Photographer + Musician: Wes

1. Let's start off with a quick introduction - who you are, what you do, and where we can find you.

I'm Wes! I'm a photographer, musician & vibe curator in Chicago. I'm on Instagram @wesleytaylor!

2. How did you land a career in photography?

It started as a hobby in college. Eventually, I started working in the marketing department at school, and then moved on to shooting weddings; as I moved to Chicago, I also started transitioning into more corporate content creation and work on Instagram. Now I do a little bit of everything--and I love that I each type of photography informs the other types in different ways. I'm super thankful that my journey in the creative space hasn't been a straight line.

3. As a creative as well, how do you personally deal with burn out?

This is still a struggle, and something I'm learning to deal with. One thing that I've learned in the last few months is to lean into the creative mood I'm feeling. Sometimes you have to work when you don't feel like it, but most days if I feel like I need a break, I take it. If I'm feeling slightly creative, I'll follow that inkling until I see it through. Some of my favorite moments have come from just listening to my body and soul in the moment, rather than following a prescribed plan for what something should be.

4. What are 3 tips you can give on how to stay motivated as an entrepreneur?

1. Know yourself. When I'm in full-on creation mode, I work best when I have some sort of schedule or someone to assist me on a project. I also enjoy rewards, so after a few hours of work, I'll take a beat to listen to some music, or make another cup of coffee before jumping back into work.

2. Give yourself grace. Especially these days, I think it's important to set goals but not be bound by them. Life is more than ticking things off a checklist, and often ideas or opportunities will come to you when you are resting in addition to when you're hustling. Always search for the balance.

3. Celebrate your wins! In pursuit of new goals, sometimes I actually forget how far I've come. There were days when I dreamt of moving to Chicago, days when I wondered how I would pay my rent, or longed for a space to call my own. Some of my biggest clients and projects were once just a pipe dream. Allow yourself to celebrate where you are in addition to looking toward the future.

5. What is your favorite aspect of being a creative, photographer, and musician?

Definitely the freedom to explore. Whatever creative pursuits come to mind or opportunities come up, I'm able to weigh them against my goals and the kind of person/creative I want to be. I don't take it for granted that I'm not tied to a singular location or someone else's vision.

6. Do you believe you have work-life balance and/or do you even believe in work-life balance?

I think work-life balance comes in seasons. The important thing for me is to not let something I don't love or believe intake control of my life for years and years on end. Finding the balance is especially hard in a pandemic, but I think it's helpful to acknowledge that some weeks, months, and years will have different levels of balance.

7. What is one assumption that people make about photographers that you absolutely hate?

Hate is a strong word, but I would just love for folks to realize that the process of creating a photo isn't always simple. Sometimes things flow naturally, but it's always a creative process and often takes a lot of tries to get an image just right.

8. What is your self-care routine and/or share some tips on how you decompress?

I say this word a lot, but honestly, my favorite form of self-care is just to ~vibe~. I find so much peace and value in just existing in my space, either alone or with good friends, and usually, the base of that is playing some records or favorite music. It may also include a glass of wine or a face mask, but ultimately the goal is just to be. It's so rare that we have the chance to be fully ourselves without outside influence, so I think it's so important that your self-care is catered to exactly who you are.

Also in this age of constant content creation and dissection, my favorite form of decompression is just watching easy, cheesy TV--either comedy like Living Single or The Office, or "Reality" like Selling Sunset. Lol!

9. If you took away the titles, interest/hobbies, and materialistic things, how would you describe Wesley?

A friendly person who thrives on being comfortable, getting to know the people closest to him, and the joy that comes from exploring the creative realm.

10. Lastly, what is one thing you wish someone had told you when you were 16?

Chill. Be yourself. Things seem stressful and intense right now, but it'll all work out. It's going to take time, but you'll be happy and comfortable in who you are soon enough.