Having a successful vlogging career is difficult but when you add kids and a family to the mix, and it’s bound to get trickier. As a 30-something travel writer and photographer myself, I’ve always struggled with that next stage of life. I can handle the next steps in business — reach for bigger goals, pursue grander projects, and plot more daring travel adventures to tell larger stories. To me, that’s a piece of cake. Ask me whether or not I want to have kids, though, and panic ensues. Anxiety kicks in. The reason? I fear I’ll have to sacrifice my career.
Of course, many of today’s leading travel vloggers and creators have shown that having a family and a successful travel creator career isn’t just possible, it’s quite doable. To help myself ponder this major life decision, I spoke with one travel vlogger and mother doing both jobs: photographer and vlogger LaRie Taylor.
LaRie Taylor — Photographer, Vlogger, and Mother
Taylor, a seasoned photographer and travel and lifestyle vlogger, has been blazing trails since she embarked on this career journey in the early 2000s. She took a life hiccup — a layoff — as the cue to pursue her creative dreams. Along the way, she’s done more than show how mothers can experience two joys in life simultaneously: a fulfilling career and enriching motherhood. She’s inspired other women, particularly Black women, to march to the beats of their own drums, too.
“About 10 years ago, I started sharing videos on YouTube hoping to fill a void in media. I wanted to make content featuring happy Black women enjoying their homes, motherhood, travel, and leisure,” she said. “Today, I still don’t see many mainstream stories that center on our experiences [and us] truly enjoying our lives. I am a proof that Black women are multi-faceted and I want to lead by example.”
I chatted with Taylor about all things creativity, vlogging, motherhood, and, of course, gear, to understand how she pulls off this multi-dimensional lifestyle seamlessly — and how other creators can, too.
From Setbacks to Success
Taylor didn’t enter the work world with plans to pursue photography. She worked in the corporate world for a year after college. After that, she decided to explore photography as a side hobby for creative fulfillment. Soon after buying her first camera, she faced a crossroads.
“I was laid off two months after having purchased my very first camera,” she said. “Up until that point, I had only shot a few rolls of film, but determined that photography was it. I was hooked and had fallen in love instantly. I didn’t know how I was going to make the leap from accountant to photographer. But being laid off certainly gave me a kick whether I was ready or not. I was all in and I have not looked back.”
Paving Her Own Path
Like many creatives we’ve spotlighted — such as Rachel Rudwall — Taylor didn’t just wait for opportunities to come to her. She put herself out there and started through one of the best avenues possible: as an assistant.
“One thing led to another and I ended up fourth assistant to Steven Lippman on an advertising campaign for Target on a beach in Malibu,” she said. “However, being as green as I was, there was no living to be made as a new photographer, so I headed east with plans of being closer to my family in Detroit while working in Chicago.”
After time in Chicago, Taylor made her way back to California, where she landed an internship with renowned photographer Kwaku Alston. She also worked in a top LA film processing and photo-printing lab.
“I got to see raw film and proof sheets for Annie Leibovitz, Mark Seliger, Patrick Demarchelier, Ellen von Unwerth, you name it,” she said. “After working in photo labs for way too long, I got back on top of developing my portfolio and landed an agent who believed in my work, so I moved to New York with big dreams.”
The agent she’d signed with closed her agency within four months of Taylor’s arrival to New York City. Throughout these setbacks, Taylor gained resilience and confidence to ultimately land into her current role. She’s a professional travel and lifestyle photographer and vlogger, with the ever-growing YouTube channel, LoveLaRieXO.
“I decided to put the fate of my work in my own hands [knowing] that it would be up to me to pursue my own paid assignments,” she said. “The work I’ve attained has not been as lucrative as commercial advertising yet, but so far it has been incredibly fulfilling and, for that, I am happy and so grateful.”
The Move Toward Motherhood
For creatives on the fence about starting a family, rest assured Taylor was there too.
“I almost talked myself out of motherhood in pursuit of my career. But I had a talk with a very successful women who had regretted waiting to try for a family,” she said. “She struggled with sustaining a pregnancy and believed it was due to aging. Upon hearing that, I thought harder about what I thought I wanted and I am so happy I did.”
Another key element for Taylor’s decision was having the right support system and attitude.
“I would say you don’t need to be superhuman in order to have both a career and a child,” she said. “With the right partner and support systems in place, our careers don’t have to be put on hold. Planning is key and a bit of sleep might be sacrificed, but it can be done well.”
It is equally important to Taylor to remember who she is as a person — not just a mother.
“Children don’t stay children forever. They are going to grow up. If you have put all your free time into them and their interests, who will you be when they leave for college or pursue their own adult lives?” she said. “Are you interested in waiting until your children are adults to foster your personal growth, passions, and truly take time for yourself?”
Setting Priorities
Speaking of taking time for yourself, Taylor has developed a tried-and-true system for ensuring she gets the quality time she deserves with both her family and herself.
“I carve out time for myself by writing it on our family calendar and sticking with it, even if I don’t have specific plans for the allotted time,” she said. “That time is mine to use it how I wish. Even if that means painting, reading and napping in the park, or drinking coffee in bed all morning while aimlessly scrolling.”
Additionally, she’s made a conscious effort to ask for help when she needs it. As a business owner, it can be easy to handle everything on your own. Although, long-term success and sustainability comes from speaking up when you need a hand.
“I have also learned to ask for help and stopped feeling guilty about maintaining or cultivating my own interests,” she said. “Most importantly, I am incredibly grateful to have a partner that is also my teammate, is supportive, and has an active, hands-on role in our children’s upbringing and care.”
Producing Work with Pride
One of the most inspiring and impressive things I discovered when talking with Taylor? Her mindset as a creative mother. She’s not just a mom, and she’s not just a creative. As a vlogger, she’s able to successfully blend the two. She’s also fulfilled her goal of showcasing the joy that comes with being a Black woman. This outlet has led to some of Taylor’s proudest work to date.
“It is essentially an ongoing personal project,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful to have so many beautiful memories captured on video and edited in a way that allows me to relive that day or those days with my family and to witness my children’s growth in a different way. All while, hopefully, inspiring others and providing value to their lives.”
How to Travel and Create with Kids
Here’s some important parting wisdom from Taylor on traveling and creating with kids: rethink your kit.
“Less is more! These days my iPhone, a dashboard mount, mini-tripod, tripod, and Canon G7 X really is all the gear I really need,” she said. “It’s not what you have, it’s how you use what you do.”
LaRie Taylor’s Gear
Want to photograph and film like Taylor? Here’s what you’ll find in her bag:
