What It Really Means to Be a Freelance Photographer

Alright, I’m pulling back the curtain here: freelancing is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s freedom, joy, and fulfillment in this life. But none of it comes easy. You have to constantly hone your craft, hustle harder than you thought possible, and learn to say no to clients who don’t align with your values (even when that lost paycheck stings). At the beginning, every cent feels make-or-break.

Do I have it all figured out? Hell no. I still consider myself in the early stages. I’m hustling, learning, failing, and trying again. Most of the roadblocks I hit? They’re me. Fear. Fear of letting go of the version of myself I no longer want to be. Fear of failure. Fear of change.

And then I came across this quote:

“You have to care more about becoming the person you want to be, than protecting the person you have been.”

— Leila Hormozi

This hit me hard. Being a freelance photographer isn’t just about the business; it’s about the personal growth behind the business. To step into the photographer (and human) you want to be, you have to let go of who you’ve been.

Want to be a better editor? Get those deep blues in your underwater shots? Book more clients? Build visibility? Then do the work. Keep editing. Keep learning. Put yourself out there. Send the outreach emails. Launch the ad campaign. Post the photos. Stop comparing. Stop letting your work sit in the archives because it’s “not good enough yet.” Progress comes from showing up, again and again.

This month, I’ve been leaning into a different vibe: doing what I can, how I can, and not letting the things (or people) that don’t line up derail me, not in a “screw everyone” kind of way, but in a calm, matter-of-fact way that’s left me with far less stress and anxiety.

Yes, people see me as perpetually busy, and I kind of am, but that doesn’t mean I’m always client-facing. Freelance life also means managing a one-woman show: investing, experimenting, missing the mark, trying again. What grounds me in all of this is staying true to myself. Taking cues from others’ successes is useful, but only when it aligns with my own values.

At the end of the day, clients don’t choose you just for your gear, your prices, or even your raw talent. They choose you because of how you make them feel, and because of how you show up. That’s what sets you apart. That’s what freelancing is really about.

So if you’re on this path, remember: your best work comes not just from your craft, but from who you are becoming along the way.

So, dear reader. What does being a freelancer mean to you? What path are you on?

My inbox is always open :)

Until next time.

Sending you salty sunshine,

Shirena