Meet Rachel Taylor

We recently connected with Rachel Taylor and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I’m not sure if imposter syndrome is something that can be 100% overcome. I’ve made strides to conquering it piece by piece over the years, but there always seems to be bits of it that like to linger at the back of my mind. When I earn new opportunities and enter rooms I haven’t previously been privy to; when I’m on set with people who don’t yet know my work ethic and skills and I feel the subconscious need to prove myself; when something new and exciting happens for me in my career and I think “This is crazy!” until I sit for a moment and realize it’s not crazy at all. It’s just my life.

As a student of life, I’m always learning from the world around me, including different takes on it from both those who study it and those who simply live it. Paraphrased, “It’s not failure we fear, it’s what comes with the success we’ve never known,” is an excerpt from a video I saw on social media that made me ponder my perception of how I interact with the world around me. You don’t know what you don’t know, and I am only as experienced as the experiences I’ve lived through so far. For me, imposter syndrome tends to come along in circumstances of unfamiliarity. Entering spaces with new people, environments and experiences that I’ve previously strived to be a part of have a way of making me suspect the validity of it happening. After a time of not being ready or experienced enough for *insert milestone here*, my imposter syndrome shows up as incredulity that me, being in the room where it happens, is no longer just a dream.

Some quotes that I live by, and have to remind myself of when things may not happen as I’d like them to, are as follows:
– “Don’t stress the could haves. If it should have, it would have.”
– “Everything happens for a reason and in its own time.”
– “What’s meant for me cannot miss me.”

These quotes do not mean that I can sit back and expect the universe to take care of me without any direct action on my part. What they do mean is that despite rejection letters from grants and programs or not getting a call for a particular production, I know on my lowest of days that I’ve done my best to make things happen for myself. And because of this, even if I’m not where I may want to be in life, I am exactly where I’m meant to be.

The other side of this is what helps me quiet down the imposter syndrome in my mind. Whether it’s to excel or to have a learning experience, I know that my being in a new place with new people (personally and professionally) happens for a reason and at the time it’s supposed to. Also, that gaining a new experience is something that is meant for me and is supposed to happen. No matter the age or amount of experience of others in “the room,” on set, etc., of all paths that could’ve crossed, we all found ourselves in the same place at the same time; where we are supposed to be. Thankfully, my disbelief in coincidences is louder than my imposter syndrome could ever be.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am grateful to share that 2025 has been a busy year for me as a freelance cinematographer with my company R. O. Taylor Legacy, LLC (@rotaylorlegacy on Instagram) and as a collaborator with Skrappi Productions, a production company I started with my friend and creative partner Ricki Nelson at the beginning of this year.

Since January of 2025, I have been behind the camera as the director of photography (DP) for more than 5 short-form narrative productions. As an owner/operator of a Sony FX3, I have thrived in the role of what I love to do since the production of Skrappi’s first short film Thank You for Your Time, starring Erica Ja-Kī Truesdale. This film is currently in the festival circuit with 9 official selections, 1 international screening and 4 awards so far, including the inaugural Champa and Vasant Patel Carolina Filmmaker award, “Best Short,” “Best Actress” and an Audience Choice award. Our second film funded, by a grant in Charlotte, NC, titled Tabula Rasa is in its festival run as well. This film, starring NaSwana Moon has won the award of “Best Actress.” I could not be more proud of the work Ricki and I are doing together to help create spaces for Black creatives in front of and behind the camera.

Skrappi Productions is currently in the writing process for our next short film that will explore interpersonal relationships and how their perceived priority can ultimately lead to their downfall.

Next for R. O. Taylor Legacy, LLC is my first feature film. Currently in the early stages of writing, honed in the Black Creatives Social Club’s Inaugural Writer’s Room, the script has received rave peer reviews and I was awarded the superlative of “Most likely to write a cult classic.” The story takes on the beginning stages of grief with an urban fantasy twist. It has been said to evoke the nostalgia of old Disney movies with a unique, modern approach. Although cinematography is my role of choice, this film will be my feature directorial debut. People always say not to be precious with your writing, but I find it difficult not to be. My writing, this story in particular, is close to my heart and I look forward to crafting the story with one of my incredible cinematographer friends to bring it to life for all audiences to enjoy.

