Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor Isom. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Taylor , appreciate you joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

I could say I wish I would have started my business sooner, but I’m thankful for the journey I had nonetheless because it really has given me an appreciation for what I have now.

So just as a back story, I did photography as a hobby from the time that I was maybe 15 until I was 21 or so, and I had always said it would be so cool to be a photographer as a job, I was so inspired by a handful of people at the time. But I was told you can’t make a job out of that by just about everyone I knew. I was a full time college student and was working as a preschool teacher, I kind of gave up on that dream of being a photographer and put my hobby to the side for a while. In late 2019, I decided to take a break from school, and I left teaching to work in an operating room with the intention of becoming a nurse. I quickly was promoted and filled the position of anesthesia tech and I thought I was finally on the right path for my life, slowly climbing the ladder. But a few months into the job, things started to shift, and we all know how 2020 started. That year really changed my mind on what I wanted to do with my life.

In the fall of 2020, I was going to school to be an EMT and I started feeling really unhappy with this career path I was on. It didn’t bring me joy, I was exhausted at that point, I didn’t see it as a sustainable option for my mental health, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life anymore. I just knew it wasn’t that.

At this point, I had a few people in my life that were kind of nudging me to get back into photography after taking a little hiatus, and so I started dreaming again about what it would be like to make this into a business, and thinking “maybe this is my calling in life.” And it was! I started my business officially in March of 2021 and built my portfolio, started shooting weddings and worked my way up to being able to quit my job at the hospital to be a full time photographer in April of 2022! It was the absolute best decision I ever made for myself.

So of course, I could say I wish I had started sooner. I wish I wouldn’t have listened to the people that said I could never make a living from it, I wish I would’ve stuck with it even though I was discouraged. But looking back on the experiences I had and how far working hard got me while I was in that season of life, how hard I chased after that dream I always had, I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Taylor , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Taylor! I’m an intimate wedding and elopement photographer based out of Denver.

Just a few fun facts about me: I’m a big sunrise girlie, my favorite color is yellow, I’m an enneagram type 2, I always want snacks, and I’m a big tea drinker although I’ll never turn down a good cup of coffee. My favorite TV show is the Office and when I’m not working, you can catch me at a red rocks concert, traveling, or exploring the outdoors!

The heart and core value of my business is to celebrate the authentic moments in life. So with that, one of the things that I’m most proud of that I hear from people about my work is how genuinely happy the people in my photos look. My goal is always to make people feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera because I know how uncomfortable it can be. I capture authentic moments and tiny details that tell the story of you, your loved ones, and your unscripted bond in every stage of life, no matter what that looks like.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Honestly, word of mouth and instagram! I have established relationships with a lot of clients over the last couple of years, many of them have come back several times for family photos or referred me to their friends and family. It’s been so fun getting to reconnect over and over, and watch their families grow up! This whole time, I haven’t had a website (I will have one soon, it’s in the works, but I am really not a very good web designer), so all of my connections have been through connecting with people on a personal level and making sure they have a great experience that makes them want to tell everyone about my work.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Over the course of the last 2 years, I have grown to just over 1,000 followers, which in the grand scheme of things, 1,000 isn’t a lot. But you really don’t need a lot of followers to have a successful business!

Something that I can say for sure is that consistency is key. I can see the engagement and growth when I am posting consistently vs when I’m not. Planning and scheduling out my content has been a game changer for me as I’m someone who doesn’t really love having to be on social media all the time. Also, show up authentically! Use the vocabulary in your stories and captions that you would use in person, show up on your stories and make it personal so people can connect with you genuinely! Something I have noticed with clients and even for myself when I look at other photographers that I want to invest in and learn from is that we are more likely to invest in someone that we feel comfortable with and like we know them somewhat personally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.honeybook.com/widget/taylor_isom_photography_199354/cf_id/62757968a75038114c59fae2
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorisomphoto/
• Other: Portfolio: https://taylorisomphotography.pic-time.com/portfolio