Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor O’sullivan
Hi Taylor, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My passion for photography and filmmaking began unexpectedly in high school when I was accidentally enrolled in a video production class—and instantly fell in love. Over the next four years, I dedicated myself to honing my camera skills, editing videos, and hosting the morning video announcements. My enthusiasm for filmmaking drove me to seek out every opportunity to gain experience. While still in high school, I took film classes at the local community college and attended a summer film program at UCLA at just 15 years old. I was completely captivated, eager to learn everything I could about the art of filmmaking.
Knowing I wanted a career in the arts, I dedicated myself to achieving excellent grades so I could attend one of the top film schools in the world—Chapman University. At film school, I studied film producing with an emphasis on documentary filmmaking and a minor in leadership. I got hands-on experience from day one, shooting short films and still photography. One pivotal project was a trip to Cameroon, West Africa where I shot a documentary for a local nonprofit. This was the trip where I feel absoultely in love with documentary filmmaking. I knew I wanted to make a career out of it. On that same trip, I used my first camera to shoot a series of photographs that I compiled into a personal coffee table book. It was the first time I saw my work in print and I absolutley loved the feeling of seeing my art in a tangible form.
While still in school and after college, I worked tirelessly, taking on several unpaid internships in the film industry to get my foot in the door. It was challenging, but my determination eventually paid off. I spent over a decade immersed in filmmaking, a career that took me across the globe in extraordinary ways. During those years, I traveled to more than 60 countries, working on movies, TV shows, and documentaries, and experiencing the world through the lens of storytelling. It was all so exciting and fulfilling.
When I was 21 years old, I spent a year in Thailand, working as a photographer and videographer for a travel company. Later, I had the opportunity to work on blockbuster films like Fast and the Furious and TV shows for MTV. I traveled across the United States while hosting a documentary series for Yoga Journal Magazine. In 2019, embarked on an ambitious project that took me to 20 countries in a single year to produce a documentary on the shifting global population and declining birth rates. My work spanned a variety of subjects, keeping it dynamic and invigorating. Each project offered a fresh perspective and new challenges, allowing me to continually grow and evolve. The constant creativity made the work deeply fulfilling and ensured it never felt routine or stagnant.
Whenever I was on location for a movie or TV show, I’d always bring a film camera with me, capturing my surroundings purely for fun—just for myself. I never really shared those photos with anyone. Photography had always been my “side project,” something I did for joy, while filmmaking was my primary focus and career. But in my mid-20s, much to my delight, photography began to take on a bigger role. It happened very naturally. I started getting hired more frequently as a commercial photographer, shooting for brands, luxury hotels, and airlines like Qantas. I even had the opportunity to photograph artists like Katy Perry. I shot the single artwork for one of her songs and my image ended up on a massive 25-story tall billboard in Times Square—a true “pinch me” moment I’ll never forget.
While I loved the creation process deeply, I began to notice a recurring theme in the work I was creating – whether it was for films or commercial photography: the consumption of it was fleeting. Even when I poured months—or years—into a project, the final product was often consumed quickly and then disappeared into the ether. This ephemeral nature of it left me longing for something more enduring, something that could stand the test of time. I felt deeply drawn to create art that was permanent, something that could immortalize my vision in a tangible form.
So I started printing and framing my photography — turning my work into pieces of fine art that people could collect and cherish for years to come. On June 1st, 2024, I launched CULTERRA (latin for “culture of earth”)—my fine art photography business—a dream rooted in my passion for creating enduring art that nurtures a profound connection to nature. With CULTERRA, my intention is clear: to inspire a sense of connection and reverence for the natural world. Through my photography, I aim to highlight the beauty, fragility, and importance of the earth’s landscapes. While I still take on select commercial photography projects, my main focus has shifted to growing CULTERRA, and in just six months, it has already flourished. Some of the milestones I’m most grateful for include hosting my first pop-up gallery in Laguna Beach, having my work featured in several magazines, contributing to an Artist in Residence program, and sharing my art with so many collectors.
Looking ahead, I endevor for CULTERRA to leave a lasting legacy—one that helps people see the natural world through a more appreciative and reverent lens. My hope is that my work will not only make spaces more beautiful, but also serve as a reminder of our connection to the earth and the importance of preserving its wonders for generations to come.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Early in my career, one of the biggest challenges was navigating the competitive and demanding nature of the film industry. With far more people vying for positions than there were opportunities on set, I knew I had to be at the top of my craft to succeed. This meant making significant personal sacrifices—missing social events, weddings and even putting dating on the back burner in my 20s—so I could fully dedicate myself to my work.
