#going freelance

Handsome Frank

https://www.handsomefrank.com Handsome Frank is a UK-based illustration agency that also focuses on animation. According to their website, they currently represent 40 creatives across five continents and describe themselves as a close-knit team ready to ignore time zones and bring your ideas to life.

They are open to submissions and encourage talented illustrators to get in touch via the email provided. However, they look specifically for artists with a unique style not already featured on their roster, along with a strong work ethic and a professional attitude. Their client list includes major brands like Amazon, Costa, Coca-Cola, and Disney. They proudly position themselves as one of the leading names among illustration agencies.

Folio Illustration

https://folioart.co.uk Folio Illustration and Animation Agency is based in London and has over 50 years of experience in the industry. Their client base overlaps significantly with Handsome Frank, and they also work with high-profile brands.

On their website, they outline why someone might need an illustration agent, what they look for in potential collaborators, and how to apply. In general, they seek artists with a unique and recognizable style, strong technical and communication skills, honesty, reliability, and the ability to follow a brief. They provide a dedicated submissions email and a guide for preparing a PDF portfolio.

Lemonade Illustration

https://lemonadeillustration.com Lemonade Illustration is a multinational agency with offices in London, Yorkshire, New York, Sydney, and Dubai. Their specialties include advertising and design, children's illustration, character design, and animation.

They work with a broad range of notable clients, including Lucasfilm, Activision, the NHS, and the National Trust. As someone interested in children’s book illustration, I find this agency particularly appealing — it seems like a solid place to establish a presence in that niche.

Penguin Books

Penguin Books is a British publishing house I’ve previously worked with through briefs. They regularly publish children's books and frequently require illustration work for both re-releases and new titles.

According to their website, if they are interested in hiring you, they’ll likely contact your agent first (if you have one) to handle negotiations. You may then be put in direct contact with the publisher for the duration of the project.

Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster is an American multinational publishing house that also publishes children’s books across the U.S. and Europe. While their website doesn’t offer much information about how they recruit illustrators, it’s likely that submissions happen through literary agents rather than direct outreach.

This suggests they operate more like a traditional publishing house — focusing on the manuscript and leaving illustration to be coordinated externally.

Macmillan Publishers

Macmillan is a British publishing company that produces children’s books among other genres. I couldn’t find direct information about how they recruit illustrators, but the Pan Macmillan careers site notes that their art and design department commissions illustrators — likely through agents.

They also run the Macmillan Prize for Illustration, a competition designed to discover new talent. This may be one of the more accessible ways for an illustrator to enter the company without already being represented.

Publishing Sector Research

After researching different companies, I’ve concluded that publishing is the sector I’m most interested in working in. My art style is perfectly suited to children’s books, and I believe it’s the most natural path forward for me.

This research has helped me understand that most publishing houses recruit illustrators through agents or competitions. This system ensures they are hiring vetted professionals whose quality meets their standards. Simon & Schuster seems to be the exception, commissioning freelancers without necessarily relying on an agency.

Illustrating is identical of the most in demand jobs nowness. If this is your falter path then you enforce a lot as for options--you can illustrate comic books, book covers, advertising campaigns, marketing collaterals like brochures, flyers, and leaflets, buvette menus, product packaging, bay articles and news stories and even medical journals. These are just examples as there are still so long as many industries and businesses right now that need the expertise touching an illustrator for so many accouterments. <\p>

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Most employers and clients more prefers hiring freelance illustrators. Some illustrating jobs don't require most businesses to entrance fee a regular employee, the very model can relieve them money to hire only when the need arises. <\p>

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Illustrating is one of the be-all and end-all in demand jobs today. If this is your rolling on path then you have a lot of options--you can illustrate jocular books, book covers, advertising campaigns, sellout collaterals like brochures, flyers, and leaflets, smorgasbord menus, product packaging, magazine articles and news stories and even medical journals. These are just examples as there are so far so army industries and businesses right newness that need the knowing of an illustrator for so many times trousseau. <\p>

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Utmost employers and clients also prefers hiring freelance illustrators. Somewhat illustrating jobs don't extort most businesses to hire a regular employee, it can save them money to hire only howbeit the need arises. <\p>

Are you ready in consideration of go freelance? So morality now maybe you are a full-time illustrator or a untrodden freelance illustrator who want to join the freelance bandwagon, here are some considerations worth looking into as you kick start into this new job adventure. <\p>

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€ Business acumen. Going freelance will be equipollent having your own marketing; you will privation a profusion of sternness and drive to turn your skills into success and to generate more income on your own. How much you brand will be broadly relative to how much work you give occasion to. Yours truly will obtain your own horripilate and your own free trade in person. Her will treasure up to promote your own skills and talent and build a name for other self. <\p>

The past days have been crazy. Tons of workloads have been dumped to me, but I still had time with my bb cream stick and blush on and some wetlook gel. I have curls. To avoid the frizzy, stressed-out look.

But I can manage. I am going to have my interview…

A few days ago I reached the 4 week milestone of being completely freelance, I'm still alive... so I guess at the moment I can consider it some sort of success! 

I actually began freelancing way back in 2009 but I had been working solely with a client within their company until July this year. With my 22nd birthday approaching and Bear getting bigger every day it just felt like the right time to branch out on my own. The major benefit so far has been creating my own diary and not being trapped in a 10-6 scenario... but this has also meant that I'm spending alot more time on Facebook then I used to! lol.

