Heather Leigh Cullum
“I’m only 27, but they say age is just a number, right?” asks Heather Leigh Cullum. She’s already accomplished a lot. Cullum has worked as a freelance photographer in New York City; as an Associate Producer at Milk Studios; and as a Lead Photo Producer at Slate Studios. Now, following a very productive and successful year, she is Senior Director of Production and Operations with Slate, working with clients like Oscar De La Renta, Anne Klein, and Shiseido. Cullum has a strong sense of obligation for the work she does and loves it when her clients are truly happy with the results. “Building long-term relationships with clients is key, as it not only makes my job better but their job easier,” she tells GO. And as someone who is “not shy” and working in a field that includes unique and creative individuals, Cullum has found that her queer identity is an asset. “Being out and open as a woman who identifies as a lesbian has given me incredible power in my identity,” she explains. “I don’t feel judged, I feel seen and unstoppable.” In addition to her job with Slate Studio, Cullum is also the creative force behind Six Feet Apart, a photo book she describes as a love letter to New York City. She used this project to acknowledge the struggles and losses New Yorkers faced over the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. –AB
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