25. Taylor Burk | Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Photographer
In this episode of the Shotlist Podcast, we explore the world of Taylor Burk, an Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Photographer who has over a decade of dedicated experience in the Photography Industry. We explore his unique path, from being a blue-collar worker to becoming a professional photographer, and how Instagram played an important role in shaping the career of his dreams, now having a multi-six-figure following.
In the podcast, Taylor also shares how he shifted from using Instagram solely to expanding his services which include Commercial Photography, Directing, and Social Media Promotion, among others. Join us in this conversation with Taylor as he shares his humble and caring advice with the next generation of photographers.
Episode Highlights
2:31 The Beginning of Taylor Burk's Journey
13:02 Journey using Instagram
23:19 Shifting from Instagram to Offering Other Services
31:01 Aside from Social Media, How Can Photographers Market Themselves?
36:37 Building Relationships with People You Want to Work With
39:00 Money's Role in the Photography Business
42:44 Insights when Buying Gear
45:17 Balancing Lifestyle and Work
48:37 Adapting Around the Changes in the Industry
52:00 Systems and Processes
55:06 Future Projects 1:02:21 Workshop and Mentorship
🔗 CONNECT WITH Taylor Burk
📸Instagram | @taylormichaelburk 💻Website | www.taylorburk.com
🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL
📸Instagram | www.instagram.com/marshalchupa 💻Website | www.marshalchupa.com 👥 Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8
📄 SHOW NOTES & TRANSCRIPT
Visit the website for the transcript and highlights from the conversation - www.shotlistpodcast.com
🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST
This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.
🎧 LISTEN FOR FREE Apple Podcasts | https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800 Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
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📱 GET IN TOUCH
You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email marshal@marshalchupa.com
Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
I wouldn't worry so much about your gear. I would worry about your story. Worry about the subject. What is it that you're trying to tell? And how can you do that with whatever gear is available to you? Because that's what people are gonna remember. They're not gonna remember that, oh, this is an insanely sharp photo that is taken on this camera.
It's like, no, that's a really impactful image. So that is more important than any gear.
Hello and welcome to another episode of the shot list podcast where we talk about how to make a life and a living behind the lens. I'm cinematographer Marshal Chupa and today I'm speaking with outdoor adventure and lifestyle photographer Taylor Burk. In this episode, Taylor and I dive into his unique journey story from blue collar worker to professional photographer and how Instagram helped him build the career he always dreamt of now having a multi six figure following.
The hats you need to wear and the roles you need to play in order to sell yourself successfully in a competitive industry, how mentorship and partnership played such a huge role in his career growth as a creative entrepreneur, and how important it is to get comfortable with failure as it's inevitable and never going to go away along this journey.
As you're going to notice through this conversation, Taylor is not only a great photographer, but humble and caring with his words, wanting to help and share his advice with the next generation of photographers out there. I'm excited to share this conversation with you. Let's dive in. All right, Taylor.
Well, thanks so much for coming on the shot list podcast. Uh, excited to have you here. Thank you so much for having me on. Excited. Yeah. I remember the first time I think we met was you were in Squamish at like a photo exhibit. And, uh, we happened to like bump into each other, I think that was the first time we met.
Is that right? Yeah, I'm pretty sure. That was, uh, what, 2017, 2018? Okay, you have a better memory than I do. Sometime around then. That was like my first, the first time my work's been displayed at like some sort of exhibit or gallery or, or show. So that was pretty memorable for me. It was around that time period.
I think we like grabbed dinner with a bunch of creatives that night. And then I remember you asking me somewhere where you could like sleep in the back of your truck, you know, covertly. Yeah, that's awesome. But yeah, just to dive into it. So where did all this begin for you? I mean, everyone has such a wild journey into this creative freelance career, especially in photography.
The Beginning of Taylor Burk's Journey
Like where did it begin? Oh, man, kind of an unconventional route, I guess. I never was really, I guess, into photography or thought that was something that I would end up doing. I grew up in the trades. My dad had a construction company. So I worked, you know, as a kid, summers working for him, slaving away, pulling rebar and tying rebar steel and pouring concrete.
And then my stepdad, um, had an HVAC and plumbing company. So kind of transitioned to that as well. I did a lot of kind of different roles through like throughout high school, you know, worked at a restaurant, worked at a clothing store, worked at like a mobile kiosk and car dealership. Like I kind of, there's like all these different things that I tried, but trades was just something that I was comfortable with.
I knew it was good money and that's just kind of the path I took. I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, and I just knew that wasn't particularly where I wanted to be. I grew up very much like a city boy, you could call. Like, I was not very outdoorsy. Um, I wouldn't do much camping or hiking or anything like that.
It was, you know, getting blackout drunk in the clubs every weekend. Right. Yeah. It was a different lifestyle than I live now. And I just knew that that wasn't what I wanted. So I saved up and did a year in Australia when I was 18. And it was funny because I like all of a sudden had all this money saved up and freedom in a new country to kind of just do whatever I wanted, you know, as an adult now, and I spent all that money so fast, like eating out nice places and like hotels and stuff and, uh, I eventually started to dial down a bit and I, there was this website, I think it was called Gumtree and it was a really good resource for people who were backpacking.
And there were these two Germans who put out an ad kind of just saying like looking for someone to help split gas and fuel costs and whatever else. And, uh, we're going from, I think it was Melbourne to Byron Bay. I was like, sweet. So I met them. Um, two lovely gals got along really well, fit. And they kind of taught me how to like live cheaply and like sustainably way and like the backpacker kind of lifestyle.
So I learned a lot there and like, we were spending a lot of time camping and outdoors and I was really enjoying that. And, uh, Eventually got to a point where I need to find some work. I was there on a working holiday visa and I was staying with a family friend in Melbourne, Melbourne, Melbourne. I think they call it Melbourne.
Yeah. And, uh, I got a job doing, uh, basically being that person that everybody avoids on the street, doing the street canvassing for different charities and stuff like that. And honestly, it was such a. An amazing lesson to learn, especially so young was like how to deal with rejection, which is something that, you know, in this industry you're constantly faced with.
So I learned how to be approachable and how to deal with rejection and how to build trust and like all these things. Because we're doing lost street canvassing and door to door and, uh, I eventually transitioned from street to door to door and, um, there was a guy, Jeff, who I was working with and we became like best buds and my voice is going through puberty and, uh, yeah, we came like best buds and he's like, like a true outdoor venture, like to the fullest, like just super passionate about that.
He kind of like took me under his wing and like, We'd go on all these crazy adventures and missions in Australia and just travel around. And that got me hooked into that, that kind of like outdoor lifestyle. And I was just like, what have I been doing with my time? I've always enjoyed documenting whatever I was doing.
I like had bought like a little like camera camcorder and I would just take photos or whatever. Nothing special, just kind of documenting. Eventually. Uh, long story short, he ran out, went back home, went back to the trade, saved up. And my buddy Jeff was like, you should come back to New Zealand this time.
