We had the good fortune of connecting with Brooke Olimpieri and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Brooke, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Obsession! When I have a new idea, I become obsessed with it. I allow that obsession to take over, or is it more that I can’t stop it from taking over?? Not sure, but either way, my obsessiveness drives me. I never stop doing, my desire to create new things is never ending.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Filthy Mouth Creative began as a clothing brand about 10 years ago. While shooting some content for my website with a photographer I had hired, I realized my vision for my brand wasn’t being captured as I had imagined it. I decided to ask some friends some questions and attempt to shoot my own content with a borrowed camera. After that first shoot I did on my own, I was hooked. Everything I thought I wanted ( a successful clothing brand) was out the window. I wanted to be a photographer. I loved it! I loved the social part of it, meeting new people, exploring and finding locations, giving direction, planning out what it would look like and seeing that come to life. To me it was intoxicating, I couldn’t get enough. After I knew what my new focus was, I jumped in head first. I scheduled as many shoots as often as I could. Im completely self taught, and that is by nothing less than practicing constantly. Shortly after that first shoot I found an old film camera my dad had given me when I was in high school tucked back into a storage closet. I was intrigued, scared, but intrigued by film. I decided I would test it out with a model I had worked with a few times. I would shoot only the film camera and nothing else. Take my chances, see how it would turn out. This may sound amateur, but at the time it felt like a risk, digital was guaranteed. I knew I had the shot with my digital, I could see it, but with film, maybe you have it, maybe you have nothing, maybe the settings are off, maybe the film is bad, the camera was old, maybe it no longer works… Well, it worked, and it was incredible. To this day, I still look back at that shoot an Im like wow. I did that, and I didn’t even really know anything. Digital was over for me after that day. I only shoot film & polaroid. Im all analog, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The color, the texture, its all natural. No need for filters or editing. Film has this amazing way of making photos look like real moments lost in time. Digital could never do that.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I like to eat and drink and be by the beach.. so.. Id take them to Chez Jay on Ocean blvd for a crab eggs Benedict and the best bloody Maria (yes with tequila) from my guy Pete. Best place to start the day on a weekend. We’d then take a little drive into Malibu and take a walk on the beach, I have a secret spot I go to with my family.. Its so secluded and we want to keep it that way 🙂 Then head back towards Santa Monica, down to Venice, hit up my favorite vintage store Animal House. They have the best vintage Levis selection ever, and tees too! After that it would be just about time for cocktail hour at the Galley in Santa Monica, Id saddle up at the bar with my favorite bartender Angie, whose worked there long enough to have her own special on the menu (Angies pasta). I like to sample and share, so we’d order that as well as the fish n’ chips.. Now I’m hungry. We’d end the day with a little walk down to Stella Barra, known for its amazing pizza.. But we’d just go up to the counter and ask for some salted choc chip cookies to go, maybe a peanut butter cookie too. Just depends on our mood. 🙂 That was just a day, but If we had more time, I love La Cita downton LA, its such a vibe, great bloody Maria, and sometimes if you go on the weekend, the bartender might just be making complimentary potato tacos. They are so good. I could go on and on.. Food and drink is my thing.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Well, this is fairly easy for me. My husband is my biggest support. He has encouraged me in everything I have ever done since the first day we met. His encouragement has guided me to find my true passions and pursue them without hesitation. But yes, success doesn’t come without putting in the hours. I live, breath, and eat what I do.. Every single day.
Website: https://filthymouthcreative.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filthymouthcreative/?hl=en