Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Stephens.
Hi Taylor, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I look back on how this whole food blogging journey started, I realize I was a foodie before the word “foodie” existed. Ever since I was little, my aunts and mentors would always take me out on lunch dates to restaurants I’ve never been before. Cute little cafes and small businesses that really reflected the special time I shared with them. I enjoyed every minute of the experiences and every last bite of my meals. As I got older, I found new loves and interests (like my love for wine) while my love for food continued to grow. I always kept a running list of restaurants I wanted to try at the ready, however, it wasn’t until Instagram came along that I started documenting them visually. It started out small on my personal IG (with my crappy camera phone) and eventually, you never saw photos of me on my page, just plates and plates of food. This is when I decided to make an Instagram account specifically dedicated to local eateries in the area. I started traveling for work soon after The Atlanta Food Bae was created in 2018 and foodie adventures became another layer of the blog. The Atlanta Food Bae focuses mostly on small and local restaurants in and outside of the metro Atlanta area. I also cover food and drink-related events like festivals. The hidden gems are where I’ve met the most amazing people and tasted out-of-this-world dishes. It is important to me to shine a spotlight on Black-owned businesses as often as possible. As a whole, my blog conveys the wide variety of cuisine that many may not know is available around Atlanta.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Food blogging is a creative outlet for me because it intersects so many of my interests like writing, photography and content creation so when I have a creative block, it does become frustrating. Consistency is something that your audience expects from you as a blogger, so creative blocks directly affect timely content. I definitely experienced this during the onset of the pandemic, as did many others. My biggest advice to myself during this time is to acknowledge that it is ok to take breaks to reset and recharge. Your followers will be there when you get back. Take care of yourself first and then everything else will work itself out.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Atlanta Food Bae’s origin story is deeply rooted in me being an elusive Atlanta native. With so many new people moving here everyday and Atlanta changing at such a fast rate, I think it’s important to remember the foundations and history of the city. I try to incorporate that old Atlanta energy that I grew up on throughout my blog. I have an immense pride for my city and its growth so far. The pride in my community is also translated through my involvement in local nonprofits, especially food-related programs. It’s important for me to be an advocate for food scarcity resolutions since I am privileged enough to represent a range of food options around the city. There are so many food-related nonprofits that could benefit from more involvement and exposure. I am more than happy to do my part in helping the community that I call home!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned quite a few lessons. The most important lesson I’ve learned is to always have a portable camera light (Laughing!! no but seriously make sure you get a portable light). Besides the light, I’ve truly learned not to be too hard on myself and continue to make it fun. Too much pressure can turn this stress relieving outlet/hobby into another deadline-driven job so I keep it lighthearted and enjoyable while also putting out quality content. Being open to making connections within the foodie community is important because of our shared interests. Most of them are good, genuine people who don’t mind sharing tips and ways to improve. I’ve made so many new friends from The Atlanta Food Bae and I am thankful for their support!
Contact Info:
- Email: atlfoodbae@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theatlantafoodbae/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/theatlfoodbae
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theatlantafoodbae?
