Today, we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Cruz.
Hi Taylor, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
This story started when I was in a dark place; my dad unexpectedly passed away on June 27th, 2021. I was several months into the grieving process, and I just found myself completely hopeless. My amazing unicorn therapist held me in my hopeless despair and helped me unpack my deepest, most challenging emotions.
As I was learning to live life again, I came across these words my dad had written in his Bible: “I have a purpose in life.” It opened my eyes to see that he was reminded of his purpose in life and how I, too, have a purpose; I just have to find it or create it. I got this saying tattooed on me to remind me to always find the purpose. When he first passed away, it was my and my family’s mission to look through every photo album, digital folder, and computer to find every picture of him.
We gathered all of the visual memories and made sure we had all of them. Photos quickly became a sacred and important thing in my life. Photography has always been something I have loved doing; I have loved capturing emotions. I never took it too seriously because “everyone else does that, there doesn’t need to be another photographer, and what if I am bad, etc…”
Once, I was deep in the deepest thoughts of despair, and I didn’t think I would ever come out; I thought I literally had nothing else to lose at this point; just buy the camera and see what happens. It can’t possibly make things any worse than they already are… to Amazon I went, and the camera was ordered. The lens was ordered. The first steps to my baby business were taken. During this time, I also joined a group that was going through the Artist Way book.
I jumped headfirst into this book and all the activities that come with it. It opened up my eyes to notice the beautiful world around me such as the flowers blooming, finding the rainbows, slowing down, and so forth. Going through the book aided me in healing and bringing out my inner artist. I started taking photos of my family, friends, and people, and just played around with my camera and found so much love for it. I just decided to post it on Instagram even though it wasn’t even near “perfect.”
I didn’t even care; what’s perfect anyway? It was bringing me joy again, and that made it worth it to me. As people began to ask me to take photos of their families, events, proposals, weddings, etc., it felt like I began to be a part of something bigger than myself. Providing something meaningful to people, even if they don’t realize it yet or know how beautiful it is to have photos with your loved ones in it, one day they will know the beauty of it and hold on to that.
It’s been nearly two years of inviting art into my life. It was when I invited art into my life, slowing down and noticing the world around me, when I began to take steps at healing one step at a time, one art project at a time, one walk at a time, one activity at a time, one-morning page at a time, one photo at a time. It felt like it gave me purpose again. I have been able to create a business out of taking photos for people.
Photos turned into sacred memories for me, and now I get to create that for people, and there’s not a session that goes by where I don’t think of my dad or how special it is that families are taking the time to capture their memories to have for a lifetime to come, or how I am a part of something bigger than myself. Finding my inner artist took me out of my despair.
Finding my inner artist has helped me notice the world around me. Finding my inner artist has brought me a business. Finding my inner artist has given me confidence. Finding my inner artist has gifted me healing. Finding my inner artist showed me I have a purpose in life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Creating your own business comes with its challenges. There is so much to learn, from perfecting your creative craft to learning the back end of business things. I find it much more enjoyable to learn and tap into my creative craft than the business side of things.
I thankfully am surrounded by an amazing support system so I have many people who are very helpful. I am also part of a coworking networking space called 1909, which has been helpful in surrounding me with other entrepreneur-like-minded people who are happy to help!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a photographer who specializes in family photography! Providing photos to families has become such a passion of mine. Families experience endless stages of life, and being able to document them and freeze them in time is what brings the most joy.
My sessions are known to go with the flow, prompts that create a connection within a family, and always let children be children. This is how I achieve the most organic photos that show love, playfulness, and each family’s unique way of connecting with one another.
My hope is that families leave a session feeling more connected than before they came. I feel my ability to connect to people and little ones sets me apart and creates more organic and natural photos.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Where would I be without taking a risk?! I took a risk buying a camera, posting photos on social media, going to my first paid client session, etc. The more I took risks, the more comfortable I got to take more.
With this came mistakes that I have made. I have been able to learn from my mistakes as well. It is an opportunity to learn how to do something differently the next time you do it. If I had never taken the risk in the first place, I would have never been here.
Contact Info:
- Website: Taylcphoto.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Taylcphoto
