Career Path of an Independent Media Professional as a Freelancer
Willa's career path is a testament to "all the different dimensions" a career can take; starting with unexpected photography work from college, this led to various roles—from staff photographer for an eSports organization to an assistant resident director—all while simultaneously building a freelance photography business. The experience culminated in leaving a disliked corporate job after a layoff, allowing a full-time focus on their passion and proving that "it feels good" to pursue one's true calling.
Networking, Freelancing, Photography, Building Relationships, Entrepreneurship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Willa Cutolo
Independent Media
Independent Organization
UCLA
N/A
English, Writing & Education, English
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Willa's career path highlights a successful transition from various part-time jobs to a fulfilling career in photography and independent media. This journey demonstrates the value of diverse experiences and building professional relationships.
2. Her experience as an RA and resident director demonstrates the importance of interpersonal skills and community building, transferable assets to many professions including media.
3. Despite setbacks like being laid off, Willa persevered and leveraged her skills to maintain financial stability through freelancing and entrepreneurship, showcasing resilience and a proactive approach to career management.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college?
Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
Absolutely. In hindsight, my career path has taken many different turns. When I entered college, I never imagined I would become an artist; it wasn't on my mind, nor did it feel like something I could connect with.
During undergrad, I picked up photography somewhat organically. I spent my first year's housing loan on a camera and had to work off-campus to repay it. I was no stranger to restaurant jobs, having worked in them since I was young, including bussing tables at my family's bagel shop. I was comfortable in that industry and knew I could find work while paying off the camera.
Initially, I bought the camera for YouTube videos, but that didn't take off. I started bringing it to events with friends, taking photos while playing games like Smash Brothers. Someone saw a photo from an event, which led to my first "white collar" job as a staff photographer for an eSports organization. I eventually became their marketing coordinator, gaining professional experience beyond the service industry.
In my junior year, I became an RA. This role significantly supported my photography practice by connecting me with more people to photograph. My team's staff pictures always looked the best, and it allowed me to continue building relationships, maintaining friendships, and finding ways to be helpful and of service.
After two years as an RA, I graduated and applied for one job: assistant resident director at UCLA, where I already knew people. My experience has shown that I have an easier time getting jobs through personal connections, as people understand what I can offer. I started that role in the summer of 2019 and worked for two years.
Even during the pandemic and early lockdown, I continued freelancing. While I had my day job, I remained unsure about its long-term direction but continued building my photography skills and learning business practices to make my art sustainable.
I took a short break from my professional life to appear on a reality show with my family. The paycheck from that experience allowed me to secure an apartment and continue my photography. I made about $18,000 after taxes from the show. As an ARD, after taxes and expenses, I was clearing about $2,000 a month. During graduation season, my primary income source through grad portraits was $10,000 to $15,000, which helped me manage expenses and pay down debt.
Once the reality show income ended, I continued freelancing. I worked at an art studio for a few months, learning more about business tactics like marketing, building pitch decks, and establishing professional relationships. I continued freelancing until the studio no longer needed me.
In February of last year, I joined an ad agency. I disliked the corporate environment, which felt removed from helping people. The work was in entertainment, and I struggled with its extractive nature, distracting from what truly matters, such as community involvement, personal needs, and work-life balance. When the Writer's Guild strikes occurred in May, I was immediately laid off, likely because I was newer to the company. I was referred to that job by someone whose brother worked there, again highlighting how personal connections have helped me secure employment.
I've never relied on cold applications through platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed, as I haven't seen them work well for many people, and my time is limited. I know I would never lay myself off, so even when employed, I never abandoned photography. It's been over a year and a half, and I'm still pursuing my passions and finding ways to expand them on my own time. It feels good, and I feel very lucky.