Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael & Tara Taylor.
Hi Michael & Tara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Our story begins eleven years ago, not just as a love story, but as a shared passion for analog cameras. Long before wedding vows, we were already hunting for vintage cameras together, selling our finds through Etsy, flea markets, and antique booths.
Life, as it tends to do, shifted our path. We stepped back from the hobby, got married in August 2019, and were barely six months into newlywed life when the world came to a halt. Covid changed everything, but for us, it quietly opened a door.
Michael had already been building a reselling business on eBay, and the pandemic sent that into overdrive. With people stuck at home and shopping online, business boomed enough that he left his job as a barista to pursue it full time. He also ventured into vintage clothing, until that market became oversaturated and he was ready for something new.
Then came a turning point hiding in plain sight. Nashville’s only analog camera shop, Dury’s, closed its doors during Covid. We had been watching the film photography market for years, noticing a steady resurgence with growing demand, rising camera values, and a community hungry for physical media. We knew cameras, so we went after that.
Michael began popping up at vintage markets with carefully curated pieces, and the response was immediate. The plan was always a long term goal to open a brick and mortar, and it happened faster than we imagined. Six months in, an opportunity presented itself and we took the leap.
Two years later, that leap has become a community anchor. We have welcomed everyone from first time film shooters to photographers who have since turned their passion into careers. A year ago, we added film developing services, giving our customers a place to process not just fresh rolls, but old ones carrying memories waiting to be rediscovered.
For us, the shop is more than a business. It is a connection to East Nashville and the broader creative community we are proud to serve. It has truly been a blessing to be a part of something like this.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a small business, especially in those early years, is no small feat. From navigating the world of LLCs to figuring out the many layers of small business taxes, the learning curve is real and at times overwhelming. The lack of guidance from the state only adds to that challenge. What has carried us through is the small business community around us. We showed up for them, and they showed up for us. To everyone who has offered advice, answered our questions, or helped us in any way, we are deeply thankful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We own and operate an analog camera shop in the heart of East Nashville, where we sell a versatile and curated selection of cameras, develop and process film, and offer digitizing services. But beyond the offerings, what we are most proud of is the community we have built. We have created a space where knowledge is shared freely, where beginners feel welcome, and where a genuine love for film photography brings people together. Teaching others about film and watching them grow in the craft is something we do not take lightly. It is at the core of everything we do.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
We wish there were more resources and guidance available for those starting a small business. The lack of support has cost us more than we would like to admit, and there have been moments where we reached out to state resources only to be met with silence. Taxes alone can be enough to bring a young business to its knees within just a few years. If there is one thing we could pass on to anyone thinking about starting their own business, it is this: seek out other business owners. Ask questions, lean on their experience, and do not be afraid to ask for help. The most valuable guidance we have received has come not from any government program or official resource, but from the people who have been in the trenches themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artifctnash.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artifctnash
