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

Alright, Taylor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I think being self employed can definitely be a double-edged sword, for me anyways. I have been my own boss since 2016, and sometimes I feel like I’m the worst boss I’ve ever had.

I am constantly feeling like I could be doing more or better work, and when I do take some time to live my life & relax, I often find myself feeling bad about it even though I know it’s necessary for the creative process.

That being said I wouldn’t have it any other way, having control over my time and the flexibility to focus on my physical & mental health is the cornerstone of my creative work. It allows me to travel freely and do the things I need to do in order to function properly.

I have a huge appreciation for those who work a 9-5 job and still manage their time effectively enough to exercise, spend time with their friends + families, cook at home, ect. Those are things that I struggle to do even despite having control over my time, so I always appreciate the 9-5 grind.

I think having a regular job has it’s perks. Being able to clock out and not have to worry about things until the next day, and I can’t remember the last time I had a real “weekend” without shooting an event or editing something. But I love what I do and I wouldn’t trade my situation for anything.

They say that when you love what you do you never work a day in your life, but I don’t believe that. When you love what you do, you work nights, weekends, at parties, while your friends are over, on trips. It never ends but that’s why we do it.. because we LOVE it!

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?

Last year I packed up all my belongings, my girlfriend, & my cats and headed for Austin in hopes that a bigger city would lead to more creative work opportunities. I could not have imagined the amazing things that would happen after I moved here.

Within the last year I’ve built my client list up with some of Austins top BBQ Joints, InsterStellar BBQ (#2 Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joints 2021) and Leroy & Lewis (#5), as well as the official whiskey sponsor of the University of Texas Longhorns, Still Austin.

What sets me apart is that I choose to work for brands and businesses that I am interested in, and business owners who I connect with. I think that this makes me more invested in each project as a creator if I’m doing it for a person or business that I really care about.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2016 I started a legal cannabis grow facility with one of my bandmates in Oregon. My role in the project was to run our marketing, advertising, sales and social media accounts. This project ended up failing in 2019 and at that time I got a camera and pivoted into creative work, creating content for a very popular local brewery in Oregon. Throughout the pandemic I focused on photography and honed in on my style.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I like to keep communication as open as possible and set regular meetings to maintain a personal relationship and friendship with my clients. I think a lot of creatives carry over the ’employer vs employee” relationship model from their previous occupation. I think this can stifle creativity and create problems down the line.

I want to be friends with my clients and work together with a common interest in showcasing their businesses beautifully.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.takegreat.photos
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/takegreatphotos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-gorman-74730896/
• Other: Google Page: https://goo.gl/maps/RK3hXwpgiFhQ1TGe9

Image Credits
Photo of me by James Walker (@jimothy445 on instagram) Rest of the photos are taken by me