March 15, 2022 • 24 mins
In this episode of Let Perfect Burn, I sit down with boudoir photographer, Caroline Talbot, of Caroline Talbot Studios.
Her clients are women who want to reclaim their bodies, typically after a significant life event: marriage, divorce, health crisis, trauma and many more. They want to be vulnerable by choice.
Caroline talks about one of the most amazing moments in her sessions is the moment she watches her client let go. It is in the letting go that the woman in her lens truly gives herself permission to be present, to be enough, to be courageous and empowered.
Caroline lives and breathes that every single woman is ENOUGH AF.
Some highlights in this Episode from Caroline:
"I help my clients see something beautiful in themselves that they may not have seen in a very long time, or ever. I love being able to show them what I see and what their loved ones see when we look at them."
"This session was a farewell to her body. I always sit down with clients before their session because yes, we take sexy photos, but I want to understand the why."
"It's been a struggle of saying I want to be able to essentially have the best of both worlds. And it's impossible, you cannot. So being able to have that space to say it is okay to want to work and want to be away from your children. And then also wanting to be present and be there for them. But knowing that I want to be away from them sometimes, I can be better when I'm with them."
Don't Miss a Beat.
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https://www.instagram.com/letperfectburn/
Follow Caroline Talbot Studios' Work:
https://www.instagram.com/carolinetalbotstudios/
Original Music for Let Perfect Burn by Eleri Ward
https://www.instagram.com/eleriward/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tara Beckett (00:10):
Hi, I'm Tara Beckett and welcome back to let
perfect burn. My guest today isCaroline Talbott of Caroline
Talbot studios. Caroline is aboudoir photographer. She had no
idea that when she started hersmall business, the impact that
(00:33):
she would have on her clientsand the impact that her clients
would have on her. That I'm soexcited to have in studio
Caroline Talbott of CarolineTalbot studios. Hello, girl. How
are you?
Caroline Talbot (00:50):
Good. How are you? I'm good.
Tara Beckett (00:53):
Caroline, is a CPA turned professional boudoir
photographer. And Karolina Iwould just love for people
listening for you to tell uswhat is a boudoir photographer?
If we've not heard of thatbefore?
Caroline Talbot (01:08):
Yeah, sure. Um, so just a quick thing former CPA
no longer was that yeah, yes. Itwas like not keeping that
license up for sure. Don't needto hear.
Tara Beckett (01:25):
Like very former very, very, very former. I got
no long not doing your talenteggKnow
Caroline Talbot (01:32):
your taxes.
Your financial just nothappening. Yeah, I don't even do
the tip at the restaurantanymore. I'm like, no other
people do it. I don't do it.
Like, no, thank you. But yeah,so what a lot of people know
boudoir as is just kind of, likethe first thing that a lot of
(01:54):
people have that come to mind islike, Oh, the sexy photos that
brides take before their weddingfor their new husbands. And it's
actually so much more than that.
I do work with brides, ofcourse. But the majority of my
clients are women who have gonethrough some kind of event in
life, whether it's gainingweight, losing weight, marriage,
(02:16):
divorce, trauma, something,breast cancer, or really, so
many types of cancer, or somesort of medical event or
something that they're kind of,on or just global pandemic, I
don't know, you know, which is acatch all at this point. But,
um, my clients are women whohave gone through certain things
(02:38):
in life, and they just want toactually reclaim their bodies
and kind of the best way I'veheard of put is that they want
to be vulnerable by choice, andhave that idea of letting go
seeing something beautiful inthemselves that they may not
have seen in a very long time,or ever, and being able to show
(02:59):
them what I see and what theirloved ones see when I look at
Tara Beckett (03:06):
them. That is beautiful. I love the idea of
being vulnerable by choice.
Caroline Talbot (03:12):
Yes, I can't take credit for that. That was
one of my clients that she said,this is the first time in 20
years, she had gone through alot. And just lots of things,
putting her in vulnerablepositions that were completely
out of her control. And she wassaying that this was the first
time that she felt veryvulnerable, but it was because
(03:34):
of choices that she made andbecause she wanted to go there.
And it was just such an awesomething to see just the difference
in taking that power back.
Tara Beckett (03:50):
As far as you know, connecting back to the
kind of healing you're talkingabout free, you're absolutely
when you turn the corner I gotout of corporate world and you
know went into this really newworld of being a boudoir studio
owner. What just hit you thatyou weren't expecting.
Caroline Talbot (04:13):
Um, I really wasn't expecting it to matter so
much. That, you know, I've hadclients that have just gone
through such heavy things andbeing in relationships where
they don't have any control orbeing in a health situation
where they don't have anycontrol. I had a client this
(04:35):
past year that I didn't knowuntil she showed up to her
session that under 48 hoursafter her session she was having
a double mastectomy. And so thiswas kind of her like farewell to
her body. And just reallytalking through that with her. I
always sit down with clientsbefore their session because
(04:58):
yes, we take sexy photos But Iwant to understand the why and
what they want out of theexperience because yes, the
photos right in the movie theexperience, but push comes to
shove, it's doing somethingthat's so far outside of
somebody's comfort zone andbeing able to say like, Hey, if
somebody told me without clotheson and nobody died, like, nobody
(05:18):
even like reacted, it was weird.
