What a Freelancer Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Arts Industry
Willa, a freelance photographer, advises aspiring professionals to embrace diverse opportunities beyond photography, even if outside their comfort zone, emphasizing that "it's really important to say yes, it's really important to put yourself out there". Additionally, effective data management, including "three different places for redundancy", is crucial for long-term career success and should be prioritized early on.
Data Management, Adaptability, Professional Resilience, Industry Specific Skills, Networking and Collaboration
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. The multifaceted nature of arts-related work: Willa highlights that opportunities extend beyond core skills (photography, in her case), encompassing lighting, art department roles, etc. Being open to diverse tasks is crucial for career growth.
2. Developing resilience and thick skin: The industry can be challenging, with potential for criticism and mistakes. Learning from setbacks and understanding that imperfections are part of the learning process is vital.
3. The importance of robust data management: Willa emphasizes the critical need for a well-organized and redundant data storage system for both safety and efficiency. This includes file naming conventions and utilizing multiple storage locations (local, cloud, etc.).
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
Having worked in photography for almost a decade, and being entirely freelance with no other income for about a year and a half, I wish people had told me how many different things I would want to be involved in. Photography is my calling, my craft, my wheelhouse.
However, working in the arts presents opportunities that don't involve me being on camera. That's fine, as I have plenty of existing obligations to fulfill. If someone wants to hire me to handle lighting for a short film, photoshoot, or marketing activation, I'm content with that.
I love it because I get to do the job and then go home. Sometimes I'll be in the art department on short film sets or at entertainment industry events. If I get the opportunity to work, even if I'm not entirely confident, it's important to say yes and put yourself out there. Be comfortable with the reality that you might not do the best job. You might get reprimanded or make a mistake you think about for years, but it's a learning opportunity, and you can't quantify its value.
Another thing I wish people had told me is how mean people can be. I don't think being sensitive is bad; it means I'm tuned into the world's needs and my own. I do everything with my heart on my sleeve, which can be a detriment sometimes. Still, I wouldn't change it. People are the way they are for reasons beyond our control and understanding, which helps me be patient.
I also wish I had known how frustrating and important it is to have data figured out. This includes how to store, sort, and archive your files. The short answer is three different places for redundancy: two cold storage locations (one in a different place in case one is destroyed) and one cloud storage.
Your data isn't backed up appropriately, safely, or reliably if it's not handled that way. You need a file naming system and to have all your digital ducks in a row. The longer you wait, the worse it gets, so get your digital data organized and sorted. I wish I had started that sooner, as I didn't. Even with systems in place, I'm still figuring things out and dealing with tasks that have been very difficult.