Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Buell.
Hi Carrie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I turn 50 this summer, which honestly feels like a typo on my birth certificate—it’s like keeping those cut-off blue jeans from high school; it’s hard to let go. Ha! Despite the number of times I’ve traveled around the sun, I genuinely feel grateful for all of it. My life has included plenty of highs, a few stomach-dropping lows, and let’s not forget the occasional heartache that comes with the territory. But hey, I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything, it’s that beautiful winding path creates you, forms you, and sets your life apart from any other. I’ll keep the lines on my face; they tell a beautiful story.
I’ve got a picturesque backdrop, born in the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota and raised amidst the lush and cozy Appalachian Mountains in my youth. I spent my 20s and early 30s traveling around with an all-girl band. Picture it: a diesel Dodge Ram Truck full of three strong-willed girls (Alathea) rolling around the country from east to west and trying to find their way—somehow we all survived! Rented a cabin in the middle of the Cherokee National Forest and heard the rushing Indian Creek every night before bed. What could be dreamier? I still dream about it.
I eventually married a fellow musician I met in Ecuador. Spoiler alert: he isn’t Ecuadorian but a talented red-headed percussionist/drummer (Caedmons Call) who plays his instruments masterfully! Married in our 30s, we shifted from full-time musicians to launch a thriving architectural photography business, Studiobuell.com, in Music City, Nashville, TN. Our artistic backgrounds allowed us to move into this industry seamlessly, and now we capture the beauty of design in every frame. In our 40s, we settled into Franklin, TN, surrounded by this charming southern town and more creatives. This area of TN is full of entrepreneurs and creative individuals, and the architectural and even real estate industry is no exception. We are incredibly grateful to our clients, many of whom are familiar with our days as musicians. We feel we get to work with the best of the best, not only creatively but as humans, too. We now have a thriving team, our We Heart Your Space Team, to mentor and learn from. That’s the beauty of our Franklin community, to us it is “The Jewel of Tennessee”, and I’m grateful to call it home.
So here I am, ready to tackle the next chapter—the 50s. The best is yet to come!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life’s biggest challenges often arise when I feel like I’ve finally found my rhythm, akin to dancing in a minefield. ha! The lessons from 2020 taught me that starting over can be both exciting and daunting, especially in business ownership. As a lifelong entrepreneur, I realized that embracing setbacks becomes essential; they’re no longer surprises but part of the journey. With experience, hard conversations become easier, and the focus shifts to managing failures, expectations, and continuous improvement. Perfection isn’t the goal; instead, it’s about an ongoing process of growth.
Transitioning from a career in music to photography was one of the most challenging moments of my life. Fortunately, my husband, Garett, was going through the same change, which made the journey easier. We both came from the same industry, and our experiences in our respective bands shaped us and helped us adjust to this new path. While we would have loved to remain in the industry full-time, life doesn’t always go as planned. We will always consider our bands as family, knowing that reunions are always just around the corner, and music will forever run in our veins.
Ultimately, embracing the challenges allowed us to find our new path and learn from the experience. Instead of feeling lost, we discovered inspiration.
We are often our own worst critics, but also our best encouragers. The challenging life on the road taught us valuable lessons, and there’s nothing quite like traveling across the country with your best friends.
Remember, you’re not chasing someone else’s dream; you’re on a quest to fulfill your own. Make sure you define it and not someone else. Embracing the obstacles is the true recipe for growth, because after all, every great entrepreneur knows that even the most elegant swan has to paddle like mad beneath the surface!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
One of the most rewarding aspects of our business is celebrating others. Our images aren’t just pictures; they’re invitations and powerful marketing tools for our clients, highlighting their efforts. These images are their achievements and help them share their visions with the world.
The joy of building relationships and serving our community motivates our whole team.
We are grateful to work with kind clients who share our values and prioritize kindness. It’s fulfilling to see many clients return year after year, as we play a part in helping their careers grow. With around 90% of our clients choosing to work with us again, we nurture relationships that often span decades. It actually makes me tear up to see a client we have grown alongside, watched their kids grow up, battle diseases, seen their work grow and flourish, it’s one of my favorite parts for sure. Our team name, We Heart Your Space, reflects our commitment to this sentiment.
This past year, 2025, marked our expansion into new markets, including neighboring cities and other states, such as Texas. We also enjoy traveling to 30A to photograph for our clients who own second homes and beachfront properties. (I’ll share some of my favorite photographs I’ve taken through the years from 30A soon!)
How do you think about happiness?
Personally, another part of our business that puts a smile on my face is seeing our team thrive.
Each member truly holds a special place in my heart, like family. Their successes and growth bring me so much joy. Honestly, it gives me such peace of mind at night and motivates me to wake up eager to work alongside them every morning. Seeing my team succeed and grow is incredibly rewarding. I wake up every day excited to contribute to their happiness and development. That motivation drives everything I do!
Learning is our top priority. Garett and I are passionate about learning and sharing our knowledge, which fosters growth and encourages our team to continually improve. We truly believe that you can teach an old dog new tricks; our oldest team member is in their 70s, while the youngest is in their early 20s. We take pride in believing that anyone can learn at any stage of life. It takes a love for learning and a willingness to leave ego at the door to embrace something new while keeping it enjoyable. And, the values we share work well together, even in the face of competition. We often collaborate on projects, and I love seeing everyone enjoy the process, especially during our photo sessions.
We prioritize fun in everything we do! I can genuinely say that our team has a fantastic sense of humor. We laugh together constantly, which not only makes our work enjoyable but also helps maintain our relationships. It really enhances our teamwork!
One of our core values is a strong emphasis on service. We really believe in coming alongside others and helping them succeed. It’s important for us that people feel supported and uplifted, especially in a crowded environment where everyone is trying to stand out.
We strive to create a culture where everyone understands the importance of service. We encourage our team members to actively engage with clients and really listen to their needs. By doing this, we aim to help each individual shine and make their unique contributions in a meaningful way. Creating genuine connections fosters trust. When people feel that we are truly invested in their success, they’re more likely to thrive too (it’s contagious) and reach their full potential. Ultimately, that’s what I want—to see our team and others flourish in a sea of many.
Pricing:
- The Dash—our newest and most popular package- offers an affordable introduction to any property. With a flat fee covering the main areas of your home, it serves as the perfect invitation.
- The Essential—a classic option that brings us back to the fundamentals. Reliable and dependable, it’s reminiscent of Gap’s campaign to return to the basics; this is our original package, the first, tried and true.
- The Plush —offers a photographer from our exceptional Plush team, who are well-versed in Studiobuell’s unique techniques and procedures. This package stands out in every aspect, featuring enhanced illumination and refined editing.
- The Lush—this package features our top team members who have worked closely with Garett and can seamlessly take on his clients when he’s unavailable. It’s ideal for anyone who has used Garett’s services. Your primary contact will be our team manager, Sergeant Pepper, Tina Cornett.
- The Founder —is a key offering that highlights the expertise of our founders, the Buells. It embodies the core of our business and has become one of our most sought-after packages, second only to the Dash and Plush. Due to their popularity and limited availability, it can be challenging to secure a spot on their calendars.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://studiobuell.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/studiobuell
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/studiobuell
