Today we’d like to introduce you to Tayler Dumas.
Hi Tayler, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I always, and I mean always, wanted to be a wedding photographer. I honestly couldn’t picture a life doing anything else. But then (*spoiler!*)… I did something else. My play-it-safe logic kicked in, and I went to college to become an elementary school teacher. I taught third graders for 5 years. Don’t get me wrong; I loved my time as an educator, but something always felt like it was missing. I knew I needed to make a change.
After having my first baby, I was cleaning out the closet and found my old camera. I started to spend some time learning how to shoot with it again, mostly with the intention of taking cute photos of my children. In a moment of vulnerability, I told my husband that I had always dreamed of becoming a wedding photographer. He looked me dead in the eye and told me if that was my dream then I needed to do it. So I did it. Photos of my children quickly spiraled into practicing with friends and family. Before I knew it, my dream of taking photos for a living became reality.
Around that time, a local wedding photographer (shout out Mads Lizotte!!) that I had always admired was looking for photographers to add to her team. With virtually no wedding experience, she took me under her wing and taught me everything she knew. She saw a potential in me that I had no idea was there. From that first wedding day with her I was hooked.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I mean nothing worth having ever comes easy. There are so many challenges to being a full time business owner, a wife, a mom, all while still finding time to do things that fill my cup, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. When I started this business, I knew how to take photos but that was about it. The rest was all such a learning curve. Learning to navigate marketing, business backend, and what it means to provide a quality client experience was all brand new to me.
Having a background in teaching we are always taught to be “forever learners”. This has helped me immensely in growing my business. There is ALWAYS something to learn. The photo community in Minneapolis is amazing. Being able to lean into the community and learn from each other has been one of my favorite parts of being in this industry.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Minnesota and Florida wedding and couples photographer. I specialize in creative storytelling. I’m in the business of turning that pinch-me-why-don’t-you?! moment into a timeless treasure in the form of photographs that feel like a cinematic masterpiece. While I love beautiful and perfect photos, I thrive in the imperfections life and love. At the end of the day I want my couples to look back at their photos in 10 years and smile because they remember how it FELT to be young and in love. I want to tell their story in a way that feels unfiltered and authentic.
I am not one to manufacture a moment on a wedding day. I tend to fade into the background and document exactly what is happening around me. The way grandma wipes her tear as you say I do, the way your friends hoist you into the air on the dance floor, every inside joke between bridesmaids, every look of adoration and graze of fingertips between the two of you. THOSE are the moment I live for on a wedding day, it’s all part of your narrative.
It took me a few years to really find myself and my style in an industry that is fairly saturated. I really wanted photos to feel like they were straight from a romance film. Raw, unfiltered, authentic, timeless. Instead of doing the same prompts and poses at every session, I started to just observe my couple and how they interacted when I wasn’t giving them a direction. That is when it clicked for me. While I still have so much to learn about cinematic photography, I am proud of how far I have come in my storytelling.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The number one thing I have learned is that comparison is the thief of both joy and creativity. I still sometimes find myself scrolling instagram and comparing my work to amazing photographers all over the world. I have to step back and remember that their journey isn’t mine, and their creative eye is different than mine is. I have a unique perspective to offer my clients and that is JUST as valuable.
Pricing:
- Weddings starting at $4,850
- Intimate weddings starting at $3,250
- Storytelling sessions starting at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://taylerdumasphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylerdumas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylerdumasphoto
