logo of Pioneer Spirit, Nashville based creative media and marketing agency

Pioneer Spirit

we craft stories with conviction

Trusted By

These logos represent past collaborations through Pioneer Spirit, freelance work, and agency partnerships.

Built for Brands With Backbone

We build brand systems that speak with strength.

Designed to last.

Rooted in conviction.

Measured by outcomes that matter.

Burn the Ships

Exurite Naves / Who We Are

We started Pioneer Spirit after watching traditional agencies trade integrity for influence—chasing trends, pushing quiet agendas, and losing sight of the brands they were meant to serve. We built something different: a studio grounded in clarity, conviction, and a deep respect for the truth.

Founded by Matthew and Claire Sandström, Pioneer Spirit is grounded in a decade of experience across media production, brand strategy, and state politics. Together, we bring a rare blend of creative vision and civic-minded strategy—uniting message and meaning for brands that stand for something. We stay hands-on with every project, because trust is earned, not outsourced.

We partner with leaders, brands, and organizations that value tradition, integrity, and enduring results. Our work includes high-impact photography, cinematic video production, brand design, curated asset libraries, and strategic use of generative AI. For a select group of aligned partners, we also provide strategy and marketing execution—helping them scale their mission without compromising their message.

We don’t chase trends. We craft stories that endure—guided by a respect for heritage, responsibility, and the people our work represents.

Our Founders’ Track Record

Before launching Pioneer Spirit, Matthew led creative production for over 140 media campaigns in the Nashville market and across the country. His photo and video work was featured in marketing efforts that generated:

  • $72.6M in attributed revenue

  • 82x average return on ad spend

  • 85%+ client retention rate

  • $223K+ in production budgets managed

  • $57K+ in annual ops savings

  • 17% increase in profitability from production systems he helped design

Creative that drove performance. Systems that scaled it.

Where We Lead

  • Gritty product portrait of bearded man holding handmade green leather bag over wooden table

    Stills

    Photography, design, and visual systems that reinforce identity and honor your brand’s heritage.

  • country music guitarist performing on stage holding red electric guitar

    Motion

    Cinematic storytelling that builds trust, inspires action, and drives results across screens.

  • studio product lineup of tequila bottles on slate backdrop

    Marketing

    Clear strategy.
    Confident execution.
    No compromises.

Matthew Sandström is a media producer and strategist with over a decade of experience behind the lens and across the marketing landscape. His work spans photography, film, and creative direction—crafted for brands that value authenticity, heritage, and long-term impact.

Raised in North Idaho and shaped by seasons in cities like Los Angeles and Prague, Matthew’s creative path has taken him across the country and around the world. Guided by a deep sense of calling and a commitment to craftsmanship, he eventually put down roots in Nashville—where he and his wife Claire founded Pioneer Spirit to help businesses tell stories that endure.

Before launching Pioneer Spirit, Matthew led creative production for over 140 media campaigns in the Nashville market and across the country. His photo and video work was featured in marketing efforts that generated over $72 million in attributed revenue, with an average 82x return on ad spend and an 85%+ client retention rate. He also helped design operational systems that increased profitability by 17% and saved over $57,000 annually—proving that good creative, when backed by smart structure, doesn’t just look good. It performs.

Today, Matthew leads all aspects of creative production at Pioneer Spirit, from brand photography to full-scale video campaigns. For a select group of aligned partners, he also serves as agency lead—developing tailored marketing strategies, crafting campaigns, and managing creative assets with the same conviction and care that define the brand itself.

He lives in Middle Tennessee with Claire and their two sons—where faith, family, and a spirit of independence shape both their work and their life.

Matthew Sandström

Founder & Creative Director
Portrait of Matthew Sandstrom leaning against barn gate wearing western clothing, shot by Livv Faith
Matthew Sandstrom leaning against barn gate wearing western belt buckle, shot by Livv Faith
  • "I have just been so excited with this project! I know you have poured your blood sweat and tears into it and I am truly so grateful for that.”

  • "I wanted to reach out directly and tell you how pleased we are with the photos. I knew they'd be great, but was wholly unprepared for how great.”

  • "You just get us and it really shows!”

  • "It is always a total pleasure to work with you. I so appreciate your ability to roll with the punches and, in some cases, help me make something great out of nothing.”

  • “I feel like you totally understand the monumental piece this is for us and just can't thank you enough for your attitude towards it and wanting to get it perfect. It truly means a lot to us!"

Long-exposure landscape of Montana river at golden hour

Claire Sandström

Founder & Administrative Director

Claire Sandström is a strategist, communicator, and organizer with a background that bridges government affairs, policy advising, and creative operations. Raised in a Christian family in Dearborn, Michigan, she grew up with a deep respect for hard work, truth, and personal responsibility—principles instilled by her father, a project manager in Ford’s performance division.

Her early experiences—including the cultural and political pressures surrounding her community—shaped a lifelong commitment to family, faith, and freedom. She trained in classical ballet from a young age, a discipline that brought her to Middle Tennessee to dance with the Nashville Ballet and taught her the quiet strength of focus, grace, and grit.

Over time, Claire’s sense of purpose led her to public service. She became a trusted policy advisor in the Tennessee General Assembly, working alongside legislative leadership to craft and pass legislation protecting the rights of families, businesses, and individuals across the state. She remains active in the legislature and continues to champion civic-minded causes throughout Tennessee.

As co-founder of Pioneer Spirit, Claire is the voice of clarity behind the scenes. She leads project operations, oversees timelines and deliverables, and brings structure to the creative process. She also provides strategic design support and, for select clients, orchestrates government relations efforts—connecting brands with the civic tools and relationships needed to make a lasting impact.

Claire lives in Middle Tennessee with her husband, Matthew, and their two sons. Her work is grounded in discernment, responsibility, and a deep commitment to meaningful service—principles that guide both her mission and her life.

Stills

Images that shape identity. Crafted with precision, curated with care, and built to endure.

Motion

Cinematic storytelling designed to resonate—crafted with clarity, built to last, and made to move.

Safelite Auto Glass

Blade Diaz

Liberty Justice Center

Workers Rights

Lone Star Rodeo

75th Anniversary

TennesseeCAN

Education Freedom

D.T. McCall & Sons

Almost 12

Our founder’s creative leadership has contributed to results like:

  • 140+ campaigns produced for brands, nonprofits, and agencies

  • $72.6 million in attributed revenue

  • 82x average return on ad spend

  • 85%+ client retention rate

  • $223,000+ in budgets managed

  • $57,000 in annual savings from operations systems

  • 17% increase in profitability through process innovation

Before Pioneer Spirit, the work still spoke for itself.

Now we bring that experience to brands that truly stand for something.

Visit Us

1030 16th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37212

Hours
Closed Sunday

Phone
615.651.4177