Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Lynn & Laura Grace Sears.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
LG:
Mushaboom Studio started when we were two months out of college, sharing a one-bedroom apartment — one of us sleeping in the “office” because that’s just what made sense at the time. We didn’t have a five-year plan; we just knew we wanted to work together and create something better than the jobs we’d tried on for size.
KL:
We’re twin sisters, and we’ve been creative collaborators since we were kids. After studying at Georgia Tech, we found ourselves in some “trial period” contract jobs that, frankly, weren’t it. We were lucky enough to find ourselves surrounded by women who ran their own businesses. Watching them made it all seem possible — like entrepreneurship wasn’t some far-off idea, but something we could actually do ourselves.
LG:
Over the years, we each honed our own specialty. I built my expertise in photography and art direction — creating images that feel polished but still full of personality. The kind of photos that help brands tell their story at a glance.
KL:
And I dove deep into brand and web design, combining visual design with development skills that make Squarespace sites not only look better but function better, too. I can build layouts most designers can’t — without making it harder for our clients to edit their sites afterward.
LG:
Together, it means business owners don’t have to manage multiple creatives and hope it all comes together. We’re a fully aligned team — delivering visuals that are cohesive across your brand, website, and marketing materials.
KL:
Six years later, Mushaboom Studio has evolved into a full-service creative agency offering brand design, brand photography, and web design. We focus on creating streamlined, cohesive brand visuals that make it easier for business owners to market themselves and grow. We’re obsessed (in a healthy way) with artistry, organization, and creating systems that feel simple and sustainable for our clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
KL: I can’t imagine a business owner answering this question with a “Yes — smooth sailing!” Not one single business owner would say that!
One of the early struggles was, of course, the pandemic. When we first started, most of our connections and early clients came through an in-person community. We had some digital marketing efforts, but they generated only a small portion of our leads. So we really learned how important it is to diversify your reach and how you connect with people.
LG: And then I moved to Boston in 2021 after my partner got a job there. KL stayed in Georgia. Running a creative business across different states was so tough, especially because my photography work was mostly local — and it was so hard to connect with people at that time. The Northeast was still really closed down. It was a disheartening experience. The one thing I had going for me was my remote photography offers, which we’d developed a year prior.
KL: That was a tough time for us. LG was without her community, adjusting to a new place, trying to make a home. My side of the business was doing pretty well, but I was overwhelmed — sizzling from the burnout.
The stars aligned, and she and her partner ended up moving back in the summer of 2024. After all the hard times, she actually ended up loving Boston, and we figured out a lot of things that allowed us to run the business from two states. But I’m so glad she’s back now.
LG: And then obviously, we’ve had our share of lessons learned just regarding business basics: figuring out how to structure the business, organize our finances, manage client communication, and keep leveling up our creative work. Plus dealing with the inevitable burnout, perfectionism, and comparison that comes with running your own thing.
KL: One of the best things to come out of all of it was our virtual events! (https://mushaboom.studio/events) We host an event series for web designers and a casual networking series — the kind of relaxed, non-cringy spaces we wished existed when we first started. Building community has been one of the most rewarding parts of this whole journey.
We’ve made friends across state lines we talk to on a daily basis, we’ve been on dream podcasts, and we’ve even traveled to house-sit for business owner friends in Europe. Most of that came from the pain of facing lead droughts during the pandemic — and from developing ways to network and socialize that felt better to us.
We’ve been impressed with Mushaboom Studio, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
KL: Mushaboom Studio is a full-service creative studio — we specialize in brand design, brand photography, and web design, especially for small businesses and entrepreneurs who value clean, personality-driven visuals.
We’re known for creating cohesive brand systems that feel polished but approachable. Our style leans minimalist but still has warmth and character — it feels alive instead of cold or sterile.
LG: What really sets us apart is that we offer both branding and photography under one roof, and both sides are genuinely strong. It’s not just “good enough” on one side and “great” on the other.
I’ve built my expertise in brand and lifestyle photography with a strong focus on art direction — meaning every shoot is highly intentional and customized for the brand’s goals, not just “pretty” photos.
KL: And I’m both a designer and a developer, which is rare — especially in the Squarespace space. I can design layouts that are creative, unique, and thoughtful — and then actually bring them to life with custom code, without making it harder for the client to edit their own site later.
Because we have these complementary skill sets, our clients don’t have to manage multiple creatives or worry about piecing things together themselves. We build brands that feel cohesive, strategic, and easy to use long-term.
LG: Brand visuals are an investment — and we take the responsibility seriously. We don’t just hand off a logo or a gallery of images and wish you luck. We build visual systems that actually support your business goals, whether that’s attracting higher-end clients, increasing brand recognition, or simply making your marketing feel lighter and easier.
KL: Brand-wise, we’re most proud of the relationships we’ve built — with our clients and with our creative peers. It’s easy to say you’re collaborative, but we put a lot of care into communication, project management, and making sure every client feels heard and supported through the whole process.
LG: We also have big hearts for other creative entrepreneurs — especially women-owned businesses, queer-owned businesses, and service providers who are doing things differently. Our clients are usually people who want their brand to feel cool but real, and they’re excited to invest in custom visuals that will grow with them, not just for today but for the next few years.
KL: If you’re looking for design, photography, and web that actually works together, and a creative team that’s organized, collaborative, and genuinely excited about what you’re building — that’s us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
**KL:** Honestly, I’d say luck has shown up mostly in the form of *timing* — sometimes good, sometimes bad.
Right before the pandemic hit, we had just developed remote brand photography services. It wasn’t because we anticipated anything — we just thought it would be a cool expansion. And then suddenly, it became a huge reason why we were able to stay afloat when everything shut down. Total luck.
**LG:** We’d also just raised our prices around that time. Which felt like bad timing in the moment. But with some time and patience it led us to better-fit clients who really valued our work. But the immediate aftermath was a scary moment.
**KL:** I think biggest kind of “luck” in our business has been meeting a few amazing people. We’ve been really fortunate to connect with some insanely talented copywriters, developers, designers — people who aren’t just great at what they do, but are generous, collaborative, and genuinely fun to work with.
We met a designer named Kate Christy over Instagram right as LG had moved to Boston. And she does exactly what I do – brand and web design specializing in Squarespace. We’re both workaholics and just as LG was facing the stress of her move and stepping back from work, I suddenly had someone to talk to about work after hours when my brain wouldn’t shut off.
Good people are honestly a big part of why we haven’t quit yet.
**LG:** Yeah, because there has been some bad luck. Timing of personal stuff like the pandemic, breakups, moves, family losses — that stuff doesn’t stay neatly contained in your personal life when you own a business.
There’s no wall between “life” and “business” when you’re an entrepreneur. But we’ve learned to build systems that support us when life happens. And we have a community that makes even the hardest times feel a little lighter.
Pricing:
- Brand Audit — $500
- Brand Design Basic — $3,500 (2 wks) | Premium — $5,000 (4 wks)
- Web Design Basic — $3,500 (3–4 wks) | Premium — $7,000 (4 wks)
- Brand Photography Basic — $1,500 (3–4 wks) | Premium — $4,000 (4 wks)
- Custom Projects Custom quotes for e-commerce, product photos, & more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mushaboom.studio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mushaboom.studio/
- Other: https://www.behance.net/mushaboomstudio
Image Credits
Image Credits: LG of Mushaboom Studio
