Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolennys Ouellette.
Hi Carolennys, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Carolennys Ouellette, and together with my husband, Nicholas, we built Carolennys Studios and Studio 1807 from the ground up. Photography has been a passion of mine since I majored in Painting & Photography at Douglas Anderson, but for a while, it remained more of a hobby. After college, I didn’t dive into photography full-time immediately. Instead, I teamed up with a friend to start a small side photography business, and it remained that—a side gig—for several years.
Everything changed in 2020 when I decided to take the leap and turn my passion into a full-time career. That’s when Carolennys Studios was born. Ironically, the same year that I decided to go all in with my photography business was the same year the world was hit by COVID-19. At a time when everything felt uncertain, I was unsure how things would play out. But, to my surprise, my business thrived during this challenging period. People still wanted to capture precious moments, and I was able to offer private, safe experiences for my clients when they needed it most.
As my photography business grew, Nicholas and I decided to take another big step—purchasing a building to house our studio in 2021. From there, we expanded our vision and launched Studio 1807, a studio rental business to provide space for other photographers who needed an affordable, professional setting. While the first year was filled with obstacles like permitting and construction delays, we persisted. We also faced the challenge of growing our rental business, but over time, we found our rhythm, especially when we started hosting Open Studio Night events. These events gave us great exposure, built strong connections within the community, and became pivotal in growing Studio 1807.
Fast forward to today, and we now have a dedicated building for membership-based studio rentals, a co-share rental studio that’s the most affordable option in town. Meanwhile, Carolennys Studios has grown into one of the most recognized maternity and newborn photography studios in our area. From where we started, it’s been an incredible journey of passion, persistence, and growth, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for both Carolennys Studios and Studio 1807.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business is never easy, but beginning a new venture during COVID brought a whole new set of challenges. One of the toughest hurdles was getting our building ready for Carolennys Studios and Studio 1807. Finding a reliable general contractor was difficult, and the permitting process was incredibly slow, with endless delays. We faced so many roadblocks just trying to get things off the ground, and it felt like every step forward came with two steps back.
On top of that, launching a photography rental business in Jacksonville wasn’t as straightforward as we’d hoped. Jacksonville isn’t known for having a prominent studio photography culture—most photographers here shoot outdoors or from home. We had to figure out how to create a demand for studio space while also shaping the culture around it. Building that demand took time, and we had to find creative ways to introduce Studio 1807 as an option to local photographers. Networking became a key part of our strategy, and events like our Open Studio Nights helped expose us to the community and showcase what we had to offer.
It’s been a journey filled with obstacles, but each struggle pushed us to find new solutions and, in the end, helped us grow into the businesses we are today. It wasn’t smooth, but every challenge made us stronger.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Carolennys Studios, we’ve truly found our passion in Maternity and Newborn photography. While I’ve explored many types of photography over the years, this area has become my specialty. Having a dedicated studio space allows me to create unique, controlled environments with beautiful lighting, ensuring a safe, private, and luxurious experience for my clients. It’s more than just photos—it’s about crafting meaningful memories and artwork that families will treasure for generations.
What I’m most proud of are the relationships I’ve built with my clients. Many of them come back year after year as their families grow, and it’s such an honor to be a part of capturing these important milestones. To know that I play a role in their family history is incredibly rewarding.
One thing that truly sets us apart is our commitment to straightforward pricing. The old photography model of charging a session fee and then springing the cost of images on clients afterward can leave people feeling deceived. I’ve always believed in transparency and trust, which is why our pricing is clear, upfront, and published directly on our website. This approach has helped us grow year after year because our clients feel confident in what they’re getting, from the booking process to the final artwork.
Ultimately, what makes us unique is not only the quality of the images but the experience we offer—a warm, genuine connection and an approach that values trust and transparency above all.nity and newborn photog
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Working with us is all about building connections and creating together! If you’re interested in booking a session, it’s as simple as visiting our website, where you can browse our portfolio, see our transparent pricing, and book directly through our online system. Whether it’s maternity, newborn, or family photography, we’re here to make the process seamless and enjoyable.
For fellow photographers or creatives looking to collaborate, we offer studio rentals through Studio 1807. It’s a fantastic space for creating your own work in a professional, well-equipped environment. We also host Open Studio Nights, which are a great way to network, share ideas, and grow together within the local photography community.
And if you’d like to support us, simply following along on social media, sharing our work, or recommending us to friends and family means the world! We love when our clients and followers are part of our journey. Your support helps us continue doing what we love—creating beautiful memories and art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carolennys.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolennys_studios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolennysstudios/
- Other: https://www.studio1807jax.com/
