Meet April Taylor

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

Hi April, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started back in 2009 with an old Nokia flip phone and MySpace. I had an idea and a passion and was going to change everyone’s profile pic one snap at a time.

I couldn’t afford a fancy camera and I often had lens envy lol, but I realized it’s not the size of the lens but the person behind the lens that matters. I captured pics of people for free, until one day someone actually wanted to pay me for my work!

Ever since then the fire was lit! I’m from California born and raised and that’s where Photos by A-Love originated.

I built a team with a makeup artist and we started promoting packages where we included wardrobe styling with clothing we shopped for with makeup and it was a hit! By this time, I upgraded my flip phone for a DSLR. My name started to be known around town and my makeup Artist and I started hosting some events and I was also being showcased in Art events.

In 2012, I was Awarded Exceptional Woman of Color in the category of Entrepreneur/Innovator for my work as an entrepreneur and work efforts in the Community, also a Semi-finalist in the Raw Natural Born Artist Contest for Photographer of The Year. Having worked with numerous Makeup Artists, Fashion Designer, Hairstylists, Local music Artists, I have maintained my passion and I love to have fun and bring laughter to my Clients.

In 2014, I relocated to Georgia where no one knew me or my resume and I had to build from the ground up from scratch, I’ve faced many challenges and tragedies that almost made me throw in the towel. Fast forward to 2019, I was Awarded as Best Photography Studio in Snellville, all my blood sweat, and tears lots of tears I won and was Awarded 2020 Among THE BEST OF GWINNETT, I was determined to win THE BEST.

Instead of Among the Best and by His grace I just won THE BEST of Gwinnett County for 2021!! My story doesn’t end here and I have a lot more work to do but I’m so blessed and grateful and I give all glory to God.

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 been a bumpy rocky off-road and a lot of steep hills in my career process! Relocating from California to GA was extremely hard and I took a whole year off to focus on getting my family moved and adjusted.

I endured a near tragedy in 2017 and almost lost my daughter and after all the medical bills, I lost my studio I worked so hard for, and I literally almost never snapped back from that whole ordeal battling from a bout of depression that I hid behind a smile, then 5 months later my father was shot and almost killed so my focus shifted to him and handling all the legal stuff for him.

In 2018, I still hadn’t got my footing completely back to focus on my business when I suffered another devastating blow, I lost one of the most important women in my life, my grandmother. So yes, I’ve had to overcome a lot and find my passion in photography all over again and rebuild.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love fashion and glamour photography.

The majority of my career has been geared towards that niche. I love editing and beauty retouching. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of birthday shoots where I create a whole party scene. At this time, I book a lot of headshots and birthdays. I now work out of my in-home studio.

I’m most proud of winning Best in my County, I also pride myself on my reviews. All my clients become my friends.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice is to not feel in order to have the success that you have to go spend a lot of money on equipment, because sometimes people that have top of the line everything their work isn’t up to par.

Keep walking on faith and be humble. Don’t give up!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Www.PhotosbyAlove.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/photosbyalove?utm_medium=copy_link