happiness and photos..

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”

PS: please feel free to share

August 28, 2013

in Changing Your LIfe, What;s wrong with your life?

by Carla

14 Comments

An Untold Chapter In Finding My Way To Photography

Moi by Loc Boye

It is easy as an adult to stop exploring. To arrive at a point in your life where your work and daily life routine takes over and the child and dreams within are forgotten.

It took some digging around, having time and experimenting for me to find the thing that got my heart galloping, photography.

I wasn’t one of those lucky ones that knew from the minute they were born what they wanted to do in life, in fact I thought I didn’t have a creative bone in my body. My parents weren’t artists and we didn’t have a connection with the creative world so I was never exposed to the idea of being a photographer.

But when I knew I no longer wanted to live the life I was living I made that list of possible things to try. I dug into the recesses of my brain looking for things I loved or thought I might love.

I knew at the time my career wasn’t what I wanted but I wasn’t one hundred percent sure about what I did want to do. I made a list (as I do). It looked like this.

Learn Italian

Work in the outback

Work for another company doing something I love

Take some time out to think about life

Go to Bali and check out options

Try a photography course

Find Love (thought I might as well write it down and let the universe know I was serious)

I decided to try as many things possible during a year to see if I could find what I was looking for.

Taken at Rawlinna and inspired by my time in the outback in WA copyright Carla Coulson

Working on a farm in Outback Western Australia was included on the list because I thought maybe it was city life that needed changing. I added working with a sports marketing team because I thought I needed to work with a different group of people than I had previously worked with, learning Italian was also jotted down because it was something I had always wanted to do. Photography had always been a passion so the list went on and on.

At the top I wrote Italy and of course included something else I was missing in my life, LOVE.

Through a friend I met ‘Doogs’ and I went to work on his farm in the outback in the heart of the Western Australian wheat belt. We were swapping skills, I taught him to use the internet and I fed his chickens who had been saved from a battery farm (never eaten a non-free range egg since). I thought maybe I might like to move to the country and city life was the problem so this was a test.

I arrived straight from the city with my jangling nerves and phone addiction and it took me a week to slow down and sit in wonder at the big open Western Australian skies. I loved walking around the property, jumping in the jeep to go fix a fence or drive a 100km to a friends for dinner. Going to town to get the post wasn’t to be missed and Kellerberin could have been Paris for all I cared. I loved wandering the shops, going to the Post Office (there were people there) or to Dalgety’s (more people there) to get some more farm supplies.

After a month I was another girl, full of Western Australian sunshine and big skies. I had one whole month to wind down, smell the ‘wheat’ and think about what I wanted in life. This experience was priceless and ‘Doogs’ was a kind generous soul but the isolation wasn’t for me.

Off the rocks Positano Italian Joy Copyright Carla Coulson

I packed my bags and headed back to Sydney to start another short term job. What I realised when I walked in on my first day was that I no longer wanted to work in an office anymore, the neon lights, the cubicles, the lack of privacy and no big skies – it felt like jail after feeding the chickens! I stuck out 3 months and then headed to Italy.

The first night I arrived in Florence I walked the streets, stopping in Piazza Signoria. I was on my own and everything felt like it was in slow motion. I hugged myself with happiness. I felt like I belonged.

After the month of Italian school was up I was meant to move on to the next experience on the list but I didn’t want to. I felt like I had barely learnt any Italian and what a shame to go now when I could cancel the rest of my plans and stay here.

It was my second daring decision – to go with my heart and not with my head, first was leaving!!

I had never felt so free.

I stayed on, I continued with my Italian lessons in the morning and in the afternoon I let go of a lifetime of living a certain way. The spontaneity that had been beaten out of me in Sydney by a lifetime of routine and responsibility came back. I said ‘yes’ to every invitation and let barriers that I had built up over years come crashing down.