But so going through thatprocess, and something that she
had said Is she felt like herbody failed her because she
finally got to a point where shewas happy with her body. And now
this happened. And we reallytalked through about how it
wasn't her body feeling here, itwas breast cancer, and that her
body was fighting with her, notagainst her. And that was really
something being able to gothrough that and then take all
(05:42):
these photographs of her body.
And then at the end of hersession, like it was just, it
was really nice, because as shewas walking away, she was like,
I'm ready. I wasn't ready thismorning, reading now. And just
being able to go through thatjourney with someone I never
thought being a boudoirphotographer, like I knew that I
(06:02):
could, like, Oh, here's a funself esteem boost, not like, I'm
going to prepare you for a verydrastic change in your life
right now. And you're going tobe at peace with it. And
Tara Beckett (06:15):
I'm just thinking, the nature of a photograph, and
how that woman that you'retalking about has something to
hold and keep right at thatreally beautiful part of her
body that is really about tochange. And you gave her that
gift. Oh. Whew, that one's gotme a little bit a little bit,
(06:40):
got
Caroline Talbot (06:40):
it and floored.
Really, yes. That one, thinkabout your tickler session I was
I only shoot one client in aday. Because I never know what
it's going to be or how longwe're going to take. Because if
somebody needs that space tosit, we are going to take that
space and sit, I'm not going tobe like, well, let's go crank it
out and go. But when she walkedout the door, I locked my door
(07:02):
and I just sat here withnothing. There was no music
playing. There's nothing andjust kind of, like let the
heaviness of what was about tohappen to her sit and like I
bawled like a baby because I wasjust like, I can't believe that
this matters so much. And thatshe's going through all of this
right now. And to be a part ofthat journey with women. In
(07:24):
general. It's just so rewarding.
Tara Beckett (07:35):
You know, I've known you for a long time. And
you're a beautiful, beautifulperson. And I'm just wondering,
is there something that you canthink about in your life or
growing up or somebody whoinfluenced you that really broke
open that capacity to be on thisjourney with the women that you
work with? Because I just feellike there's something really
(07:56):
beautiful and special aboutwanting that ability to be open
in those sessions.
Caroline Talbot (08:01):
Yeah, I mean, my grandmother was like, I mean,
everybody says, My grandmotheris I think, or whatever. I'm
pretty sure that if she werefamous, like she actually would
be safe. She was one of thosewomen who went through one of
the hardest lives at home. Mygrandfather was not really in
(08:22):
the picture when I was alive.
But knowing all the things thatshe went through, and the
kindness that she gave to everysingle person she met, I don't
know a single person who hadever met her that didn't feel
like their day was a little bitbetter, because she was part of
it. Whether it was just herbeing silly, or like being
(08:43):
willing to listen, and she wouldjust never judge no matter what.
There was just awesome.
Somebody asked her if she wouldmarry for husband again and
(09:06):
everybody, like, of course waslike, of course, she wouldn't
that that would be the dumbestthing ever. And he was he was
bad guy or he Yeah, he was notgreat. Physically, emotionally
abusive. And she had a childrenthat she essentially, and he was
(09:28):
on the police force. So back inthe 50s, when she was asking for
help it kind of both the churchand the community was just kind
of like go home and be a goodwife. And they let her down.
Yeah. And so somebody, like at aholiday was like, oh, yeah,
well, we know that she wouldn'tdo it again. And she was like,
(09:49):
of course I would. And everybodywas like why? And she was like,
because if that's what I had togo through to have this family.
I would do it again in aheartbeat. Like just knowing
that she was that willing to gothrough so much for her family
was just
Tara Beckett (10:07):
awesome. So you have a family? I do. Yeah. And I
would love to know, how you dowhat you do at work. Like you've
said, there's such an emotionalconnection with your clients.
(10:30):
You also own your own studio.
And what about being a motherhas been challenging given all
that you've talked about thatyou do? I
Caroline Talbot (10:39):
mean, I think it's really hard. Like, I feel
like everybody, all moms, likewe have this kind of unity, that
we're just like, Yes, this ishard, like, cool. Um, and I do
feel like I have being a workingmom, it's hard. Being a stay at
home mom is hard. My trouble isthat I've been trying to find
(11:00):
the balance, and I tend to belike, well, then I need to be
100% of both. And I need to be afunctional working mom. So I can
feel like a member of society.
But I have to do all the thingsthat I would do, if I were a
stay at home mom, because I, Imake sure that my schedule works
out that I have two days duringthe week that I have the kids.
