We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Taylor Stephens. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Taylor below.

Alright, Taylor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned what I do by simply having a love for food, photography and staying consistent. Being more consistent in the beginning would have definitely sped up the process. The most important thing I learned is that you don’t need the latest and greatest equipment to take great pictures and videos. You just need practice. Also having a mentor to help navigate the connections when it comes to the media and PR companies that allow access to the latest and greatest happenings and openings in the city. I think the most essential skill is just being authentic and passionate about what you do and the product that you put out. An obstacle that stood in my way of learning more was realizing my growth and worth as an Atlanta Influencer.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am an Atlanta native, born and raised on the Eastside. As an alumnus of the University of Georgia, I am truly a Georgia girl to the core. GO DAWGS!! I love food so much that my personal social media was littered with food pics until I decided to create an Instagram page specifically devoted to my foodie adventures. From there, I started to connect with other foodies, chefs and restauranteurs in the city. This opened up a whole new world that I didn’t know existed. Over the last 4 years, my photographs have grown from a superficial level and to a robust and profound story that is told by the food and the hands that make it.

As a foodie and Atlanta influencer, I try to create content that I would want to see if I was in my audience. This includes the latest restaurant/food truck openings, food and drink festivals, and other unique experiences that the city has to offer. I try to work with clients that need exposure to the every day ATLien. You would be surprised at all the events that happen in the city that most people do not know about. I actively seek out and highlight Black owned small businesses.

As a native, I’ve seen the city change significantly through the decades. Atlanta is such a unique city and I hear about it all the time from transplants when compared to other places. It warms my heart to know I was born and bred in such an amazing city and it comes through in my content.

I am most proud of my growth I’ve made in the quality of my photography and videos. I am also very proud of the friendships that I have developed because of the foodie community. It can be a mixed bag when it comes to the community here, but there are some really genuine and authentic people that are amazing!

My brand is all about showcasing not only the latest and greatest in the community and surrounding areas but staples within the community too. I want my followers to be vocal about what they would like to see more over. Experiences that you are curious about? Message me! Want me to check out a local restaurant before you do? Leave me a comment! I want my audience to have an active role in the content because this is their community too!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As a creative, you have to be your biggest fan and supporter. This includes recognizing and understanding your own worth. If you consistently put out quality content, don’t be afraid to raise the price. Many times, clients come to influencers for their influence and want that for free. It takes time to create and edit content on top of sharing it with our audience. Don’t feel bad about asking for compensation outside of a plate of food that was always going to be produced. If someone can not afford you, some else will. This is a lesson that I learned especially as deliverables are pivoting more towards reels and videos than photographs.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I organically grew my following over the years through dope content creation and community. The foodie niche in social media is very saturated so building a significant audience can be challenging at times. I grew my following the most by creating content I was passionate about. I strongly believe in uplifting and supporting black owned local businesses. Luckily, my followers are also passionate and are drawn specifically to this content. Finding your people within the foodie/influencer community is also important. I definitely support my peers and the love is always reciprocated. Also you never know what gems of advice others have when it comes to this shared space. Sometimes conversations about the inner workings of the influencer world can only be discussed and dissected with another influencer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bio.site/theatlantafoodbae
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theatlantafoodbae/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/theatlfoodbae/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theatlantafoodbae

Image Credits
The Atlanta food Bae has all image credits for all photos provided. The Atlanta food Bae has all image credits for all photos provided. The Atlanta food Bae has all image credits for all photos provided. The Atlanta food Bae has all image credits for all photos provided. The Atlanta food Bae has all image credits for all photos provided. The Atlanta food Bae has all image credits for all photos provided.