That's where he was from. Come to New Zealand and come like explore New Zealand. There's just so such an incredible place. Like, you know, you can crash at my family's place. It's all good. We'll, we'll kind of take care of you. I was like, sweet. I saved up. I did, uh, worked in the trades plumbing HVAC work that summer, and then went to New Zealand and he was at school in school at the time.
So he's just like, okay. You're going to go on this four day trek. It's incredible. Here's a raincoat. Let's go get you some shoes. Here's my mom's backpack. I didn't have a tent. I had like one of those blue tarps and very poorly prepped for like a four day trip. Like hardly any food or anything. You were, you do cross through some towns, but I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
And he's like, okay, catch the bus here and then hitchhike to this spot. And then you'll get it to the trailhead. So it was pouring rain, super unprepared, started just walking and uh, it was four days of walking and like first two days poured nonstop. I was like sleeping under a picnic table. People that I met along the way would like give me some of their food.
They like felt bad for me. And um, the next two days were like beating down, hot sun, got super sunburned. Once again, super ill prepared. And I've never spent that much time alone and thinking and like, it was just such a, I just like learned so much about myself and I was like, damn, like, I love this. Like, I love just being in nature and the clarity and, you know, it's such a privilege to do that.
And, um, from that point forward that like changed my life and like, I was like, I want to spend more time outdoors and I want to. Just take photos of just my ventures and I was like, I was against social media and not against it But I just didn't want one part of it Facebook at the time. I just didn't want to spend much time on there and After a few months in New Zealand, I got into like it was just like going from like a seven day trail to Come back into town, grab food, go do another five day trail, come back, get food, like just trying to see how long I could spend.
Oh, wow. You got hooked. Yeah. Um, was volunteering for department conservation and some other organizations out there, just like anything to like, just be in that environment. And like, they would usually house you and feed you and stuff like that. So that was really nice. And I eventually, we were volunteering for this, this guy and we were collecting seeds of a tree.
And, uh, we lost the keys to the car that he lent us. And we are on this mission the whole, like all day, like hitchhiking, like retracing our steps. Like we found someone lent us a metal detector. We're like going to find it. Couldn't find it. And, uh, it was really stressful, but I ended up just hitchhiking back to this place, which is kind of in the middle of nowhere.
And we're like, you know what, let's just go take the quads and go catch sunset. And just kind of Try and de stress a little bit. And so we climbed up this tree, but we took off our shoes to climb up the tree. And, cause it was kind of like, to get a better vantage point. And we came down, it was starting to get dark.
And I didn't want to be bothered, like, lacing up my boots. And, uh, we're riding. My quad didn't have a light, but his did. And I was following behind him in this kind of like, uh, open area, but there were some tree stumps and I didn't see a tree stump because I didn't have my light and I was barefoot. It's just so dumb.
And I hit a stump and the metal grates on the quad like slice my foot. And so it was like this big ordeal ended up having like a hospital a couple hours away, um, in the ambulance. And I was now better and I couldn't walk on that foot. Like I had to use crutches for like a month. So now I had all this downtime and I was catching up with a friend back home and they were like, Oh, there's this new app called Instagram.
Um, you should check it out. And I was like, no, like I'm good. Like, I don't want to like be distracted by anything. Yeah. And I was like, you know what? I'm going to download it, but I'm going to download with the intention of sharing my adventures with my friends back home and hopefully inspiring them to want to spend more time outdoors.
Like it was such a transformational journey for me. I want to like inspire others who may want that kind of same thing. So I had a iPod touch at the time. Like crack screen. I just, you know, making photos on that. And I just started posting those photos and just sharing my trips and adventures. And I eventually went back home and I was now in Alberta and Edmonton with this like whole new appreciation for the outdoors.
And I was like, holy shit, the Rockies are like essentially my backyard. And so I like came back. So this is like a really long, it's all good. But I came back and I was like, I don't want to get into plumbing. I want to like spend time in the mountains. I want to move out west. And, um, my stepdad at the time, he had the plumbing company and he's like, we got this contract in Alford, which is kind of near Fernie, that area one way in, one way out town, um, down this highway.
And he's like, you know, it's a year long contract. You can, it'll be like, I think it was like, uh, 10 days on four days off. And be based in the mountains. So I was like, you know what, I'm going to do that because I can. Make good money. I'll be spending time in the mountains and then on my days off. I can just go and explore So I did that for a year and I would just take in photos Like I eventually bought a camera because I was like I want to start to do more justice to these places so, you know just spending any free time I had just like taking photos and experimenting and learning.
Most of the time it was just with my phone because I was just so overwhelmed with my camera. What was that first camera? Uh, the Canon Rebel T3i. Nice. Yeah. Classic. Like if you go down my Instagram feed, like you can see the progress and the steps of like, like a photo of like, I was at London drugs. I'm like, here's my new camera set up, like, you know, like learning and the progress.
Journey using Instagram
And, uh, so it, yeah. I got into photography through Instagram through this whole like transformational journey of like going to spend time outdoors. So it kind of came through one to do justice to all these incredible places that I was able to visit. That's kind of long story short, uh, but so long of how I, I got into it.
Yeah. It's so weird to think when Instagram wasn't a thing. I feel like we're so embedded into that culture now. Um, I mean, what, what, what year was that? When you downloaded it? 2012. So when I came back, a lot of the friends that I've grown up with, I mean, we had different interests now, you know, like I didn't, they weren't really that keen to go camping and hiking and, you know, they would come once in a while, but I was able to use Instagram for what it was intended back then, at least was for community.
I started following a bunch of people in Edmonton that I found through like hashtags and all that kind of stuff that were also into photography and into the outdoors. A lot of those people I still hang out with and talk to today. Like, do you know Nathaniel Adekora? Uh, I don't think so. He's a photographer in Squamish, but like, Oh yes, maybe.
Yeah. Yeah. We met through Instagram like 2012 or something like that. And you know, still one of my best buds today. And it used to be so community orientated and like, it was just, There was like Instameets where people would just get together and go take photos and it was just so much fun. And I really like invested into that community side of it.
That was kind of like the whole intention of it anyways. And so it just became this thing where, yeah, I just wanted to like meet people and spend time and get outdoors and take online offline. And I remember I eventually went to trade school in Edmonton. Like I was like starting to progress and I was doing HVAC.
I didn't enjoy it. I'd be like in class, nodding off, like on my phone. I remember seeing on Instagram, like there was people following like Alex Stroll and Ambrose Rashad. All these guys that were getting paid, like they were on the sponsored trips from Travel Alberta. I think it was the first of its kind of that kind of Instagram campaign for tourism.
And I was like, holy shit. Like. That's a thing. Yeah. Yeah. They're getting paid to go like, do all these things I'm doing every weekend, like, holy shit. And I remember just being like, so enamored. I was like, man, that'd be so cool to one day be able to do that. Like open up this whole new world of like, Yeah, I guess people like monetize this and all these things and I saw that it was, um, Alex Maurice and Alex's partner, Andrea, they were coming to Edmonton as part of their, their job with the tourism board.