So they're in daycare three daysa week, and I'm with them two
(11:22):
days a week. And then of course,weekends. And I feel like
sometimes I try to fit sevendays into and be like, Okay,
well, I have to do all the funthings. And then also all the
laundry and all the self careand all the things. And I think
that has been a struggle ofsaying I want to be able to
essentially have the best ofboth worlds. And it's
(11:45):
impossible, you cannot. So beingable to like, have that space to
say it is okay to want to workand want to be away from your
children. And then also wantingto be present and be there for
them. But knowing that I want tobe away from them sometimes, so
I can be better when I'm withthem. And then
Tara Beckett (12:09):
even I mean, I'm just thinking I have that
thought that very logicalthought as well. And then
there's just the mom guilt,like, Yeah, is it what is
Caroline Talbot (12:21):
I just want to go exercise for 20 minutes, but
I can hear my son is frustratedat me walking up the stairs,
forget it, I'll just Nope, Idon't matter. Let's go back
downstairs and sit and playpuzzles for the umpteenth time.
Even though there's no logicalreason that somebody else can't
(12:41):
sit with him for 20 minutes.
Tara Beckett (12:43):
Yes. And has there ever been as you were growing
your studio or even lately thatyou just felt like you let
yourself go, or there was justsomething where it just all the
things you were doing just feltinsurmountable.
Caroline Talbot (12:59):
Um, I would say definitely these past few years
with COVID has definitely madeit a lot harder, I feel like I'm
starting to pull out of it. Nowfall of 2021 was rough. Um, and
definitely didn't focus on myhealth didn't focus on my own
well being. And I was prettyangry and resentful for a few
(13:25):
months, definitely like, and itshowed in little ways, just
getting frustrated with thekids, getting frustrated with my
husband, completely avoidingsocial media and my business and
like, not wanting just obviouslystill being there for my
clients. But all the other stuffof like posting on social media
and marketing and all thethings. And I was just like, No,
(13:48):
absolutely not. And it's, I feellike when things are so up in
the air, it's very hard to feelgrounded and centered. And this
year, I put a big focus on that.
I'm saying I need to take time,every day to feel grounded or to
sit with my feelings and say ifI'm feeling really angry and
(14:09):
frustrated, I will get on mybike and I will make it heavy
and pound at it and yell and doall the things I need to do to
be able to get back to groundedbecause I feel like as moms and
business owners, we tend to takeall that ability away from
(14:29):
ourselves. And I certainly noteasy. I don't like getting up at
5am I would love to have thatextra hour of sleep. But I have
definitely noticed a differencein being able to say like yes, I
It's hard and I'm drinking morecoffee but but being able to say
I'm going to actually take thisspace for myself whether it's at
(14:52):
the beginning of the day, theend of the day, even if I'm
exhausted and the kids have justgone to sleep and I just want to
like sit and eat ice cream, I'mlike, I'm gonna just take a hot
minute before I do that, like,angry thing and just get my
feelings to where I want them tobe and then actually be able to
be present for myself and myhusband.
Tara Beckett (15:18):
That's pretty much a clinic in like self care,
which I love. Right, right. Youhave, you know, when you feel
overwhelmed, and it looks likeyou know, it feels like it's not
perfect day to day, but there'ssomething that you're really
tapping into what an app, whatis the thing that brings me back
to myself?
Caroline Talbot (15:36):
Yes, definitely. I am an angry
exerciser. I like I listen tolike puppies, again, happy
things. And then like, if I amlike, just, I need to just sweat
and feel like I lifted somethingheavy or did something like, I'm
gonna just be angry andfrustrated. Like, my husband
(15:57):
laughs because there was onetime I was I forget what it was.
But I was exercising and like,my headphones, put it back when
like you plugged in headphones,and my headphones, like, pulled
out of my computer or something.
And it was like Marilyn Mansonplaying and he's like, are you?
Is everything okay? Like youlisten to, like, top 40 And I'm
like, shut up.
Tara Beckett (16:23):
So I don't really have anything to say that,
although this amazing mentalimage of screaming into a bike
and just pushing it out. Andyeah, just kind of Yes,
Caroline Talbot (16:35):
well, I feel like there's like those groups
of moms now that like gettogether in fields and just
scream. Like, that's a thingnow. Yeah, like, there's like
meetups, that it's like, they'lljust meet at a football field.
And they all just, at the sametime scream at the top of their
lungs. And, um, like, there issome like cathartic thing to
that of just being able to belike, I have all of this energy
(16:59):
built up, I don't know what itis, whether it's angry or happy,
or just excited stress and justbeing able to be like, I
shouldn't feel good. And whichsounds really good on a podcast
for the record.
Tara Beckett (17:12):
I love it. So,
Caroline Talbot (17:14):
yes, so just being able to like, and I think
that's also like, being in myline of work. The hardest thing
of the entire process foranybody, as I tell them, the
hardest part is going to be tolet go. And to let go of that
control. And to let go of theideas that are in your head
telling you that you can't do itand all that stuff. And if
(17:35):
they're gonna be there, I can'tmake them go away. But I can
help you let go until let themkeep moving and that they might
come through. But you don't haveto hold them. You can like go.
