Tammy Rae Carland was born in Portland, Maine in 1965. She received her BA from The Evergreen State College, an MFA from UC Irvine, and attended the Whitney Independent Study Program. She is a Professor at the California College of the Arts, where she also chairs the Photography Program. Carland is represented by Silverman Gallery in San Francisco, and primarily works with photography, experimental video and small run publications. Her photographs have been published in several books, including The Passionate Camera; Queer Bodies of Desire, and Lesbian Art in America. Carland's fanzine writing has been republished in A Girl's Guide to Taking Over the World. She has also published photographs and received reviews of her work in numerous national media.

In the 1990's Carland produced a series of fanzines, including I (heart) Amy Carter and Thorn. She collaborated on the record art for bands Bikini Kill, The Fakes and The Butchies. From 1997-2005 she co-ran Mr. Lady Records and Videos, an independent record label and video art distribution company that was dedicated to the production and distribution of queer and feminist culture.