I hit them up. I was like, Hey, like, you know, I'm big fan. I see that you're coming through Edmonton. Like, I'd love to host you. Like I'd love to like show you around and show you all the best spots. And they're like, yeah, that'd be great. So I was like, sweet. So we got together and we spent a couple of days together and I was just like a sponge.
Like it wasn't my intention, but I just, by being associated with them, I learned so much about that industry and photography. And it was just like this revelation. I was like, holy shit. And a couple weeks later, Instagram had messaged me. They're like, Hey, you know, we love what you're doing with the community side and we love your work and what you're all this.
Like we'd love to make you a suggested user and I was like, holy shit. That's so cool. Like Like, it was at the kind of the height of Instagram's kind of initial popularity. Yeah. Anytime anyone made an account, I would be at the top of the list of people they recommended they follow. That's awesome. So I went from like, you know, a thousand or 2000 followers or something like that to like 25, 000.
And so. I still stuck to that community kind of mind mindset and like, used it to like highlight people in, in Edmonton that I thought were doing really cool things and like making it such like a fun place to be. And I also realized I was like, okay, I can now monetize this and like, use it in a way that could help my adventures and like things like that.
And Maurice and Alex, they were always there to help if I ever had any questions. I am forever grateful for them. And I actually, they, they have an agency called stay and wander. And I've been kind of with them from the beginning. Um, so they, they've always taken me under their wing. So I remember I just like hit up a couple of car dealerships in Edmonton and I was like, Hey, you know, I'm, I'm driving like to the Rockies, like every weekend, maybe I can take some of your new vehicles and like get some photos while I'm out there.
So it was kind of like a win win. Right. Interesting. And none of them replied except for one, but they just said, can you come to our office? And so I was like, okay. When had a meeting with them and they're like, Hey, we love what you're doing with this whole Instagram thing. Um, we don't want to partner with you on that, but we want to hire you to like make channels for us and like run those.
And, uh, I was like, Whoa, okay. I was not expecting that. Um, you know, I was like, if you can give me this, this, and this, so, you know, essentially making more money than I was doing the plumbing and a better lifestyle. I was like, I'll put that whole trajectory of getting my, Journeyman ticket aside and come work for you.
Interesting. And they're like, yep, sweet. We're happy to make that work. And so I went from wearing, uh, dirty car hearts to like suits. Interesting. Overnight. Essentially overnight. And so now I was working for them and, you know, I really want to prove myself and it was within three months or less. It might've even been a month.
I was able to prove like that somebody came in and bought a vehicle. Because of what they saw on the dealerships, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, they had proof and evidence. And so like, they were stoked, like, you know, justified it for them. And it was a fun challenge for me. And it still allowed me to every weekend go to the mountains and go hike and spend time outdoors.
But during all this was also when my account was starting to kind of blow up. And sponsorships and partnerships are starting to happen more and more. And a lot of that was through tourism and I was getting a lot of incredible opportunities through travel Alberta. And it started to get to a point where I was working a lot with Callum.
I met Callum. I like looked up to his work a lot. Callum Snape. Yeah. Callum Snape. We had met and like, we were both kind of on that same path of like wanting to, you know, take this more seriously and be photographers like full time. I think he had just done that. Yeah. And. So it was really nice that we, I think it was kind of a bit of a trade off.
Like he was just starting to grasp the social media thing and Instagram. And I was trying to like grass, like photography business. And so like we were kind of helping each other out and leveraging each other's knowledge and like working with different tourism boards and brands. So we're working really closely together and eventually got to a point where I couldn't take any more like holiday time off from this dealership.
And, uh, I was like, okay, I want to like, I really want to take this seriously and like take a chance. I worked for the dealership for six months and eventually put in my notice. I was like, okay, I mean, I'm going to do this like Instagram thing full time. Yeah. This dream that I had that I didn't know existed.
Leap of faith moment. Like eight months ago, but now making it happen. And so, Yeah. I was shooting on my iPhone primarily because that's just kind of what Instagram was back then. It was like, if you posted something from your DSLR, it was like a sin, you know, so frowned upon. Yeah. I do remember that part in the beginning.
Yeah, and I remember I got a job with, um, sport check and I showed up with my phone. I think they were kind of like, what the fuck is this guy doing? And like, I had my camera too, but I was mostly shooting on my phone because it was my first kind of like sponsorship. And, um, yeah, it was just like weird, sorry, it's like all kind of long story short, but yeah, this weird trajectory.
And so I went full time, I was working close to a column. We were pitching a lot of different tourism boards and like trying to make this a thing and like sustainable and like kind of put our Instagram numbers together and provide more value. Okay. As a package kind of thing? As a package, yeah. And yeah, I lasted, I think like five or six months and then I went broke.
Similar to Australia then? Yeah. Over the winter, you know, like jobs slowed down and I didn't really understand the business side of it fully. And so I had to go back to plumbing. And I was kind of like, fuck, go back, go back to square one, but having that taste of like being a freelancer and working for myself and like dedicating all my time to my passion was the biggest kick in the ass for me.
So like, I went to work for like, I think two weeks or a month to like get a little bit more money saved up. And then I went back to photography. And, and so it's just been like this constant learning curve and journey, but like, it was such an unconventional route of getting into photography and like, My whole style was crafted, started and developed through Instagram.
So it's been kind of the shift over the years of like, how do I not be known as like an Instagrammer and be known as someone more seriously in like the commercial realm or like other things. And so it was kind of this weird shift of like changing my style up and like wanting to kind of step away from that.
But then as I was doing that, I was like, wow, why am I, what am I doing? I had this Great opportunity of what a lot of people want is that Instagram audience and following and, you know, kind of do your own partnerships and shoots. So it's been kind of a weird learning curve over the years, but that's essentially how I got into doing this whole time.
Well, it's quite the story. I think you win the award for longest intro story on the podcast. So maybe we'll just, we'll cap it there and we'll say goodbye. But, uh, I think it's a good segue into, um, Thinking about like if I go to
your website and you have under services, you have commercial photography, directing, social media promotions, content creation and creative direction.
So I'd love to dive into a little bit about how you've now transitioned that and why you've diversified those things.
Shifting from Instagram to Offering Other Services
Maybe we could even dive into each one. So starting with like commercial photography is the most obvious one. Yeah. What does that look like for you? So I guess like all those things kind of under an umbrella, like when, you know, doing these social media kind of partnerships and stuff like that, you are essentially all of that in one.
So I'm the one producing it because it's living on my channel. It's my audience. So I want to make sure it's something that's a fit. So I'm producing it to be that role, but I'm also creative directing that and directing it. And. Also providing usually commercial selects for them for those clients. So like, I've kind of gained a little bit of knowledge of all those roles just through their social media stuff, but I've been trying to do that more outside of that independently as well.
So there are times where it's a job where it's just like a commercial job. Like I'm there to take photos, photos get handed off. I don't have to do any posting or social media or anything like that. There's that aspect. Then there's like the content creation of like. They're just wanting stuff for their socials and whatever, it's nothing serious, like it's very low, probably low budget.