And when I see a client let goin the process of being
photographed. It's just awesome.
Because you see them go fromlike, nervous of like, Can I do
this? And then I'll show them onthe back of the camera. And
(17:56):
they're like, Oh, I didn't thinkI looked like that. I'm like, I
know you did. This is what youlook like. And it's it's not
photoshopped. It's not anything.
It's just literally showing themthat if somebody takes the time
and attention and care and lovethat society tries to tell us,
(18:17):
we don't deserve them, thenbeing able to see what that
looks like, is really cool. Tobe able to say like, okay, and
then they kind of walk awaylike, what else did I think I
couldn't do?
Tara Beckett (18:41):
I pierced my nose at 40. Right? And it was it was
this feeling of I've alwayscared like, Oh, can I pull that
off? Or like, you know, do youknow, I'm a mom, I've got two
kids, you know, I'm 40. And Ithink my goal in my life,
especially, I mean thatespecially the moment I was
hospitalized right withdepression and suicidality and
(19:04):
was admitted, I actually thinkthat's my birthday. Right?
Because it that was the day thatI started my life, raise how I
think about it. And, you know,I'm connecting what you do for
work and just, you know, kind ofthinking, what if, what if we
(19:24):
let down what other people thinkwe should do, right? Or how we
are supposed to be? And we justfollowed our body or our
intuition or our desire, like,what would that look like?
Caroline Talbot (19:36):
Absolutely. And that's something that I tell a
lot of my clients before theycome in, and when we're talking
about like, oh, is thissomething that I really want to
do or all this stuff? Because somany people walk in and they're
like, Well, I don't look likethe girls on your website. And
I'm like, why not? And they'relike, Oh, well, I could never do
that. I'm like, why not? Like,and if I can ask get somebody to
(19:58):
actually ask why not me? If theycan't answer that, I'm like,
Well then take the chance thatmaybe you can. And like, because
nobody walks it, like, nobodywalks into my studio be like,
I'm going to be the next girl onthe website. Like, if they did,
I'd be like, there's the door,like, comment down, like, and
(20:19):
not because I don't want peopleto walk in feeling confident,
but usually somebody who walksin being like, post all these
pictures, it's like, it is thatI need to have that external
validation. And that's not whatthis process is about. It's to
be able to say, like, let meactually show you, what do
people care about? You see, soyou can see it and then when
(20:41):
somebody does say somethingnice, you you can internalize
it, and say, I believe
Tara Beckett (20:54):
so, Caroline, if somebody has listened to you,
and they want this experience,how do they find you? How do
they book with you? If there'sjust something that really has
clicked in what you're seeing?
Caroline Talbot (21:09):
Yeah, definitely. My websites. Carolyn
Tobin calm. I'm currently inCOVID studios on Facebook,
Instagram. I have Tik Tok. Idon't do it either.
Tara Beckett (21:20):
I think I'm too old for
Caroline Talbot (21:23):
one. One video like this too much. It's too
much. Yeah, I can't. But yeah,so Carolyn Talbott studios,
there's a contact form right onour website, which definitely
gives you all the informationabout trying to book a session,
you get to chat with our studiomanager, Cassidy who is
wonderful and amazing, and isalso an incredibly strong mom.
(21:48):
And so we're a full WomenEmpowered running business. So
yeah, it's really cool. And it'sso much fun to be able to go
through the whole thing we havea lot of fun with.
Tara Beckett (22:06):
So to wrap Caroline, for you, what does let
perfect birth mean?
Caroline Talbot (22:13):
Um, it kind of means the whole like letting go
of just like we all put theselabels on the box that we live
in, we put ourselves in a box,we all do it. And I always tell
everyone, I'm not going tochange the box that you're
standing in. If you're abrunette, I'm not going to make
you blonde. If you have darkskin, I'm not going to be light
skinned. If you're older, I'mnot going to make you younger.
(22:34):
If you're curvier, I'm not goingto make you thinner. If you're
thinner, I'm not going to makeyou curvier. But I'm going to
show you that the label isbeautiful, sexy, strong,
awesome, kind. All these thingsthat you think are mutually
exclusive to the labels you puton yourself. I'm going to just
take a big ol sharpie and writethem all over the box that you
put yourself in to realize thatthey belong there. So it's just
(22:57):
kind of we have that box ofperfect that everybody puts so
far from themselves. And nobodywants to live there. It's it's
not a good place to live.
Tara Beckett (23:14):
Yeah. Oh, girl, this has been fun. Yeah. Yeah,
I'm so glad you came on. AndCaroline Talbert, SOS Caroline
and TA lvo T of Caroline Talbotstudios. Look her up, follow her
do a session, and I'm reallynervous. But I think I want to
(23:36):
chew I did. We're
Caroline Talbot (23:37):
moving into a new studio in three weeks. It's
going to be amazing. Awesome. So
Tara Beckett (23:42):
definitely, I think it's on my list because I
think it scares me, so it'sprobably something I should do.
