Carla Coulson has spent decades photographing the world’s most beautiful settings, yet she returns to her studio to find a sense of self in flowers. The Australian photographer, who has lived in Paris and now Greece, says that despite her global travel, floral subjects provide a necessary grounding. She recently sat down with the publication FLOWER to discuss her latest creative work and the personal history behind it.
From Garden Shops to Parisian Streets
Coulson’s connection to botanicals began at a young age. She spent much of her childhood in her parents’ garden and later worked in garden shops and nurseries. This early exposure gave her an innate knowledge of plant varieties. When she moved to Paris, she frequented the city’s floral boutiques, eventually translating that passion into her professional career.
Her breakthrough series, “Young Girl in Bloom,” emerged organically. Coulson noticed that posts featuring flowers garnered significantly more engagement than other images. She began pairing young women with seasonal blooms to tell stories about self-esteem and identity. The project resonated deeply, leading her to explore the concept of growth through visual art.
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The photographer selects each flower based on the current season, ensuring that the visuals reflect the natural world. She prefers using large blooms to obscure the subjects’ faces, allowing the flowers to convey the emotions of the moment. The resulting images are lively and detailed, offering a window into the subjects’ lives.
Searching for a New Beginning
Coulson draws inspiration from her own life experiences. The “New Beginnings” series was created during a period of significant personal change. She asked herself what a fresh start would look like in a photograph, capturing the mix of excitement and fear that often accompanies the unknown. Her work often focuses on the quiet moments of daily life, preferring local Parisian shop fronts and doors over the city’s famous landmarks.
This focus on personal narrative has remained consistent throughout her career. She attributes her adaptability as an artist to a childhood spent moving frequently. This constant change taught her to pay attention to her surroundings and adapt to new environments.
After years of energetic, high-contrast work, Coulson felt the need to slow down. Her latest series, “Rewilding,” represents a shift toward quiet, feminine energy. She began mixing tame, domesticated blooms with wild varieties to broaden her creative comfort zone. The project required trial and error, pushing her to photograph familiar subjects in unfamiliar ways.
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Coulson has also expanded her artistic practice beyond photography. She wrote a book in 2005 titled “Italian Joy,” which details her move to Italy and her search for authenticity. That journey led her to become a life coach, where she shares her experiences with other women. She continues to draw on these varied experiences to inform her visual storytelling.
Current Projects and Gardening
Currently, Coulson is working on a new series shot in Italy, though it has not yet been released. She is also developing a project focused on women in nature. On a personal level, she has created her own garden in Greece, a project she finds incredibly rewarding. The Mediterranean climate presents challenges, as only zinnias, jasmine, hydrangeas, and geraniums thrive in the summer heat.
Looking toward the future, she has a new house to move into, which features a garden filled with Mediterranean plants. She plans to combine these with the romantic elements of an English garden. While she has many favorites, peonies remain her go-to subject for their incredible texture and beauty. She also enjoys photographing love-in-a-mist and masterwort, though peonies remain her top choice.
