We were lucky to catch up with Nicole Uphoff recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are often hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?

One of the craziest projects I worked on was a Photo Shoot in the mountains surrounding Payson, Arizona for a print publication!

We had been up at the crack of dawn after a long grueling day, on top of a late night of dancing to blow off steam.
It was several hours of driving and many cups of coffee to this new location.
We had to haul all of our gear up the mountainside (exhausting) to capture an image of a tent (merchandise being sold)
on the edge of a flat peak.

Snow covered and chilly, we were blowing “smoke rings” with our breath and trying to stay focused on our work.
It was just so beautiful, breathtaking really. It felt vast, I could see for miles and miles. It was magical.
I mean, I was actually getting paid money to do this!

I was inside the tent trying to steam out the wrinkles with big warm gloves on (hard!) and the wind came up, knocking the tent all over the place.
I totally felt like I was going to blow right off the edge! (I didn’t)

I finished steaming the tent and propped out the shot.
We were waiting for the light to come around and hit the tent in just the right way
and decided to scout out some more locations for other shots that we needed to get.

Meanwhile the wind continued to pick up, gaining intensity. Eventually the tent gave it up and blew down the hill.
I mean it was REALLY windy!
*note: we usually put these “anacondas” big long tubes of sand along each interior side of the tent but had neglected to haul them up with our gear
and improvised on the securing part-
uggghhh.
So no humans were harmed and the tent was recovered and captured for the publication.
Whew! That was crazy. And exhilarating! And set us back on time significantly.

The set-back led to us being around for a beautiful snow fall that evening.
Big huge sparkly snowflakes that we caught on our mittens and twirled around in.
More magic, so cool! (*3 images below of that shoot)

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a set and prop stylist in the Twin Cities. I work on print, web, social media, and videos (amongst other platforms) for advertising.
I’m the one that (most often) creates the set, props it out, wardrobes (if needed), and composes the shot.
I do NOT take the photo or video the shot, that is what a photographer/videographer does.
I also do NOT cut hair or sell clothing.
(Just some common misconceptions, wink wink)

My background is in display and visual merchandising for a major retailer, as well as, runway wardrobing and trunk show execution.
Love the drama and anticipation!!!

I obtained my degree in Interior Design and Fashion Merchandising from a trade school (that no longer exists).
The classes were super fun and interesting. Like History of Costume, Textiles, Color/Line/Design, to name a few.
I also have certification in floral design, which I use a ton on many of my shoots.

My business involves a lot of problem solving.
How to rig a stop-motion shot so it looks fluid and seamless.
Where to source and find an unusual prop requested by a client.
How to schedule a project to flow in an efficient manner considering a photographer’s lighting, merch and prop availability, and deadlines.
How to style a package to look “real” but better.
I find myself trying to help solve any and all issues in my personal life and those of my peeps as well!!!!

I have an “eye” for making things look cute, attention to detail, and I work really hard! Sweat often. Cry sometimes.
I usually put in extra time and will absolutely go to the “ends of the earth”-seriously here-to make the outcome perfect.

My work has been seen in local and national to world-wide publications/magazines, billboards, store signs, bus wraps, cereal box panels, packaging,
videos, and commercials.
I’ve traveled for work, wardrobed for some (semi)famous-I mean not that famous-but enough- people, and close to risked my life on locations. Hah-Hah!
I wouldn’t change a single thing. It has been so worth it. A huge adventure!

* I recently styled a location shoot with a photographer in town- (4 images below)- that I really love and expresses my vibe.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When COVID hit the world and made it’s way to the states and finally to Minnesota, it really made things scary for my career
(my life, everyone’s lives of course, everything).

For shoots, we work closely as a team. At the bare minimum 4 people on a crew. It is impossible to do this work over zoom from home.
That being said, there were many months with no work at all.

I did a whole lot of volunteering, as much as I could, but I needed a creative outlet- or face going mad.

I had worked with an Art Director (Brenda Manthe) that had visited the zone/Chernobyl several times.
She had these amazing images and I purchased one from her and hung it on my wall.
It was so cool, it pictured a light switch and some conduit on a beautifully peeling wall of pale pink. Paint dribbled down the switch plates.
I kept looking at it and then I just pictured myself there, I felt the fear, the desolation, the pain of it.
I started writing and came up with this:

PINK GREIF
hollow voices echo within abandoned wire
peeling chips of faded pink
curling gaping wounds, portals to forgotten time
residual fear haunts switch plates
whose congealed tears of paint drip with grief
(*image of her photo below*)

We decided to collaborate. I wrote the words to her images. They were kind of like jacked up haiku I guess.
I had always loved writing and wrote whenever I could, all kinds of things.
I had some awards and one of my poems had been published.
My teachers and professors had thought I might obtain a career in writing of some kind. It was my outlet.

So we came up with a small book, 100 pages. “Resonant Stillness” It was all stuff from the zone.
I wrote from my heart. Brenda said it was eerie how my words described the way she felt when she had been there.

We self-published, got some printed and sold them completely for charity.
All proceeds went toward helping people and animals still being affected by the radiation.
We even had to print a second run due to demand. It felt really good to give back that way.
Brenda closed down the business now, but that was a life changing experience for sure.

When masking and social distancing became acceptable, I went back to styling.
The industry had really changed though.
It’s never really bounced back to this day.
So, I continue to evolve to meet the needs of this market.
New adventures await. Keep your eyes pealed for www.primitivesoul.com in 2025!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Ok so I’ve worked with a broken ankle, a broken toe, (5-8 miles of walking on hard concrete typical) So dramatic. A torn rotator cuff too.
(you should see what conditions others in the industry have worked under as well) being self employed is rough!

I worked while grieving the passing away of both of my sisters, and my best cousin.
The hospitalization of my son (salmonella poisoning) sleeping in a chair at night, working during the day to pay the bills.

I’ve had 2 “on staff” styling jobs and been let go of both due to companies tanking and ending.
One right after I bought a “new” used car, the other right after I bought my first house.
Went into labor during work, and rushed to emergency appendectomy both while trying really hard to meet a shoot deadline.

Deadlines are mandatory. Budgets are tricky. You gotta be there and not cost the client more money.
Loyalty and excellence to clients is the rule because each project for each client is so unique and of utmost importance to them.
So it’s alway important. Every job. Like no coasting.

The job relies on the collaboration and work of the stylist and the shooter. If one is missing, the job tanks.
You don’t get paid unless you’re there.

And lastly being pretty introverted in an extroverted and highly social industry. Super Challenging!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nicoleuphoff.com
• Instagram: @nikkinuuuunuuuu
• Linkedin: @Nicole Uphoff

Image Credits

Madalyn Rowell
Brenda Manthe