From working in shops on Oxford Street as a teenager, now her photos can be seen in those windows instead.
Marcelle did lots of work for free early on but it built a network, a portfolio and a reputation that has since served her well. Whilst her training as a graphic designer has kept her working at times when she didn’t have a camera in her hand.
A self professed workaholic, her thirty year plan finds her sitting in a beach far away from the streets of London.
Read MoreAfter 8 years working with friends as a collective, Kyle had built his own name through hosting meet-ups and speaking at events to the point where it made sense to go solo.
From small meet-ups he ended up speaking on some of the biggest stages with the likes of Adobe as clients. Yet in 2020 decided to switch from being a freelancer to becoming a Creative Director in-house at School of Motion. Not an easy decision. But he can see how his years of independence have given him a valuable skill-set as an employee.
Read MoreWhen Korean Jenna married an American she also started a relationship with being freelance.
Her blog of tips for other international couples brought her work as readers asked for help with their written English.
Then Jenna joined Elance, that became Upwork - and rose to be one of the top 1% professionals on the freelancer job site.
Far from a race to the bottom, she has regular high paying clients. Hear Jenna’s story. Oh. And her cat.
Read MoreLuke was scared to go freelance. He needn’t have been. He’d spent 10 years of agency life not just making great work, but making a name for himself. Despite being shy, he ‘d been writing, speaking and immersed in community.
Having felt the benefits of events himself, he now organises them for others. Together with his friend Dan, he’s nurturing the creative scene in his city through the amazing work of Birmingham Design.
Read MoreWhen Australian Robyn quit her job working in comms for a French yacht company, her boss was so keen to keep her that he offered her a 2-day-a-week retainer if she went freelance.
So she did. 6 years on, work has come to her solely through her network and referrals.
But working solo gradually sent Robyn into her shell. So now, she’s proactively seeking out connection once more. Making online dates with other freelancers and working with a business coach - she’s enjoying life being freelance once more.
Read MoreWhile working in his first job at a small agency, Ryan started a website. He didn’t think much of it. Until its local SEO started bringing him leads and the chance to do extra work on the side.
A year on, working evenings and weekends, he’d reached capacity. This was it. Time to go full time freelance.
Now Ryan’s grown a team of two fellow freelancers. Pay Per Click more than paying off.
Read MoreAlready established in her marketing career, Nadine went freelance in order to ‘stretch’ herself professionally.
Freelancing for 10 years with big name clients, yet with NO WEBSITE?! Her natural networking style has kept her ‘booked and busy’.
Nadine’s also decided to use her own success and knowledge to give back. Starting a community and investment fund for diverse entrepreneurs. She wanted to be stretched - and she’s aiming high!
Read MoreMomina realised traditional Pakistan office life didn’t fit with taking care of her mental health. Sh'e’d go freelance and be a better boss to herself.
Having built up a personal brand and relationships on Twitter, within months she had so much work that despite her best intentions she burnt out.
A hiatus away from writing, away from being online, let her reset and realise what really matters. Back to creating a work life, that works for her.
Read MoreStephen wasn’t looking to go freelance, but when redundancy came 10 years ago, he took on a contract for a few months. All these years later, he says he’d never go back.
In between Stephen’s evolved specialisms, written a book that became a course and started working remotely. Always keen to stay on top of his skills and what his clients might need now in the future.
Read MoreIn 2011, an accident changed David’s life. Paralysed from the chest down.
But from becoming quadriplegic, emerged ‘Quadriphonic Sound’, making some noise in the motion design world.
Freelancing has allowed David to do something he loves, all remotely around the needs of his health and family.
