How We Found Our New Studio in Wausau, WI
Sometimes, the perfect opportunity is right in front of you- you just have to be ready to take the leap.
About a year ago, my husband, Allen, who’s a Realtor with Jones Real Estate Group, got a listing for a building available for lease. I went with him to take pictures, and as soon as we stepped inside, we both had the same thought: This place could be amazing. It had everything we needed- a space for a photography studio, a lobby, separate offices for both of us, and even an area where the kids could hang out. The only downside? It needed quite a bit of work.
At the time, it just wasn’t feasible. I was about five months postpartum with Liam, and the idea of taking on a huge renovation while navigating life with a newborn was overwhelming. So, we let it go. Over the next several months, Allen had a lot of interest in the space. It was in a great location with high visibility, and there were several potential deals that came close- but none of them worked out.
Then, in December, Allen looked at me and said, What if we did it? What if we leased this building?
At that point, things had changed. Liam was over a year old, Allen had recently quit his full-time job to pursue real estate full-time, and I was itching to get back into photography in a bigger way. While the idea still felt daunting- Liam was (and still is) incredibly needy, and it felt like a huge leap of faith to do something so different and drastic-we were determined to make both of our businesses work.
For months, we had been struggling to find the best way to work from home. Allen often went to the real estate office to get things done, but he wanted a space where he could truly settle in and work comfortably. Meanwhile, I found myself constantly distracted at home- the endless to-do list of dishes, laundry, pets needing attention, and kids wanting snacks made it impossible to focus. Even when I carved out time to work, there was always something pulling me away.
That’s when it really hit me: I needed a space outside of the house. Somewhere I could fully focus on photography, meet with clients, and run my business without a million little interruptions.
Looking back, it feels like this studio was waiting for us all along. We’ve had so many moments where we looked at houses or buildings and thought, Wouldn’t that be great? But for one reason or another, they weren’t the right fit. This one? This one was different.
Now that the studio is almost done, I can hardly believe how much it has transformed. It’s better than I imagined when we first walked in. I’m beyond excited to step fully into this next chapter- creating beautiful portraits, growing my business, and making the most of this incredible space that, in so many ways, feels like it was meant for just us.
Most of all, I’m excited to serve the Wausau community- capturing memories, creating beautiful portraits, and offering a space where families can celebrate the moments that matter most. I can’t wait to welcome you into the Studio!
The Studio will be open soon- we are located at 215 Stewart Ave, Wausau, WI- connected to Papa John’s!
~Carissa
Our new Studio Space- the White Room- our small portrait room for newborn photography, small families, and themed mini sessions.
