Digital Wedding Forum - Wedding photography's home on the web.

Location - BC, Canada
Business Name - Fotoart Photography
Years in Business - 4.5
Number of Posts - 1,390
Website - www.fotoartphotography.net
Blog - www.umuller.typepad.com
PM - Contact Ute

DWF - Let's start off with a little bio, tell us a little bit about yourself.

UTE - I was born and raised in a small town in Germany, close to Frankfurt/Main. My dream was to become a secretary. I loved to organize papers and such. So this is what I did, by trade I am an office assistant. I worked for a few years in a small technical office and one day I got scared and thought this is it. I will be in this office until I am old and grey. So I left for Canada when I was 24 to work as a nanny. My German agency sent me to a small mining town in the North of British Columbia. I looked after two lovely little boys. After 1 1/2 years I transfered to Victoria to look after two very bright and lively girls. By that time I had fallen in love with Canada. I applied for landed immigrant status after 3 years and Canada is home now. I worked as a cook for five years, then went back to college to get a degree in Environmental Technology. I worked in this field for quite some time until photography took over my life. I am married to a wonderful man I met in Victoria and we have one daughter.. She is seven years old and is my favorite model as you can imagine. I go back to Germany for regular visits to see my mom and family.

I can't quite remember when my love with photography started. I always looked at all the photographs my dad took of us growing up. I could sit there for hours and look at our images. My dad was into filming. He filmed the community life and made it into a movie which he showed in the community hall at the end of each year. We always had to pose for his filming. I really hated that part. My dad gave me first SLR when I left for Canada. I didn't have clue about f stops and such. But I loved taking pictures.

DWF - How did you become a wedding photographer?

UTE - I took a long distance course with the New York Institute of Photography shortly after I had my daughter. My goal was to know more about the technical aspect of photography and eventually work part-time as a photographer. I bought all my gear from a very nice gentleman in one of our local stores. Over time we became friends and he told me that he shot weddings. I told him I was too nervous to ever photograph a wedding. This event was way to important to make mistakes. So he offered to take me along and be his second shooter. I did and really enjoyed the experience. Now, 5 years later, he is working for me as a second shooter.

DWF- Who or what inspires you as an artist?

UTE - My list could be a mile long. Magazines, books, artwork, all the amazing photographers out there. When I started out, I think I looked at hundreds of photographers websites. The internet was always a wealth of ideas for me, and still is. I love fashion magazines, especially for kids. European magazines are my favorites.

DWF- If we were getting married why would we book you? What makes you unique?

UTE - This is very difficult for me to answer. I am such a poor sales person. Couples usually find me via my website, one of my best investments (besides DWF). They like my candid style. My images look not too posed and I document the day as it flows along. When I meet with couples I always show them my urban images and I love talking about that. I think it is a personality thing as well. You either click with a couple or you don't. I would not say that my work is unique but I like to keep it fresh and bring in new ideas. I get bored easily so I like to change venues, backgrounds and poses.

DWF- If you had to pick a favorite "Tool of the Trade" what would it be? and why?

UTE - I guess the correct answer would be a certain lens or camera, but I would say my computer. When I can sit on the computer and start 'playing' with the image, then the image takes shape for me. I crop in camera, have the right place and light, but the real feeling comes later when I can work with the image in Photoshop.

DWF - Care to share your favorite photograph? and tell us a bit about it?

UTE - This image is a client that turned into my best friend over the years. She had her third baby and I was inspired by a photograph I had seen. This image is motherhood for me. It shows that loving bond between mother and baby. I love this image of her so much... and so does she.

We set up this big vintage session. Another client, best friend now, went out and bought all these amazing clothes and props for this session. That was so much fun. The kids had a wonderful time playing along. We timed it so we could get the beautiful flowers in the park as well. This image reminds me of two little girls going off on a big trip.

This image is from a recent wedding. It was a beautiful day and the bride wanted some images on the beach. Because they couldn't walk too well in their shoes on the rock beach, I asked them to sit on the log and start chatting. This was one of the bride's favorite images as well.

This image is from an April wedding of this year. Those two were my favorite couple. Both very shy and so wonderful to work with. The bride had this wonderful classic hollywood look. The camera just ate her up. We went into an alley (which I tumbled over by accident during the shoot) and there was this dried up fountain in that corner. I love everything about this picture, the way he looks at her, her shoes showing, the look she gives me, the setting, just beautiful.

A very recent image. Those two were so much fun to work with. I took them into a very quiet area of town and I loved the blue walls there. By that time, the two of them had warmed to me and my ideas and were able to ignore me. I love moments like that. The couple is involved and they are enjoying their day.

Another recent wedding. The bride was very beautiful. I loved this unguarded moment. I can't remember why she laughed, but she looks so happy.

I just took this image this weekend. I saw these huge windows and thought that would look amazing with them just standing there and looking very serious. I worked this image quite a bit with cross processing and harsh contrast but love the result.

This image is from an urban family session. She was a wonderful little model and has these amazing green-blue eyes. Her dad stood behind me and put his fingers into his nose and she said, yuck daddy and laughed.

This cute portrait happened during a session in the park. These are two sisters and I just followed them around while they were dancing, running and whatever else kids love to do.

DWF - How about some final words to live by?

UTE - Write down all the things you would like to do in your life, even if they seem very much out of reach. Then talk about your dreams and goals. The more you do so, the more determined you will become to make them come true... and eventually they will.