Meet Sean Taylor | Entrepreneur, Photographer & Creative Director

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

Hi Sean, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am originally from St. Andrews, South Carolina. At the age of 7, I moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, before permanently relocating to Orangeburg, South Carolina at the age of 12. Orangeburg is what I consider home and where I’ve spent more than half of my life.

Growing up, I was exposed to many different cultures, and a lot of art and music. I have memories of my parents and grandparents playing R&B, Soul, Jazz and Funk. In his younger years my father was an artist and photographer, and my mother got her bachelors in business marketing with her own non-profit, so I feel like my talents and passions are inherited.

I excelled in art and music classes in elementary, middle and high school. I was hustling my art in middle school, so I’ve always been business minded. I started making music and exploring photography in high school and I never looked back.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Initially, when I started my business in high school I didn’t know which direction I wanted to go; I was just hustling. I designed colorful pin-back buttons and sold them in the hallways, and I sold my own mixtape that I recorded at 16 to my peers. I bought my first camera my senior year of high school, but I didn’t start taking photography serious until years later.

It wasn’t until I got to college that I finally started to find my way. I was in school for graphic design at Coastal Carolina University and freshman year, at the age of 19, I got the idea to start printing t-shirts. The t-shirts were minimalist, and inspired by Jazz album covers and old school Hip-Hop. After a few successful drops of t-shirts, I went home for the summer and I realized how much I missed home. I was eager to move away after I graduation, but being home for the summer made me realize how much I appreciated it. Orangeburg, SC, affectionately known as “The Burg,” is a small town and we often get labeled as country-bumpkins with nothing to offer. I wanted to change that narrative and show the world that Orangeburg is a goldmine.

In 2013, inspired by the late Nipsey Hussle’s “Crenshaw” t-shirts, I started printing “Burg” t-shirts under the Sabal Palm moniker. My main goal was give my city something they could be proud of no matter where they went. The shirts took off. I took my hustle back to school the next semester and continued to churn out new designs and colorways, often times focusing more on my brand than my schoolwork. In 2014, I was placed on academic suspension and forced to go back home. When I got back to Orangeburg, I spent a lot of time pondering my next move. I spent my time hanging out and getting into trouble until one day, I decided something had to change. I got a job, and began working 24/7, sometimes 60+ hours a week.

Around this time is when I began taking photography serious. With the money I saved up from working, I upgraded camera models and began to take pictures of everything and everyone. I graduated from taking pictures and videos of my friends to shooting events, wedding receptions, birthday photos, and more. I fell in love with the craft and really began to hone my skills.

Fast-forward to 2019, I decided to form Sabal Palm Creative Agency LLC, a media company where I could house all of my various talents. That same year, I released a documentary series titled “Welcome to the Burg,” showcasing the culture of Orangeburg. Completely shot, edited, and music produced by me, the documentary did well. People in the community loved it, and I was able to show the state and the world what Orangeburg has to offer.

Today, I’m still working to show what Orangeburg has to offer, but I’m also working to show what the state of South Carolina has to offer. Over the years, I began to learn my own roots that are embedded in South Carolina history and culture, and I’ve realized that it’s bigger than just my city. I want to show the world that South Carolina has something to say. It’s been somewhat of a bumpy ride leading up to this, but I’m optimistic for the future.

I think the one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the course of my journey so far, is that the business you start, won’t be the business you run. It’s okay to not have it all figured out in the beginning. It’s okay to make mistakes when you’re first starting out. And it’s okay to pivot and switch directions. As you grow and change, your business is going to grow and change with you. You will experience growing pains, and there will be times where you feel lost, but never lose sight of the bigger goal. You’ve got to remember your purpose for starting the journey and let that be the leading light.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I’m not too familiar with the Atlanta area, I’ll share from a South Carolina perspective. In South Carolina, we’ve got the mountains, the sea, and everything in between.

If you’re in the Orangeburg area, you could venture out to Lake Marion at Santee State Park, which is a 20 minute drive from the city. After you leave the lake, you could grab a bite to eat at Antley’s for a good home-cooked meal. If you want to walk your meal off and burn a few calories, you could head to the campuses of Claflin University and South Carolina State University. They’re two of the oldest HBCUs in America and their campuses are right next to each other. You could even go to Edisto Memorial Gardens in downtown Orangeburg. It’s peaceful, scenic and it features a river walk of the Edisto River.

Assuming you’re staying in SC for a week, on your second day you could venture down to Charleston, SC. You could explore the historic downtown area and after you do a little shopping on King Street, you could grab a late lunch at one of my favorite vegan spots, Gnome Cafe. Once you’re full you could take a trip down to the Battery and Rainbow Row. If you’re in the mood to go the beach, you could go to Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, or Edisto Beach. On your way back to the city, you could grab some soul food from Nigel’s in North Charleston.

Later in the week, you could head to the upstate and venture out to Greenville. If you like to hike, like me, you could head to Sunset or Cleveland two towns right outside of Greenville that feature some of the most beautiful trails and mountain views in the entire southeast region. The last hike I completed was the Raven Rock trail in Keowee-Toxaway State Park. After your hike, and maybe a visit at the Greenville Gemstone Mine, you could eat some Italian cuisine at Trio, located in the heart of Downtown Greenville.

On your last day, assuming you’re flying out of Columbia, you could hang around the capital city and hit the Columbia Museum of Art before you’re flight. If you’re in the mood for a snack, you could visit The Good Life Cafe downtown, and get a smoothie.

All-in-all, South Carolina has many things to see and plenty of places to eat good.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my family, my friends and my entire community. I wouldn’t have made it this far without unwavering support from my family and friends; advice from my elders and OG’s; and the love from people in my community. I’m a firm believer in family and community and it’s truly a blessing to have an army behind me.

Website: http://sabalpalm.agency

Instagram: http://instagram.com/oburgslim

Twitter: http://twitter.com/oburgslim

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabalpalmsc

Youtube: http://youtube.com/channel/UClFkcOfLLRCrAyLYBWijI8g