So You Want To Be A Freelance Photographer?
Andy Smith has been a freelance photographer for 14 years and travels all over the world for his clients.
We asked Andy how he got his first client, how he finds inspiration and he shared the advice he’d give to someone starting out as a freelance photographer.
Who was your first client and how did you get them?
It was a chain of Indian and Pakistani restaurants in Yorkshire, where I’m from. It was one of my favourite places to eat, and I contacted the owners and asked if I could photograph one of the restaurant interiors and staff while they were working.
I said I’d do it for nothing, but if they liked the images and decided to use them, would they consider paying me to do the same at the other restaurants. They agreed, and it went from there.
I photographed all 12 of their restaurants as well as staff at work and portraits. I planned each visit so that I arrived a few hours before evening service. This meant the light outside was really nice, so I could photograph the restaurant exterior looking its best. A great client, and to be honest, I’d have just done it for the curry.
How do you market yourself?
I have a website portfolio with my work on it, and I try to keep in front of relevant people without being too annoying. It’s a combination of different methods, including email marketing, social channels, print mailers and word of mouth.
With a name like mine, you really need a logo, so I use that to help people recognise me and my work. It’s not one thing that works, and it takes time, so all of these tactics combined and a lot of patience.
Contacting people directly works well on some channels and not so well on others, so choosing how to reach people and where can make a difference.
What’s the best and worst thing about freelancing?
The best thing is lots of cycling in my spare time. Monday mornings are not so bad, and it doesn’t always feel like work.
The worst thing I’ve found is planning life around work. Over the years, I’ve missed Christmas, weddings, birthdays and family visits. The other thing is feeling isolated at times, and it’s easy to doubt yourself when you’re working alone, and things are quiet. I’m not sure I’ve ever learnt how to deal with that, to be honest.
How do you get inspiration/keep the love for what you do?
I love looking at old documentary photography and films. Travel keeps me interested as well. And 40-50% of my portfolio is stuff I’ve shot for pleasure. I’m doing a personal project with a boxer at the moment and trying out equipment that I haven’t used before, which I would never do on a client project.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Remember that photography is a business, and not everyone is as invested in your business as you are.
Try not to take it personally.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting as a photographer?
I’m going to borrow some lyrics from Baz Luhrmann’s Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen) - ‘the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.’
Or in other words, it’s a long game, so plan, be patient and don’t get distracted by what other people are doing.
Find Andy at andysmithphoto.com.
