Carleen Olson
Creating brands that shine,
websites that convert & photography that tells your story.
Blending art, strategy, and storytelling to craft visuals that don’t just turn heads— they empower entrepreneurs to show up, feel seen, and grow.
Website Design
Your brand deserves a safe home on the web.
I design websites and brands that stand out, let you take up space, claim your presence and connect with your audience in a way that builds trust and credibility to grow your business!
It’s not just about looking good—it’s about creating an experience that converts.
Photography
Moody. Dreamy. Artistic. Soulful. Bold.
When words fall short to express, let the visuals do the talking.
I focus on natural light and authentic moments to capture your vibe & essence—whether it’s through lifestyle shots, brand storytelling, or those magical unseen details.
Create a Bundle
Branding, photography, web design, and graphics—all in one seamless, collaborative experience, including a marketing & social media plan. Ask me for the deets—what are you waiting for?
My Approach
Yes, my initials are CEO
Let me set the story straight...
Long story short: As a kid, I started an art store at school (entrepreneur from the start). Naturally, I signed my work with my initials—but adults weren’t happy about it. From that day on, I felt I had to shrink myself to keep others comfortable.
Fast-forward to 2019: I reclaimed my initials and made them the foundation of my mission. Now, my work is for those who, like me, follow their inner child—boldly and unapologetically!
The truth is, it’s not about me at all.
It’s about you—the bold, trailblazing souls making an impact.
Here, CEO isn’t about climbing to the top or corporate BS!
It’s about stepping into your power, knowing you’ve always been enough, and owning your magic as an entrepreneur. Helping you shift your perspective on how you see yourself and how your brand interacts with the world. Let me help you shine your light onto the world.
The mission is CEO:
CaptivatING. EmpowerING. One-of-a-kind.
You are CEO. I am CEO. We are CEO.
Talking about myself has never come easy—but I know I’m not alone in that. Let’s be real: being a business owner isn’t all sunshine, bubbles, and selfies. Many of us struggle to share our accomplishments, wins or show up online.
I grew up surrounded by inventors, artists, and creators—people who built from scratch, brought visions to life, and poured their soul into their work.
From counting screws for my first paycheck, creating my fams business logo as a kid, to launching my own business right out of high school, I’ve lived and breathed entrepreneurship my whole life. Its natural (& in my DNA) to think outside the box, find magic in the ordinary, and turning bold ideas into reality.
But one thing always stuck with me: Being truly seen for your hard work, your magic, and your essence is rare. That’s why I do what I do!
Over the past eight years, I’ve evolved—going from photographing everything under the sun to managing social media, creating content, directing marketing campaigns, and now designing websites for entrepreneurs who, like me, are chasing their wildest dreams.
I combine my experience with my passion for art, storytelling, and branding to craft something powerful and essential for every business: branding, a website, and visuals.
I know what it’s like to follow that light inside, dream big, feel deeply and pour your heart into something. Let’s bring your vision to life!
My Story
"This branding babe has helped me expand & hone in on my brand and visuals so much!
"Creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone just wanting some hot photos of themselves you owe it to yourself to work with her! The level of comfort and ease she provides makes everything so fun and encouraging. plus the content she comes up with is 🔥"
- Cassidy, Owner of Spell & Stone
"She’s insanely talented and knowledgeable about her craft!"
"Working with Carleen feels like finding yourself. She creates a safe space for you to be authentic, confident, & beautiful. Not only do the pictures come out amazing but she gives each client her full heart and attention. I’ve worked with Carleen on a few projects and each one shocks me by out doing the last. She’s insanely talented and knowledgeable about her craft! If you’re ever feeling stuck in a funk with your vision or your brand, Carleen is the answer for your journey!"
-Sami Poss, Creative Artist
"She blew it away with her creativity and insight into what we envisioned."