Italian Joy Copyright Carla Coulson

In my heart I knew I couldn’t go back to my old life. I had seen another way of living. I still hadn’t found Mr. Right but it seemed inconsequential. I had found Italy. Six months in Italy had changed me, my old life looked even smaller and sadder than before.

Before I left to sort out my affairs, I found a photography school and enrolled. It was my pact with myself. It was a connection to Italy that would force me back. I gave myself three months in Sydney to sort things out and come back. I was convinced. And as they say “the rest is history”..when I walked into a darkroom almost 8 months later it was love at first photo..

Underwater friends Italian Joy Copyright Carla Coulson

Some of you will already know what you want to do in life. Lucky you.

Be happy also if you know what you ‘don’t want to do’ for the rest of your life. Rejoice in the fact that you are aware that there is another life made for you, even if you have to go and find it. This is a wonderful place to be because you have already taken the first steps towards your new life. You know what you don’t want to do.

Make a list and start exploring different creative fields. Remember not to panic if you are doing a job you don’t like today because you already making the moves to change your life just by the knowledge you aren’t happy.

Start exploring and you too like me may uncover a burning passion you never knew existed.

Write your list of all possible options that you think you might like to explore and start ticking them off.

I hoped you enjoyed this little insight into my journey to photography and I am wishing you loads of luckdust on yours.

“The law of work seems unfair, but nothing can change it; the more enjoyment you get out of your work, the more money you will make.???Mark Twain

PS; Please share with others on a new path..

June 6, 2013

in Changing Your LIfe, Going Pro

by Carla

10 Comments

5 Things I Learnt From My Small Business and Applied to Photography

Private Portrait Copyright Carla Coulson

I know you have been dying to read this post for years!!

‘Cause this is one of the frequent emails that pops into my inbox ‘what did you learn from your business and take to photography?’

It’s a great question because the truth is I took lots, almost all of what I learnt good and bad (what not to do).

As a photographer whether you are a freelancer working for magazines, fashion photography or shooting for National Geographic, you are your own small business.

Today I am going to cover the Top 5 Things I ‘translated’ from my old business to becoming a photographer.

Private Portrait Copyright Carla Coulson

PRODUCT

Before you start any business you need a product and that includes photography. One of the things I learnt in my old business was that you don’t need to ‘re-invent the wheel’. If you offer a good product, good service and do what you say you can have a successful business.

So photographers whether you want to do travel, portraiture, fashion or weddings you need a ‘product’. Your work is your own ‘unique product’ and no-one else can produce it. It isn’t good enough to have 5 photos, you need a portfolio of work that will communicate to your ‘customer’ whether they are magazines, private clients or advertising agencies what you do.

So don’t be in a rush to get started just take the pics that you love and that will speak loudest.

Private Portrait Copyright Carla Coulson

WHO IS YOUR CLIENT?

Before you can start your fabulous marketing program (up next) you need to know who you are marketing to. When I started in photography I knew I wanted to be a travel photographer and for 11 years that is exactly what I did mixed up with interiors and portraits.

I knew from the beginning I wanted to work with magazines and books so my clients were magazines and publishers in Australia. I built a portfolio that would speak to my favourite magazines and eventually a publisher. Knowing who your client is is fundamental.

When I switched to portrait photography I defined who my gal was!

MARKETING

Ok, so you have your portfolio, you know who your client is, so the next step is you need to market to them. Marketing is just a word for communicating your work and that can be done in hundreds of different ways from making a call, an appointment, sending your brochure, business cards, posters, social media, website, exhibitions, launches and talking to the person sitting next to you in a bar, on a plane or at a function.

When I started as a travel photographer my ‘marketing plan’ was to meet art directors and have my work published as quickly as possible. I simply picked up the phone, told them I was a photographer living in Italy and had some stories to show and they allowed me to visit. I rang as many of the magazines I wanted to meet with and repeated the same thing. When Marie Claire eventually published my story they too were ‘marketing’ for me. They printed my name alongside of my work that reached up to 100,000 readers and other art directors in the industry.