At the time, breaking into the film industry required one to take on numerous unpaid internships just to get a foot in the door. I interned at production companies, international distribution firms, and studios in Los Angeles, often putting in long hours for little or no pay. To make ends meet, I had to get creative—after working full days from 9 AM to 7 PM, I would drive for Lyft from 9 PM to midnight, just to cover my bills. It was an exhausting grind, but it ultimately laid the groundwork for the successes I would go on to achieve.
After a successful decade in filmmaking and commercial photography, I faced an exciting new challenge: transitioning from working on projects for others to focusing solely on creating my own artistic vision. Launching my fine art photography business, CULTERRA, marked a significant shift—one that I embraced wholeheartedly. It meant diving into the complexities of running a physical product-based business, from mastering marketing to overseeing printing, framing, and managing a brick-and-mortar location. While it was a steep learning curve, I found joy in the learning process, which made the hard work feel fulfilling rather than overwhelming.
More recently, balancing the creative process with the demands of entrepreneurship has become a hurdle. As CULTERRA is still in its early stages (we launched just six months ago), it often feels like 80% of my time is devoted to managing the business, leaving only 20% for creating new art. With limited hours in the day, I’ve had to be very intentional about carving out dedicated time for the creation of new art, even if it means temporarily stepping away from business responsibilities. Recently, I spent four weeks in Europe capturing a new CULTERRA collection in Italy, Albania, and Greece. During that month, I fully immersed myself in the creative process, allowing the business side to take a backseat—and it was absolutely worth it. The new collection is stunning and I am so excited to release it in the Spring of 2025. Striking a sustainable balance between these two roles, the artist and the entreprenuer, remains an ongoing challenge, one that I’m continuously working to improve.
Throughout my journey, my career has demanded immense dedication, sacrifice, and resilience. But my passion for my craft and my mission to connect people with nature have fueled me to overcome these obstacles, making every step of the journey worthwhile.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a fine art photographer and my work is all about capturing the beauty and wonder of the natural world around us. My work focuses on landscapes and nature, celebrating the interplay of light, color, and texture that makes Mother Nature an endless source of inspiration. With meticulous attention to detail, I seek out those fleeting, transcendent moments that many might overlook, transforming them into timeless art.
What drives me is the opportunity to share this passion with others. Through my photographs, I hope to spark a sense of awe and connection with the earth. When someone views my work, I want them to feel a deeper appreciation for the beauty of our world and, more importantly, to be inspired to care for it as stewards of our planet.
What sets me apart is my unwavering dedication to my craft. Whether it’s hiking miles into the wilderness, rising before dawn to catch the perfect light, or braving harsh conditions, I’m relentless in my pursuit of the image I envision. It’s a labor of love that requires patience and persistence, but the end result is something that I’m incredibly proud of. My background in filmmaking and commercial photography also brings a unique perspective, allowing me to blend technical expertise with a strong artistic vision to create images that are not only visually stunning but also emotionally resonant.
At its core, CULTERRA is about more than photography—it’s about inviting people to pause, reflect, and rediscover the beauty of the natural world. My goal is to create art that inspires others to slow down, embrace the wonders of nature, and treat our planet with the care and respect it so deeply deserves. That’s the legacy I hope to leave through CULTERRA.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
One of the biggest risks I ever took—one that turned out to be incredibly rewarding—was leaving Southern California at a young age to move to Thailand for a job. At 21, I got offered a dream job to be a filmmaker and photographer for a travel company in Thailand. With just seven days’ notice, I quit my job, packed my belongings, and moved halfway across the world to Southeast Asia. It was a massive leap of faith—moving alone to a new continent for an entire year without knowing a single person. But the experience proved to be transformative – shooting in the field every day built up my confidence and skills as a photographer.
Another risk I took was shifting the focus of my career from filmmaking to fine art photography with CULTERRA. After over a decade of working in the film industry, I made the bold decision to start my own photography business and dedicate myself to creating my own artistic vision full-time. This was a major risk, as I was stepping away from the stability and connections I had built in the film world. I had to learn a whole new set of skills around running a business, marketing, printing, and more. It was a leap of faith, but one that I am so happy that I took.
I’ve taken more risks than I can count—too many to list here. But I’ve never been one to dwell on the risks themselves; I’ve always been more focused on what is possible. I believe that with enough hard work and determination, nearly anything is within reach. That perspective has made me more willing to take big leaps, step outside my comfort zone, and follow my passions, even when it involved personal or professional risk. Looking back, these risks have been essential to my growth and the development of my unique artistic voice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.culterra.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culterra_/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559307153207
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClzRY3flOZJqN4i0LC_4YJw
