FREELANCING:

Freelancing is defined as being self-employed and hired to work for different companies on
particular assignments. While this can earn a substantial income, it requires you to build a
well-represented profile of yourself to attract more companies. Freelancing can include
approaching magazines, websites, agents, galleries and photo libraries to promote your
work which allows you to gain a bigger network of like-minded people within the industry,
especially if you become friendly with a client who you have provided good work for as they
can help you increase your chances of future employment. For example, The Photographer’s
Gallery in London has a designated section on their website called “Take Part” where you
can look for opportunities to promote your work such as “Folio Fridays”. On the other hand,
you could get in contact with galleries to host your own exhibition dedicated to your work
although this will cost you.

Becoming a freelance photographer is full of action and adventure as you end up doing a
vast number of different photoshoots, different locations and working with different type of
clients however it is crucial that you meet the expectations of your clients as they can pass
negative comments through reviews, which can have a significant impact on your
employability.

ART ROUTE:

Creative practitioners (artists/photographers) use their skills to help others develop as

creative thinkers by sharing their expertise to people who want to learn more about
photography and get advice on how they can push themselves further. An example of an
organisation that wants to support emerging photographers is “The Rebecca Vassie Trust”,
who help photographers to run workshops, with professional development and give advice
on getting projects off the ground. As the trust states on the ‘About’ section of their
website: “We provide platforms and support to make and share new work, from new
perspectives, on important human issues, while developing practitioners’ craft and public
appreciation’.

AGENCIES:

Agencies help promote work through exhibitions, galleries, social media and magazines etc.
Each agency will have a different specialist area as some will focus on commercial
photography whereas others will focus on artistic photography nonetheless, it can be a
helpful way to get yourself out there however it does come at a cost due to the fact an
agent handles the majority of your business aspects and client management therefore they
will take a financial cut from the job/project you have worked on.
 PHOTO LIBRARIES:

Photo libraries are defined as a collection of photographs that is held by a particular

company/organisation such as stock websites. Stock websites, including Shutterstock and
Getty, offer generic images that people can pay for to use on their website and the money
earned from the purchase goes towards the photographer who took the image, allowing
them to fund future projects. Getting into stock photography has many advantages as you
don’t need a strong portfolio to get into it, you have full creative control over what you do
and the generic images you take can help build a successful portfolio to secure more
traditional freelance jobs in the future.

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITIONS:

An example of a photography competition that takes place every year is the “Kuala Lumper
International Photo Awards” who accept submissions for portrait photography. The
competition is split into two categories: Single Image and Project-based where
photographers of all skill levels can enter globally. It is recognised as a significant and vital
award in the photography calendar, supporting and rewarding contemporary portraiture
practice especially in the South East Asian region.

In Nov 2020, photographer Karoline Schneider was awarded first place in the Single Images
category with her image titled “Daymare” which was an atmospheric portrait from a
traditional wet plate process. Schneider stated herself that her “artistic focus is on the
portrait in the broadest sense: I’m always looking for the special quality of my subject,
whether person, prop or situation” which suggests that she is a versatile photographer.

I believe that this win has helped her due to the fact she has featured it on her website
(www.karolineschneider.de) when you look at the ‘About’ section and the ‘News’ section,
suggesting that this particular award means a lot to her. Not only has it increased her
recognition as she is from Germany and this award is open to people on a global scale but
also, it would have enhanced her chances of working with international clients.