If you’ve been following my blog for any time now, you’ve probably gathered that I’m a freelance graphic design/photo stylist and I’m slowly growing my body of work, also known as “studio hours” on this blog. Last April, I left my full time job (SCARY!) at the advertising agency to pursue my dreams of becoming a reputable photo stylist and designer. I sought out to find projects I was passionate about and projects that fit within my design language. For me, that usually means working with other creative individuals and brands to produce beautiful work.
Before this whole adventure started, I was working for someone else, a company with a different vision than my own. I was working with SUPER large brands who’s brand message didn’t fuel my fire. I felt like a machine, pumping out good design, but design that I wasn’t connecting with…and sadly wasn’t growing from. You could say that if I collected those three years of work into a portfolio, it’d be decent. It’d get me where I needed to be and it’d most likely produce new work opportunities for me. That’s not the point though.
My point is, that up until this past April, I was working my ass off to build someone else’s brand. I was pouring my heart and soul into something I didn’t feel I was getting an equal return from. In my opinion, that’s the best aspect of freelancing. You get to determine your brand vision. You get to develop a super defined portfolio that promotes everything you stand for. You get to work with other brands and people that are just as inspired as you. Isn’t that amazing?
Do you guys have experience with “building other’s brands” instead of your own? What have you done to flip the scale?