We are so excited to have an interview with Sarah Ulrich today!! Sarah is an amazing photographer, and template designer. I have used her templates for collages for years. She let us test out one of her holiday card templates, and oh man, I think I’m going to use that coupon code she offered to buy the rest of them!
1. What is your number one favorite lens?
My go to lens for 95% of my outdoor sessions is the Canon 135L. The bokeh is so dreamy & delicious that it makes me giddy. 
Indoors with studio work I use the Canon 50mm 1.4.
Indoors with studio work I use the Canon 50mm 1.4.
2. What advice do you give others who want to do this as a business (besides getting it right in camera)?
Taking the photos is actually really only about 10% of our time, the rest of the time is spent running a business.
Learn how to run a business and price yourself to make a profit…because the point of having a business (and working our tail off) is ultimately to be successful, right?! Don’t determine your prices from what you think people will pay, sit down and really figure out how much you want to make, how many hours you want to work, and how much it takes to run your business…if YOU don’t value your work, your clients won’t either.
Don’t determine your prices from what you think people will pay, sit down and really figure out how much you want to make, how many hours you want to work, and how much it takes to run your business…if YOU don’t value your work, your clients won’t either.
3. What is your favorite time of day to photograph? Favorite subject?
Hands down it’s the “golden hour”…2-3 hours before sunset. Favorite subject…hmmm…that’s a hard one. I love newborns for the obvious reasons. I don’t know if I could honestly pick a favorite, there’s great things about each age. I love 6 months because they are so curious and just getting to that social age so anything I say or do is funny. Age 2-3 is another favorite because I can just interact with them naturally and they each have their own mannerisms and expressions. They are such genuine individuals, and I like a bit of a challenge. I really enjoy shooting families too.
4. Do you have a studio? If so tell us about it?
I do have a studio, it’s in my home, and it’s half of my basement. The space is roughly 14ft x 30ft with a sitting area for clients and a shooting area, it’s the perfect size since I only shoot newborns and some maternity clients in studio. All other kid and family sessions are done outdoors from April-November.
Check out her amazing home studio! I’m totally jealous!!
5. How do you balance photography/design work and your family?
To be honest, it’s a constant challenge. Balancing sessions has definitely gotten a little easier over the past couple years. My kids are all in school full days now, so that leaves my days to do office work or shoot a newborn session. I normally shoot outdoors 4 days a week and those sessions are always in the early evening. My husband is home from work in the late afternoon so he is able to be home with the kids. Photography is definitely my main business and I work on design work when I have the extra time. Many of the designs are products that I have made for clients, and then are added to the store later. I don’t have specific days for designing built into my schedule right now.
Balancing sessions has definitely gotten a little easier over the past couple years. My kids are all in school full days now, so that leaves my days to do office work or shoot a newborn session. I normally shoot outdoors 4 days a week and those sessions are always in the early evening. My husband is home from work in the late afternoon so he is able to be home with the kids. Photography is definitely my main business and I work on design work when I have the extra time. Many of the designs are products that I have made for clients, and then are added to the store later. I don’t have specific days for designing built into my schedule right now.
6. Where do you find your design inspirations? What is your favorite card collection you have created?
Everywhere…clothing, throw pillows, magazine ads, bedding, clothing label tags, home design websites, Pinterest…always on the lookout for interesting color combos, patterns, or layouts. As for my favorite card collection, probably the most recent holiday card set…Very Merry – Very Vintage…I’m loving the aqua/gray combo right now.
Go check out Sarah’s work! Sarah recently posted on her blog, a fantastic color tutorial, in it she talks about color and how to achieve a clean edit. I hope that we can get her back to do a tutorial on her editing style in the near future!
She’s generously offering Dress It Up readers a 15% off discount through 9/30! Just use coupon code: FIFTEEN on checkout.
Website: http://www.uniquelyyouphoto.com/
Blog: http://www.uniquelyyouphoto.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uniquelyyouphotography
Designs: http://www.uniquelyyoudesigns.com/
Design Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uniquelyyoudesigns
Blog: http://www.
Facebook: https://www.
Designs: http://www.
Design Facebook: https://www.
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