Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara Taylor.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Cara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Illinois, and I first moved to California for college. I was a Creative Writing student at The University of Redlands, became a staff writer and news editor for the university newspaper, and a contributing editor for the school’s literary magazine.
Since then, I’ve been many things in various places, all the while freelance writing and more recently shooting film photography. I’ve written stories on topics including the racial wealth gap, body-positivity, IDPs fleeing Burma, food and travel in Southeast Asia, and the lifestyle of Orange County.
It was in 10th grade, when I chose to read Toni Morrison’s Beloved, that I decided I needed to be a writer. I actually remember telling someone, the week after I finished the masterpiece: “I just want to write stories about black life.” Since I moved to LA nearly a year ago, I’ve gotten to make that teenage version of me proud. I get to be often in the presence of a myriad of people who love books by Black Women, as the event photographer for The Free Black Women’s Library – LA. The Library is a free, feminist pop-up Library featuring exclusively Black Woman-Identifying authors. I’ve worked with exciting black and brown creatives like Iddris Sandu, Rebel Rae, Fox, and Marisa Nieto. All of whom are working to nourish the lives of black and brown folks in Los Angeles. I’m supremely energized by it.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not even remotely. I’d say my biggest challenge has been working past the incredible power of doubt. The best lesson I’ve learned is to chip away at it with the work, and to surround myself with those who inspire me.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a freelance writer and film photographer. I write Creative Non-Fiction and Poetry that explores race, travel and the cultural lessons learned from it, and how food interacts with all of the above. I work consistently with food as a theme in my work because it is a cultural nuance that can reveal so much about a person or place. My photography focuses on similar themes, as well as music. I’m interested in telling more stories about how marginalized people navigate the world in the face of discomfort (at best) and institutional oppression (at worst). I️’m also interested in telling stories about mental health and systemic inequality, and how those things affect women, people of color, and children.
I’m available for portrait sessions, editorial writing and photography, and creative direction.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve been observant and curious my entire life. As a kid, I was book-obsessed and always thought the best milestones of my life would go down in a library or bookstore. I read a lot, and I watched a lot of film and television. I consumed stories like my health depended on it. My other main interest has always been food. It’s the thing that’s always served as a salve for my anxiety over difference. So I was a book nerd and a foodie even as a child, and I always try to carry that into my storytelling.
Contact Info:
- Website: caraelisetaylor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraelisetaylorr/
- Other: http://www.thefreeblackwomenslibla.com/
Image Credit:
Adrian Wojtas (Photographer), Brittney S. Price (Painter), Fox (Crochet Artist/Designer), Iddris Sandu (Architect)
Personal photo – Cayla Dunn
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
