Meet Taylor Ballantyne

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taylor Ballantyne a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, 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.

My name is Taylor Ballantyne, CEO and Founder of Ballantyne Films Inc. I’ve been working as a director and photographer for 20 years in the commercial and film space. As I continue to develop my skills and confidence, there are still plenty moments of doubt and uncertainty. The only way I have been able to deal with “imposter syndrome” when it comes up is to remind myself of my value. Tell myself the facts; I have achieved, I know what I want and where I’m going. When my goals shift & grow, I realize I have a choice. I can believe in myself and my value OR not. If I don’t… no one else will. For me it’s taken resilience and constant work to continue to evolve personally and creatively.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I specialize in commercial advertising, print, editorial, music and film. I’ve developed my reel and portfolio working with celebrities, super-models, athletes, musicians, creative agencies, license branding companies, and production companies globally.

What’s most exciting to me is how photography taught me to create a cinematic story within a single image. Learning how to master this allowed me to expand to film. My business centers around connecting with people on an emotional and personal level to learn how best to visually translate their story. What drives me each day is the challenge of learning how people will digest and receive those narratives.

Dedicating my life to storytelling has given me perspective and compassion for others and myself. I align with my subjects energy, reproduce it through the lens and allow their authentic selves to shine through. It’s been a journey; a path of risk, stamina and a will to succeed rewarded with relationships who have enabled my success.

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?

I have learned a ton from so many who’ve become an incredible support system for me. If I had to pick 3 important skills thats allowed me to evolve no matter what stage I’m at, these 3 things always remain relevant:

1. Timing is everything in life
2. You are who you run with
3. Value yourself

Simple but impactful. My advice for those early on in their path of purpose would be to define your “Why” & your “X-Factor”. What gets you out of bed in the morning and what separates you from everyone else… those are hard questions to answer, however it’s what drives every aspect as you grow in your profession and as a person.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

This is an extremely relevant question I am always faced with as a grow in my profession. This has changed quite a bit over the years but now it’s really simple; the ideal client for me is someone that sees my value immediately without question. Connecting with a client’s story and message is most important for me if I am the one to tell it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.taylorballantyne.com/
• Instagram: @taylorbphoto & @taylorbfilm
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorballantyne/

Image Credits

Ballantyne Films Inc / Taylor Ballantyne