Portrait of a Freelancer: Marimay Loubier
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<p><em>Freelance Profile - Meet inspiring people who have chosen to earn a living by being self-employed. Through a very humanistic perspective, discover their story, unique lifestyle, and challenges. Today, we meet Marimay, a photographer who recently decided to become a self-employed worker.</em></p>
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<h3><strong>1- Tell us About Yourself</strong></h3>
<p>My name is Marimay, and I am a 2D visual artist (drawing, painting, and taking pictures). I recently started my photography business! I now am a part-time self-employed worker since I just launched my business, but I aim to become a full-time business owner.</p>
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<h3><strong>2- Where Does your Immense Passion for Photography Come From?</strong></h3>
<p>I would say that everything started during a silver photography class in high school. I then understood all the beauty of this creation tool through its origins and basic principles. Then, I continued when I received my first reflex camera at 18 years old; it was a real crush. I had the impression that the exploration and creation possibilities were infinite (and it is still what I think today). Since then, I have never left my camera, and I have been practising this exceptional art for nearly ten years.</p>
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<h3><strong>3- How Did You Become Self-employed?</strong></h3>
<p>I decided to become a true self-employed artist less than a year ago. For a long time, I was scared. Scared to fail, scared not to be good enough, scared not to have the personality or skills to manage my own business. I had the impostor’s syndrome! In fact, I was studying at university because I wanted to learn more about art therapy. It is still something I am passionate about, and I want to take part in my way with social art and community workshops; however, it has been a while since I knew what I really wanted: to start my own business.</p>
<p>I then stop for a moment to determine my real priorities and life goals. I finally understood that it was time I do something! What really helped me start everything and make me believe in myself is Cathy Lessard’s DÉCLIC program. It is a program created for photographers who wish to have and drive their business. Cathy was my mentor during the start-up process. </p>
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<h3><strong>4- What Is the Most Challenging Part of Self-employment?</strong></h3>
<p>It is to find contracts daily to have a stable income, but also to start your business adequately to avoid making too many beginner mistakes (whether it is regarding positioning, branding, or customer service). For this reason, I find it relevant to give yourself high-quality training as soon as possible when you start a business. Moreover, taking a training course like Cathy Lessard’s is a significant advantage regarding your self-esteem; it allows you to be stronger and not discouraged when you do not have a lot of new contracts. Management software like Momenteo is also relevant from the beginning because it allows you to create professional-looking invoices, which your customers appreciate because you look credible.</p>
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<h3><strong>5- Which Part of Being Self-employed Do You Like the Most?</strong></h3>
<p>What I find fantastic is to have the freedom to manage my schedule and adapt it to my lifestyle. Also, I like being a self-employed worker because I can decide the projects I want to work on according to my spontaneous inspiration. The only person I am accountable to is my customers that I love and am pleased to work with.</p>
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<h3><strong>6- Tell Us About Your Work Routine.</strong></h3>
<p>I will present the ideal routine I would like to have when I am eventually a full-time self-employed worker.</p>
<p>I wake up, eat my breakfast, relax a bit, and then I take a walk or work out. Now that I am fully awake, I check my emails and what is on my schedule (appointments, shootings…), then I write three goals for my day on my dashboard (not more, or I will do nothing!). These goals allow me to help me do the most important things for that precise day. I can then start my daily tasks. I work from 9 am to 6 pm, and I try to keep my evenings and at least one weekend day off to rest and care for myself. </p>
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<h3><strong>7- What Are the Online Tools You Could Not Live Without?</strong></h3>
<p>For image editing: Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop</p>
<p>For picture sharing with my customers: Pic-Time</p>
<p>For customer and shooting management: Trello</p>
<p>For planning: Trello</p>
<p>For my accounting: Momenteo</p>
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<h3><strong>8. How Did You Learn About Momenteo, and How Long Have You Been Using It?</strong></h3>
<p>My mentor Cathy Lessard presented me Momenteo, and I have been using it for the last three months.<br />
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<h3><strong>9- What Makes Momenteo Different from Other Accounting Programs?</strong></h3>
<p>It is an intuitive software made in Canada. It is well adapted for self-employed workers.</p>
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<h3><strong>10- How Did You Find Your First Customers?</strong></h3>
<p>I found them on Facebook through offers and ads I made. Also, with word-of-mouth and my network.</p>
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<h3><strong>11. What Are Your Tips for Someone Who Would Like to Get Into Freelance?</strong></h3>
<p>Build a strong network (and do not underestimate its power!), develop good relationships with other people (because they could eventually become business partners), and be organized (note down everything!). Also, I would say that all personalities can fit regarding a job; the more you will be true to yourself, authentic, the more you will reach your ideal customers.</p>
<p>One last piece of advice: focus on one project at the same time. When we want to do too many things simultaneously, we do not progress at all. Personally, I had to give up many projects to finish the ones that I choose.</p>
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<h3><strong>12. What Would You Say to Someone Who Would Like to Use the Services of a Photographer?</strong></h3>
<p>Follow your instinct; it is rarely wrong. Choose the photographer that is the more just like you and blows you away! More importantly, do not choose your photographer according to its fees, because a photographer’s work is inestimable, and you deserve to invest in yourself. Cheap = lower quality, just like everything.</p>
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<h3><strong>13. What Are You Most Proud of About Being a Self-employed Worker?</strong></h3>
<p>To have finally leaped into what I am passionate about and to have the possibility to build a project that I care about. I am proud to have believed in myself and my skills.</p>
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<h3><strong>14. Do You Have any Big Plans for This Winter?</strong></h3>
<p>My main project for this winter is to create my website (probably with Wix). For now, I only use social media to contact my customers, but I wish to increase my visibility with a website. It will also be a platform that represents my business more and allows me to present my work. Moreover, I plan to continue developing my market and look for new business partners. Let’s say that with the current pandemic, it is more challenging to develop a small business, but everything in its own time.</p>
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<h3><strong>15. How Can We Contact You?</strong></h3>
<p>You can contact me on my social media ou by email:</p>
<p>Email: marimayloubierphotographe@gmail.com</p>
<p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marimayloubierphotographe/ </p>
<p> Instagram: @marimayloubier.photogaphe </p>
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