13th freelance-versary

Can you believe it? I’m at my 13th freelance-versary (May 26)—my freelance business can now watch PG-13 movies! This past year encompasses a full year of me expanding my photography beyond the coffee industry.

For my anniversary posts, I’ve often written a list of things I’ve learned, but it feels a little tired to do that, so instead, this is a list of positive things that have happened in the past year. I leaned a lot more into my gut feelings when I was feeling lost. Throughout the year, I also continued writing feature pieces for Sprudge and this newsletter.

• June 2024: I shot and delivered my first-ever family event photography gallery. 
• July: I tried out a flash outdoors for a test shoot. Started volunteering my photography for California Bully Rescue. Bought my Fuji XT-5 ahead of my initial plans, and it was absolutely worth the investment. Now I have two camera bodies at events, and it’s been so much easier to shoot. After calculations, I also more than doubled my event photo rates.
• August: Shot and delivered my first paid headshot session for a lawyer who tipped me up front and ended up buying the entire gallery.
• September: Shot a dream event (Flower Piano in SF) and also got my first print order from it. I signed on to be the US coffee ambassador at HostMilano 2025 (one-year contract)
• October: Presented my mobile photography for marketing workshop at Bean Voyage’s Women-Powered Summit. On the return home, stopped in LA and shot a dreamy shoot with Eric with several firsts: booking a set and working with continuous light.
• November: Won my first custom quote for a multi-day nonprofit conference. I’d submitted a handful of custom quotes before, but they hadn’t moved forward.
• December: Shot that conference and a community engagement event- both of which produced great testimonials.
• January: Painstakingly learned how to focus stack in Photoshop. Hated it. Started Spanish for Coffee People and a posing masterclass.
• February: My solopreneur mastermind group added two new members, maxing out at four very creative people!
• March: I was asked to present my work as an artist at the AAWAA Slide Slam , and despite feeling every bit of imposter syndrome, I did it and it was lovely. 
• April: Expo, where I had several photo clients and a press assignment. The 6th game night went wonderfully. I also did my first IRL photoshoot + interview for tanjennts. And, booked three repeat clients for events. 
• May: As I was writing a paid subscriber essay on my grandmother’s funeral rituals, I saw an open submission call for the theme “rituals” at a local photo gallery, and I saw it as a sign. I submitted three photos (all of which I had included in my slide slam presentation), and two have been selected for an online exhibition. There were so many good entries that they decided to add an online exhibit. 

So all that to also say that it wasn’t rainbow and roses the whole time. In fact, there were MANY downtimes where I questioned my sanity and decision-making (as some paid subscribers may remember). I made enough to cover my business expenses but not my personal living expenses. I got Covid for the first time last May and then a persistently obnoxious cold in October—both three weeks long and thankfully didn’t overlap with any shoots.

As the election passed in November and more things started to crumble in the US, I was absolutely thinking, WHY in the world did I decide to end a sustainable income stream and take my photography beyond coffee? And also, am I nuts to want to do dog photography? Like, wouldn’t it be a dream to be flown across the world to photograph someone’s favorite family member? I’m trying to manifest this. 

Year 13 felt like a looooong transition year that I was unprepared for. I have forced myself to solo attend various networking events, and I would like to shout out both my meds and internal work for helping me get out the door and talk to a bunch of strangers. Of all the years I’ve been freelancing, this upcoming year seems like it’ll be a big challenge—partially because I’m continuing my non-coffee photo work, and the US political/social climate is so unpredictable. 

etc.

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