Can a Young Freelancer Make it Today?
I’m Kerri, I’m a 22 year-old recent college graduate, and I’m trying to build my freelance photography business. It is currently my only employment. It's a challenging but rewarding existence. With this blog on Patch, you can follow along with me as I try to make it in a creative field in Monmouth County.
But first, you should get to know me a little. I’ve posted a few images that I think speak to the kind of work I do (and which feature Monmouth County locations! If you know where these were shot, tell me in the comments!), but you can see more examples of my style on my website. I predominately am hired these days to shoot fashion-style work, whether it’s for a shop or for a model who wants to enhance her portfolio. I also do a lot of portraits of families, kids, couples, and graduating seniors. I don’t do weddings, but I do smaller events like parties, family reunions, and showers. I also shoot a lot of work for myself—landscapes, conceptual portraits, and I have a series of images of museums. I shoot a lot of film in my personal work, but not so much for clients (though I'd love it if a client ever requested film!). I graduated college with a film/video degree, which I think is part of the reason my work can have a strong storytelling aspect to it. Although photography is a big part of my life, it isn’t the only part. Other things I’m into are: writing, reading, tennis, cooking, cats, the beach, history, ice cream, movies, and crafts.
My Patch blog is going to be part “how to build a business as a young person” and part me sharing the work I’m doing and the local clients I’m working with. I plan to also give some photography advice and tips that will help you take a better snapshot. I’ll showcase Monmouth County clothing designers I work with as well as tell you how I manage my spaces on the Internet. And, of course, I welcome your questions and suggestions on what you’d like to hear more about. I’m excited to get to know you, Patch readers.
My next post is going to further explain what a freelance photographer is. I hope you’ll look for it!
Thomas Villane
9:26 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The first photo is Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook. Good Luck!
Shannon K. Winning
3:16 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Kerri - I wish you luck on your freelance adventure. It can be rough trying to get paid in the freelance world but there are many rewards as well. Getting paid for what you are passionate about is hugely satisfying, especially I think when your work is part of a creative expression.
And BTW I am crazy for those orange shoes!
Sara
10:49 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Kerri, I'm sure us "older" creatives have freelanced at one time or another in our lives. I really wish you luck with it, it's a difficult road but when you land that first great client or project, it all becomes worth it.
The one thing I will say is that I've known people who can't find jobs in what they're trained in, pick up their DSLRs, take a million photos with one great one coming out and consider themselves professional photographers. They then go on to try and start a business doing it. You've got to weed those guys out. Keep training, keep up with the latest trends, the latest editing tools and obviously with the self-promotion (looks like you're off to a good start with that.)
Oh yeah, check out this site for a bunch of photographer website designs. There are some good ones, some not so good but it's your competition. Be better than them!
I look forward to watching this grow! Good luck!