We recently connected with Carson Holmes and have shared our conversation below.
Carson, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I developed my confidence and self-esteem through years of self-discovery, change, and reflection. For me, it wasn’t something that happened overnight – it was built slowly, through moments of loss, transition, and growth. I went through seasons where I had to let go of friendships, move physically to new places, and sit with the discomfort of starting over. In those times, I realized how important it was to put my mind and body first before anything else. Prioritizing my well-being became the foundation for building new, healthier relationships and, ultimately, for showing up as my most authentic self.
When I left college and entered the next chapter of my life, I felt like I was stepping into the unknown. I didn’t fully know who I was outside of school or what direction I wanted to take. That uncertainty, though scary, gave me the space to sit with myself and focus deeply on mindfulness. I spent years observing life, trying, failing, and trying again. And through that process, I came to understand something simple but profound: life is short, and everyone is out here just doing their best – so my job is to focus on how I can do mine.
Another big turning point for me was reframing how I viewed embarrassment. I used to avoid it at all costs, but over time, I realized it’s an emotion we don’t challenge enough. Now, I welcome it as a sign that I’m pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I’m okay with embarrassing myself if it means I’m growing, evolving, and becoming a stronger version of who I was yesterday. Confidence, for me, didn’t come from always getting it right – it came from giving myself permission to stumble, to feel uncomfortable, and to still move forward anyway.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a wedding photographer based in New England, specializing in capturing love stories with an editorial aesthetic and a documentary approach. My goal is to create images that feel timeless, authentic, and deeply personal – photos that allow couples to relive their day exactly as it unfolded, with all of the emotion and beauty preserved.
My journey into photography began long before I ever called it a business. I was the girl who always had a camera in hand – planning photo shoots with friends, experimenting with directing and posing, and then spending hours editing. Storytelling through images was something that came naturally to me and followed me throughout college and beyond. But it wasn’t until 2023, after experiencing a series of corporate layoffs, that I finally leaned into this passion as more than just a hobby. I realized I didn’t want my career to be defined by whether or not I was “next” in a cycle I couldn’t control. Photography had always been a constant for me, and I saw an opportunity to build something of my own.
In the beginning, I said yes to everything – second shooting, assisting, even taking on free weddings and elopements – because I wanted to learn the business from the ground up. My goal wasn’t about profit at first, but about gaining experience, building a portfolio, and proving to myself that I could create momentum. That willingness to try, grow, and put myself out there laid the foundation for what is now a thriving business.
What excites me most about my work today is the balance between artistry and connection. I’m not just showing up to take pictures – I’m walking alongside couples during one of the most important days of their lives, ensuring they feel supported, confident, and truly seen. I believe the best photographs come when people feel comfortable, which is why my brand is as much about the experience as it is about the final gallery.
Looking ahead, I’m focused on growing within the high-end wedding space, continuing to refine my brand, and expanding into more destination weddings. My hope is that every couple who works with me walks away with more than just beautiful images – they leave with a legacy of memories preserved in a way that feels timeless, elegant, and uniquely their own.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, curiosity, and intentionality. Resilience came from navigating seasons of uncertainty – whether it was friendship loss, moving to new places, or facing corporate layoffs. Each challenge taught me how to pick myself back up, adapt, and keep moving forward, which has been crucial in building a business from the ground up. Curiosity has been just as important; I’ve never been afraid to experiment, to say yes to opportunities that scared me, or to risk embarrassing myself if it meant I was learning. That openness to trial and error gave me hands-on experience and helped me discover what kind of work truly lights me up. Finally, intentionality has guided how I shape my business today. Rather than trying to do everything for everyone, I’ve learned the power of niching down, aligning with my values, and focusing on the type of clients and experiences that feel the most fulfilling.
For anyone early in their journey, my advice would be to embrace those same qualities. Build resilience by seeing setbacks as redirections rather than failures. Stay curious and give yourself permission to try, make mistakes, and learn as you go – it’s the fastest way to grow. And practice intentionality from the beginning. Even if you’re still figuring things out, check in with yourself often to make sure the work you’re doing feels aligned with who you are and the life you want to build. Growth doesn’t come from having it all figured out – it comes from staying open, grounded, and willing to keep evolving.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I think it’s a balance, but personally I’ve found the greatest growth comes from leaning into my strengths while being honest about where I need outside support. For me, my strength has always been connection and storytelling – making people feel comfortable in front of the camera and capturing their most authentic moments. That’s the heart of my business, and it’s where I want my energy to go. But in my first year, I realized pretty quickly that trying to do everything on my own was holding me back. I was juggling inquiries, pricing, branding, social media, and my actual photography work, and I reached a point where I knew I wasn’t an expert in all of those areas – and didn’t need to be.
That’s when I joined Business with Boundaries, a group coaching program for photographers and creative entrepreneurs. It focuses on building a business that’s both profitable and sustainable by helping you clarify your niche, align your pricing and packages, refine your branding, and create systems that support your life instead of draining it. For me, it was a turning point – it gave me the structure and guidance to stop running my business on guesswork and start building it with intention. Around the same time, I also made the decision to hire a professional website and brand designer, Anna Grace Designs. That was a big investment, but I knew that while I could piece together a website myself, it wasn’t going to represent the high-end, intentional brand I was working so hard to build. By trusting Anna Grace Designs with that skill set, I was able to show up more confidently in my own lane, while my brand worked for me in the background.
So my view is that going all in on your strengths allows you to build momentum, but it’s equally important to recognize when something isn’t your zone of genius and either seek guidance or outsource. I’ve learned that trying to be “well-rounded” on my own only leads to burnout. But surrounding yourself with the right resources, coaches, or collaborators fills in those gaps and lets you focus on the work you’re truly best at. That’s where the real growth happens.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carsonholmesphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carsonholmesphotography/
Image Credits
All taken by Carson Holmes Photography
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