Conversations with Caryl Eagle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caryl Eagle.

Hi Caryl, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Born in the Pacific Northwest and raised in Southern California, I have more than 30 years of experience styling, propping, and wardrobing for still photography, as well as providing production design and art direction for films and music videos.

Upon leaving art school for a “semester”, Caryl embarked on what became a ten year modeling career. Along the way she also completed a degree in design from the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture, attended drawing and painting classes at Otis/Parson in Los Angeles, studied textile design and film production, lived briefly in Manhattan and Tokyo, learned a couple of foreign languages, and got in a good deal of world travel.

I’m currently living in Southern California, after a long stint in San Francisco, while working on locations worldwide, including Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My biggest challenge was starting my freelance creative business as the single mother of two little boys under the age of five.
Twenty years of being responsible for their education, health and well being, when you can’t count on a weekly paycheck is daunting.
Having to focus on work all the time, to make it work, takes a toll.
No consistent personal life, no work/life balance.
Fortunately I eventually had location work out of the country, which was a great gift to my psyche.
I also gave up working on films due to the long filming days (12-18 hours), so that I could be home every night and weekends for my kids. Still photography work was a reliable 10 hour day – or less, Home by 6, weekends off.
When the boys were both in college I left San Francisco for Los Angeles (home!) and became a member of Women in Film. That led to set decorating and then production design. On independent films..

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a photo stylist for still photography, and production designer for motion.
I’ve worked mostly on advertising photography, and editorial work for magazines like This Old House and Palm Springs Life.
I’ve styled the interiors of homes, ships, and even the President of Mexico’s airplane when they needed photos to sell it!
I’ve also decorated sets for films and overseen the work of others in what’s called “art department” – decor and props., creating the overall look.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m ready for something new!
(Although I’m open to the occasional styling/art directing gig)
I loved modeling – I called it silent acting, as I loved creating a character for whatever product I was wearing or using.
I started modeling at the age of 6 for my dad – a retail art director.
I modeled until I was 30, in Los Angeles, and in Tokyo, where I lived for awhile.
My hair is silver now and I’m hoping that I can fill the “older woman” roles, in still photography, commercials, and films.
In my twenties I studied acting with the esteemed teacher (actor) Jeff Corey, (He was part of the Hollywood group who had been blacklisted in the 50s, during McCarthy’s communist with hunt)
I recently found out that Academy Award winner Cher had also attended his classes.
I need an agent!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.caryleagle.com
• Instagram: whatcarylsees on Instagram
• Facebook: Caryl Eagle on Facebook
• LinkedIn: Caryl Eagle