Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolina Aguirre.
Hi Carolina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Photography has been part of my life since I was 13, when I got my first camera. I remember wanting to learn more, but I didn’t really have the opportunity to explore it at the time. Later on, I went to The Art Institute to study graphic design. Photography was offered, but the focus at the time wasn’t quite the direction I had in mind.
In 2009, while working in corporate, I started thinking about building something of my own. With my background in graphic design, I began designing invitations and saw it as my first step into entrepreneurship. I needed a better camera to photograph my work, so I invested in an entry-level camera, thinking that would solve everything. It didn’t. The photos were still terrible, my lighting, my angles, everything. That’s when I realized it wasn’t about the camera. I started taking classes, and the more I learned, the more I fell in love with photography. I took my camera everywhere, practicing with my daughters until they got tired of it, then with family, friends, and just about anyone who would let me.
I’ve always been a creative person, and that mindset carried into everything I was building. The name “Creative Studio” came from that idea, having a place where I could combine design and photography.
When I officially launched Carolina Creative Studio, my main focus was newborns and first birthdays. As I grew, families naturally became part of the experience, and I quickly fell in love with capturing them as well. That led me to focus on the stages of a growing family, from maternity to newborn and throughout the first year. Over time, many of those families continued coming back, and as their families grew, their dogs were part of that story too, whether they had been there from the beginning or became part of the family along the way.
My love for animals has always been a big part of who I am (I always thought I would become a veterinarian, but life found a different way to connect me back to that love). Little by little, that started to show in my work, as families began asking if they could bring their pets to sessions. Then in 2015, when we got our dog Max, everything really came together. It made me realize just how important pets are in our lives, the happiness they bring and the companionship they offer.
The Pawtrait Studio is an extension of Carolina Creative Studio, with a focus on pets and created with pet parents in mind. It gave me the opportunity to create a dedicated space where pets have their own place to shine. Today, I run both Carolina Creative Studio and The Pawtrait Studio side by side, capturing both families and their pets, which are important part of their lives. While both brands serve different audiences, they share the same heart, capturing meaningful connections and turning them into lasting images.
If we fill our homes with photos of the people we love, why not create something just as meaningful with our pets too?
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a business is never a completely smooth road, and mine has been no different.
One of the biggest challenges has been realizing that I’m not just a photographer. I’ve had to become a social media manager, editor, retoucher, customer service, and everything in between. There are so many moving parts behind the scenes that people don’t always see.
I would say one of the biggest ongoing struggles is the social media side of the business. I truly love being behind the camera, not in front of it, so putting myself out there consistently doesn’t always come naturally. But over time, I’ve learned to embrace those parts of the process. Each challenge has helped me grow, not just as a photographer, but as a business owner.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
With The Pawtrait Studio, I specialize in pet photography, creating a dedicated experience designed just for pets and their personalities. It’s a space where they can truly be the focus and where their connection with their families can be captured in a meaningful way. This is an extension of my main brand, Carolina Creative Studio where I focus on documenting the stages of a growing family, such as: maternity, newborns, first birthday’s, and family photography.
What I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve built with my clients. Many families come back year after year, and I’ve been able to photograph not just their children, but their pets as well. That trust means everything to me.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t see pets as an add-on, they are just as important as any other family member. Creating a separate space for pet photography allows me to give them the attention they deserve. I also bring my graphic design background into everything I do, from how I design my setups to the albums I create for my clients. It’s not just about taking a photo, it’s about creating something people are proud to display in their homes.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about our city is the variety it offers. We have so many different types of locations, from beautiful beaches to city views with tall buildings, and also great spots for those who love a more natural or lifestyle feel. It really gives me a lot of flexibility when planning sessions and creating different looks for my clients.
What I like the least would probably be the weather, the heat and the unpredictable rain can definitely be a challenge at times. But it’s also one of the reasons studio photography becomes such a great option, especially here in South Florida where you can still create beautiful images without having to constantly keep an eye on the weather.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thepawtraitstudio.com/ and https://www.carolinacreativestudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepawtrait_Studio and https://www.instagram.com/carolinacreativestudio
