About Carlos Taylhardat
Founder of 3 Narratives News | Entrepreneur | Photographer | Writer
For decades, Carlos Taylhardat has lived at the intersection of portraits and stories. His journey has carried him from the diplomatic circles of his childhood to family therapy, to building Art of Headshots™, and now to writing. In this profile, we sat down with Carlos to ask about the path that shaped him.
Where did your story begin?
I was born in Bethesda, Maryland, but my childhood was a whirlwind: Venezuela, Brazil, Portugal, then Canada. Each move meant a new language and a new classroom. At five years old, I was living in Brazil when my family decided to sail across the Atlantic. We spent months at sea before arriving in Lisbon. It was an adventure, but it meant I missed almost all of Grade 1—the year children are taught to form letters, string words together, and read. Kindergarten had only taught me how to tie shoes and play. So when I walked into school in Portugal, I couldn’t do what the other children were doing at the board. I thought I must be dumb.
My secret was out in Grade 2. A teacher pulled me aside, asked me questions I couldn’t answer, and finally took me to Dona Mimi—the Grade 1 teacher who would change my life. She taught me the alphabet, then words, then numbers and fractions. Within months, I was reading fluently and thriving in math. I later skipped a grade and rejoined kids my own age. More importantly, I learned that I wasn’t broken. I was simply untaught. That lesson has stayed with me all my life.
What was your first career?
People. That was always my starting point. In Vancouver, I worked in therapeutic group homes, at first as a security worker, then as a staff member, and eventually managing a home with a team of eight. I trained at the Justice Institute, studied family therapy, and worked with the Vancouver School Board. For over a decade, I was a youth and family worker helping children in foster care, many of them survivors of abuse. It was demanding, heartbreaking, and transformative. It taught me to listen deeply and to see people for more than their circumstances.
How did photography become your path?
Photography was always in the background. As a teenager, I co-founded a small studio with a friend called Vida Oscura, shooting black-and-white portraits and processing film by hand. But in 2005, I returned to photography with a bigger vision: to merge psychology and portraiture. That idea became Art of Headshots™. We weren’t just taking pictures—we were capturing essence. Over time, the company grew into multiple studios across Canada, working with actors, executives, and even Fortune 200 companies. It was proof that portraits could tell stories that words alone could not.
And then the pandemic hit?
Everything stopped. Offices closed, employees stayed home, and suddenly professional portraits weren’t “essential.” Our business shrank almost overnight. We clawed back bit by bit, but just as we found footing, AI swept across the industry. By 2025, the company I had poured decades into slipped away. At 56, I found myself broke, exhausted, and standing at a crossroads. It felt like losing part of myself.
What led you to start 3 Narratives News?
All I had left were words—and the stubborn belief that stories matter. So on an empty stomach, I started writing. That became 3 Narratives News. The idea was simple but radical: present two sides of every major story, and let the reader decide the third. In the first four months, I wrote hundreds of articles. Most were buried by algorithms, but I kept going. Writing became survival and purpose at the same time.
About Carlos Taylhardat
Founder of 3 Narratives News | Entrepreneur | Photographer | Writer
For decades, Carlos Taylhardat has lived at the intersection of portraits and stories. His journey has carried him from the diplomatic circles of his childhood to family therapy, to building Art of Headshots™, and now to writing. In this profile, we sat down with Carlos to ask about the path that shaped him.
Where did your story begin?
I was born in Bethesda, Maryland, but my childhood was a whirlwind: Venezuela, Brazil, Portugal, then Canada. Each move meant a new language and a new classroom. At five years old, I was living in Brazil when my family decided to sail across the Atlantic. We spent months at sea before arriving in Lisbon. It was an adventure, but it meant I missed almost all of Grade 1—the year children are taught to form letters, string words together, and read. Kindergarten had only taught me how to tie shoes and play. So when I walked into school in Portugal, I couldn’t do what the other children were doing at the board. I thought I must be dumb.
My secret was out in Grade 2. A teacher pulled me aside, asked me questions I couldn’t answer, and finally took me to Dona Mimi—the Grade 1 teacher who would change my life. She taught me the alphabet, then words, then numbers and fractions. Within months, I was reading fluently and thriving in math. I later skipped a grade and rejoined kids my own age. More importantly, I learned that I wasn’t broken. I was simply untaught. That lesson has stayed with me all my life.
What was your first career?
People. That was always my starting point. In Vancouver, I worked in therapeutic group homes, at first as a security worker, then as a staff member, and eventually managing a home with a team of eight. I trained at the Justice Institute, studied family therapy, and worked with the Vancouver School Board. For over a decade, I was a youth and family worker helping children in foster care, many of them survivors of abuse. It was demanding, heartbreaking, and transformative. It taught me to listen deeply and to see people for more than their circumstances.
How did photography become your path?
Photography was always in the background. As a teenager, I co-founded a small studio with a friend called Vida Oscura, shooting black-and-white portraits and processing film by hand. But in 2005, I returned to photography with a bigger vision: to merge psychology and portraiture. That idea became Art of Headshots™. We weren’t just taking pictures—we were capturing essence. Over time, the company grew into multiple studios across Canada, working with actors, executives, and even Fortune 200 companies. It was proof that portraits could tell stories that words alone could not.
And then the pandemic hit?
Everything stopped. Offices closed, employees stayed home, and suddenly professional portraits weren’t “essential.” Our business shrank almost overnight. We clawed back bit by bit, but just as we found footing, AI swept across the industry. By 2025, the company I had poured decades into slipped away. At 56, I found myself broke, exhausted, and standing at a crossroads. It felt like losing part of myself.
What led you to start 3 Narratives News?
All I had left were words—and the stubborn belief that stories matter. So on an empty stomach, I started writing. That became 3 Narratives News. The idea was simple but radical: present two sides of every major story, and let the reader decide the third. In the first four months, I wrote hundreds of articles. Most were buried by algorithms, but I kept going. Writing became survival and purpose at the same time.