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Hope Taylor is a photographer specializing in senior portraits serving both Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA.

ABOUT

The Shop

Hi, beautiful! I’m Hope: a photographer, educator and business coach. 

Currently obsessed with: newly married life, mint Oreos and prepping for our first baby girl due in March 2024! 

I began my business when I was just 16 years old, and have since grown it into a full-time career photographing joyful clients and educating photographers about how to build strategic businesses + lives that they love. But, there's a whole lot more to me than the love for beautiful photos and digital marketing...so let's dive in!

ABout hope

THE NUMBERS

2013 

The year I began my business in high school

03

# of teachers that yelled at me for answering emails in class

2014

The year I graduated high school + decided to take my business full-time

10+

# of times I fought with my parents about not going to college

let's break it down...

2014

Also the first year I made six-figures as a photographer 😉

2015

The year I spoke at my first conference + began teaching other photographers 

2500+

The number of photographers currently enrolled in my online courses 

2019

 The year I moved to Charleston, SC + bought my first home

2023

The year I got married + found out we were expecting our first baby girl!

BUT, everything changed when i decided to revoke my college admission. 

If you had told me over 10 years ago that I’d have the opportunity to be a full-time photographer and business owner, I would have laughed. Because, the thing is, a few years ago I was just a high school student with a part-time job at a retail store. My life was a constant race between stocking shelves, studying for AP classes, getting to cheer practices, rushing through the halls and applying for universities. The thought of being an entrepreneur seemed daunting and far off, if not impossible. 

Maybe the college I committed to attending wasn’t where I was supposed to be. Maybe, just maybe, the conventional path I had planned wasn't the only option. So, one morning, I made a big decision: I was revoking my admission to a 4-year business university and pursuing this crazy, seemingly unattainable dream full time. And I was going to chase after those dreams like a freight train. I feel so thankful every day to have the opportunity to do what I love through serving and loving my clients.

And while photography is something that I love and adore - creating lasting relationships with my clients is where my heart will always lie. And, in my journey to pursue my purpose and build a business rooted in love, I’ve found an even deeper passion for educating and equipping other photographers to do the same. 

ost days I still can't believe this is my life. The 16-year-old girl who was getting bullied for trying to be a photographer in high school would be beaming to know how her story unfolds...

But, enough about how this business of mine got started; let’s get to the important stuff

M

NEXT

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Target...are we surprised? 

Place to shop

tv show

Fuzzy socks

Accessory

Pale Blue

Color

Chicken Nuggets

Food

Popcorn, extra butter

movie snack

Shark Tank

Santorini, Greece

Place i've been

PERSON

White

NAIL color

Brunch (mimosas)

Any form of pasta

MEAL

Taylor Swift + Bazzi

MUSIC

Frogs (I’m obsessed) 

Animal 

My Momma 

Charleston, South Carolina

city

chik fil a order

Peonies! 

flower

Strawberry Refresher

Strawberry Refresher (no berries!)

Starbucks order

Vodka soda + lime

Adult drink

Marshmallow Fireside

Candle

8 ct. nugget + large fries

I'm a walking contradiction: a ball of energy who has never had a sip of coffee in her life, a Southern girl at heart who can rap all old-school Eminem and an enneagram type 3 that loves a good nap.

A Peek into My Life in the Low-Country

In addition to being packed with photography education, my YouTube channel has lots of videos that give you a peek into my day-to-day life! Vlogs, Q&As, a home tour,  my proposal story...you can binge-watch it all! 

watch them all

My Business Journey: How it all began

watch now

TOP PERSONAL VIDEOS

More on my YouTube Channel

I'm Engaged! Our Proposal Story

watch now

Moving to Savannah
Q&A

watch now

At age 16, I was working a part time job at a local retail store and stacking AP classes on top of cheer practice. I signed up for a photojournalism class as a way to trick my dad into buying me a nice camera (because it was required).

it all started with junior year

september 2012

I knew so little about photography that I was called out in front of my entire photojournalism class for having the wrong type of camera. OOPS. To Ebay I went! 

It was a slow start

DECEMBER 2012

... with photography! Took photos more often for friends and family. Still working a part-time job. Still hustling through the hardest year of high school. 

the leap of faith

April 2013

I quit my part-time job to pursue photography as more than just a hobby! Still, I was barely making money and still had so much to learn. 

THE LEAP OF FAITH

may 2013

I turned seventeen and made my business officially official! I signed all the documents, filed all the paperwork and started paying taxes. AH! 

SWEET SEVENTEEN

August 2013

I began my senior year of high school as a part-time student and full-time photographer. I had enough credits to leave class every day by 10am…and I HUSTLED. 

DO THE HUSTLE

SEPTEMBER 2013

I began applying to colleges. First to art schools that were out of state…then to schools closer to home to pursue a degree in marketing... 

College dreams

OCTOBER 2013

Acceptance letters starting rolling in. My business was growing. I had 6 schools to choose from, and I committed to the closest school: but still an 8-hour round trip from home (and my business). 

BIG DECISIONS

JANUARY 2014

I graduated high school at age 17 with an advanced degree…and a full-blown, full-time business as a wedding photographer. I almost skipped graduation to photograph a wedding instead! 

skip graduation

June 2014

I went to orientation at the college I had committed to. I met my roommate. Signed up for classes. Said hi to my professors. Paid all the fees and started shopping for my dorm! But, something didn’t feel right. 

ORIENTATION

July 2014

After weeks of tearful praying and feeling unsettled…I made a huge decision. I revoked my admission to a four-year university to go full-time as a photographer! 

PATH, CHOSEN

AUgust 2014

I photographed my very first SOLO wedding!!! 

THE FIRST

APRIL 2014

I celebrated 5 years as a full-time business owner! 

ANNIVERSARY

AUGUST 2018

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THE TIMELINE

Follow along with 

HATS I WEAR

I like to do #allthethings at once... here’s a few of the

Photographer: 

For over a decade, my first love has been senior portraits. Capturing beautiful moments for my clients will never get old. 

Wife

Hayden and I got married on May 6th, 2023 in Bluffton, SC! It was the dreamiest day of my entire life and I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend.

CourSe Creator

I began teaching photographers in person in 2014. Then, I moved my education online so I could help educate hundreds of photographers from across the globe! 

Business Coach:

Aside from photography, my biggest love is BUSINESS. I love all things strategy and digital marketing. This group here is one of my mastermind groups - I adore them!

mom

The newest title that I still can't BELIEVE I get to carry starting in early 2024! We can't wait to welcome our first baby girl!

DAUGHTER, SISTER, FRIEND

My family and friends are my number one priority in my life. My mom, dad, brother Nate and sister Abby are my favorite humans. 

01
02
03
04
05
06

Meet Hayden

I’ve known this cutie since 4th grade, and we began dating in 2020 after years of being best friends. We got married on May 6th, 2023 and I still can't believe that I get to call him my HUSBAND! We live in our home in Savannah, GA with our goldendoodle pup, Boone and our rescue kitty, Boots!

Hayden is my best friend, my soft place to land after any hard day and my biggest supporter. I feel so lucky to be loved by him, 

My Person