So it's like kind of orientated for that and then social media partnerships where, you know, work with brands on promoting either their destination or their product or whatever it is, their services. Because you have the audience to because I have the audience to yeah, it's like, you know, these brands could go to a magazine and promote, say it's a tourism board, promote their destination there.
So they'd have to use existing imagery or or work with photographer to do that. Or they come to me and be like, we'd love to hire you and bring you to our destination so you can like highlight these aspects of it and then also promote it. So, you know, in these packages, it's commercial selects are baked in for them to use sometimes social media stuff and then promotions through my channel.
So it's kind of like, yeah, you kind of get a lot more bang for your buck. And I think that's why a lot of industries have like moved more towards social media. Um, in terms of their advertising and things like that, right. And you have such much, how do I say, you have a more leverage point from a selling perspective because you're not just like, Hey, I can not only you're delivering assets like any other photographer can, but you're then saying, Hey, look, I can probably get you this many views and I'm going to sell you that ROI essentially on that viewership.
Is that correct? Yeah. And it's coming from a trusted source. I built like a relationship with my audience and. I'm also very picky about what I'm taking on for work. It has to really align. And feel natural, you know, so definitely learned over the years to kind of say no to things that just really don't hit all those, those points for me, if it's something that I'm promoting on my channel, because, you know, it's, if you want to play the long game, you have to do it smartly.
There's a lot of people I've seen over the years who like, are just like shilling out any brand or product or anything like that. And like, They just don't, they just aren't taken seriously. Yeah. What's maybe an example of something that was misaligned that you said no to? You don't have to call it a brand, but more like a specific, um, genre or something that you were just like, that, that doesn't work.
Sometimes they're just like certain destinations that it's just, You know, like if it's like maybe just like a city or something like that, like that's not really my style. Doesn't fit the mountain outdoor vibe kind of thing. Yeah. You know, typically that mountain outdoor vibe or like just certain products that I just wouldn't use or like, I don't feel comfortable promoting like just something that just doesn't fit my lifestyle.
Yeah. And You also have directing. Now, I know a lot of photographers are moving into that directorial role. Uh, what does that look like for you or what does that mean to you? That's something I'm like starting to step into more, maybe a little bit of imposter syndrome, if I'm being honest. Like, I feel like I have the directing knowledge and the sense of like, when I'm doing these shoots and stuff like that, you know, directing talent or directing how the shoot goes and like all the aspects of it.
But I did a spec with East Cherry Productions where I kind of like really step into like that directing. Like I had the idea, the vision, bring it all together. They were obviously a huge help and kind of guiding me and all that. But we did one Chevy spec with a Sasquatch. I did see that. That was, that was really solid.
Had some humor to it. Yeah. So I want to start doing more of that and like really stepping into like a directorial role. I was kind of reflecting recently and like, As a kid and like certain things, you know, when like, you're like maybe like on a vacation or something like that. And like people are like, Oh, can you take a photo of us?
I felt like I always kind of like, would take it very seriously and like really want to compose and like direct and like make it look really nice. And so I feel like that's something kind of I've been developing more and more over the years of like how to really craft something really beautiful and like direct it.
So that's something I'm. Starting to lean into more, but if I don't advertise that, then I'm not going to get those opportunities. Yeah. And I think that's something actually that I've noticed photographers are taken for granted for is just their ability to direct because as, as a DP, like I work with directors alongside them.
So I'm constantly fed the ideas, so to speak, and I'm there to like shape the light and make sure the camera's moving the right direction and lens it properly and all that, but I don't actually have that. Ability to like from that creative concept perspective. So I really noticed that that is a natural skill set of photographer has to have because they're wearing a lot more hats in that sense.
And so I think it is a natural progression to be able to direct. I'm noticing this amongst a lot of different photographers and I'm slightly jealous of that skill set because it doesn't come natural to me. Yeah. I mean, it's something that I've definitely had to like work on more and like doing more lifestyle work because like where I got my start working with outdoors, you're not really, you're not, there's no, you're not talking to anyone when you're shooting landscapes, you're not directing anything.
You're just kind of hoping for the best conditions. So it's definitely been something that I feel like I've gotten stronger at over the years, working more with like models and talent and people, because you do have to step into that directorial role. And You got to make sure that they feel comfortable and they feel great and they know what they're doing.
And if you don't have that vision, then it's not going to look good. You're not shooting. I agree. You recently put out a newsletter and, uh, something I read that stood out to me was it said, you don't have to be the best photographer to do well. You just need to be able to sell yourself as the right person for the job.
I'd love to dive into a little bit about that. It's sales, baby. It's, um, it's showbiz. It's marketing, right? Like. With anything, there's so many great products out there. For off the top of my head, I'm just thinking about coolers. How many coolers are out there? But like everyone gravitates towards Yeti because of their marketing.
They sell themselves as like the best and maybe they are, but at the end of the day, you know, they're not. For the most average person, like a cooler just needs to keep things cool for like a day or a few hours. But they had that marketing power of like being the best and like everyone wants the Yeti. So all these other coolers would suffice, but they have that marketing power.
And I feel like it's the same thing in our industry of like, there's so many people who are talented and can do a great job, but why do certain people get hired? And sometimes just they were the best at presenting and selling themselves as the best person and the right person for that, that role. Okay, well, let's break that down a little bit because I feel like a lot of there are a lot of great photographers, but again, they fail.
I think this is a little bit of a natural thing that happens as a creative, like we're naturally wired to be like, introverted, right brain humans. And yet the marketing and sales side is like a left brain structured, you know, Stuff that feels uncomfortable.
Aside from Social Media, How can Photographers Market Themselves?
So what are some of the things that you've done that help you sell yourself if you were to well, let's strip it back.
So maybe don't if there's anything that doesn't involve your Instagram account, because I don't think everyone has, you know, a massive multi six figure following. But what are some of the other bits that could help others stand out when it comes to marketing themselves? Well, one thing that I will put forward to is I work with an agency, so they're a huge help in being that, that person for me on a lot of these big jobs where they can like be the one to kind of sell me so I don't have to sell myself.
So there is that advantage in some cases, but in general. Honestly, professionalism, how you present yourself and like what you're delivering in terms of like decks and things like that, like just making sure things look really nice and really clean and easy to understand and have all the right information.
That's huge. That's something I hear a lot is like people don't treat things professionally and like don't present themselves in a professional manner. That's such a huge thing. Just take the time to like, Do things in a really nice, organized and presentable way. Yeah, let's dive into that deck piece. I think maybe a lot of people don't even know that part of how the workflow goes, but it's like, okay, potential brand comes to you.
How are you then pitching back to them? Or what does a deck look like for you? Um, that's been successful. So, yeah, sometimes brand will come with an idea or. You know, ask you to bid on something or want more information on how they can work together. So typically the deck will have these key components of an introduction, a bit about you, a bit about, you know, why you're the right person for this role, a bit of an art artist statement, deliverables, you know, what you can deliver for whatever budget it is breaking that all down nicely, show examples of your past work, you know, show a lot of photos and kind of give them the look and feel of what they can expect.