Yeah, it's making me
Caroline Talbot (23:49):
all the best things are on the other side of
fear. Like that's I love that.
Yeah, I stole it from WillSmith. It's fine.
Tara Beckett (23:57):
Stealing isn't it?
Like stealing is the highestform of flattery or something
Caroline Talbot (24:01):
right? I'm like, but if I need to
acknowledge like, that's not Ididn't make that up. I'm not
that good. Numbers and pictures.
Words are
Tara Beckett (24:11):
amazing. I love you, girl. You're amazing.
You're so inspiring. Thank youand we'll meet you on the flip
side Caroline.
Caroline Talbot (24:19):
Sounds good.
Bye, girl. Bye
Hi, I'm Tara Beckett and welcome back to let
perfect burn. My guest today isCaroline Talbott of Caroline
Talbot studios. Caroline is aboudoir photographer. She had no
idea that when she started hersmall business, the impact that
(00:33):
she would have on her clientsand the impact that her clients
would have on her. That I'm soexcited to have in studio
Caroline Talbott of CarolineTalbot studios. Hello, girl. How
are you?
Caroline Talbot (00:50):
Good. How are you? I'm good.
Tara Beckett (00:53):
Caroline, is a CPA turned professional boudoir
photographer. And Karolina Iwould just love for people
listening for you to tell uswhat is a boudoir photographer?
If we've not heard of thatbefore?
Caroline Talbot (01:08):
Yeah, sure. Um, so just a quick thing former CPA
no longer was that yeah, yes. Itwas like not keeping that
license up for sure. Don't needto hear.
Tara Beckett (01:25):
Like very former very, very, very former. I got
no long not doing your talenteggKnow
Caroline Talbot (01:32):
your taxes.
Your financial just nothappening. Yeah, I don't even do
the tip at the restaurantanymore. I'm like, no other
people do it. I don't do it.
Like, no, thank you. But yeah,so what a lot of people know
boudoir as is just kind of, likethe first thing that a lot of
(01:54):
people have that come to mind islike, Oh, the sexy photos that
brides take before their weddingfor their new husbands. And it's
actually so much more than that.
I do work with brides, ofcourse. But the majority of my
clients are women who have gonethrough some kind of event in
life, whether it's gainingweight, losing weight, marriage,
(02:16):
divorce, trauma, something,breast cancer, or really, so
many types of cancer, or somesort of medical event or
something that they're kind of,on or just global pandemic, I
don't know, you know, which is acatch all at this point. But,
um, my clients are women whohave gone through certain things
(02:38):
in life, and they just want toactually reclaim their bodies
and kind of the best way I'veheard of put is that they want
to be vulnerable by choice, andhave that idea of letting go
seeing something beautiful inthemselves that they may not
have seen in a very long time,or ever, and being able to show
(02:59):
them what I see and what theirloved ones see when I look at
Tara Beckett (03:06):
them. That is beautiful. I love the idea of
being vulnerable by choice.
Caroline Talbot (03:12):
Yes, I can't take credit for that. That was
one of my clients that she said,this is the first time in 20
years, she had gone through alot. And just lots of things,
putting her in vulnerablepositions that were completely
out of her control. And she wassaying that this was the first
time that she felt veryvulnerable, but it was because
(03:34):
of choices that she made andbecause she wanted to go there.
And it was just such an awesomething to see just the difference
in taking that power back.
Tara Beckett (03:50):
As far as you know, connecting back to the
kind of healing you're talkingabout free, you're absolutely
when you turn the corner I gotout of corporate world and you
know went into this really newworld of being a boudoir studio
owner. What just hit you thatyou weren't expecting.
Caroline Talbot (04:13):
Um, I really wasn't expecting it to matter so
much. That, you know, I've hadclients that have just gone
through such heavy things andbeing in relationships where
they don't have any control orbeing in a health situation
where they don't have anycontrol. I had a client this
(04:35):
past year that I didn't knowuntil she showed up to her
session that under 48 hoursafter her session she was having
a double mastectomy. And so thiswas kind of her like farewell to
her body. And just reallytalking through that with her. I
always sit down with clientsbefore their session because
(04:58):
yes, we take sexy photos But Iwant to understand the why and
what they want out of theexperience because yes, the
photos right in the movie theexperience, but push comes to
shove, it's doing somethingthat's so far outside of
somebody's comfort zone andbeing able to say like, Hey, if
somebody told me without clotheson and nobody died, like, nobody
(05:18):
even like reacted, it was weird.
But so going through thatprocess, and something that she
had said Is she felt like herbody failed her because she
finally got to a point where shewas happy with her body. And now
this happened. And we reallytalked through about how it
wasn't her body feeling here, itwas breast cancer, and that her
body was fighting with her, notagainst her. And that was really
something being able to gothrough that and then take all
(05:42):
these photographs of her body.
