Meet Taylor Handte Satterfield | Photographer + Master Cosmetologist

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

Hi Taylor, what do you attribute your success to?
I believe the most important factor behind me getting to where I am today is just being myself. I think for so long I tried to fit a mold of what I thought I should be. I should be on, all the time, I should be super happy and overly peppy about everything. I felt like I had to make everything sunshine, constantly, but that isn’t real. That isn’t me. I started to share more of things that were challenging, things I struggled with, things that weren’t all dressed up. I found that I related to a lot more of my clients when I was just being me. I heard their struggles, saw things they were insecure about and we just connected on a much deeper level than just surface level relationship. When I started to be real with my clients and vice versa I felt a shift.

I love to be the cheerleader for my clients. I love to show them beauty in things that seem the opposite. I want to show off freckles, stretch marks, their individual style. I began seeing people for who they are and celebrating their beauty in their own unique way. Over time, I started to see myself in a light that I hadn’t before. I think the moment I started saying, “Okay, we aren’t going to be perfect, we aren’t all going to be the same, we aren’t all going to be beautiful in they same way, AND THAT IS OKAY.” That was when I felt success and fulfilled. Realness in a world where we only see one facet to everyone was a huge step, don’t get me wrong, that was HARD, being vulnerable is HARD. It is my greatest joy to show my clients the REAL them in my camera. I don’t want them to feel like the things that make them, them aren’t perfect. I don’t want them to feel like they have to look like someone else or be a certain size. They are perfect exactly how they are. The real them is enough, helping people see that though what I do, that is success to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
So I am mainly a senior, wedding and lifestyle photographer but also have my Master Cosmetologist license. I am honestly just proud of being able to do a job that I love and I am passionate about. I am so happy to go to work and truly just love what I do. I’m proud to be doing something that I love. The road definitely wasn’t easy. It was a lot of second- guessing myself and learning. It took awhile to find my style, groove and get a good workflow going. It also took a lot of investing in gear and tools. It was all worth it though. If I look back on when I started this thing nine years ago, it has been such a beautiful and rewarding journey. I have so many things that I am proud of and it feels so good. I have learned that not everyone is going to love you and be for you and that is okay. There are going to be way more people who DO love you and support you. THOSE people are your people. Love them hard. I’ve also learned that nothing worth having comes easy, nothing falls in your lap. If you want something, you have to work hard and go get it. I just want the world to know that it is okay to be you, You don’t have to look like someone else or be a certain size to be perfect. We all have to find beauty and value within ourselves and we all have it. Once you find those things within yourself, you will be unstoppable. I want everyone to know that nothing is too big, no dream is to big to achieve. You can do it. Have faith. Have faith in yourself. You can do it. Give yourself grace. Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t. YOU CAN.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So I live in Gainesville, which is a little North of Atlanta. I would probably take them to Lake Lanier and go out on the lake for the day. I would say let’s stop for lunch at a local restaurant, probably Señor Fiesta or El som, love me some cheese dip followed by an afternoon watching the sunset. We also have to have Longstreet cafe for breakfast one morning. They have THE best breakfast. We also need to hit up Inn Between for a sandwich.

We would maybe walk around the square and do some shopping at some of the cute local spots downtown. If we were to go to Atlanta I would say the Aquarium is a big hit and some shopping there as well.

I’m pretty low-key so shopping and food are always winners for me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh my goodness so many people!! There are a ton of people I’d like to shoutout so let’s just start from when I was younger and work my way up.

My family. My mom, dad and brother. HUGE, HUGE, HUGE shoutout to them. They have always encouraged and supported me. They never made me feel less than for choosing a non traditional career path. They never made me feel like I had to follow the crowd or do something everyone else was doing. My mom let me use her Canon Rebel when I was first starting out to practice with until I could buy my own. My parents own their own business, so any business advice I could always go to them. They helped me when I first opened my studio with all of the renovations and remodeling. They have listened to me cry, been there for my successes and I could never ever thank them enough. They gave me all of the tools I needed and I couldn’t be more blessed to have them as parents. They really worked so hard to be there for me in whatever way they could while maintaining their own business. I love them unconditionally and owe a lot of who I am and what I have done to them. I would give them the world if I could. I can’t end this part without shouting out my brother. He’s the tough love side of this, aren’t all brother’s? He’s been so encouraging but also will kick me into gear when I need it. So, big shoutout to him as well.

My husband and my daughters. My husband has been through this whole journey with me as well. I started photography not too long before we started dating. He actually used to go on photoshoots with me and help me with my gear and things when I first started. He has always cheered me on. He stays up to date on the latest gear and always tries to help me pick out the best stuff. He has bought me so many photography related Birthday and Christmas gifts which is amazing and so sweet. He checks on me when I’m on shoots and makes sure I am okay, hydrated and have enough SD cards. He helps watch my girl’s and makes sure they are taken care of while I am working, as does my mom. I don’t know what I would do without the two of them. They are such blessings. Seth, my husband also has been there for tears, anxiety, me being a perfectionist, happiness, excitement etc. He’s been such a cheerleader for me through this and I love him for it, Shoutout to you, Seth. My daughter’s Chloe and Ivy. They are still so little. 3 and almost two. I just want to shoutout and say I love you girls!!!! You are my motivation and I hope I make you both proud.

My extended family and friends who have always let me take their photos, practice on, taken pictures when you may not have wanted to, shared things on Facebook, invested in me and just loved me, THANK YOU!!

Karli, my bestie, business partner, second shooter, mentor, confidant and so much more.. I love you endlessly. You have been with me in the trenches of this thing. You’ve seen me in my highs and lows. You’ve been so loving and dedicated. You help me when I need help which is ALL the time. You are such a light in my life… you are just the best. You have helped me in so may ways and I don’t know what I could ever do to repay you or show you my gratitude. I love you long time.

Rachel Sav, Haley and Nee, love you all. Thanks for working with me, loving me, encouraging and being my besties. You all are so beautiful and mean so much to me.

My clients: WOWW. Just thank you ALL. Those I see a lot, those I’ve seen once… THANK YOU. Thank you for sharing your lives with me. Thank you for trusting me with your special moments. Thank you for letting me live my dreams… without all of you I wouldn’t be where I am today. I truly feel like I have the best of the best. I love you all so so much. Let’s keep capturing memories. The best is yet to come. <3

Website: www.taylorhandtephotography.com

Instagram: @taylorhandtephotography

Facebook: Taylor Handte Photography