Daily Inspiration: Meet Taylor Banner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Banner.

Hi Taylor, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m currently the Creative Director & Team Photographer for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. I started with the expansion club back in 2020 prior to there being a brand, a team, a facility or a fan base.

Prior to joining CLTFC, I was a Graphic Designer & Photographer at USA Baseball and a Marketing Coordinator & Graphic Designer for Raycom Sports / ACC Network. I spent time in Entertainment with the Charlotte Hornets and Sponsorship & Operations at Charlotte Sports Foundation. In college, I was the Sports Information Director’s Assistant all 4 years while playing softball and graduating magna cum laude with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Mass Communications, Sports Management and English Literature. While a student, I also interned at Holston Valley Broadcasting and UNC Charlotte Athletics.

How I got to where I am is a loaded question! Those work-related positions above are the quick bits, but I can confidently say every opportunity and person that I’ve met along the way have helped me become who I am and get to this part of my career and my life.

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?
It’s pretty rare that anything that is worth it, is easy. There’s always sacrifices along the way, whether that’s personally or professionally. Success as a female in this industry is still more rare than in should be, but I adore seeing more women in the sports achieving goals and making strides in a primarily male-dominated field. For me, the toughest struggles looking back at the last nearly 10 year has been being away from family, working nearly every weekend, finding time to freelance for necessary supplemental income, the disease of clout-chasing in this generation, and I’ve had my own mental health battles with anxiety and depression. The road might have rocks in it and bumps, but I’ve been extremely blessed and fortunate at each fork and stop along the way. I’ve made life long friends, connections and impacts that I cherish and find more rewarding than any title, added job responsibility, or recognition on social media.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Creative Director sounds fancy, but for me in my role it’s as much actively contributing as it is directing, long-term planning, managing, etc. I get to work with an absolutely outstanding team of creatives in graphic design and photography and I’m also responsible for staffing talented and good humans for freelance opportunities.

From a design standpoint, if it’s got our mark on it (legally haha), we’re creating it. Together, we’re responsible for a number of diverse projects including marketing materials, advertising campaigns, digital and social content, in-stadium and exterior signage, corporate partnership assets, ticketing needs, retail items, giveaway designs, sporting staff. Photography-wise, we document the history of the club, photographing all matches, trainings, photoshoots, events, marketing and partnership needs. That part might look glamorous to some on the outside looking in, but the majority of time is spent culling, editing, exporting, tagging, uploading and organizing our archive and player photo distribution platform.

Both of these avenues of creative my team does at an exceptionally high level, positively accepting feedback and collaborating without ego, not just with each other and the content team, but with every single department. Tessa Hansen, Alana McCallion, Nathalie Cairo, Josh Wong, and Kenadie Norman are deserve all the flowers in the world!

I really only post my photography work because for me being able to capture moments that become memories is an honor. The longevity of joy it brings to others, and not having the photos I wish I did with my loved ones – it means more for me at this current point in my life.

I’m not really sure I’m known for, what I’m most proud of, or what sets me apart from others – but I do know that I genuinely care deeply about the people I get to work closely with and want what’s best for them and for them to succeed and enjoy what they do.

What matters most to you?
Treating others with kindness, respect, and loving other’s like Jesus would to the best of my earthly human ability. We never meet anyone by accident

Pricing:

• .5 Hour // Mini Shoot – $150
• 1 Hour // Full Shoot – $300
• Weddings // starting at $2,200

Contact Info:

• Website: taylorbanner.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tay.banner.photos/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-banner-8b7191b9/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/taybbanner

Image Credits
Personal photo of self in action: Lizzy Otten (https://www.instagram.com/lizzy.otten.photos/)