Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Taylor.
Hi Sasha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My grandfather, Robert Cyborski, was the chief photographer for the Chicago Fire Department. He retired when I was 12 and moved to Las Vegas. I am the oldest of 8 children – 2 girls and 6 boys – my sister is 10 years younger than me. I think my grandfather knew I needed a break at times from all the hard, so he would have me visit them for a week or so during the summer. He would teach me how to use a camera and take me on photo shoots around Las Vegas and the surrounding mountains.
Those trips were the highlight of my childhood and I think the passion he shared with me became my passion. I went to college for photography and also had 5 children. Three biological and 2 adopted twins, Austin and Justin. The twins are Shoshone Indian. Their mother was a drug addict and the boys were born with fetal alcohol syndrome. One of my twins got all the behavioral disabilities and the other got all the physical disabilities. They were 5 when I adopted them, and immediately, Justin was in the hospital having open-heart surgery. He was born with basically half a heart, no spleen, organs flipped on the wrong side of his body, and other physical challenges. For the next 11 years, Justin was in and out of the hospital, and caring for my children and he became more than a full-time job. in 2009, he had a heart transplant. That heart lasted 7 years and Justin passed away on February 7th, 2016.
After he passed, I found myself without a purpose. I had photographed clients during those years, but it wasn’t until 2017 that I opened my own studios. 2 brick and mortars, 10 employees. I LOVE being a portrait photographer because I love relationships with people. This is very shocking for those that know me, because I have Complex PTSD and debilitating anxiety. I think being forced to communicate and engage with people through my photography has really saved me in a way.
It has been a crazy 4 years, and COVID was a huge HUGE hit. It forced me to scale back and now it’s just me and my wife of 20 years who work the business. But it has also allowed me to have more time for my 2 grandkids! Life is good. That is a very short version of my story!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
So many obstacles. The learning curve of being a business owner, finding capital, managing employees, We had a fantastic year in 2019 and were set up to do over $500,000 in revenue in 2020. Then, on March 13th, 2020 we received a phone call that one of our huge dance competition clients had to close the competition.
And the next day we received the call that our 3 easter locations were going to need to be closed. We have deemed a non-essential business and we’re pretty much closed until November. We lost $182,000 in revenue last year and burned through our savings trying to keep things going. It was very difficult, but we are still kicking!’
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a portrait photographer. It is funny because people often ask me why I don’t photograph landscapes. I tell them – well, a cardiologist is a doctor but doesn’t do neurology. It’s the same thing. I don’t know why I ended up in portraits. It surprises me that I went in that direction. But, it works for me. I am known for creating an amazing photo experience. Making clients comfortable, making kids laugh, making an impression. I have dozens of clients that I have had for decades.
It is so satisfying when parents come in so stressed and almost in tears and then leaves so excited at how well it all went. I really have a talent for reading people and understanding what their needs are. I have been shooting now for 29 years. I started on film and at that time we had to know every setting on the camera in order to get the images we wanted. We didn’t see the final image until the film was processed. There was no screen to see what was happening.
I think that gives me an advantage because I am not looking at the back of my camera while shooting. So my energy is focused 100% on my client rather than the image on the back of the camera. So much is missed in those moments photographers are focused on their camera trying to see if they got the shot. I am extremely proud of being the 2018 Women’s Business Center of Utah Female Entrepreneur of the Year.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
OMG- this is a hard question. I am an old-fashioned, pen and paper kinda gal. I use as few apps as possible, I use Wix for my website and scheduling, lightroom, and photoshop, and that’s about it!
The most influential book in my professional career is “The E-myth Revisited” By Michael Gerber. Really changed my life in regards to being a business owner.
Pricing:
- Studio Session $129
- Location Session $169
- Newborn Session $159
Contact Info:
- Email: info@flashphotocreative.com
- Website: www.flashphotocreative.com
- Instagram: @flashphotocreative
- Facebook: @flashphotocreative
