Hi, I'm Taylor!

the creative behind Tale of James

I am a mom of two little boys and married to my husband, Brad. We have a frenchie named Maple, a new pup named Honey, and a cat named Kitty.
My true passion is raising my boys, who are my favorite subjects. I also have a love of flowers and have seen every episode of Real Housewives.

I have grown up in Sussex County and been a professional photographer for 7 years.

Two children collecting items in a bucket in an autumn forest.
Two dogs looking up at someone through a glass skylight.
Family playing together on a grassy hill during golden sunset.
A gentle moment of bonding between a person and their golden retriever puppy.

the story behind the name

The namesake of my business and reason for initially picking up a camera is my late Dad, James Carl Dowden. Honoring him with the name of my business was the perfect choice as his memory fuels so much of how I live my life. After losing him suddenly, I searched for any and every photo I had of him. There just weren't that many to be found and none were high quality. It made me want to capture other family's and their connections together in the most honest way possible.
An elegant gold ornate frame displays a photograph on a rustic wooden surface.
A hand holds an ornate vintage picture frame on a wooden surface in black and white.
A vintage holiday photo showing people in a living room with Christmas decorations.

My Dad and I

Family and dog gathering at stone overlook with mountain vista.
A reflection of someone taking a photo among colorful flowers and garden decorations.