Social media is a wonderful way of getting your work out there as well as starting your very own list of contacts.

PRESENTATION

In my old business we sold a good but unexciting product (corporate clothing). But one stroke of genius we did do was to hire a fashion photographer and great models and we photographed the product like an editorial story. This was my first glimpse backstage at a photo shoot (needless to say I lurrved it) and we gave our product an edge. We spent a lot of money at the time on an amazing catalogue designed by a great graphic artist and off we charged ahead of our competition.. Why? Because our presentation spoke of good quality, product and service because it looked better than the competitions by a country mile (for the Aussies).

Presentation is a vital part of a small business, it says who you are, whether you are into quality or not and it can make or break the deal. When I presented my images to my publisher for the first time for Italian Joy I took in A3 images on fine art paper (cost a bomb) but they looked so much better than 10 x 15cm pics.

Think hard about your presentation, invest in professionals to get the look and feel that helps communicate your product and services.

Super Francesco by Moi!!

MORALS AND ETHIC

I packed the same morals and ethics I had in my small business and took them in a suitcase to Italy!! It was always my intention to do the right thing by my customer even if sometimes it meant losing money.

Once I made a fatal area and when to the wrong airport in Paris (drrrrrr) and realised too late that I need to be at CDG and raced across town to miss the plane by 5mins..

I had the option to go home and let me client down or spend 800 Euros and get on the next plane to Venice and do what I promised. I spent the 800 Euros (which really hurt at time) and went to Venice!! I never told my client (a magazine) but they continued to use me for years to come because I delivered on time and did what I said I would do.

Always try and keep your word, trust is important..

And always have fun..

I hope these tips give you a little incite and how they can work for you.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” Steve Jobs

Please feel free to share to others who this may help. xx

If you want to learn how to take/create your body of work and sell it online, join my Free Training by clicking above.

October 3, 2012

in Changing Your LIfe

by Carla

31 Comments

Once Upon A Time In Italy

Once upon a time In Italy, three little girls (well not so little, on their way to forty) sat around a table in a lovely trattoria in Florence. It was a winter’s night.

One was Italian, one was Swiss and the other was Australian. The Italian was a shoe designer (what else?), the Swiss was an interior decorator and the Australian was on her way to a new life.

They sat around that table with plates of delicious food, wonderful wine and a beautiful friendship. They talked about Italy, food, life, happiness and love.

The Italian, who was always on a plane to a shoe factory somewhere in the world recounted stories of eyes-meeting with gorgeous guys in airports on trains, planes and in metros but still remained mystified why love hadn’t come her way. For once the Australian wasn’t so worried about love she had recently fallen in love with photography. The Swiss, as beautiful as Lady Diana sat quietly as she does, a couple of beautiful shakes of her head but not wanting to draw attention to herself she said nothing.

All Photos Copyright Carla Coulson

No-one deserved love more than her. Generous, kind and affectionate she always put everyone before herself and was the greatest friend a girl could have.

Many years passed in between and they always managed to meet in that lovely trattoria in Florence. Then one day the Swiss and the Australian received a call that not in an airport, a train or on a metro but in the Italian embassy in New York the Italian met the love of her life. She married on a beach in Mexico not long after her 40th birthday and within 3 years had two beautiful little girls.

The Australian too met the love of her life and was married in Paris in a leopard skin hat! And just a couple of days ago in Geneva on a spectacular day only the love-gods could dream up, the beautiful Swiss married the man who had been searching for her all his life..

And there was no-one as happy as the Australian and the Italian to share this incredible moment. They laughed about those dinners in Florence and rejoiced in finding love and one of the greatest gifts of all, friendship.

Auguri ancora bella mia..

A Greek Island Dream House

Grateful for Graves Disease – A Surprising Xmas Present

An Untold Chapter In Finding My Way To Photography

5 Things I Learnt From My Small Business and Applied to Photography

Once Upon A Time In Italy

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