Yeah, just making that look really nice. Um, in a way that stands out, cause say, you know, there's something where there's multiple, they're asking multiple people, like you want to be the one that stands out. So just like really putting your best work forward and those kinds of things where you're like also going above and beyond outside of what you promised to deliver goes a long way.
Right. And then just to speak on the deck thing specifically, like, is that always expected? So let's just say a brand says, Hey Taylor, I want to work with you. You know, we had, um, this budget in mind, is that something you would just like naturally whip up and be like, Oh, this is this is how I'm going to sell myself.
Because versus I think some other photographers are like, Great, here's like, just type back an email. Yeah. How important is that deck and that piece to yeah, in your workflow and sending out? I think Yeah, you're right. Like a lot of people just do things via email, which I do sometimes as well, depending on what, who it is in my relationship with them.
But I typically like to present some sort of like deck something outside of just an email that. It's clear, concise, and like presentable. It's not, you know, necessary, but once again, it's, I think it's something that is appreciated. Yeah. Something that sets yourself apart. And I guess you never know if you're bidding against other people or what the case is.
So that's just a little extra little, I always just assume it's never just me. Yeah. That makes sense. Is there anything else when it comes to selling yourself that stands out in this process for you? Absolutely. Yeah, I mean, I come from like an entrepreneurial family and like, I feel like I kind of have learned things over time and like when I was doing the street canvassing and door to door in Australia, like I learned a lot.
Some of that translates, some of it doesn't. So it's taken time over the years learning from others and learning insights and like taking courses. To like learn how to do this, because if you're someone who's coming with like no knowledge of that at all, it might be helpful to partner with somebody who is and like run the business together.
It's kind of complicates things a little bit, but you could also just take a course and like there's so many different things or mentoring or, you know, different options to like really learn how to market a photography business. It just takes time to figure out what works for you. Okay. And then what are, what are, what's an example of something you learned from street canvassing or door knocking that you you're now applying in photography?
Yeah. I mean, building trust, you know, for example, you're going to a stranger and you're Explaining a story of why these funds are needed, and then you're building trust, building rapport, and kind of delivering on what that's going to look like. So, that aspect of it, of like, just building rapport and building a relationship, which is so key, and then building that trust has been like a huge thing, just like, this, uh, industry is so much based on, like, relationships and getting to know people and managing that.
So, like, that was, that's a huge aspect of it. Yeah, rejection is a common thing in this industry and you know, you're not always going to get the job or you're going to get ghosted or all these things. So like learning how to deal with that in a positive way, because I've heard stories of people like when they don't get the job, they don't hear back, they kind of turn sour and then that's going to play on their reputation.
And that's going to get passed along too. So you want to be someone who's enjoyable to work with. So just understanding that, you know, you're not always going to get the job and that's okay, and still being helpful and supportive where you can. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. And that kind of leads into building relationships.
Now, obviously, I feel like a lot of stuff kind of flows through your, you because you have the account you do. But if you were to look at reaching out to people that Let's say cold or people that you just want to work for without that account.
Building Relationship with People You Want to Work With
Like, what are, how do you begin to build relationships in this industry?
There's several different ways. Um, you know, as simple as a, an email, introduce yourself, you know, you don't have to pitch them, but you can just introduce yourself and let them know a bit about your work and who you are and why you'd be a good fit. Grabbing coffees, like just putting yourself out there in that sense, like going to events and, you know, there's a lot of different conferences or trade shows or just events where people will be and just showing face and shaking hands.
Like that's always the best way. Just meet somebody. Like I've had a lot of jobs come in from being at an event. And like meeting someone and then getting along and chatting about different opportunities. And then it kind of leads to work. So yeah, I think word of mouth is the best. If you're able to get that, but just introducing yourself, showing face, being around, yeah, just connecting with others and networking.
And you always want to be at the top of somebody's mind. So whatever way you can do to do that. Yeah, maybe something that's confusing in the, you know, is to understand who to talk to because, you know, you're a photographer wanting to shoot for a said brand. Like, how do you then to begin to narrow down like the person that can actually hire you?
What's your process with that? Sometimes it's just, you know, going to their contact on their, their website, going to see if they have all that information labeled out there, a DM on Instagram asking for an email. Or just like their info and seeing if you get passed along to the right person. I don't typically use LinkedIn.
I think that's a great resource too, but I usually don't go that route. Yeah, those are, or if you know somebody who works at the company and if you can get like a personalized introduction, that's always the best. But, uh, yeah, I think just, just reaching out and like asking who the right person to talk to is.
Right. So don't be scared to start poking around and just, just be polite about Yeah. Trying to find the right person. Totally. Like if I didn't know you and didn't know your work and like anything about you, I don't know you exist. So until you come and introduce yourself to me and like share a bit about you and your work and now you're now on my radar and say, I'm looking for a videographer or something like that.
You're someone who will now come to mind because. I now know who you are and about your work. Yeah. Yeah. So first step to make yourself exist. Exactly. That's the simplest way to put it. Just make yourself exist. It's that simple guys. Uh, yeah.
Money's Role in the Photography Business
So running a business. isn't cheap. Let's talk about that. No, I've, I've failed so many times.
I've gone tens of thousand dollars into debt and like slowly, you know, buried my way out of it. Like it's, there's been struggles nonstop. I think people just assume everyone's successful. You know, like I look around at different photographers and people in the industry, I'm like, just assume that they're super successful.
And a lot of people. And I think it's tough anybody running a business, there's a lot of learning that happens if you're new to it and you're going to spend money and lose money and you got to spend money to make money. So, yeah, so there's been a lot of lessons and there's been a lot of ways, times that I've just been too strict on myself and like I said, turning down work and things like that when maybe I could have used that money.
Um, so it's been a lot of times where I kind of shot myself in the foot and times where I'm lazy. And like, if you're not motivated to do the work, then you're not going to get the work. You have to, you're essentially working full time in order to be able to work full time. Yeah. I like that line. Wasn't Forrest Mankins.
He's another photographer. I think I heard it from him or something like that years ago and I, that was resonating with me. Yeah. But, um, it's a grind. Like you're, it's 24, seven, three 65, you know, like, You have to constantly be thinking about your business, essentially, like, you can take time and for your mental health, like, it's good to like, not think about it and do other things.
But especially in the early years, you have to really have like a smart plan and strategy and like how you're going to make that work. I feel like for me, I've just been kind of like riding these waves and like, there's a lot of right time, right place and all these opportunities are presenting themselves to me.
And then, you know, things kind of the industry has changed and it's a lot more saturated now and there's a lot more people doing it. And you're always kind of having to like weave and like make it work and like find different ways and reinvent yourself. And you got to move with the times, like you, there's a lot of people who, you know, think about all the years, like from film to digital, people get stubborn and then they get left behind people that aren't willing to change with these new waves of marketing and Tik talk and all these things.
Essentially, if that's the way, the path you want to take, you're getting left behind, you know, like if you want to stay relevant in that front, but you can do that in your own unique way, but you got to stay kind of on top of things. Yeah, that makes sense. Just coming back to the money thing, like where does the money go?
