Whitney Ulm
Eminence Photography
Homepage: http://eminencephoto.com
Feature By: Shelly Brosemer
Photography By: Jonathan Earley
Meet Whitney Ulm.
Wife, mother, photographer – Whitney Ulm’s work has recently drawn a lot of attention in the Columbus area and beyond. And we know why. Artistically, she’s got a penchant for finding brilliance in the most desolate. Yet she can soften any scene by extracting the essence of new love, or new motherhood…locating the pure joy that exists somewhere under the daily grind of today’s busy family…revealing the dichotomy of innocence and precociousness in a child.
She’s learning to strike her balance. She never expected her business to take off with a 3 ½ year old (Novah) and a 10-month old (Eisley) at home. But she also never expected her daughters to be the most propelling inspiration so far in her photography career, leading her into territory she never intended to step into.
Whitney shared with C-Buz some of her background:
C-buz: Did you go to school to study photography?
Whitney Ulm: Yes. I went to Herron Art School in Indy and graduated in 2003 with a BA in Fine Art Photography.
CB: How long have you been a photographer?
WU: I’ve been taking pictures since my freshman year in college. I actually was going to school to be a graphic designer, and took a beginning photography class. And that’s what turned me on to photography. I’ve been doing it professionally for two years.
CB: What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing imagery?
WU: I do a lot of research of other photographers and I definitely feel like other peoples’ work inspires me to do certain things. But I also feel that my kids are very inspiring in some of my work. And I love antiquing. Sometimes I will just go to an antique store or a furniture store and just be inspired by a piece of furniture, or an old antique toy. I love incorporating that into my work too.
Of course Novah was what really got me into photography again, because I thought that I would never, ever use my degree. I always saw myself as an artist only – like a fine art photographer. I always told myself I’d never do weddings, I’d never do kids, I’d never do any of the stuff I do now. But the birth of Novah is what changed all of that. And then, of course, Eisley too. My kids are my inspiration for sure.
CB: Where would be your dream destination shoot?
WU: Anywhere in the city. Downtown areas. I’m drawn to grungy, dirty areas. Which sounds really weird, but the more grunge and dirt and texture there is, the more that I like it. Especially if it has some color to it. I really like that type of look for my pictures. So Chicago, even Indianapolis…and that’s why Columbus is like, argh! It’s not dirty enough for me!
CB: What is/are your favorite location(s) in Columbus area to shoot?
WU: I’ll be driving sometimes and see something and be like “Oh, I’d like to go back there and do a session” or sometimes I’ll just meet my clients somewhere and we’ll just walk around and find different places. I guess there are a few different places I have found that I have gone back to but I’m not giving specifics, because they are my locations!
CB: How do you juggle motherhood and work?
WU: Not very well. It’s so hard. Very stressful. And overwhelming at times. And I feel really bad because during the day, you know, if I have some pictures that need to be edited, then I’ve got Novah begging me to play Barbies. And I’m like “I can’t right now”, and I just feel horrible about it. It’s a huge challenge and I’m still trying to figure that out.
CB: Do you often bring the two together?
WU: Oh for sure. Always. If I have a new chair, or a new prop that I’m dying to use, I’ll just take them out for a photo shoot. Novah’s become my model. Completely. She like, eats it up. And it’s really funny, because she’s getting older of course, and she’s started trying to tell me what to do (when she’s pretending to take a picture of me). There was a day when she was telling me to hold a teddy bear, and I held it up. And she’s like, “No, Mom! Like THIS”, and she put it down and was hanging on to its hands tight. And I had just previously, like two days before, told her to hold her monkey like that. And then she said “Okay Mom, plain face!” because sometimes I’ll tell her to smile, or just do a plain face. It’s hilarious. She’s awesome.
CB: Name one musician you would like to take a portrait of?
WU: I’ve really been into Elizabeth Mitchell, and I’ve got some of her stuff on my website. She does a lot of singing with her kids. I listen to the songs, and her life just sounds so mellow and fun, with her kids. And I just think it would be awesome to be there for a day. To see what she does and how she interacts with her kids.
CB: If you could be invisible for one day with your camera…
WU: If I could have one day like that, I think I would just follow Novah and Eisley around. And really watch them, without all of the distractions that I normally have every day. Because there are times that Novah goes off to her room and plays, and I don’t know what she’s doing in there, but I know that it’s probably super-cute.
CB: Something you’re still learning?
WU: Everything. Always.
CB: Something that is overrated?
WU: Wal-Mart.
CB: Something you’re saving up for?
WU: New equipment. Lenses, for sure.
CB: Your favorite film of all time?
WU: The Labyrinth
CB: Do you plan to stay in Columbus?
WU: Yes. We will be here for a long time.
CB: Where do you see Columbus 5 years from now (specifically the arts scene)?
WU: I hope that there’s more awareness about what’s going on.
“There is so much all around us and it seems like no one has a clue. I thought Columbus was “about art”.”
And it doesn’t seem like it’s appreciated in any other area besides structures and buildings. Hopefully we’ll be able to branch out and get other art recognized too.
CB: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
WU: More balanced! More organized. And I hope to be in a bigger studio. Still loving my job.
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Reply #2 on : Wed January 18, 2012, 03:18:22