What I've been doing this month: I've settled into my new desk with a spiffing Mac Mini kindly donated to me by Webforward, it was being used as a server for some time but he still runs like new :o) In return I've been collaborating with them on a new website design which is going very well! It's been fun experimenting with designing something that will be multi-platform friendly and playing with new technologies! I've also worked on some interesting projects that will be launched shortly :)

What I'm proud of this month: I feel like I've had a real surge of confidence in my skills since I went freelance. Before in meetings I had other people to be 'the voice' so to speak, but now there is only mine, and I've had to find it pretty quickly! My to-do list is slowly building so it's been a struggle getting myself organised at first as I've been so used to doing things differently but I am getting there! After that I'll be glad that I can get on with the things that matter, designing awesome sites!

What I need to do differently: Working to my own schedule has become the devil lol, I find myself feeling really inspired to start working around 11pm every night, which has meant late nights and late mornings.   So this month I am definitely going to start managing my time better and dedicating myself once I'm at the office. 

If I don't, I am giving everyone permission to poke me, repetitively. 

Going forwards: Going forward this month is something I'm extremely excited about. As I've been getting involved in learning about mobile applications and eCommerce (2 things I've always avoided!) I feel like I need to start writing PHP again and learning some HTML5. So here's my list of what I want to achieve by this time next month:

Design & Print some new business cards

Market Myself

Finish the Webforward Re-Design

Start writing PHP & HTML again

Start developing Android & iPhone applications

Stop spending so much time on Instagram (I am hopelessly addicted!)

Most importantly: Since I've been freelance I've been more conscious about myself and how I feel in myself and I have started back at Slimming World! After years of Costa Coffee's and food on the go my body isn't taking too kindly to the new regime... I know I will feel much better for it so here's another thing to stick to!

Are you considering becoming a freelancer at some point in the future? Career coach Beth Reacher has some great ways to start laying the ground work right now so your freelance career gets off to a flying start.

For many, the idea of being their own boss and working from home in their PJs on the odd occasion can be pretty appealing! And with today’s online economy, it’s becoming more and more feasible to create a sustainable career as a freelancer.

But gaining success in freelance world doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re planning to make the switch, you need to start putting the foundations in place now. Here are four key actions you can take right now to ensure your freelance career has a flying start.

1. Research When you decide to make the switch to become a freelancer, you’re creating a small business based around YOU, selling your skills, services and expertise. Just as with any business, you need to do some thorough research to know what kind of demand there is for what you have to offer.

One of the best ways to do this is to speak to clients that take on freelancers in your profession and industry. How often do they hire? What skills/ experience do they look for? Also get in touch with freelancers who are already making a successful living doing what they do- how do they find work? What works for them? What are their biggest tips? Fellow freelancers may well refer you in the future, so it’s worth building those relationships now.

2. Create a clear, compelling proposition To be a successful freelancer, you need to be attractive enough to clients that they’ll pay a market rate for you, and that means selling yourself.

To do this, you need to focus on the advantages of the work you do rather than just focusing on features. For example,  “I’m a PR professional that writes top-notch engaging press releases that will get you into some of the most high profile women’s glossies“ is much more enticing than “I’m a press officer with five years experience” (if you were recruiting a PR Professional, who would you go for?)  You’re planning to be your own boss now, so it’s essential you can sell yourself confidently and convincingly to pull in the work. Start writing some ideas down now and get clear on the unique advantages you bring to the table.

3. Build Your Personal Brand Building a powerful brand is at the heart of creating a thriving and consistent freelance business.  Ultimately, clients will make a decision on whether or not to offer you a contract on the bases of your overall brand and reputation.

One of the best ways you can start to breathe life in to your personal brand right now is through building your presence on the web. This is especially important in today’s online economy and it’s often the first place clients go to sniff out the expertise they need. Here are the key tools you should be engaging with now to establish an online brand.

Get on LinkedIn - If you only have time to prioritise one social media platform, this is it. Create a clear, engaging profile and start connecting with relevant contacts in your industry. Better still, ask previous colleagues/ service providers to write a testimonial for you. Building a bank of testimonials now will be invaluable when your start freelancing, giving clients the confidence that they can trust you and you really do know your stuff.

Build a blog - Create a blog sharing your knowledge, insights and views on your area of expertise. This shows that you are genuinely passionate about what you do and positions you as an expert. There are many free blogging platforms out there, and you don't need any web know-how beyond common sense to set one up.

 Tweet! - (Be warned- can be addictive!) Set up a Twitter profile and succinctly sum up your expertise in your bio. Start building a relevant tribe of followers including potential clients and tweeting insightful, constructive tweets that will engage with your audience.

4. Network Forging relationships with potential clients in your industry is an incredibly effective way to start building the foundations of your freelance business before you make the switch.

You need to be thinking long term, not short term. Although they may not have work for you right now (and you may not be able to take it on!), things are likely to change in the future. If you’ve met in person and they’ve warmed to you, they’re much more likely to send the work you’re way than to a competitor. Keep their details on file ready to contact them when you’re on the market. In the meantime, if you see an article that might interest them, pop them an email. In the freelance world, it’s all about nurturing relationships, and thoughtful actions like this can go a long way.

Check out events on LinkedIn and specific industry meet-ups as a starting point. Initially, I’d commit to one night a week networking. This will also give you the opportunity to practice pitching your ‘proposition’ and ensure it’s perfect for when you finally make the switch.