And then at the end of hersession, like it was just, it
was really nice, because as shewas walking away, she was like,
I'm ready. I wasn't ready thismorning, reading now. And just
being able to go through thatjourney with someone I never
thought being a boudoirphotographer, like I knew that I
(06:02):
could, like, Oh, here's a funself esteem boost, not like, I'm
going to prepare you for a verydrastic change in your life
right now. And you're going tobe at peace with it. And
Tara Beckett (06:15):
I'm just thinking, the nature of a photograph, and
how that woman that you'retalking about has something to
hold and keep right at thatreally beautiful part of her
body that is really about tochange. And you gave her that
gift. Oh. Whew, that one's gotme a little bit a little bit,
(06:40):
got
Caroline Talbot (06:40):
it and floored.
Really, yes. That one, thinkabout your tickler session I was
I only shoot one client in aday. Because I never know what
it's going to be or how longwe're going to take. Because if
somebody needs that space tosit, we are going to take that
space and sit, I'm not going tobe like, well, let's go crank it
out and go. But when she walkedout the door, I locked my door
(07:02):
and I just sat here withnothing. There was no music
playing. There's nothing andjust kind of, like let the
heaviness of what was about tohappen to her sit and like I
bawled like a baby because I wasjust like, I can't believe that
this matters so much. And thatshe's going through all of this
right now. And to be a part ofthat journey with women. In
(07:24):
general. It's just so rewarding.
Tara Beckett (07:35):
You know, I've known you for a long time. And
you're a beautiful, beautifulperson. And I'm just wondering,
is there something that you canthink about in your life or
growing up or somebody whoinfluenced you that really broke
open that capacity to be on thisjourney with the women that you
work with? Because I just feellike there's something really
(07:56):
beautiful and special aboutwanting that ability to be open
in those sessions.
Caroline Talbot (08:01):
Yeah, I mean, my grandmother was like, I mean,
everybody says, My grandmotheris I think, or whatever. I'm
pretty sure that if she werefamous, like she actually would
be safe. She was one of thosewomen who went through one of
the hardest lives at home. Mygrandfather was not really in
(08:22):
the picture when I was alive.
But knowing all the things thatshe went through, and the
kindness that she gave to everysingle person she met, I don't
know a single person who hadever met her that didn't feel
like their day was a little bitbetter, because she was part of
it. Whether it was just herbeing silly, or like being
(08:43):
willing to listen, and she wouldjust never judge no matter what.
There was just awesome.
Somebody asked her if she wouldmarry for husband again and
(09:06):
everybody, like, of course waslike, of course, she wouldn't
that that would be the dumbestthing ever. And he was he was
bad guy or he Yeah, he was notgreat. Physically, emotionally
abusive. And she had a childrenthat she essentially, and he was
(09:28):
on the police force. So back inthe 50s, when she was asking for
help it kind of both the churchand the community was just kind
of like go home and be a goodwife. And they let her down.
Yeah. And so somebody, like at aholiday was like, oh, yeah,
well, we know that she wouldn'tdo it again. And she was like,
(09:49):
of course I would. And everybodywas like why? And she was like,
because if that's what I had togo through to have this family.
I would do it again in aheartbeat. Like just knowing
that she was that willing to gothrough so much for her family
was just
Tara Beckett (10:07):
awesome. So you have a family? I do. Yeah. And I
would love to know, how you dowhat you do at work. Like you've
said, there's such an emotionalconnection with your clients.
(10:30):
You also own your own studio.
And what about being a motherhas been challenging given all
that you've talked about thatyou do? I
Caroline Talbot (10:39):
mean, I think it's really hard. Like, I feel
like everybody, all moms, likewe have this kind of unity, that
we're just like, Yes, this ishard, like, cool. Um, and I do
feel like I have being a workingmom, it's hard. Being a stay at
home mom is hard. My trouble isthat I've been trying to find
(11:00):
the balance, and I tend to belike, well, then I need to be
100% of both. And I need to be afunctional working mom. So I can
feel like a member of society.
But I have to do all the thingsthat I would do, if I were a
stay at home mom, because I, Imake sure that my schedule works
out that I have two days duringthe week that I have the kids.
So they're in daycare three daysa week, and I'm with them two
(11:22):
days a week. And then of course,weekends. And I feel like
sometimes I try to fit sevendays into and be like, Okay,
well, I have to do all the funthings. And then also all the
laundry and all the self careand all the things. And I think
that has been a struggle ofsaying I want to be able to
essentially have the best ofboth worlds. And it's
(11:45):
impossible, you cannot. So beingable to like, have that space to
say it is okay to want to workand want to be away from your
children. And then also wantingto be present and be there for
them. But knowing that I want tobe away from them sometimes, so
I can be better when I'm withthem. And then
Tara Beckett (12:09):
even I mean, I'm just thinking I have that
thought that very logicalthought as well. And then
there's just the mom guilt,like, Yeah, is it what is
Caroline Talbot (12:21):
I just want to go exercise for 20 minutes, but
I can hear my son is frustratedat me walking up the stairs,
forget it, I'll just Nope, Idon't matter. Let's go back
downstairs and sit and playpuzzles for the umpteenth time.
