Nikon USA Ambassador Audrey Woulard is known for her distinctive lighting style and natural, expressive portraits. Woulard’s commercial clients include Pottery Barn and IAMS, and her work has appeared in People, InStyle, and Better Homes & Gardens. Here she holds forth on the best advice she’s ever gotten, the importance of steady hands, and how simplicity led to success.
What Are Must-Carry Items Always in Your Bag?
Because I am photographing in the city and travel a lot, I keep my bag pretty light and simple. I have two camera bodies, the Nikon Z8 and the Nikon Z6 III. My two lenses are the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S and the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S. I use off-camera flash a lot, so I currently have the Westcott FJ250 and the Westcott Rapid Box Switch Beauty Dish (2 ft., silver). I keep two Westcott FJ Pro AC/DC Batteries with me, the Westcott FJ-T1 light trigger, my Apple MacBook Air, and the Davis & Sanford Traverse Pro Monopod. I have sensitive eyes, so I have my Tom Ford sunnies with me 100% of the time. I also keep a pair of readers because I can’t see well.
What Is the Most Underrated Photo Skill?
I think it is your intuition. So much about photography is anticipation when dealing with people or nature. But even with light, if we learn to trust ourselves more, the photos will match the outcome the photographers envision.
What Is the Main Reason People Hire You?
I like to keep things really simple. I don’t like clients to feel burdened in any way. Because of that, I built my brand around creating pictures anywhere. My clients can’t envision my pictures before I capture them. In fact, some of the areas I pose them in do not look good when you’re just looking at them. When they receive the images, they are surprised at what I see versus what they see. I also think I put people at ease. I like people to feel like they can be themselves. I think this is why I have clients that I have photographed regularly for 20 years.
What Is Your Best Photo Skill?
I can think of two things. I can spot great natural light anywhere, and I have really, really steady hands!
Photographers Are Always Told to Develop a Style or Find a Voice, but There Is Little Advice on How to Find That Voice. What Guidance Can You Offer?
I have been told by many photographers that I have a distinct photographic style. For me, I can say that I didn’t try to find a style. That style found me. I am very consistent by choice. That lends itself to being able to create a look regardless of who you photograph, where you photograph, or what settings you use. Not everyone thinks the same way, but everyone wants a style. My advice is to find out what you like first. A good way to do this is to purchase three magazines and find about six to eight pictures that you wish you had captured. You must use a magazine because you don’t want to have the name of the photographer attached to the image you chose. You don’t want any biases. The next day, lay them all out. Study them. Take note of what is similar. Is it the lighting, composition, subject, color palette, tones, etc. Whatever you can find — that is how you home in on what you love. From there, build on it. Stay consistent whether other photographers approve of what you captured or not; stay consistent.
Have You Ever Had a Creative Block? How Did You Overcome It?
Oh my goodness, yes! And it was the absolute worst time in my career. It happened back in 2012. I was having an absolutely great year, but it was a lot of the same. I was burnt out. I also wanted a change, and I wasn’t really sure what that was. I was a family photographer, and that was pretty much all I knew. Well, I stayed offline, and outside of my work, I just spent time with my family. I stayed offline for about a year. It was during that time that I realized my block was that I needed to photograph older subjects. I couldn’t relate to babies any longer because I didn’t have babies at home. When I changed my marketing, I was back in the groove again.
What Does Success Mean to You? Are Artistic Success and Financial Success Related, or Independent of One Another?
For me, success is having complete control over your time. Time is fleeting, and it will move regardless of whether you want it to or not. Being able to dictate my schedule is the ultimate success.
What Is the Best Learning Experience You Have Ever Had?
I photograph a family who are billionaires. This family has been my client for the last 19 years. I met them when their youngest two kids were born. Well, one day, during the newborn session for the daughter, we took a break so that the mom could nurse. We sat there and talked. I asked her what made her hire me. At the time, I was only in business for about three years. I wasn’t doing anything fancy, and she wasn’t a referral. I should say that she gives me a lot of great business advice, but she gave me the single best advice I would ever receive. She said, “I hire people who are good at what they do.” She then went on to say, “You take good pictures, but your philosophy regarding how you captured them is what drew me in.” I’m paraphrasing a bit here, but she read whatever I had written on my website. It was something along the lines of keeping things simple. That advice gave me permission to be me, and I can show up exactly who I am regardless of who the client is.
When You Look Back on Earlier Work, What Are Your Thoughts?
That I knew exactly who I was photographically! I show my old professional work online on my socials a lot. I will go back 20 years and share it.
Where Do You Find Inspiration for an Image?
Believe it or not, modern architecture magazines! Or I will look at Zillow.com. I have a fascination with architecture. I love how well-lit modern architecture work is showcased, and my first thought is how I can place a human there! I’m attracted to all the clean lines.
Audrey Woulard is a Chicago-based portrait photographer capturing teens and families. An internationally recognized Nikon USA Ambassador, she’s known for her distinctive lighting style and natural, expressive portraits. Audrey’s commercial clients include Pottery Barn and IAMS, and her work has appeared in People, InStyle, Better Homes & Gardens, and on the covers of Professional Photographer magazine and Senior Style Guide. Through her renowned Light Exposed Workshops, she teaches photographers around the world how to elevate their craft through light, connection, and authenticity. She also has her AW Teaches website, where she connects with photographers online by teaching her lighting and editing techniques.
Top Ten is a recurring feature in which we give notable photographers a list of questions from which they choose their favorite 10 to answer. Answers may be edited for length and clarity.
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