How did I make a full-time career out of my creative work? INTERVIEW Jacobs Bremen Photography Club
For me (and again.. I could be totally wrong) but... a full-time career in the creative world requires you NOT to dream about the full-time career but rather to be able to CHOOSE, ACCEPT and DIVE INTO the day to day struggles that come with it and that really (and eventually) take you there.
It’s not so much that you decide to have a full-time career but rather that you make it happen.
This means: not knowing where to start, being fearful, insecure but starting with what you have.
This means: taking each opportunity you have in front (even if the job offer sounds kind of lame) and trying to make the best out of it every time.
Slowly grow your network, make mistakes, have awful clients and experiences, but always try to make the best final impression that you can.
This means: Staying up all night, crying, getting frustrated, and then waking up the next day with a smile and try again.
What do I mean by this?
I’ve actually been thinking about this all this week... I guess it’s part of this social media era the fact that we just look at the cover of things. It’s easy to be fooled. And it’s even more likely to miss out on the true day-to-day struggles that people who I really have a full-time career go through.
It’s been a long road for me. This all started one step at a time. 5-6 years ago. I can tell you all about my story but the truth is everyone has their own. I don’t believe it’s ever late for anyone but I am totally certain that the quote: “the best time to start is yesterday and the second-best time is today” is totally true.
I don’t want to put more pressure on you because I’ve been suffering from that same pressure myself for a long time, but I will tell you that nothing big starts and finishes itself from one day to another.
I feel like an older person saying this but I understand now what older people say about millennials: we have no fucking clue about what de the real world is, nor what true hard work really means.
Working hard is tough, it requires a lot of sacrifices, it requires a constant mindset of growth, you need to be humble, you need to be resilient, you need to be emotionally intelligent and you need to be committed.
These things sound really easy putting them in a checkbox, but the truth is they are exhausting and really hard. And I know I am probably sounding really negative right now but I promise you I don’t mean that in that way.
They say that in the end, everything is worth it. But I say.. EACH DAY is worth it if you know where you’re going, where you’re standing, and what you need to learn right here RIGHT NOW.. to eventually be THERE, where you dream to be.
But If you´re still looking for a to-do list, this is what I would recommend:
Start with what you have (equipment, social network)
Be ready to invest time into this daily.
Don’t be afraid to knock on doors. (And do collaborations for free at the start)
Build a portfolio you’re proud of.
Focus on the final impression (not only in the first)
Be ready to invest more money than you would’ve expected.
Surround yourself with passionate, creative, and hard-working friends (if you don’t have them find them on the Internet)
Be ready to make sacrifices (missing out on some parties, being tired, not enough sleep, tight budget, etc)
Make the best out of everything you do. Always. No exceptions.
Have a professional Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and/or Facebook account...(try to be constant without sacrificing yourself)
Be ready to face awful clients, strict deadlines, shitty people, internet copycats, haters, jealous friends, and dis encouraging moments... but…
Don’t ever forget why you started, what your dream is, and who you want to become
This was probably not the happy encouraging post but It sure is filled with a few awkward truths that needed to be told.. Jajaja! Hope It didn’t push you down but rather keep you hopeful when you’re hanging in the lows.
And remember we’re all struggling. No one got it 100% figured out. Be kind to yourself. Keep walking.
I send love!