INTERVIEW: Celeste Hart speaks on family, racism and her passion for photography!

The name Celeste means “heavenly” and from her angelic aura to her deep belief in her savior Jesus Christ, Celeste lives up to her name. Meet Celeste Hart, a dynamic and talented woman who just happens to have a natural gift for bringing out the best in people. She is the founder and owner of the Caribbean’s very popular Celestial Productions Studio.

Celeste Hart was born on May 11th, 1981, in Canada to religious parents, who spent a lot of time traveling as missionaries. Her early days were spent in the tiny Caribbean island of Canoun – St Vincent and the Grenadines, finally settling in Tobago with her parents, Christine (former beauty queen) and father Brent Hart, who are both Pastors. Celeste is the eldest and only girl of 6 children.

Celeste affectionately called Lesty by her mom, has always excelled academically and professionally. She has had a thriving media life, working as Tobago’s first female Announcer on the local Radio Tambrin, then expanding her creative reach to Trinidad on 730 AM and 94.1 FM. But Tobago is her first love, so she returned to dominate television on Tobago’s Channel 5.

This island girl who has mastered the art of cooking crab and dumplings, also knows what it’s like to study by candlelight and has lived where there was no running water or electricity. From humble beginnings to being an entrepreneur, from no water to now “Trashing the Dress” in open seas, listen as Celeste opens up her HEART to JayBlessed.com.

JAY BLESSED: Your work is absolutely amazing! Where do you draw your inspiration?
CELESTE HART: That’s a tough one, I find inspiration all around me and inside of me. Inside of me would be from knowing God has a plan and purpose for me above what I can think or imagine so I wouldn’t want to disappoint him, and ALL things are possible through him!! Around me is my family that totally encourages and supports me.

JB: You had a successful broadcasting career in Radio and TV. Did anyone call you crazy for leaving your fulltime time job to start your own business?
CH: YES THEY DID!! Since then, I’ve changed so much and blossomed, and that wouldn’t have happened sitting in a 9-5.

JB: Tell us more about your Tobago-based company, Celestial Productions.
CH: I started doing only wedding videos and editing documentaries and television shows, now its also includes photography and graphics and much more, however, my Photography is now the forerunner.

JB: A lot of your photographs are at weddings, is this by choice?
CH: Yes, I love weddings!! Each one is different – fun but challenging. I am a wedding photographer but I’m also a photographer, so I do corporate events, fashion week, family portraits, etc. Not every photographer can do weddings though, you need the experience and have to know when to expect a moment, and have the right equipment.

JB: What type of camera/cameras do you use?
CH: For photography I’m a Nikon girl – with some awesome lenses and for HD Video we use Canon, and I edit on Final Cut Studio.

JB: Most of your work is done in Tobago and showcase the island’s beauty, is this on purpose?
CH: Tobago is a beautiful island and ”tourist destination” I alwaystry to look at it that way instead of just home, my home, and capture as much of its beauty, as a natural backdrop behind or alongside a beautiful bride, a wedding couple, family or sporting event.

JB: Trinidad and Tobago are known for their dominant Afro and Indo races. You are a red head, green eyed, freckled cheek woman of a Caucasian background. Do people treat you differently as a Tobagonian because of the way you look?
CH:That’s a great question. I’ve experienced a lot of racism and prejudice because I’m a minority. So I understand what minorities go through, like in America where African Americans are the minority. But for me, I’m the minority here, so I experience all kinds of things. People treat me badly in banks, line, food. Even doing potography for weddings! Today at a wedding I was literally cursed because I had to tell someone, “please don’t pass us while we’re taking pictures.” It is very uncomfortable, its just so sad that that still exists in our world.

JB: Describe to me your perfect day.
CH: (Laughing) Probably sleeping in until I just wake up on my own, no alarms, children or a to do list.. lunch or breakfast ready… and not remembering how many emails I have to reply to or who’s waiting on their pics.. so basically a day off!! Hmmm, and also photographing something really nice and fun is perfect too, ’cause I love my career…

JB: What would be your dream subject or location?
CH: Love this question, probably a “celebrity” bride or wedding, so tell Nicki Minaj I’m ready whenever she is! (she chuckles) In reference to location, anywhere that is memorable and possibly iconic.

JB: Ok, everyone has seen Bridezillas, as a photographer, have you ever had a horrible experience with a bride?
CH: No I haven’t but I keep my eyes open just in case!

JB: You are the proud mother of two handsome lads, Nikolai and Nathaniel, has any showed signs of following in your creative footstep?
CH: My eldest Nikolai (age 7) loves to take pictures and says he wants to be a photographer. He’s been using camera phones since he was 3, taking pictures and video clips.

JB: I always ask every mother, how do you find the time and equilibrium between work and your family?
CH: I have no idea, and sometimes I think I must be crazy to think I can do this. Its normal and natural to me. I have to stop working on my computer to cook and feed them and bathe them and I edit most of my work at night after their bedtime but when I have to go to a wedding its afternoon, so they are well looked after.

JB: What do you love most about Celestial Productions?
CH: That its mine and I can take it anywhere and everywhere and I can also just stop if I wanted to – but ya’ll don’t want me to!

JB: Where do you envision Celestial Productions in the next 2 years?
CH: More recognized and appreciated and serving even better…

JB: Ok island diva, spill it, which five Caribbean artistes are you rocking to these days?
CH: Kees, Isaac Blackman, Tesanne Chin, Ziggy Rankin and Tarrus Riley.

JB: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
CH: Heaven does exist… “Aye aye look you!! I need you take some pictures of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob and Moses and doh forget Bob Marley.”