We hired Carleen to do a photo shoot for our yoga studio and absolutely loved working with her! She took the time to get to know us (the two owners), our brand and business. She created a vision board that helped us see what she had in mind and she blew it away with her creativity and insight into what we envisioned. The photos she took were wonderful! We were able to update our website, social media pages and images all from one photo shoot with her. Plus, we had a blast doing it."
- Nicole & Niki, Owners of Spirit of the Lake Yoga Studio
"I’m seeing a lot of traffic and inquiries to my website and I have Carleen’s expertise and talent to thank for it!"
"Hiring Carleen was the best decision I made for my business and brand. I cannot recommend Carleen enough - I feel like she literally SAVED me. She just “got it” when it came to designing something that screamed “me.” She turned my website around quickly. She is professional, creative, communicative and so easy to work with. Carleen has an eye for branding and design - you won’t regret hiring her."
- Hillary Kline | Professional Makeup Artist and TV media personality
"Carleen truly has cultivated an incredible talent for her craft."
"Carleen's eye for beautiful aesthetics makes for a unique final product that she personally trailers for every client. She is both fun and professional to work with, and it has been such a gift to receive the beautiful photographs after the session. Carleen truly has cultivated an incredible talent for her craft, and her photographs speak for themselves."
- Gena Cohen | Artist, Poet and Author
"One of the best photographers in the Twin Cities area by far!"
"Carleen is seriously an absolute ray of sunshine to work with! Every single second of shooting with her was so much fun and she's just bursting with amazing ideas and energy the whole time. This girl 100% knows her craft well and knows how to get your best angles and expressions."
- Jess Goss | Creative Model
"Carleen is just as talented behind the camera as she is comforting & supportive to her subjects & brands"
"She really wants to understand & execute your vision; she always brings her very best to every project! Her eye for creativity is unmatched; she creates a vision for every shoot & it shows. Her work is always unique yet consistent with her brand of empowering other women."
- Sophia Prizmoch | Queenie & Pearl Marketing & Influencer
"Her talent + eye for striking imagery that represents the true subject is a gift.
"Carleen is so comforting and friendly, working with her feels like you’re hanging out with a friend. She DELIVERS every time!"
- Ashleigh Gulden | Actress and Professional Performer
"I would highly recommend working with Carleen!"
"I loved working with Carleen on lifestyle photos for my brand and social media! We got so many great shots I will have lots to work with! She was great to work with and made me feel comfortable – that is why we got so many great photos!"
- Anna Klimmek | Professional Chef & Owner of Happy Food MN
"She has an eye for the unexpected & mysterious…
"Carleen is such an amazing photographer! I have worked with her as a stylist on a number of photoshoots, and she does exceptional work every time. She is fun-loving and creative, and makes for such an easy and relaxed atmosphere. Her genuine personality shines through her photos, and I love that she is willing to take risks!"
- Sarah Kuhn | Poppy Stella Rose, Fashion Stylist
"Outstanding, professional & fun photography experience."
"You will get quality photos that capture the true essence of who you really are and what you are looking for. I love Carleen's energy and passion she puts into her work. It shows in every photo. Thank you for a wonderful and fun experience that portrays your beautiful work."
- Denise Oster | Author, Speaker and Life Coach
"Carleen was nothing but wonderful & professional!"
"I am a hair colorist in Minneapolis and needed some really cool shots for work to use with color companies , and she delivered! The photos were absolutely amazing! She’s just so good you have to have more than one session with her. She made us feel very comfortable and we had so much fun shooting with her."
-Hannah Perry, Hair Stylist & owner of Full Color Alchemist
Reach out and say hey!
Whether you want to
work together or just connect,
I look forward to hearing from you!
Just for Fun
Coffee Order: Vanilla Latte
Next on my travel: The PNW
Go-to tunes: Fleetwood Mac & The Eagles
Big Astrology Gal: Virgo Sun, Taurus Moon, Cancer Rising
Essentials: Oversized sunglasses, rings, journal, my car, coffee & camera