And when people don't think about photography, where does all the money go? Yeah, I'm always trying to answer this question myself, to be honest, to keep looking at the bank account and watching it a black hole, especially with, uh, as a DP, it's definitely not a cheap sport. No, no, especially in videography, but also where we live.
Yes. British Columbia is insanely expensive. What's the saying? It's like BC stands for bring cash. It's like a luxury tax, you know, like for, for living in these places. So like, so much money just goes to cost of living. So like, that's a big thing. Um, was it in Canada, like the highest rental markets are Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria.
Yeah, I live in Victoria. It's where I'm based. Um, my girlfriend's going to UVic. That's why I moved out here. But, um, yeah, Yeah, cost of living, but like, I mean, subscriptions, you know, there's a lot of different subscriptions that you need to, in order to run a business for managing and organizing everything, all the backend, accountants, taxes, gear, you know, spending money to make money, whether that's going to events and showing face or gifts and stuff.I always like to send gifts to clients.
Insights when Buying Gear
How do you, um, Make choices around buying gear, because I think it's a big one people struggle with is just like, you know, shiny lens, object syndrome, whatever you want to call it. Yeah, I am using the same camera setup that I've had since like, for like years, like, it's a DSLR, it's on a mirrorless, it's just the 5D Mark IV.
So I've had like a very reliable kit that I've just continued to use this year. I'm going to upgrade actually had a call with Sony. So, um, I've always been Canon, so I might, I might switch sides. Ooh, big deal here. Yeah, but it's like something, you know, like the mirrorless isn't, they're smaller and the more compact and like.
The quality is just insane. So yeah, I, all my money just like gear wise goes to film, which is a horrible business move because like a lot of the times, like I'm not using that work to get me work. It's just like more of like fulfilling process for me. You mean 35 mil, just like, yeah, like 35 Polaroid and medium format.
Like I just love that medium and like, just enjoy just shooting that, um, capturing memories that way. So like a lot of money goes to that, which. I think I'm definitely gonna slow down on, but yeah, gear, like I'm, I'm not buying a ton of gear all the time. It's more like outdoors gear and like things in order to do these like jobs out in the back country and stuff like that, that, that kind of gear is where my money goes as opposed to.
A lot of camera gear because I just, I got a good setup that I've been using. I think that's one, I mean, you're probably the odd man out when it comes to like, you know, not feeling like you always have to buy the next latest and greatest thing because I think that's a lot of people get caught up in that consistently chasing the next whatever, you know, versus thinking about what, uh, what images can I create with what I have?
So. Totally. And there's like the classic, like the best camera is the one you have on you. Like, you know, I agree with that to a certain degree, but it's also like, I've seen, was it Renan, um, Ozturk could like GoPro photos in that geo that were insane. Um, I wouldn't worry so much about your gear. I would worry about your story.
Worry about the subject. What is it that you're trying to tell and how can you do that with whatever gear is available to you? Because that's what people are gonna remember. They're not gonna remember that, oh, this is an insanely sharp photo that is taken on this camera. It's like, no, that's a really impactful image.
So that is more important than any gear. Yeah, a hundred percent, which comes down to like more of that director's role and vision and being able to shape that for sure.
Balancing Lifestyle and Work
When it comes to balancing like lifestyle with work, like do you have some separation or is it always blending? How do you, how do you stay sane when things get quiet?
Like, how do you balance like working? and work outs out of life or life outs out of work. Yeah. It's a constant struggle. I find like it's tough when it's something you're passionate about doing. Like when you love just photographing and being outdoors and like all these things, like it's, it's tough to find that balance.
I have like an office studio kind of space I share with another photographer downtown. So I like to separate work from home. That's like a big thing for me. That's really important. Um, I don't like to like work in the same place I sleep, but I mean, that's definitely like a luxury. I like biking for me.
Like biking is something I typically do outside of photography is like a ways of just like getting outside and exercising. Sometimes I'll just won't bring my camera on certain hikes and stuff like that. Just to like. Kind of get back to the initial root of it all and still be out there to enjoy and not have to worry about capturing everything.
Yeah. That initial Taylor that was sleeping under the picnic bench while it was pissing rain. Yeah. Under the blue card.
So like, yeah, like I, I really struggle with that. I don't have the answers to that. Like I'm still trying to figure out how to like focus more on my mental health and like take care of myself more. And I definitely have like a social, like I've developed a really strong social media addiction and addiction to my phone from.
12 years or whatever it is of using it for my business and for fun and for everything. Like, you know, it's kind of hard sometimes to like define that line of like, when am I on here for like business purposes? And when am I on here for personal pleasure? And so like, it's something I'm, I'm trying to, Get better at and like spend less time on my phone and social media, but it's definitely, I think, a negative side effect of that industry that I, and that route that I went.
Yeah, I mean, I definitely feel that myself for sure. And, oh man, I don't know, like, I guess some of the things that I've been doing are just like, I actually just started to put my phone in a drawer in the evenings. So it's actually like, it's not sitting on the table and it's a weird thing where I don't see it.
So I don't necessarily grab it. And so I have to really intentionally be like, Oh, that thing. And then so it's like literally almost hiding in a drawer helps me. That's fine. Have you heard of the light phone? No. It's called like light, like L I G H T. It's basically a phone that has music, maps, texting, calling.
Oh wow. It's like just a very simple interface. And I'm thinking about investing in one of those just to like kind of transition a little bit. Because, you know, that's one thing. It's like, well, I need my maps, aren't you? Yes. I want to still have a camera on there. Like, I can still call people. Um, that kind of solves that.
Yeah. It's almost like you could leave the iPhone at work, so to speak. Or if you had an office, or you have that dedicated window of time, and then the rest, you know, you're literally shutting that off and you only have the simple light phone, which. That could be a cool solution. I am interested in that.
So something that I think, I think maybe hit on, but I'd love to hit on a little bit more is like just the amount of photographers and photography that is happening at such a rapid pace with, you know, everyone can go grab a pretty high end mirrorless camera now and create really sharp, beautiful images.
Adapting Around the Changes in the Industry
And I mean, where do you see things going with photography and like, how are you shifting around that? Yeah, it's crazy. I like to think sometimes like there's probably more photos taken today than there were in the last like 100, 150 years, right? Yeah. That's a crazy stat. Yeah. It's crazy. Like back then it was such a, it was a trade.
Photography was a trade and it was a service and like you kind of had to be trained on that in order to use a camera. And then over the years. It's become easier and easier and more accessible, which I think is great. And you can take an insane photo just on your phone. Anyone can do it. So that aspect of it's definitely, it's tricky because it's getting harder and harder to like, kind of prove and like, support your role as like a professional button pusher.
Um, yeah, I mean, it's just still just trying to stay on top, like photos are always going to be needed. And it just goes back to like, how can you differentiate yourself? How can you stand out? How can you be the one on top of someone's mind, build those relationships, like craft, strong relationships, and like really focus on what you're good at and really lean into that.
