My Life As A Freelancer

 

I started freelancing in twenty fourteen after been retrenched from a somewhat cushy job as a client liaison manager at a printing company. I have always been involved in photography in some way or other and decided to take the plunge and make it a business. I spent a lot of money on state of the art equipment and went about branding myself as a freelancer for hire. Here is what I have learned over the years.

Get Up. Dress Up. Show Up.

This is often the hardest thing to do and it often takes an act of will, a deliberate decision that has to be made. You need to remember that unless you make the effort nothing is going happen. The adage, “You get back what you put in” is very true. For me it was the whole “shower, shave and get dressed as if I was going to work” routine, even if the “office” was in the room next door. I still do it. That is exactly what you are doing. Going to work.

Family Support:.......

Is vital. My wife has a day job and for a long time we battled. My first attempt at working for myself crashed and burnt horribly. I lost everything, including my gear that I needed to do my job. But I had a phone, a laptop and a cell phone. I never stopped hustling, and she supported me through it all. When the second chance came along I had learned many lessons and applied them.

Network, Network, Network.

I cannot over stress this. Whether it be on social media or events. Never ever underestimate the power of networking AND social media. This is where the dress up show up thing applies. You just never know when the phone will ring or a mail will pop up for you to be somewhere. It’s happened to me many times. Go out and meet people. Go to events. Network all the time.

Be prepared.

If you are a photographer, always have your camera with you. Attach it to your hip. It must be like wearing underwear. Never leave home without it. Build up your photo library. Take pictures all the time. Whether it’s your mother in laws 60^th or a church event or a walk in the park, take pictures. Share the pictures. It’s marketing.

Shoot for free, for a while.

I know. This is a very contentious issue. There is a very strong feeling against working for free. I tried as hard as I could to never work for free. So much so that I refused to take pictures at family and friend events. Thing is you need to hone your skills and practice on real subjects. I used family events to do just that. From that I would get other work that I could charge for. There is also the simple principle of the more you give the more you get back that applies. I am now in a position where I do nothing for free. I may not charge my usual rate for a family wedding for example, but I will not work for free.

Place a value on yourself

I learned this the hard way. There are standard rates available for freelancers. However just to get the work I would underquote and would often find myself at the losing end. Equipment costs money. Time is money. People/clients know that. Never undervalue your skills and knowledge.

Don’t overvalue yourself.

Freelancing is a very crowded space. And with the current economic climate it’s going to get even more crowded. I have adopted the approach by asking myself what it will cost me to do the job. I do lots of research and even do site inspections. Information about what is required is important. As such I try as far as possible never to over price myself. I have often had clients that value what I do more than I do myself. Those, at this point, are my constant clients.  

Be trustworthy, Be reliable, Be on time.

Build up relationships of trust with your clients. Many don’t give second chances.

Deliver what you promise and even more. Go beyond the call if you have to. Never over promise and under deliver.

Be on time. I am never late. I’m always early. It works and has always worked for me.

The equipment you use.

Photography is high risk. There is never a second chance of taking the picture of the bride tossing the garter or the bouquet. I have the slogan “I capture moments”. That is what it is. There are moments that can never be returned to. If they are gone they’re gone. Leave nothing to chance. Check and recheck everything.

In Closing.

I know this does not apply to everyone, but freelancing is hard work and hardly ever recognized as real work. Freelancers are exploited and undervalued in the corporate world. Constant support and mentorship is vital. I very strongly believe in the sharing of skills and knowledge. So I hope this is taken and shared.

Happy freelancing.