Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Ulman.
Hi Natalie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m Natalie, the founder and owner of Once Upon a Time Photo & Film, a boutique company where I have been creating lasting memories for hundreds of couples and families for over a decade. With my talented team, I capture love stories through high-quality photos and videos that become family heirlooms for generations to come. Cameras were always a huge part of my life growing up in Georgia. My mom and dad were always filming moments big and small with our 90s camcorder. We would create videos to mail to family or put on a whole talent show to be filmed. I loved playing in front of and behind the camcorder. All of these family memories that we filmed are something I still cherish today so many years later.
But, I was also obsessed with movies. I collected vintage movie posters which I hung up around my room and watched all the classic films on my VHS. I’ve been in love with cinema for as long as I can remember.
My love for cinema led me to receiving my Master’s degree in film from the University of St Andrews in Scotland where I wrote my final dissertation on the 1960s classic film Easy Rider. And I traveled to different international film festivals in Europe writing movie reviews and holding interviews with filmmakers and actors for my school newspaper. But, after graduating I wanted to do more than write about films – I wanted to make films! So, I moved back home to Atlanta and started working on Hollywood productions and directing my own narrative films.
However, the life of actually working on big film sets wasn’t as glamorous or creative as I imagined it being. Although I’m grateful for all I learned the long days, the unhealthy lifestyle, and overnight shoots were not something that was sustainable for me or my health.
And then one day while I was working on a wedding special of Say Yes to the Dress I realized just how powerful real love stories can be. That’s when I had the idea to shift my focus to something a little more personal and what I loved to film growing up: real stories about what’s most important in life – family. And so I opened my own business and made the leap into wedding filmmaking full time — and I haven’t looked back since. For all my weddings films that I create I combine my love for capturing family memories with the background I have in cinema to create timeless, modern, authentic, and cinematic wedding films. My goal is to bring a touch of movie magic to real-life modern fairytales.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to creating a successful business is never easy and always comes with ups and downs, but I am a firm believer that hardships in life make you appreciate the joys. So whenever there is a challenge I try my best to learn from it and reflect on the lessons. I also feel that all the challenges have made me an even better filmmaker and business owner. For example, one particularly busy fall season none of the drone pilots I worked with normally were available, so I decided to take the whole summer learning how to fly a drone myself. This challenge became a huge blessing because flying drone is now one of my favorite parts of the wedding filmmaking process. One of my biggest daily struggles is running a business while coping with autoimmune disorder and anxiety. But, I’m so grateful that I work for myself as I can create my own schedule and always prioritize myself and health first. And also it helps to have an artistic and fun job doing what I love most!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
With a decade of experience, Once Upon a Time Photo & Film has been filming and photographing the fairytale weddings of countless couples in Atlanta, Georgia. Our team of talented photographers, videographers, and editors are dedicated to creating timeless, elegant, and cinematic films and photographs that allow couples to relive the magic of their wedding day.
As a boutique, female-owned company, I take pride in our personalized approach, ensuring that the style of our films and photos is always customized to suit the couple’s unique love story. I am so passionate about capturing every precious moment and creating beautiful family memories that will last a lifetime.
We offer photography and videography, drone, and super 8 film coverage for engagement sessions, wedding days, and for full wedding weekend coverage.
One accomplishment I am proud of is the fact that this past year I successfully expanded our brand to North Carolina. And in exciting news my husband and I have plans to expand the business even further to his hometown of Lake Como, Italy with our sister company Romantica Films: https://www.romanticafilms.com/
Another aspect of my business that I am proud of is that I champion and hire female filmmakers. Cinematography is one of the most male dominated roles in the film industry with only 7 percent of cinematographers being women. As a female filmmaker myself I try in my little way to make a difference in the film industry becoming more balanced.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
So many people have helped me on this path of owning my own business. I owe so much to my husband Roberto Volta who is an integral part of the business as a videographer and editor. He always inspires me creatively with his incredible eye and talent. He also inspires me to keep challenging myself and to try new things to create the best films. For example, we are now beginning to offer filming with Roberto’s grandfather’s Super 8 film camera as an addition to our packages which is going to be such a fun, vintage, and nostalgic add on that couples can add as a part of their wedding film.
I also have been working with many of my best friends and artistic collaborators since I started the company. One of my best friends from high school, Alex Covington, and one of my closest girl friends, Katherine Anderson, have been such integral members of the team since Day 1. Not only is it so fun working together as friends, but they bring such an incredible talent to the team.
And of course I’m forever grateful to my family – my parents, brother, sister, and husband for their endless support and for being the biggest cheerleaders for Once Upon a Time.
Pricing:
- Wedding video packages starting from $2000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onceuponatimephotoandfilm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onceuponatimefilms
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1RVojmGn0Bg-yKuZRVrMg
Image Credits
Roberto Volta, Katherine Anderson, Christina Tyler, Michela Di Savino
