Style direction, wardrobe, prop, set. Natalie Ogura’s holistic approach to what she does sets her apart from the rest. When we look back upon the start of Natalie’s career, we can’t help but think trailblazer. From Canada to Austin with a few stops in between, she’s taken on many different roles that have fueled her creative passion. From managing an online style portal to commercials and fine arts projects, Natalie’s portfolio boasts work from top companies. Her fearlessness to dive into different fields within the industry inspires us here at Plaid Pony and we’re excited to feature her here on our blog.

what was a pivotal moment in your career?

A pivotal moment for my career was my move from Canada to the U.S. When I was living in Toronto Canada, I spent 7 amazing years working in the publishing arena as a fashion and style editor. I loved it. But then I moved to North Carolina for personal reasons, and found myself in a publishing-remote city with virtually zero job prospects…until I met acclaimed photographer Jimmy Williams. He honed in on my styling and production skills, and together, we spent over 10 years producing award-winning commercial and fine art photography for some of the best agencies and brands around. My commercial styling career was launched as a result of Jimmy’s leap of faith in me. I will be forever grateful.

what was your favorite set to work on? Why?

My favorite set to work on was probably for Norwegian Cruise Lines. The call-times were super early, the wardrobe and prop asks were lofty, the shot lists were never-ending and we had to work on a working ship with thousands of rowdy vacationers maneuvering in unaturally tight spaces. This shoot had all the workings of a stressful job… But it was AMAZING because of the incredible crew that worked it. Everyone was upbeat, helpful, and tireless. The right crew makes all the difference in the success of a job.

what is one of your proudest moments in your career?

The proudest moment in my career coincided with the birth of my daughter. In order to balance my career and mom time, I launched my freelance styling business and I’ve never looked back. It was intimidating starting a new business in a new city with virtually no contacts… But the Austin community was incredibly welcoming and I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to do what I love on my own terms.

what are some other things you enjoy when you aren't shooting?

Traveling is an important part of my life and the best way to spend quality time with the family.

what is your favorite part about being on set?

My favorite part about working on set is watching, learning and collaborating with incredibly talented photographers and creatives.

what does #createmoments mean to you?

#createmoments means to push the limits. Think bigger, better and smarter.

What is one thing your fans may not know about you?

People always want to know if I prefer wardrobe over prop styling or vice versa. The truth is I love doing both equally - diversity is the spice of life and I have a passion for all things “style”. Fun fact: I have a deep love of fishing and the show River Monsters. Not-so-fun-fact: I am irrationally scared of spiders and heights!

what advice can you provide future stylists?

My advice to future stylists : Never stop learning. Learn to be flexible, quick on your feet and an effective problem solver. Styling is a business so be prepared to treat it as such with strong communication and money management skills.