Today we’d like to introduce you to Caro Silander.
Hi Caro, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a multi-media artist currently based in Nashville, TN. I got my start in the arts with dancing. I danced through most of my childhood into college, being a part of dance teams, competitions, and pre-professional companies. Once I got to college, I decided to pursue my degree in Motion Pictures (film) with a minor in Film Acting. I’ve always known acting was my passion. It was the perfect combination of my love for the performing arts and my love of film. More specifically, I want to go into Motion Capture acting (think of Planet of the Apes or Avatar; wearing the bodysuits with the dots on them). I think that the Kinesthesiology of the motion capture is interesting to me with my background in dance. However, soon a new passion came into my life. When I was in my Freshman year of college, I brought my mom’s old camera, a Canon SL1, to take fun pictures of my time at school. That is when I started taking pictures at my friend’s music performances and shows. I soon found that I could get into shows for free if I offered to bring my camera and take pictures. Soon, I started getting paid. After this, I decided to start an instagram account for photography, calling it Silander Productions. I then started to get interested in portrait photography. Not having many clients, I often did self-portraits, setting up my camera on a tripod with a self timer, editing, and producing the portraits myself. As the years went on, my clientele grew and grew. I started taking portraits for album covers, shooting films, and continuing to shoot shows and self portraits. Now, my once-hobby has grown to a full-time business. I still continue to work on my self-portraiture. Even with all of my love that I foster for photography, I have been continuing to follow my passion of acting. I have been able to act in many local music videos, model for local photographers, and act in short films and student films. As I continue to pursue my career in front of the camera, I plan on growing Silander Productions into a production company that does films, as well as music videos. I am currently in pre-production for my first independent horror film, SUCKERS, which is set to shoot in Fall of 2026. This 1980’s slasher is my current passion project and I am excited to share more about it as production starts.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think the most common thing an artist hears is “no”. Whether I am getting turned down from an agency, don’t book a role in a film, or get passed up on a photography gig, I know that this is just part of the journey. Growing up in the dance industry, we were told that you will always hear “n0” 100 times before you hear a “yes”. There are many struggles you encounter while being in the arts. I have had to deal with imposter syndrome, letting go of what is holding me back, and giving up on other dreams to pursue my passions. I have had to give up so much to be able to chase my calling. However, I stay firm in my belief that if I am doing what I love, I am on the right path.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work comes in three parts: Actor, Creative Director, and Photographer. Not necessarily in that order, I can’t describe myself without using all three of those titles. My love for acting is what pushes me to continue with wanting that as a career path. I especially love acting in thrillers and dramas, leaning to more serious or even darker roles. My creative directing is what I studied in school. I use my degree to create visualizers, music videos, and films. Most recently, I have been working on directing my first independent horror film, SUCKERS, which starts production soon. And my business, Silander Productions, is my photography outlet. I am most known for my portraiture work, mainly for cover art, and my self portraits. I think that my experience behind the camera helps me understand how to best perform in front of the camera, and vice versa. I also think that my background in dance helps me understand the complexity of movement; an understanding that has helped me in all aspects of my work. I think, as an artist, versatility is one of the most important traits to understand. I don’t have to choose one art or another. The combination of my passions is what sets me apart from if I had just chosen one single path.
How do you think about happiness?
I am my happiest when I am able to work with my friends. I have had the great honor of being able to work with so many of my friends, which is so uplifting and beautiful. I typically meet with a photography client before the shoot. This is both so we can have a consultation to see if we share similar creative visions, but also so we can get to know one another. Yes, I have been able to work with many of my friends, but I have also been able to create and foster new friendships with clients, some of them who are now my closest friends. When doing a shoot with people I am close to, it helps me unleash my creativity to its fullest potential. It turns a potentially stressful shoot into something that opens me up to a world of imagination. There is nothing better than making art happen with those you are closest to.
Pricing:
- Portrait Photography: $200 for 1st hour, $150 for each additional hour
- Artist Package: $450 for 3 hours, including portraits, cover art, Spotify canvas, and a poster/graphic
- Music Videos and Visualizers vary per project
- Shows: $75 for 30 minutes (+free entry)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carosilander.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinesilander | https://www.instagram.com/silander_Productions | https://www.instagram.com/suckers_the_film
- Other: SUCKERS gofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/suckers-the-movie