Even though there's no logicalreason that somebody else can't
(12:41):
sit with him for 20 minutes.
Tara Beckett (12:43):
Yes. And has there ever been as you were growing
your studio or even lately thatyou just felt like you let
yourself go, or there was justsomething where it just all the
things you were doing just feltinsurmountable.
Caroline Talbot (12:59):
Um, I would say definitely these past few years
with COVID has definitely madeit a lot harder, I feel like I'm
starting to pull out of it. Nowfall of 2021 was rough. Um, and
definitely didn't focus on myhealth didn't focus on my own
well being. And I was prettyangry and resentful for a few
(13:25):
months, definitely like, and itshowed in little ways, just
getting frustrated with thekids, getting frustrated with my
husband, completely avoidingsocial media and my business and
like, not wanting just obviouslystill being there for my
clients. But all the other stuffof like posting on social media
and marketing and all thethings. And I was just like, No,
(13:48):
absolutely not. And it's, I feellike when things are so up in
the air, it's very hard to feelgrounded and centered. And this
year, I put a big focus on that.
I'm saying I need to take time,every day to feel grounded or to
sit with my feelings and say ifI'm feeling really angry and
(14:09):
frustrated, I will get on mybike and I will make it heavy
and pound at it and yell and doall the things I need to do to
be able to get back to groundedbecause I feel like as moms and
business owners, we tend to takeall that ability away from
(14:29):
ourselves. And I certainly noteasy. I don't like getting up at
5am I would love to have thatextra hour of sleep. But I have
definitely noticed a differencein being able to say like yes, I
It's hard and I'm drinking morecoffee but but being able to say
I'm going to actually take thisspace for myself whether it's at
(14:52):
the beginning of the day, theend of the day, even if I'm
exhausted and the kids have justgone to sleep and I just want to
like sit and eat ice cream, I'mlike, I'm gonna just take a hot
minute before I do that, like,angry thing and just get my
feelings to where I want them tobe and then actually be able to
be present for myself and myhusband.
Tara Beckett (15:18):
That's pretty much a clinic in like self care,
which I love. Right, right. Youhave, you know, when you feel
overwhelmed, and it looks likeyou know, it feels like it's not
perfect day to day, but there'ssomething that you're really
tapping into what an app, whatis the thing that brings me back
to myself?
Caroline Talbot (15:36):
Yes, definitely. I am an angry
exerciser. I like I listen tolike puppies, again, happy
things. And then like, if I amlike, just, I need to just sweat
and feel like I lifted somethingheavy or did something like, I'm
gonna just be angry andfrustrated. Like, my husband
(15:57):
laughs because there was onetime I was I forget what it was.
But I was exercising and like,my headphones, put it back when
like you plugged in headphones,and my headphones, like, pulled
out of my computer or something.
And it was like Marilyn Mansonplaying and he's like, are you?
Is everything okay? Like youlisten to, like, top 40 And I'm
like, shut up.
Tara Beckett (16:23):
So I don't really have anything to say that,
although this amazing mentalimage of screaming into a bike
and just pushing it out. Andyeah, just kind of Yes,
Caroline Talbot (16:35):
well, I feel like there's like those groups
of moms now that like gettogether in fields and just
scream. Like, that's a thingnow. Yeah, like, there's like
meetups, that it's like, they'lljust meet at a football field.
And they all just, at the sametime scream at the top of their
lungs. And, um, like, there issome like cathartic thing to
that of just being able to belike, I have all of this energy
(16:59):
built up, I don't know what itis, whether it's angry or happy,
or just excited stress and justbeing able to be like, I
shouldn't feel good. And whichsounds really good on a podcast
for the record.
Tara Beckett (17:12):
I love it. So,
Caroline Talbot (17:14):
yes, so just being able to like, and I think
that's also like, being in myline of work. The hardest thing
of the entire process foranybody, as I tell them, the
hardest part is going to be tolet go. And to let go of that
control. And to let go of theideas that are in your head
telling you that you can't do itand all that stuff. And if
(17:35):
they're gonna be there, I can'tmake them go away. But I can
help you let go until let themkeep moving and that they might
come through. But you don't haveto hold them. You can like go.
And when I see a client let goin the process of being
photographed. It's just awesome.
Because you see them go fromlike, nervous of like, Can I do
this? And then I'll show them onthe back of the camera. And
(17:56):
they're like, Oh, I didn't thinkI looked like that. I'm like, I
know you did. This is what youlook like. And it's it's not
photoshopped. It's not anything.
It's just literally showing themthat if somebody takes the time
and attention and care and lovethat society tries to tell us,
(18:17):
we don't deserve them, thenbeing able to see what that
looks like, is really cool. Tobe able to say like, okay, and
then they kind of walk awaylike, what else did I think I
couldn't do?
