A Petit Parisiene- dream portrait in my French Village

Every time I head to a photo shoot-I am reminded of the quote-

“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life” (Mark Antony).

I get to do just that and impact people with my art.  I was so blessed and honored to do a dream photo shoot in my  French village with the beautiful Olga Petit from Paris who was celebrating her 35th birthday. She was an absolute joy to capture and really made my heart sing !

I am so excited to share some of the photos I took at this shoot- there were so many to choose from! Olga is  beautiful inside and out!  A native from Moscow with French roots- Olga has returned to France and now resides in Paris where she teaches other Russians French, French people Russian,  and also translates for Russians getting married in France. What a beautiful job!

Olga was such a star and pleasure to photograph! We instantly hit it off with a kindred love for photography, art, jazz and gorgeous decor.  I feel like I’ve gained a little sister! Its not often you meet people you just know you are so glad to now have in your life!

We walked the stunning streets of my Mediaeval Village, stopping to see the sights, and enjoying coffee in one of my favorite cafes.

 

 

 

I would love to thank the wonderful ‘Two Freds” from Table de Antoine Petite Restauration in Saint Antonin Noble Val , for the yummy lunch and coffee and tea- you can find them here https://www.facebook.com/A-La-Table-dAntoine-Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val-Tarn-et-Garonne-1692183031046207/

If you want to learn Russian or French in Paris Olga is your lady! you can find her  here https://www.facebook.com/akarakar1933   or  on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/petit.o/  or maybe you are Russian and are considering a French wedding? Olga and I can team up for you- her on translation and me on photography? www.corrinatoughphotography.com

Thank you Olga for letting me share this beautiful day you had here in my French village! and for your birthday! I was very honored to capture you!  If you would love to be captured in this beautiful part of  France or maybe even Paris? I have some spots available in August/September and October. You can contact me at www.corrinatoughphotography.com

xx Bisous Corrina

 

 

 

 

Personal Branding part 2

In my last post I discussed personal branding  why do it and how it benefits your business.

Ultimately- its an investment that helps grow your clientele, lets people know who and where you are, what you make/create/do or stand for and shows you in a professional light.

Many of my past personal branding clients have reported a 50% business increase or more in 12 mths or less after using my images on all their social media platforms and for promotional material! Well, I guess that’s proof enough and I am proud to know my images have helped people in their business endeavors.

 

Rachel Volgeison-Davies portrait and personal Branding Photographer from  theelegantbrand.com London- shot in my French Village.

 

 

What can my clients expect from a personal branding session with me? I work very closely with my clients to flesh out what their business represents, who are they pitching to? Their ideal client? How do they want to be seen for example is it a luxe brand? or is it organic and rustic? What colors are you drawn to and much more. So I generally spend an hour or too in consultation with a thorough questionnaire to get to the root of your business and start to build a picture of a ‘look’ we can create in imagery.

 

Aurore Pelisson of Hape Tissu

Aurore Pellison creatrice- Hape.me who creates the most beautiful scarves, wraps and clothing as well as  cushions and wall hangings. Based in Marseilles these were taken in Provence at a special event. You can see more of her beautiful work here https://hape.me/ and see more of my images on her page.

Next if my clients wish I like to create a collaborative mood board on pinterest we both pin to so I can see things you are attracted to or are a good fit with your business brand. Both my clients and I find this a really great tool.

Some of my personal branding shoots include a mix of the business owner, a place and products. Some just have products or a place for example I have some clients who own holiday rentals that are very unusual and want a beautiful arrangement of images to show it in its best light.

 

Funky Gites- to contact go to her website- new gite will be on there soon but is available to rent this summer http://funkygites.com/

Day of the shoot- I allow a half or full day for the shoot and have access to the most amazing resources- beautiful French Mansion homes, flower growers and florists, hair and make-up for personal styling, vintage cars and knowledge of the best spots as well as local shops we can go into if that suits your style. We can do several outfit changes to show all sides to your business and you.

Hannah Nicolet- Wedding and Event Planner  https://www.noblenuptials.com/

So there you have it. Some food for thought! It is a well worth it investment if you want to grow your business.