As a freelance cinematographer, I have worked primarily in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC and Los Angeles, CA. I am open to work and eager to connect with fellow creatives as I continue to evolve with this craft and travel the world. My work is available for perusal at rotaylorlegacy.com. Availability of links to projects are determined by current film festival and distribution regulations. All links will be updated individually as each project is able to be shared on a public platform.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Keeping an open mind, personally and professionally, is always important. There are plenty of friends I’ve made and opportunities I’ve earned that I hadn’t previously anticipated being a part of my path, resulting in something greater than I initially imagined it to be.

Know your worth. Also know that there is always room to add to it. There’s a difference between being boastful and being proud of yourself. Knowing that you are skilled at what you do is important because you need to be able to properly communicate this to others, whether they are peers, potential clients or employers. Additionally, we never stop learning in this life. There is always a different way to approach a situation or solve a problem that results in the same solution. Remember that you don’t know everything, and it’s more than okay to be open to learning something new, no matter how much experience you may already have.

Take care of yourself. Self-care is real and it is necessary to survive in this creative industry. We pour ourselves into our work on a regular basis and cannot afford for our cups to run dry. Before the feeling of burnout seeps in, you have to make the time to pour back into yourself. This can be as simple as a weekend in which you plan to do absolutely nothing, or as complex as an infrared sauna session or a spa retreat. I assume that anyone in a creative field is doing something they love to do. In a world where many people live to work and work to live, don’t allow yourself to grow burdened by the activity that should be replenishing you. Cherish your time with your art and cherish your time with yourself, too.

My advice is to be a decent person. No one is asking you to kiss up to anyone or to go out of your way to do something kind for your high school bully. Just be kind to people. Society seems to be caught up in individualism and “not owing anyone anything,” as though humans don’t rely heavily on companionship to survive. I’ve encountered more people than I’d like who are mean for the sake of it. People who talk down on those who they perceive to be at a lower ranking than them in life or in the workplace. In the great words of Mya Angelou, I may not remember what those people said, but I remember how they made me feel. It costs nothing to be kind, but being rude to someone has the potential to cost you everything.

More advice: If you don’t know something literally just say that! It saves so much trouble in the long run to ask a question in the beginning rather than acting like you know what you’re doing when you have no idea. Like I said in a previous response, we are always learning. Don’t be afraid to speak up. It’s better to have a late, more accurate, start than to start something incorrectly on time.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest challenge I am currently facing is consistent, well-paid work as a freelance cinematographer. As I continue to market myself as a DP, I find it difficult to break further into the world of narrative filmmaking as a full-time job. I am grateful that the last time I was a Production Assistant was back in January, as moving away from that role has allowed me to thrive in my department of choice. However, I remain challenged to gain work on long-form productions or a consistent flow of short-term productions that span a similar duration of time. Being open-minded about accepting different roles on set, as well as maintaining expectations for the sets I choose to be part of help me to balance the difficulties of this situation.
A friend and colleague once told me that when considering a job, he takes into consideration the “Three R’s:” Rate, Relationship and Reel. If a project contributes positively to at least two of these R’s, and I have no overall hesitations about being connected to the production, I will take the job. I also message fellow filmmakers to ask to be kept in mind for upcoming opportunities. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil” is a phrase I’ve heard on several occasions regarding people asking for what they want in a variety of situations, rather than letting potential opportunities pass them by.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rotaylorlegacy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queentaylor22/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelotaylor/
• Other: https://vimeo.com/rotaylorlegacy

  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11379750/

Image Credits

Clara Ann Brown, John Henderson, Kenzie Richardson, ShootWorks, Tyla Barnes, Veronica C. Rushton