Few photographers are able to convey light, warmth and intimacy the way Pia Ulin does. Born in 1965 in Sundsvall, Sweden, she has worked as a professional photographer for more than 20 years, focusing mainly on interiors and lifestyle.
Pia Ulin has been taking photographs for as far back as she can remember. Expressing herself through images came naturally to her, and following a photography course in her hometown of Sundsvall, Sweden, she decided to study her art at the International Center of Photography in New York. After graduation, she began her career as a professional photographer, working mainly in Scandinavia and Europe. In 2012 she expanded her work to the US and now divides her time between her studio in Brooklyn, New York and Sweden.
Her ever-growing client list includes both commercial and editorial customers; She has shot for a number of international brands including H&M Home, IKEA, West Elm, Sonos, Williams Sonoma, Cath Kidson, Nokia, Absolut and Anthropologie, as well as the non-profit organisation Save the Children, and her work regularly features in many of the most well-respected magazines such as Elle Decoration, Martha Stewart Living, Dwell, Kinfolk, and Condé Nast Traveller.
She has also been involved in a number of books on interior decoration, such as The Kinfolk Home, Colourful (with Lotta Agaton), The Monochrome Home (with Hilary Robertson), and Nesting (with Cilla Ramnek).
As tireless and energetic as she is talented, she also runs workshops in Barcelona in which she guides participants through the practical aspects of photography, helping them to develop their skills in composition and the interpretation of light, and sharing her unique perspective on capturing images that tell a story.
What distinguishes Pia Ulin’s work is her special ability to bring out the best in her subjects, enhancing and intensifying everything she shoots. Although there is a very distinctive style to her photography, there is also great versatility. Her talent for composition and capturing light is evident in all of her photographs.
Choosing to always shoot in natural daylight, she seems to have a gift for bending it to her will; her photographs make amazing use of the interplay of light and shadows, radiating warmth and a quiet positive energy.
Her stunning compositions of indoor environments and objects – beautifully designed and styled to perfection – sharply contrast colour with stark, usually white, living spaces. Even the most minimal of her compositions are atmospheric and visually sumptuous, displaying an exquisite attention to detail, while still managing to look effortless.
Whether you view her photographs simply as art pieces, or as inspiration for your own space, Pia Ulin has an undeniable ability to bring images to life, conveying depth, warmth and intimacy through her captivating photography.
Images by Pia Ulin
