Author: Caroline Schmitt

Freelance journalist

berlin by Caroline SchmittSep 7, 20156:52 PM

An autumn reading list

Berlin is one rainy, gloomy and caffeinated place at the moment and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. If the days weren’t so madly packed, I’d finally have the perfect excuse to wile away in cafés and get lost in a book or two. The truth is though that since coming back from Interrailing, the only pages my eyes glanced over were the morning newspaper’s or a couple of magazines. So this is a bit of a subtle reminder for myself to make some more time for literary lovelies before bedtime. Here’s a list of books I’ve read while Serbian or Macedonian countryside rushed past, of audio books that helped me fall asleep (clearly not the purpose of an audio book, is it?), or heavier reads that I started six months ago and somehow struggle to finish. Nearly half of that stack is in German, so this will be a bilingual post (the first, I think?). Läuft bei euch.

berlin by Caroline SchmittAug 18, 20156:33 PM

Wir fliegen

What’s the perfect summer day? It could be white sandy beaches, huge palm trees, turquoise waves… just like that ancient Windows desktop background image. Or maybe perfect is something you can’t plan, something a little absurd, something so unexpected and out of the ordinary that you struggle to believe it really happened the morning after. And maybe sometimes perfect is the most ordinary of all things. Anyway. Perfect is this, perfect are these guys and perfect are the waves we jumped into a few weeks ago.

life by Caroline SchmittJul 23, 201512:04 PM

What I’ve learned from six months of freelancing

Somewhere between 2014 and 2015, I decided to go freelance overnight. In other words, I decided to make a living by putting some letters together and taking the camera everywhere I go. My own business. At 22. You know how sometimes people say they’ve had this big thing on their heart and were patiently waiting for the right time to make it happen? Well, I’ve never had that. The opportunity just presented itself because the most amazing team I’ve ever worked with (I love you guys!) offered me some regular work, then another magazine job came up and I suddenly knew being serious about this was the only logical thing to do. I didn’t have the slightest idea of what I would get myself into (and I still don’t have), and it’s both shittier and greater than I imagined. That by the way is the kind of thing I hope to say about life one day! So here’s some random advice in case you’re in a similar situation, in case you’re bored with your day job, finished uni or just feel like making a big change.

photography by Caroline SchmittJun 27, 201510:24 AM

My phone tells stories: Where the wild things are

Something very weird is going on right now. And my eyes are a little watery whilst writing this, but I feel like I’ve come home. Whoosh. That may be down to the fact that I’ve moved into my own flat, but most probably it’s for all the people around me who are just there in all the highs and lows, and I’m endlessly grateful (soppy post to follow!) for that. Home. So that’s a little weird. My heart starts beating when I open the lock and enter, somehow settling down (well, at least for a year or two) feels oh so radical. My passport will still always be at the ready though… and it has been over the last three months. Here’s what I got up to.

photography by Caroline SchmittJun 10, 20157:38 AM

Brighton skies: Life’s a beach

Hands down, Brighton is the epitome of cool. Back when I lived in London, I always used to come here on Saturdays whenever there was no uni or work (very rare) because I just felt there was that air of clarity and distance that the big smoke never had. I was back again recently for a conference and had a couple of hours to sit by the beach, close my eyes, inhale the fresh seaside air and just let my thoughts wander. And oh how they wandered. I hope the photos do have that same feel to them, somehow even looking at them has a super relaxed effect on me now. Thank you Brighton for always making things a little lighter!

photography by Caroline SchmittMay 21, 20158:06 AM

Writing poems on the back of your shoulder

These two beautiful lovebirds are my friends Greta and Robin from London (and Germany and the Netherlands). We spent a stunning Sunday morning shooting on Primrose Hill, marveled at the washed out looking skyline, sipped coffee in Kentish Town and generally had a good laugh in between all of that. I think they got a little stressed when I kept yelling things like “C’mon, do that kiss again! No! The other one!”, “Guys! Stop! Where’s the passion?” but really there was a lot of passion. Love is one picturesque thing.

photography by Caroline SchmittApr 30, 201510:07 PM

Hollow Home Road, London

I’ll admit it: During my flight to London last month, I was positive I’d be overwhelmed by a wave of regret for ever having left – from the moment I’d step into a Northern Line train. Well, that didn’t happen, and I had a great time despite the lack of drama.