Do I take the leap again?

I think I just found the studio of my dreams and I’m terrified because it’s a huge leap of faith….

Moving across country and getting ready to reopen a studio again has really opened my eyes to how fearless I was at such a young age to start my business…

And now at 34 it feels so scary again… (even though I’ve always found a way to make it work for 15+ years, it’s still so scary)

Man…. I wish I could just give my younger self a big hug and tell her how proud I am of her. Tell her how scared I know she is, but to keep chasing that dream… keep trusting yourself because your life is about to get crazy!

I started my business back in 2012.

One year out of high school, I registered my business name and decided I’d never work for anyone else but myself.

I promised myself I’d always make it work.

I cried when I signed the first studio lease… $800 a month (back in 2016)

It felt so scary to pay that much money for a place I couldn’t sleep at and I had to turn it into a business… I had to find customers that valued my art.

(I already had a home rent too. I was just barely making every month work) yet I felt it in my bones that I had to open a studio.

It was the only way to survive… so I did it.

I ate ramen noodles for months as I built a name for myself.

I cried again the day that I decided to upgrade my studio and triple the size… and rent… (enter 2019) I signed my lease and then BOOM. Covid hit. Hello ramen noodles again (and my sister Heathers house for her home cooked meals hahaha  )

But still. I made it work. I pushed through and fought every day. Those were my best years yet!

I finally felt like I built a name for myself and then my world fell apart. My passion faded. Then love stopped existing and it felt like I stopped seeing the world in color…

I sat in my studio those days and begged to love art again. But love didn’t feel like it existed.

I had my studio but I didn’t appreciate it anymore and I just pushed through.

But one day the sun rose, it felt warm again, I found love again and then the hardest decision came. To shut down the studio and trust the next adventure…. So I did.

I trusted myself again and it’s been the best decision of my entire life moving across the country to start over in Nashville.

… and here we are AGAIN… this very morning.

Crying over how scared I am to sign a lease and start all over again … in a brand new place, with no name and no clients, and face those scary numbers in front of me…

And trust myself (again)

Today as I walked the old roads of Nashville and saw the vintage cars driving by… as I walked into the Marathon Building my heart started racing, I just knew I was going to find Hannah Rachael photography’s new home.

And oh. my. goodness. It was everything I’ve ever dreamt of. I cried twice just hearing the history of it, seeing the love poured into that building.

There’s photos down every hallway, artifacts and antique tools that were used in the factory (there’s a museum showing off the cars that were built inside!?!) it has restaurants and delis, coffee shops and boutiques…. It’s truly incredible and everything I’ve ever wanted to be apart of.

A slice of untouched heaven in downtown Nashville made with so much love and filled with other amazing small businesses.

And for the first time. I had 4 inquires come in for photoshoots today… 4!?! After going months with ZERO!! It’s a sign.

So do I do it? Do I get the studio and chase the dream again?

Is this it. Is Marathon village the new home of The Hannah Rachael - Boudoir Studio !?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

*updated to add*

As of October 28th 2026.... it's official. We have a new magical home.

The New Nashville Boudoir & Production studio is located at the famous Marathon Village and will be open November 1st 2026.

1310 Clinton St

Building 1310 - Unit 223

Nashville TN, 37203

I can't wait to show you around <3