High Five

Four years on, Paulie and Jason couldn’t be happier. “The pulse up here makes me so happy,” Paulie explains. “I feel like I’m living back in Sydney’s Inner West but with a full mountains vibe. I love the fresh air, I love that we get proper seasons and I love that I get to wear all my jackets – I can’t stop buying them!”

And there’s plenty of local work to keep Paulie busy. “The Blue Mountains is the wedding capital of NSW,” he declares. “The talent up here never ceases to amaze me. We have such amazing venues, photographers, florists, stylists, cake artists – you name it.

“People come from all over the world to see the Blue Mountains – why wouldn’t you want to get married here?”

A-LISTER

Paulie’s impressive résumé may boast big-name labels and celebrities but he is equally at home with intimate friend groups as he is among the glamorous world of studio lights and models. There is a genuine passion for his profession plus an energy level few can match that Paulie brings to every event, photo shoot and wedding.

“I’ve been shooting for 21 years, and working in the industry all my life, so most of the people I shoot with are my family,” he explains. “I’m still doing campaigns for Sunseeker, Toyota and Connor (among others) because I love it. It makes my heart thrive!

“When we work a 14-hour day you come out of it feeling totally pumped because you’ve been creating magic with the people you love.”

Creating magic closer to home was the impetus for Paulie to build his own beauty studio in Katoomba. Launched in 2018, Paulie@Tiwilla, has cemented the artist’s position as the host with the most when it comes to pamper parties. “I’ve dreamed of creating my own space for many years and I just love the energy and joy that it brings me and all my clients,” he says. Paulie@Tiwilla offers beauty days for groups of girlfriends (up to six people). The morning begins with a relaxing neck-and-shoulder massage, followed by beauty treatments, makeup lessons and hair styling, while enjoying canapés, cocktails, the stunning bush setting and laughs aplenty courtesy of Paulie’s bubbly personality.

“Just grab a handful of your besties and let the pampering begin,” Paulie says. “After five or six hours of amazing beauty treatments, you’ll walk out feeling a million bucks, all set for a night on the town in the mountains… Happy dayzzz!”

Happy days, indeed. It seems life has never been better for Paulie since moving to the mountains and opening his studio. “It’s like the universe just knew my door was open,” he muses. “So much love and good energy has flowed through that door. I thank the universe every day and I look forward to the rest of our journey.” BML

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