Tara Beckett (18:41):
I pierced my nose at 40. Right? And it was it was
this feeling of I've alwayscared like, Oh, can I pull that
off? Or like, you know, do youknow, I'm a mom, I've got two
kids, you know, I'm 40. And Ithink my goal in my life,
especially, I mean thatespecially the moment I was
hospitalized right withdepression and suicidality and
(19:04):
was admitted, I actually thinkthat's my birthday. Right?
Because it that was the day thatI started my life, raise how I
think about it. And, you know,I'm connecting what you do for
work and just, you know, kind ofthinking, what if, what if we
(19:24):
let down what other people thinkwe should do, right? Or how we
are supposed to be? And we justfollowed our body or our
intuition or our desire, like,what would that look like?
Caroline Talbot (19:36):
Absolutely. And that's something that I tell a
lot of my clients before theycome in, and when we're talking
about like, oh, is thissomething that I really want to
do or all this stuff? Because somany people walk in and they're
like, Well, I don't look likethe girls on your website. And
I'm like, why not? And they'relike, Oh, well, I could never do
that. I'm like, why not? Like,and if I can ask get somebody to
(19:58):
actually ask why not me? If theycan't answer that, I'm like,
Well then take the chance thatmaybe you can. And like, because
nobody walks it, like, nobodywalks into my studio be like,
I'm going to be the next girl onthe website. Like, if they did,
I'd be like, there's the door,like, comment down, like, and
(20:19):
not because I don't want peopleto walk in feeling confident,
but usually somebody who walksin being like, post all these
pictures, it's like, it is thatI need to have that external
validation. And that's not whatthis process is about. It's to
be able to say, like, let meactually show you, what do
people care about? You see, soyou can see it and then when
(20:41):
somebody does say somethingnice, you you can internalize
it, and say, I believe
Tara Beckett (20:54):
so, Caroline, if somebody has listened to you,
and they want this experience,how do they find you? How do
they book with you? If there'sjust something that really has
clicked in what you're seeing?
Caroline Talbot (21:09):
Yeah, definitely. My websites. Carolyn
Tobin calm. I'm currently inCOVID studios on Facebook,
Instagram. I have Tik Tok. Idon't do it either.
Tara Beckett (21:20):
I think I'm too old for
Caroline Talbot (21:23):
one. One video like this too much. It's too
much. Yeah, I can't. But yeah,so Carolyn Talbott studios,
there's a contact form right onour website, which definitely
gives you all the informationabout trying to book a session,
you get to chat with our studiomanager, Cassidy who is
wonderful and amazing, and isalso an incredibly strong mom.
(21:48):
And so we're a full WomenEmpowered running business. So
yeah, it's really cool. And it'sso much fun to be able to go
through the whole thing we havea lot of fun with.
Tara Beckett (22:06):
So to wrap Caroline, for you, what does let
perfect birth mean?
Caroline Talbot (22:13):
Um, it kind of means the whole like letting go
of just like we all put theselabels on the box that we live
in, we put ourselves in a box,we all do it. And I always tell
everyone, I'm not going tochange the box that you're
standing in. If you're abrunette, I'm not going to make
you blonde. If you have darkskin, I'm not going to be light
skinned. If you're older, I'mnot going to make you younger.
(22:34):
If you're curvier, I'm not goingto make you thinner. If you're
thinner, I'm not going to makeyou curvier. But I'm going to
show you that the label isbeautiful, sexy, strong,
awesome, kind. All these thingsthat you think are mutually
exclusive to the labels you puton yourself. I'm going to just
take a big ol sharpie and writethem all over the box that you
put yourself in to realize thatthey belong there. So it's just
(22:57):
kind of we have that box ofperfect that everybody puts so
far from themselves. And nobodywants to live there. It's it's
not a good place to live.
Tara Beckett (23:14):
Yeah. Oh, girl, this has been fun. Yeah. Yeah,
I'm so glad you came on. AndCaroline Talbert, SOS Caroline
and TA lvo T of Caroline Talbotstudios. Look her up, follow her
do a session, and I'm reallynervous. But I think I want to
(23:36):
chew I did. We're
Caroline Talbot (23:37):
moving into a new studio in three weeks. It's
going to be amazing. Awesome. So
Tara Beckett (23:42):
definitely, I think it's on my list because I
think it scares me, so it'sprobably something I should do.
Yeah, it's making me
Caroline Talbot (23:49):
all the best things are on the other side of
fear. Like that's I love that.
Yeah, I stole it from WillSmith. It's fine.
Tara Beckett (23:57):
Stealing isn't it?
Like stealing is the highestform of flattery or something
Caroline Talbot (24:01):
right? I'm like, but if I need to
acknowledge like, that's not Ididn't make that up. I'm not
that good. Numbers and pictures.
Words are
Tara Beckett (24:11):
amazing. I love you, girl. You're amazing.
You're so inspiring. Thank youand we'll meet you on the flip
side Caroline.
Caroline Talbot (24:19):
Sounds good.
Bye, girl. Bye
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