Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciara Blackhart.
Hi Ciara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From the beginning I’ve always considered myself strange. Later on, one of my family members would describe my portraits as, “Somebody who seems a little disturbed.” Quite frankly, I took this as a compliment. I started taking photos right out of high school. One of my very close friends and I used to go on what we would call, “photo adventures,” where we would find interesting locations and take our cameras along and see what kind of pictures both of us would end up with. This continued into my early college years where I took a black-and-white film photography course. This is where I learned the technicality of manipulating exposure, and creating the magic behind a photograph. I was enveloped in the process, developing the film in the dark room, the smell of developer that would get left on your hands, watching the photo come to life. I slowly started exploring what’s called double exposure, which is essentially two frames in one image. Pretty soon I was setting a timer and taking pictures of myself as the subject. In my later college years, I started taking pictures of friends for the acting program who needed headshot photography done. Since I was a theatre major, I thought my photography could come to good use there, and I charged only 50 bucks for a shoot. I never really defined myself as just an actor, a photographer, a dancer, etc., more so the title of artist just kind of feels more appropriate. I joke and say I’m more of a renaissance woman who just does it all, because I don’t like to limit myself to one thing, and I love to learn a new skill. Sometimes I would recruit people and put on a whole photoshoot of some wild idea I wanted to create. For instance, I made a whole day out of making a fake funeral, and photographing the emotions and backstory I created for my actor friends while throwing myself in the mix.. The drama department even lent me a handful of vintage hats to dress the actors/models in. After college for a stretch of time I worked as a newborn photographer with some of the local hospitals, which was quite the experience; getting to work with all types of different families, in a very high emotional time of their life. All of my favorite artwork I’ve taken however, has been in the category of macabre. Slowly as my personal style started to change, I became more interested in pinup modeling. I loved finding different ways to create more of a dark gothic aesthetic into modeling with pinup style. This is where my brand name started to come into play and I recreated myself as Ciara Blackhart, and photography under my own business Blackhart Exposure. I started collaborating with different photographers, to kind of get some experience, and before I knew what I was on a cover of Gothic Culture Magazine (shout-out to Slevin Mors Photography).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely been a road. When there comes death, there comes rebirth. The person I am now didn’t just become who she was overnight.
There was a 10 period where I lost who I was, due to a very emotionally abusive relationship. Through that time, I was slowly broken down into a shell of who my former self was, so to be able to reclaim myself, has been quite the journey.
Through that time I found the art of pole dance. At first, it was just a form of exercise, kind of close to the ballet classes that I used to take, so I thought. The physical challenge of dancing on chrome, is not for the weak. My goal was to try one class out, if I liked it, I would go back for more. Everything hurt after that day muscles I didn’t even know that I had, my hands were red and raw like I had been burned by metal. All this, but it was invigorating. The challenge to get stronger, better, build stamina, and create beautiful shapes in the air. People really don’t give enough credit to pole artists. I still think the pole community is under the radar, but because of things like TikTok and Instagram we see different versions of it more everywhere and it’s wonderful.
I always said one of my main goals in life was to inspire people, I feel that when I create my art, share my photography, encourage others to learn something new, or even come to class with me, that I’m helping that goal come to light. I’m helping that girl I lost get her sparkle back.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think people are starting to recognize me most for my self portrait artwork.
Either that or my styling videos. I absolutely adore fashion, and love to come up with seven different ways to wear one thing, even when your wardrobe is all black.
What sets me apart from the rest? I guess I’m like that old Meredith Brooks song that goes, “I’m a little bit of everything. All rolled into one!”
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
As far as networking goes, social media is a great way to do that. There are little networks of people that are right in your niche that are just waiting to connect with you, you just have to have the courage to reach out!
Contact Info:
Image Credits
@blackhartexposure
