Meet Taylor Thomas | Lifestyle Brand Photographer & Creative Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“I am capable. I am loved. I am worthy. I am enough. I am a magnet for blessings, abundance & prosperity.”

I love this affirmation because despite having disabilities this is a constant reminder that I am still capable of making an impact with my gifts. And through my purpose and gifts, I will be a magnet for blessings, abundance & prosperity. I have bilateral hearing loss (in both ears) and speech impairment. I also have a birthmark on the left side of my face. I know what it’s like to be overlooked, to be seen as someone who is “disabled” and not as someone who is unique and able. The affirmation is a reminder that I am more than what meets the eye.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a lifestyle brand photographer, while working as a full-time marketing strategist. I help small businesses, creative entrepreneurs, & personal brands elevate their brands by curating consistent and captivating content with strategy, share the beauty of their stories so they can show up with confidence to attract, connect and grow their tribe to grow their business.

For my branding clients, I utilize my background in marketing and design to come up with creative strategies to effectively tell your brand story through high quality images by going through a very thorough prep process. From there, after the photo session, I help provide my clients a minimum of 30 – 90 days of content. I will then create a content strategy on ways to optimize using the photos through multiple platforms.

I am just so excited to help my busy women entrepreneurs and personal brands save time and show up with confident to consistently show up as the experts they are.

Through my disabilities, I know what it’s like to lack confidence and to be overlooked while working 2x as hard to prove your worth, My ultimate goal is to take my gifts to create, inspire and empower women to see the beauty within themselves, their story and brand. So they can confidently be who they are and represent their brand well. Share the unique visual story that is needed from them to make an impact and shine light on others who are in need of their radiance and connect more with who they are meant to serve. It’s not about perfection; It’s about connection.

I got to where I am today with my business is by making a decision to go for it! That’s literally the first step I needed to take, which was to commit to operating as a business. Is it as easy as it sounds? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Little did I know there’s so much that goes into building a business. But I am willing to fail, learn, and invest in myself and business to become more successful. I’ve invested in working with many photographers who are much further ahead than myself to learn from, connect, network and grow with.

A few lessons I’ve learned so far:
1) Mindset is key. Starting and building a business requires a different mindset. I didn’t really understand that at first, but it’s a learning curve I was willing to make. I’m STILL learning how to adjust to this new mindset, But I can tell you between now and when I started the program back in August of last year, that I can see a huge difference with the amount of growth that took place since then.

2) You need a community to thrive. Not only with clients, but with other amazing photographers and other entrepreneurs. It’s important to build relationships with those who you can grow with. Through Mecca’s PYP program, I’ve gained 8 new sisters & a support system. We definitely check in with one another, ask questions, and motivate each other. I love it here.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ll be honest, I am an introvert. I am probably the worst at planning a full on itinerary. My best friends know that about me. But I would say we would go to fun places like Snow Day Dallas, Sweet Tooth Hotel, Grapevine Wine festival, Klyde Warren Park food trucks, and check out the Bishop Arts. I am such a foodie and love to eat and hangout at the Shops at Legacy East & West and Uptown Dallas. Also, just to get a little fun cardio in, we will take a hip hop heels class at Centre for Dance in Richardson or other fun dance studios in Dallas, TX.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I first would like to give credit to my parents. I believe my love for photography & art was instilled from my father who is also a photographer and was an unofficial comic book artist. My mom is just my #1 support and backbone through it all.

This past year I’ve invested in a mentor, Mecca Gamble. She help me and my amazing photographer sisters see what’s possible as a successful photographer.

Also, my close friends and family, I also appreciate their love, encouragement and support more than they’ll ever know.

Website: https://msha.ke/taylorthomasstudio/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorathomasstudio

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorathomas1/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaylorAThomasStudio

Image Credits
Jaleccia Ates Photography, Sophie K. Hunter Photography, B. Will Images