We were lucky to catch up with Colby Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Colby, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

As a creative, I have learned that while yes, it can be difficult financially to get up and running, it is still something that I find happiness doing! The saying is if you love what you do you won’t work a day in your life…While partially true, it is still very hard work. The long hours editing, marketing yourself and your brand, learning the ins and outs of the industry is tiring, but very rewarding. Happiness isn’t a longterm feeling. It comes and goes. Joy is longterm happiness even when things are tough or not looking the best. So yes, I do feel I am happy as an artist and a creative. It’s one of the many hats in life I feel truly called to wear.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I took photography in high school learning under Eric Hammer. Truthfully photography was one of the only classes that really stuck with me. I didn’t touch a camera until about 5 years later and here we are! Jake Blucker, a close friend / photography mentor of mine really got me back into the craft. I started on my parent’s Canon Rebel camera and the rest is history.

I offer weddings, sports, events and just about any form of family friendly content you wish to capture! A large chunk of my brand is weddings and senior photos. Every photographer will tell you they offer a creative, unique experience, which is probably true! But to me photography to me isn’t just about the art, it’s about the people you meet, the stories you capture and the connections you make between booking and delivering. Photoshoots should never be boring, they should be an experience that people WANT to pay for.

Each photoshoot is meant to capture YOU… something I am most proud of is working with clients and delivering photos that exceed their expectations. I do my best to provide clients with the best experience possible.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is by FAR the journey you take with the clients. I’ve done engagement shoots all the way to newborn sessions with the couples. On wedding days, you’re often the first one to see the bride in her dress…the first / sometimes the ONLY one to hear their vows to each other…you’re the first one to get there, one of the last to leave. I’m honored to be able to spend the most magical day of the couples life with them,

Another rewarding aspect is volunteering your time for a good cause…yes, we are all creatives and working on growing our business. Sometimes hearing “free photoshoot” can cause us to tense up or “cringe” but when you’re donating your time for a great cause, it can be more rewarding than most shoots.

This fall I was able to donate my time for the Down syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, offering free mini sessions to about a dozen families in the area.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Share! Share! Share! Creatives are NOT competition, we’re collaborators! Share your friend’s work! No, you’re probably not going to book a session with them, so the next best thing is to hype them up and share what they’re doing! They should also do the same with yours.

The photography client market isn’t like a pie…you don’t take clients away from other people when you book. It’s not how it works. There are WAY too many people out there looking for photographers for us to “gatekeep” or not share skills, work, tips / tricks etc… We want each other to be successful. Just because someone around you is successful, doesn’t mean you aren’t. Collaboration NOT competition.

Contact Info:

• Website: colbytaylormedia.com
• Instagram: @colbytaylormedia
• Facebook: @colbytaylormedia

Image Credits
Personal Image: Jake Blucker Media Rest of images : Colby Taylor Media (Self)