Meet Lenka Ulrichova | Fashion and beauty photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lenka Ulrichova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lenka, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I wouldn’t exactly call myself a dare devil. I’m the kind of person who reads all the side effects before I take an aspirin.

But when I think about it, there have been many moments in my life when I’ve taken enormous gambles. The most obvious was my decision to leave my home country and come to Los Angeles. I’d met an American in Prague, I decided to roll the dice and give America a chance. I had no idea what to expect, where I would end up, whether I was walking into a disaster or not. But I pushed myself forward. I took a chance.

We’ve been married now for more than 20 years.

Everything we do involves some element of risk. When I first picked up a camera and started shooting, I was putting myself out there, making myself vulnerable to criticism and judjment. Every creative venture is a potential humiliation waiting to happen. But what’s the alternative? If we have something to express, if we are lucky enough to have found the means to express it, what choice is there but to take the risk?

In the end, not taking any risks is the riskiest thing you can do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started as a model in Prague. When I came to the US, I did a little bit more modeling, but I quickly began to realize that I was much more interested in what was happening on the other side of the camera. That’s when I started experimenting with photography. I enrolled in graphic design course at UCLA and took photography classes at Santa Monica College.

Within a year, I was testing with LA model agencies and got my first magazine assignments.

Today, I mostly shoot fashion, beauty and celebrity.

I had an easy start but the further along I got, the more competitive it became. Perseverance and not giving up is mostly what gets me through these challenges. It’s definitely not easy and requires a lot of dedication, passion and commitment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Santa Monica and am a total homebody so I am not the best person to ask about this.
But I would take them to the beach in Santa Monica, Venice Boardwalk and Malibu. My favorite place to eat in Santa Monica is Elephante, especially during the day when you can enjoy the ocean view. I also like the rooftop of the Proper Hotel and Coast at Shutters on the Beach. All of these places offer a very relaxing getaway experience. I would also suggest the Getty and Getty Villa, Griffith Observatory, a concert at the Hollywood Bowl–and perhaps a trip to Palm Springs and/or Santa Barbara.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Definitely my husband! He has always been very supportive of me and my photography. He also assists me on some shoots which has been immensely helpful, too! There have been a couple of agency bookers, namely Meg Day at FORD at that time (now at Vision LA) who was very supportive and encouraging of my work right at the very beginning of my career. I am also very grateful to a creative director Ada Guerin for trusting me with work assignments.

Website: https://www.lenkaulrichova.com

Instagram: lenkaulrichovaphoto

Image Credits
Lenka Ulrichova