Years ago, I just knew like video was gonna take over social media. And like, I was at a point, I think it was like 2016, 2017. I was like, okay, I should learn videography, like get more proficient at that. And then I was like, ah, it's just, this is not, I just rather focus on photography and collaborate with videographers when video is needed.
I kind of wish I took more time because like now like with reels and all these things that you kind of have to be able to wear many hats and like, you know, clients kind of want, sometimes like they want photo and video. Yeah. So it's something that, you know, I'm still learning at and like trying to be able to offer as much as I can.
But I think it's still going to be a necessity, but it's just, you just have to be doing things to go above and beyond and like really, really stand out from the crowd, which isn't easy to do. It's easy. It's easy to say, but it's not an easy thing to do. And you have to like, really come up with strong ideas and strong concepts and like do things that people aren't normally doing.
And it's not easy to pick out those ideas and then come up with them. Yeah, but I think like what you hit on there is like, it comes down to like being able to sell yourself and build relationships. Ultimately, if you're the one reaching out to the person with the beautiful pitch deck and saying like, Hey, I can help you with XYZ versus like posting a beautiful photo on Instagram and hoping you're going to become someone.
I think that those days are kind of over if I'm wrong. Yeah. Just because it's so saturated, but you really have to be treating it like a business. Yeah. Essentially like, I don't know, I'm just looking at a water bottle right now. There's how many water bottle companies, but. Why did you pick that one? Maybe it was the price, which is the same as people just can go for the cheapest option, or that's what in your mind, the best one that suits your needs.
And they presented themselves in that way with their marketing. Yeah. So that comes down to branding, I guess, of yourself. Yeah. And word of mouth. Yeah. Like, Oh, my friend said, this is a great water ball. I'm going to use this one too, because you know, I trust the recommendation. True. And that's, it's the same with this industry.
Either you referred by someone else in the industry and they I want to work with you too, or you presented yourself or you were just the best cheapest option. Would you, um, yeah, that's not what you're striving for. Not what you're striving for, but sometimes it's just, sometimes the bill's getting paid and you've got to get on work that essentially isn't what you want to be doing, but it happens.
Systems and Processes
Yeah. Are there any like systems and processes that you like to use that, I don't know whether that's on the business side or the creative side, like I'm religious about using I don't know this workflow and Lightroom arm. I love using this accounting software, anything like that, that really is kind of like staple of your workflows.
Pixie set. Okay. It's like a photo delivery kind of system that I use. It just looks more presentable than like Google drive and Dropbox. And we transfer, they also have backend solutions in there for like contracts and invoicing and quoting and all that kind of stuff. I use that all the time. And you know, you spend so much time to make everything look good.
Do you want presented. In that same manner. So that's something I would recommend people check out. Uh, Milanote? Yep. I'm using it right now. I'm looking at it. Yeah. I learned about that last year through East Cherry. And, uh, yeah, I don't do anything without it. It's like such a strong organizational tool that I don't know how I existed and like ran anything before using it.
Give me an example of what a Milanote board looks like for you. Is it you're dumping photos, random quotes, ideas? Like how do you like to Everything like for the workshops that I run, like I have everything in there. For example, like I ran a herring spawn photo tour with friends, John and Mish. So like we have, you know, all of our guest info, people who registered a list of people to reach out to an expenses folder with all of our receipts and like keeping track of all of our spending.
Oh, wow. You're doing that in Millinode. That's impressive. Yeah. Okay. Photos, marketing copy, uh, all the important lists, uh, all the brands that we're working with, all the contacts, all the communication, all the photos, like everything on that end. And then for photo shoots, same thing, like all the talent info, all the job information, all the crew, like everything's just broken down and, and like, so organized anytime I need something.
I like staying on top of it, like categorizing and putting everything in its place. So it's a past job or an upcoming job. Like I know where everything is and it's easily traceable. Um, I'll put my invoices in there, contracts in there, just so like everything's tied to that one job. Yeah. Interesting. I like to use, um, Notion.
I don't know if you've heard of Notion, but, um, yeah, I use that kind of in the way you're speaking about, but then I use. Millenode is more of the creative brain dump. I use it kind of like sticky notes on crack, you know, that are just kind of create that flow and that structure, whether that's photos or right now, actually, for those who are curious about my podcast workflow.
But before I interview anyone, I basically do my research and then I'm constantly like writing out question ideas and then like drawing arrows and linking stuff. And I just have this flow that I'm looking at right now that has, I've let our conversation go, but I've also been looking at Some of the points that I wanted to make sure I hit and that flow that would go best for them.
So that's how I use no note, which is cool. That's great. It's nice to ultimately like trying to less is more like yeah, you know, it's like this platform this and this for this and this and this is like streamline as much as possible. That's that's ideal. Yeah.
Future Projects
And as we've gotten to wrap things up, is there anything that's like really exciting you right now when it comes to projects or things you're working on or?
I'm going to take more time this year to focus on developing some really strong passion projects. I think that's like one of the most important things that people can be doing. And I kind of see it as like a vicious, not a vicious cycle, but like a cycle. Sorry. Um, you do a passion project. You do something that you love.
Clients see that they want to get involved in that. They want that. So they hire you, you make money from that brand shoot or whatever, you put that money back into another passion project. And then brands see that they want that people want to be involved and then you get hired. So it's like this circle, it's a circle constantly creating and like trying to like improve yourself and like invest in yourself.
and create new and exciting work or like things to showcase. And if a brand doesn't have an example of your work where they can put their product or services into it, they're probably not going to consider you. So if you want to start shooting trucks, If you don't have anything for them to kind of visualize, you probably won't get approached, you know, you need to kind of show examples.
So there's a few different things I want to work on, like, growing in my portfolio. So I'm going to spend a lot more time that you're doing that doing this. I signed on with Chevrolet as an ambassador, so I'm working with them for the next year, creating imagery for them. I'm excited about that. That's awesome.
It's been like, the truck has been so helpful for just like all the gear and shuttling things around. So it's been huge. So they give you a truck and you're just kind of going out and creating shoots in and around that? Or how does that look, that structure? Yeah. And then some social media promotion as well.
Right. That's cool. Yeah. Super grateful. That's such a cool, cool partnership that I'm excited to be a part of. And like, just like trying this year, I'm like really focusing hard on the business end, like trying to have more strategy and more of a plan. The last few years, I've just been kind of like lazily doing it and like getting by this year.
I'm like really focusing and like going strong and like treating it as a business and like running it as a business and like saying no to a lot of like. personal things and, and fun travel and stuff to like really make sure I'm getting ahead and putting myself in a good position. And what does that look like on paper?
Like I'm going to treat the business more seriously. Yeah. Like, I guess just like having more of a plan and a vision of like what each month's going to look like, what jobs, like, like trying to like plan ahead more, um, for work. Cause everything's always so last minute. So like being more on top of pitching and Reaching out and setting up more passive income streams, just things like that, putting a lot of time and focus and energy into it.
For me, it was never about the money. It was about the lifestyle. And so it's been great, like over the years, you know, making good money to, to travel and do all these things I love to do. But as I'm getting older, I want to start thinking more ahead and like financial security and like buying a house and like all these things that I didn't have to really worry about before or didn't worry about before.
