We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Brindley Ubl recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Risk-taking seems to be a core value in my life. It first began at the age of 20 when I walked out of my junior year in college on the first day. I had a deep feeling that pursuing further education was not where I was supposed to be. I didn’t have a clear vision of my future, or where I was meant to be. I just knew that it wasn’t in school. Listening to my inner voice was more important than having the long-term plan.
I got into property management and worked in that field for six years, until I had another crossroads type of moment. I had the opportunity to leave my “sure thing” job with regular paychecks and benefits, in favor of moving across the country from Denver to Milwaukee and starting my own photography business. HUGE risk! But I knew it was the right move for me.
And likewise, when I closed my wedding photography studio after ten incredible years of photographing 200 weddings – so that I could build a portrait studio from the ground up. I had a decade of being a self-employed photographer under my belt. So, I knew I could pivot from weddings to portraits. I studied with an incredible mentor and it gave shape to the future of my business.
And, of course as a storm chaser, risk is inherent in much of what I do in the field. Although you might think most of the risk comes in the form of being near and around severe weather such as supercells, hail and tornadoes… the greatest risk is actually the hours and hours and hours of driving back and forth across the central United States.
Risk will always go hand-in-hand with the possibility of massive reward. It could be personal, professional, spiritual or emotional. Our biggest dreams are always on the other side of our comfort zone. So, whenever something I deeply desire carries a risk, I’m usually willing to take that risk. I can mitigate the level of risk with preparedness, having a plan, doing my research and working really hard to make the dream happen. Because I know that with all of my desire and might behind my actions… I’m usually more powerful than the risk is.
Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a professional portrait photographer specializing in Contemporary Portrait and Personal Branding. I primarily photograph women who are looking to reconnect with themselves, or to see themselves in a way they haven’t before. I own and operate a boutique portrait studio in the Milwaukee suburbs.
I offer an unparalleled studio wardrobe with over 1,000 unique garments and accessories. Some pieces are vintage items from boutiques and Resalers, some are stage pieces from performers, some are contemporary items selected especially for my clients. I curate a custom shoot wardrobe for each session – ten outfits ranging from professional to casual, sexy to fashion-forward, formal, feminine, powerful, soft, sensual and more. Every woman has many, many sides to her, and it’s my vision to capture her in the power of all those different style identities.
Every session includes professional hair & makeup, and expert posing guidance from start to finish. And after their celebrity-style photo shoot experience is concluded, my clients then come back for a private viewing of their photographs.
I provide a unique and beautiful set of images for them to take home and treasure for years to come. A set of images they can open, look at fondly, and remember who and what they were in this moment. To fall in love with themselves again. To see their true beauty… the way those who love them the most see them.
Additionally, I have been a well-known storm chaser since documenting my first tornado fifteen years ago.
I am currently the documentary photographer on a small tornado research team in field operations over the last seven years, I have been chasing with my chase partner Skip Talbot for eleven years. We have participated in many unique storm chasing related projects including working as IMAX film “Extreme Weather” support crew in the TIV and Doghouse chase vehicles. I was also a consultant and art contributor for the 2018 short film “STORMCHASER.”
I am also renowned for representing gender equality in storm chasing and am frequently sought out by media production companies accordingly. Myself and my work have been featured in a number of media features including the recent NETFLIX Documentary Series EARTHSTORM, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Outside Magazine, NPR, Sierra Magazine, many international publications such as The Telegraph and The Observer Magazine, and production companies both nationally and internationally.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Control over my life! I pushed hard to be my own boss, my own maker, because I was so tired of doing for a corporate entity that did not care about me. I was so tired of waiting endlessly for vacation hours so I could pursue things that interested me, or relax, or take time for myself, or recharge and renew. I realized that pursuing my own professional career – one of my own making – would be the ticket to my independence. It has been among the greatest gifts in my life. Total control over my schedule, my time, my life.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I can very strongly recommend to any portrait photographers the incredible resource that is Sue Bryce Education. If you want to create a portrait studio with the best success possible, this is an unmatched resource. It is a subscription service but is 1000% worth every penny. You will make your investment back hundreds of times over.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://jenniferbrindley.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennbrindley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferbrindleyportrait
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-brindley-ubl-16032a25/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBePhotography
- Other: faceofastorm.com (my storm chasing website)
Image Credits
Profile Photo taken by Melody Smith Portrait