Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Spivey.
Hi Carrie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a young girl, I was always fascinated by photography and the idea that you could see something, click a button, and freeze that moment in time. I also loved that a camera could be more than a way to document life; it could be a tool for creating art.
That fascination led me to photography classes in high school, and photography continued to be a hobby of mine into adulthood. Creativity has always been a common thread in my life. Along the way, I also developed a love for event planning and floral arranging, and I was forever doodling house plans and imagining different spaces and designs.
Life ultimately took my career in a different direction, and I spent more than 20 years working in logistics. But my creative interests never really went away. In 2013, I decided to make a major change, leave the logistics world behind, and pursue photography full time.
Looking back, what may have seemed like unrelated interests were really all connected by the same thing: a love for creativity, beauty, design, and capturing the details that make something special.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. When I made the leap into photography full time, I was jumping into the world of DSLRs while also trying to figure out how to run a small business, both with very little knowledge or experience. There were so many new skills to learn all at once, and on top of that, I was navigating some family obstacles along the way.
One of the biggest turning points for me was discovering PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and becoming involved with both the national organization and local photography guilds. Finding like-minded people who were willing to share their knowledge, encourage one another, and walk alongside you rather than compete with you completely changed my perspective.
That sense of community helped push me forward and motivated me to keep learning and growing. I began to realize that success didn’t have to mean doing everything on my own. Having people around you who genuinely want to see you succeed can make all the difference.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When I first started my photography career, I photographed a little bit of everything: maternity, pets, commercial work, weddings, and more. I think that season of trying different genres was important because it gave me the opportunity to discover not only what I was good at, but what I truly enjoyed photographing.
For years, I secretly wanted to move into real estate and architectural photography, but I wasn’t quite sure how to break into that world. Weddings, on the other hand, came very naturally to me. Having worked as an event coordinator earlier in my career, I already understood the flow of an event, the importance of details, and how to anticipate what was going to happen before it happened.
As the years passed, I became much more intentional about the work I wanted to create and began niching down in 2021. Today, I operate two photography brands. One specializing in real estate and commercial properties, along with professional headshots, and another devoted exclusively to weddings.
What I’m most proud of is that I allowed my business to evolve with me. I didn’t feel like I had to stay in one box simply because that was where I started. I’ve been able to take my different interests and experiences; from photography and event planning to my longtime fascination with homes, spaces, and design, and turn them into businesses that reflect what I genuinely love to photograph.
I believe what sets me apart is that I don’t simply look at something and think about how to photograph it; I pay attention to how it feels, how the details work together, and how to tell its story visually. Whether I’m photographing a beautiful property, creating a professional headshot, or documenting a wedding day, my goal is to create images that are both purposeful and lasting.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
One of the tools I rely on most in my real estate photography business is HDPhotoHub. It helps streamline so many parts of my workflow from making scheduling easy for my clients to delivering their finished media and keeping me on track with the tasks needed to complete each job. Having those systems in place allows me to spend more time focusing on the creative side of my work.
I also enjoy listening to Ben Hartley’s podcast for photography and business insight. But I would say some of my greatest inspiration and continued education comes from attending my monthly photography guild meetings. There’s something incredibly valuable about being in a room with other photographers, sharing ideas, learning from one another, and being challenged to continue growing.
Technology and educational resources are wonderful tools, but for me, that connection with a community of like-minded creatives continues to be one of my most valuable resources.
Pricing:
- 195+ tax is our starting package price for real estate properties
- $7000 for our luxury wedding package.
- $350+ tax is our starting package for short term rentals
- 250+tax for headshots
Contact Info:
- Website: www.CFXPhoto.com & www.foxandvineweddings.com
- Instagram: CFX_carriereneauspivey
- Facebook: foxandvineweddings