And now as I'm getting older, it's like, okay, I got to like start being more mindful about how I operate things to like have more. security and like a better future. I mean, what do you mean? You don't want to eat like kimchi for the rest of your life and like keep cycling back into the whatever debt from the new lens.
Yeah, exactly. Which there's a time and a place for that, right? That's how we all start out. But I also feel that transition in myself where it's, you just start looking at it from more of a business model perspective. Okay. Like, but you said it perfectly though, because you, the passion projects still need to fuel everything else.
So that's where you get that little. Spark and that enjoyment that always was existed from the beginning. But you also have to make sure you're like, where's the most money coming from? How do I attack that? You know, how do I make sure that those big rocks are being focused on, you know, versus the small ones?
Totally. And it's like, I could, you know, have some free time. I can go on a trip and go have fun and take some photos. And then maybe those photos will be used on Instagram, or maybe I'll put them on a licensing platform or something like that. But instead, you know, for example, this year, it's like, Okay. I have some time.
How can I use this to turn this into like a passion project in the sense of like, what's the theme for this trip? Or like, how can I shoot this in a way that could get me more work? You know, how could I leverage that? So be more mindful with that time. Yeah. Having a bit of a strategy behind everything you're doing.
Yeah, exactly. Just more strategy. It just kind of, yeah. During the pandemic, like my world got rocked and, uh, I went down a dark hole. And, uh, so the last four years have just been like, Kind of getting back up to where I was before that. And like, I almost quit so many times and I was like, I'm just going back to the trades.
Like I just want financial security like guaranteed income and to work with my hands, my hand got soft ever since we came from the trades, but, uh, I've almost given up so many times, but I'm glad that I didn't. And I'm staying consistent and true to it and it's been a grind, but it's paying off. Yeah, I think it's important for people to hear that.
You've almost quit so many times like it's a constant roller coaster of an evolution and you can have so many big wins and then a freaking bunch of big losses and it's just like how to stay mentally healthy through that how to still find that spark like I mean that's the that's the journey we're setting ourselves up for you have to love https: otter.ai
You're going to hate every living moment of it. So that's why like, you know, if it's something like photography, it's like, I love to capture. I love to document. I love to do all this. I love the places it brings me and the people I get to meet. So like that drives me. I'm sure you feel the same. Yeah. A hundred percent.
I feel very lucky to do what I do. And often I don't actually understand how I do what I do or have been doing a full time for eight years. So it's always this ebb and flow of emotional roller coaster. And again, I feel that same thing. I came from trades as well. I used to run chainsaw for a living and work up in Northern Alberta.
So in firefighting the summers and, and, uh, often a part of me wants to chuck the camera in the garbage and not in the garbage, but rather cut all the expenses that exist from this. Monster that you have built and then just go back to, you know, making a day rate and disappearing in the mountains. So I totally can relate to that.
Favorite thing about throwing your camera gear in the garbage. I'll take it, man. Okay. Send me your shipping address and I'll put it in a box. I noticed on your website you also offer workshops as well as one to one mentorship now. Do you want to chat about that at all? Yeah, it's been super fulfilling and rewarding and worked with a handful of really great photographers who Or are either like in the beginning stages or just kind of stuck and I'm grateful to be able to like help people in those situations because sometimes you just need a little guidance.
It's like therapy and stuff like that, too. Like, you just need second opinions. You need help being put in the right direction.
Workshop and Mentorship
So, like, with my workshops and mentoring and anything like that, like, it's such a. That's all come from like passion. I love getting together with other people. I love sharing. I love teaching and like building these experiences and helping people.
So that's something I started offering this year and it's been great. And like, it kind of helps me also go back to those times. Oh, damn, like you can just have a quick conversation with someone and they can take so many little tidbits of that and like, use that and that brought me back to that time.
Like I was saying, when Alex stroll was in Edmonton, and, uh, I just spent a couple of days, like, you know, a bit of time with him and I was like, holy shit. Like, I just learned so much just by being associated around that. And so like, Sometimes people forget like, yeah, it's just like little things can go a long way.
And like the feedback I've gotten from these sessions is just like so rewarding and so cool to hear. Because for me, that's just something that's just second nature. I don't even think about. But for them, it's like this revelational, like kind of some of the advice, right? Yeah. So I'm grateful for all the people who've helped me and I just want to be able to help.
I have on there, like, you know, what can you afford? Because I don't want to like have like a super like set rate. I want to be able to help people, their student or whatever it is, like they're in a rough spot. I want to help where I can. Yeah. That goes to show your character at the end of the day, because, you know, I have the same idea with this podcast.
Ultimately, this is, this is a passion project. And ultimately I'm just trying to break down the barriers that I wish someone could tell me in the beginning, 10 years ago when I started this and I made this podcast as a resource because I couldn't find anything like this that existed. So and you're right, some of the most meaningful conversations I've had have just been over coffee and beer with someone who I, you know, got to take out.
And then instead of having these conversations in like a quiet bar or coffee shop, like I was like, well, yeah, yeah. What if I just put them on a microphone and shared them with the world? So I appreciate you doing that and I think it's such a great resource and you've had some really awesome people on here and I appreciate you inviting me to be on here and I'm excited for you to put this out and hopefully people gain a little tidbit or something from it.
For sure. Yeah. I think there's lots of great nuggets and, um, yeah, I just want to say thank you so much for coming on the show today. It's been like a really fun conversation. Uh, you again, won the, won the golden star for longest intro story, but it kind of had to be said to like understand where I came from with all of this and like how I got to this place.
A hundred percent. That is a great one. There's some really, there's some really good ones, good pieces in there. And, um, yeah, highly entertaining. So thank you for that. Where do people go to find your, your work or sign up for some mentorship or a workshop or, yeah. Yeah. I guess just my website, just Taylor Burk, uh, T A Y L O R B U R K, no Eon Burk, which is very common mistake.
Everything's on there. Awesome. Well, thanks so much for coming on the show today, Taylor. I, that was awesome. Yeah. Thank you so much. Okay. That was Taylor Burk. Taylor is such a fun and easy person to chat with, and it's not a surprise to me that brands and businesses would trust him to bring their campaigns to life.
I encourage you to check out some of his work@taylorburk.com or his Instagram, Taylor Michael Burk. That's M-I-C-H-A-E-L. Burk, in efforts to continually grow this podcast and help you make a living doing what you love. I have a request. I want you to DM me on Instagram and let me know what is the one thing you are struggling with most and why is it so painful.
Learning what my audience is struggling with is going to help me dig deeper in future episodes with guests that I bring on and ultimately help us grow as a community. In future episodes, I'll be speaking with photographers, cinematographers, directors, producers, reps, and anyone who has decided to take this ambitious leap of faith and making a life and a living behind the lens.
Stay tuned and subscribe to the channel on your favorite podcast app. And if you take 30 seconds to leave me a star rating review, I would appreciate that. If you heard something of value, please share this episode with a friend. And until next time, thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time on shot list.
