Tips for Freelancers — Sincerely, Kindred

WORDS // JON NYQUIST AND SAM ELIAS

Happy Monday kindreds! Thanks for sticking with us during our breaks from posting. We have a couple of gifts for you for the next two weeks as we kick off our summer term of posts. To start us off, here are some freelancing tips from some amazing people and rad professional artists. Cheers!

BY JON NYQUIST
videographer + photographer
https://vimeo.com/jonnyquist

The phrase "its not what you know, but who you know" plays a big role in whether you get jobs or not, so make sure to network and treat people well.

Make sure you step back to see you're heading in the direction you want to be.

Take risks. Take trips. Take friends.

Have personal projects so you don't get burnt out on client work.

Budget time wisely and make sure you have time for friends, family and sleep.

Save for taxes.

BY SAM ELIAS
hand letter + graphic designer
www.inkandlaurel.com

Wake up early.

This is a rough one, but when I wake up early, I feel better and I get so much more done in the morning.

Don’t wait until you are "feeling" creative.

That feeling rarely happens on its own. Create times where you sit down, focus and just start getting ideas out there.

Play good music.

For me, working in silence is also SO SO unproductive. I need the energy that music brings to the environment.

Create/ find a space that you like working in.

When I like the space I work in, I get so much more work done. Sometimes this means I love working at my desk and sometimes this means I love getting out and working at a local coffee shop. Just find a space you love!

Listen to podcasts

I love learning and listening to podcasts lets me learn as I work. Some of my favorites right now are: 99% invisible (http://99percentinvisible.org/episodes/) and planet money (http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510289/planet-money)

PHOTO // KATEY LEE