If you would like a personal branding shoot with me- maybe France or French style goes with your brand or perhaps you need a luxurious or rustic backdrop? Maybe you have a business based in France or Europe?

Contact me at www.corrinatoughphotography.com/

for more details.

xx Corrina

Location, location, location… I get to photograph in the most amazing places for weddings, portraits and branding and one of them is for sale in my French village!

For a very long time I dreamed of France- decades in fact. I am a self confessed Francophile and have the added intrigue of French heritage. That dream became a reality when in 2014 I purchased a 400 year old French village house in South West France. I moved here in 2015 and began renovating the house I now call home and my world was turned absolutely upside down. As an Australian it really is foreign living in Europe- the language, culture, food all the experiences are heightened. I still pinch myself after 3 years when I step outside my door into a medieval world and wonder…. who walked these streets hundreds of years ago? Who touched these walls? Who cried and laughed and bought produce? Wonder what life was like for people then?

As a photographer I am in absolute heaven! My village alone gives me hours of photographic opportunity both for pleasure and my clients. I am really spoiled for choice!  There is so much natural beauty around me- my village is in South West France in the Tarn et Garonne and is surrounded by breathtaking chalky gorges, forests and the river Averyon. My home is metres from the Pont Averyon (bridge) and the river. I can stroll or cycle on many paths by the river. In summer we can picnic and barbecue and jump in the cool waters to be refreshed.

 

The buildings are incredible here.. so old- pre 8th century and the history of the town is a colourful one. In fact it boasts the oldest town hall in France dating from 1155 which now houses a museum. A walk around the village is a step back in time- but its not frozen in time, the village is alive with people young and old. There are schools commerce and a very lively amazing market every Sunday all year rain hail or shine. This aspect makes it a really unique French village and it is also very multicultural so you are bound to meet some amazingly interesting people,

 

I am blessed to have access to some incredible homes for my photography and recently did a personal branding for local wedding planner Hannah Nicolet of Noble Nuptials in a friends manor home in the center of the village.  My friend is finding the home too large, her son is grown and has grown children of his own- essentially she wants to down size now that she older so this incredible home is for sale! This home is the epitome of ancient and French and you could be forgiven if you were mistaken in thinking it was in Paris! It dates pre 12th century and was completed 15/16th centuries. When my friend acquired the home it was a virtual ruin and she had it lovingly restored including the ancient frescoes on the walls and the intricate plaster work in the music/library salon. It boasts a full balcony and French doors looking out over the center of town down onto the markets and the local Cafe/bar. In summer musicians play anything from jazz to opera (for free) and the sounds can be heard wafting up into the kitchen and living rooms!

(View from the balcony down onto the square, cafe and the old Town Hall- above and pictured below- Hannah Nicolet on the balcony and in the music  and library salon, musicians playing at the cafe, views in and around he centre square and the markets)

 

The home also boasts, an elegant entrance with stone staircase, first floor includes a small powder room, Library/Music Salon, Stunning main living room and kitchen/dining area opening out onto the large balcony from several sets of beautiful French doors.  Up a sweeping timber staircase to the second floor to a spacious landing with two full bathrooms and a separate toilet. Three bedrooms one being a very spacious double bedroom with fireplace. The ceilings in some rooms boast beams and floors are ancient tiles and timber throughout the home. The extensive attic has enough room to create a small apartment or extra bedrooms, There is also a large cave/boiler room under the ground floor. Send me a message if you are interested as there are two ways this property can be purchased. I will pass on the rest of the information.

View of the outside of the house through Les Halles.

Dining area in the kitchen

“Make your life a work of art”

It’s not everyday I get to photograph a fellow photographer in her dream location (which happens to be my home town) a French medieval village in south west France.

Personal Branding Part 1- Why Do it?

We are inundated with imagery these days- television, Instagram, face book…. there are so many social media platforms and it would seem every man and his phone are would be photographers. The selfie has become a minute to minute occurrence we are truly saturated!,

(Hannah Nicolet- Wedding Planner- Noble Nuptials France)

When you have a business these days most are using social media for advertising and aquiring a following for clientele and marketing.  So how do you stand out from the crowd and have your posts ‘stop scrolling’ worthy?

Head shots  don’t  necessarily show who you really are or what your business represents and offers. That’s where personal branding speaks volumes to future clients and to those who love to continue to follow you and use or buy your product or service.

 

Selfies wont do! They certainly don’t look professional and ultimately isn’t that what you want your clients to see? You are a quality, professional ! It pays to invest in quality, evocative imagery to sell your business . It is just that- an investment, my past personal branding clients have reported up to a 50% increase in business after a personal branding shoot with me. These reports show it is worth the investment in your business and comes back to you in volumes.

 

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(Hannah in a local brocante sourcing antiques for her wedding styling)

We all know how it feels to flick through a beautiful magazine its the imagery that draws you in and the quality that keeps you reading! So why not use the same methods the magazines use to get you to read and or buy their product? Imagery is everything- it creates a sense of something being luxurious or natural, or a person being professional and knowing what they are doing in terms of service. Evocative imagery tells a story and sets the scene. It helps clients imagine the experience they can have with you, or the beauty of your products or the service they might expect.

Hannah Nicolet is a wedding planner who wanted to exude luxury, class, professionalism, fun and France . This was because she is based in France and serves clients both from France and abroad seeking a destination wedding in France. Hannah wanted her clients to see her gorgeous village and surrounding area as well as get the ‘French” feel with some iconic imagery in and around the streets/cafes and shops.

 

Next time on the blog- Personal Branding part two and what I offer my clients.

The house interiors are of a house of my friend  in my village currently for sale. If living the French life or holidaying here interests you contact me for further details about the price and two ways you can purchase this wonderful home. My last blog post has more details about the home itself and the village.

Sending love from France xx Corrina

 

 

Do you ever dream of following your passion? Meet the Mediterranean Wanderer… Fellow creative, writer and lover of the beautiful Mediterranean.

I am so thankful to have this wonderful woman in my world! Meet Paula “The Mediterranean Wanderer”

Heritage- what do you leave behind?

Courage, kindness, friendship,character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness. R.J Palacio

After a very long absence (apologies) I am back on deck and hoping to have regular blog posts for you all. Life, health and family took priority last year and I just had to pare back and take stock. That gave me much time to reflect and to go inside myself as well as looking at the fabric of my life and my legacy.

You may think what has all this got to do with weddings or portraits or personal branding? In a way they are inextricably linked. As a photographer I have a strong ethos in my work to educate my clients in the importance of creating, documenting and then printing beautiful imagery to be preserved and loved by future generations but, photographing people is the culmination of preserving who you are! Who you are is your job. I got to wondering Who am I? What am I leaving behind in the world? Am I doing good? How will I be remembered? What impact will I make?

 

“Courage, kindness, friendship,character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness”. R.J Palacio . Author of best selling Novel ‘Wonder’
That is what I continually aspire to ….. greatness that is culminated in me having those attributes first and foremost. I hope on the day I die I am remembered for impacting the world in this way and leave a legacy in my children to do the same.  I never want anything in my life to hinder  me being kind, courageous, friendly and to have a character of integrity, honesty and love. Something to think about? I read a quote recently about what we fill ourselves with will spill out of us when life throws its curve balls our way- So I want to make it my mission to fill myself with goodness, love and positivity and words of wisdom that it may overflow out of me as I journey through 2018.

Gratitude is another aspect I want to focus on this year. I have always been a grateful person but I want to really focus on specific gratitude and intention to be grateful as well as the aspects mentioned in the quote above. When we are truly grateful we focus on all the good and that is a place of growth, renewal and contentment.

I was impacted very deeply when I had these images taken. The first one is in my village in South West France and was taken by my friend and fellow photographer /www.byrachelv.photography

The other beautiful images were taken in my favorite city in the world Paris by my friend, amazing photographer and mentor http://carlacoulson.com/

As a photographer I make it my mission to take the most beautiful, deep and special images of my clients- I know firsthand how life changing it can be and how important to document who we are.

Sending love for you all into the coming year xx

Rachel V Branding BHS

Dare to dream how you want to be photographed. xx http://www.corrinatoughphotography.com/