The complete definition of freelancing

You’re probably reading this because you wish to become a freelancer, or you’re just getting started as one and don’t know where to start. The chances are that you have already figured out what field you wish to freelance in and what precise services you’ll be offering.

When getting started with freelance work, many websites will highlight that you only need a good computer, fast internet, and the required skills. However, there is more to freelancing than just the ‘freedom’ it comes with and the ability to ‘be your own boss.’

So what exactly does freelancing entail? What are the factors to consider before joining the gig economy? How does one thrive in the freelancing world? This post will get you the answers to these and many other questions on what freelancing is all about.

What exactly is freelancing?

In layman’s terms, a freelancer is someone that’s self-employed, offering their services and expertise to different clients simultaneously. In most cases, freelancers often earn money on a per-assignment basis, a fixed price, or charging by the hour, depending on the nature of their work.

Even though you may land on semi-permanent gigs as a freelancer, 98% of all freelancing jobs are usually short-term. This means, even though you may have a long working relationship with your client, you are still at liberty to move on to another job without any issues. While you may have to sign a contract and an NDA (Non-disclosure agreement) with your freelance client, you won’t have to sign a non-compete agreement which is usually the case for permanent employment.

It is technically possible to work in any field as a freelancer. Even if the job may require physical presence and technical expertise, you can still freelance as a consultant. This means that you can work for several companies at one instance without being held back by contracts.

However, the most common field where the gig economy thrives the most is the creative industry. This includes jobs in copywriting, photography, graphic design, website development, etc. Other service-based categories such as event management, deejaying, translation, etc., are also common among freelancers.

Other names that refer to freelancing

Did you know that not everyone that is essentially a freelancer actually refers to themselves by that name? Many of these people prefer to call themselves ‘self-employed.’ Other terms that may be used in place of freelancing are:

• Contract work – a contract job is the one you only have to work on until the end of the contract, usually on a short-term basis.
  
• Independent contractor – this is the same as a freelancer. It is, however, the official classification by the IRS.
  
• 1099 – 1099 is derived from the tax form used by freelancers: 1099-MISC, as opposed to the W2 used by full-time employees. Whenever someone mentions a 1099 job, they basically mean freelancing. 
  
• Contract-to-hire – a contract-to-hire means exactly as it sounds. Sometimes, a job may be available on a permanent basis. However, the employer will offer the opportunity to a freelancer who will be on a short ‘probation period’ and will be promoted to permanent employment if satisfied with the services.
  

Other individuals that are worth mentioning include:

• Moonlighters – these are people that are permanently (or temporarily) employed elsewhere but will work as freelancers in addition to their day jobs. 
  
• Freelance business owners – these freelancers are sometimes referred to as sub-contractors. They are trained and skilled in a particular field and have worked as freelancers in that industry for a while. As work becomes more, they get outside assistance by employing other freelancers who will work under them. Their job is to communicate with their clients directly and pass down the message to their juniors. 
  

The rise of the gig economy

The freedom that freelancing comes with is the main driving factor for the high number of people shifting towards this trade. With the rise of the gig economy, freelancing is now more popular. The onset of the Coronavirus pandemic made it shoot even higher as many organizations were forced to embrace the remote working culture. This enabled the employees to seek alternative sources of income, resorting to freelancing.

According to various sources of data, it is estimated that over 1.1 billion people were actively involved as freelancers in 2020. Well, this information wouldn’t really be a surprise based on the gradual rise in the popularity of freelancing over the last couple of years.

For instance, a Forbes study found that between 2005 and 2015, 94% of all the new jobs created were either freelance or temporary gigs. This clearly shows that there has been a rising demand for freelancing jobs across various niches and industries, with a steady decline in the popularity of traditional 9-5 jobs.

How does freelancing work?

Being a freelancer means being self-employed. You are your own boss, and you manage everything in the business. This means you are supposed to handle your marketing, sales, customer engagement, handling the finances including paying taxes, and many other roles on top of the services you provide.

Although all freelance gigs are done differently, there are a couple of similarities. For instance, both the freelancer and the client must agree on the terms of the job, the rates to be provided, the payment procedures, etc., even before starting working. While most gig workers would not mind getting paid after the job is done and approved, some prefer partial payment before beginning the work.

Depending on the nature of the job, a client can get a freelancer to do the work for them for a short-term or part-time agreement. For instance, if you hired a freelance photographer to take headshots of you, once they do that, it is the end of that project. Others pay freelancers to work for a specified amount of time, such as the number of hours per week. This arrangement is usually referred to as a ‘retainer’ model.

This method of payment is mainly popular in the legal field. This means that the person involved will set aside a time every week for the client and will bill them at the end of the month whether or not the full time is used up.

Apart from being beneficial just to the workers, freelancing is also highly helpful to employers in many different ways. For starters, you get value for your money when you hire freelancers. For instance, instead of hiring a web developer on a permanent basis, what will they be doing whenever you don’t have work for them?

Remember that at the end of it all, you still have to pay them. In the case of a freelancer, you only pay for the specific job done. Furthermore, you can also get into an agreement to pay by the hour. This ensures that the employees dedicate the required amount of time to your projects, enabling you to maximize productivity.

How to become a freelancer?

Making the decision to become a freelancer is the first step to realizing your dream of financial freedom. To become a freelancer, you must first master the basics, which includes things like:

1. Picking out a niche to focus on 

Understand your expertise and qualifications to know which services you can offer that people would be interested in buying. Even though you may handle several other things at a go, it is crucial to make a name for yourself in one specific field.

This means you’ll become the go-to person whenever someone needs such services. If you do your job well, you have better chances of landing more clients even through referrals.

2. Register your freelance business

Depending on the region you live in, you may be required by law to register your freelance business with the authorities. This enables the government to effectively control the trade and also keep records of those working in their jurisdiction. The laws apply differently to different cities or countries.

For instance, if you wish to become a freelancer in Dubai, you will have to get a freelancer permit before starting your business. If you are not a citizen, you will first have to apply for a freelance visa. Failure to do so might land you in trouble with the authorities.

3. Getting the necessary tools to get you started 

All freelancing jobs are different, and so are their requirements. Depending on the niche that you decided to go with, you should ensure that you are well-armed and ready to take on any projects without struggling due to the lack of extra materials.

In many cases, you will require a computer and a stable internet connection as a basic requirement. For gigs such as freelance content writing, you’ll need more than just that. You will also have to look for plagiarism software, spellchecker tools, SEO tools, etc.

Starting a freelance photography business means that you have to purchase the right equipment, such as a good DSLR camera, artificial lighting equipment, photo editing software, etc.

4. Work on a few projects for free or at a cheap rate

The first question you’ll always be asked whenever applying for a freelance job, regardless of the industry you’re in, is “show us your samples.” If you’ve never worked on any projects before, it will be challenging to land the gig as the employers won’t know how you handle your assignments. Furthermore, it will also help them get a glimpse of what you can offer them and whether it is up to their standards.

If you don’t have any samples or a portfolio ready, then just know it will be quite challenging to get employed as a freelancer. So what do you do to salvage the situation? The best move is to offer your services pro bono or at a subsidized price to friends and family.

If it is a photography gig, you can decide to offer free photography shoots freely to those you are close with. If it is food photography you wish to major in, start by taking quality shots of your own food and edit them accordingly. You can also talk to the management of your local eateries and offer to take pictures for them that they can use for commercial purposes.

Even though you may not get a substantial financial gain from doing this, you increase your creativity and experience. You also get to make your portfolio even better, and whenever you’re now in the field searching for work, the potential clients can easily get impressed hence increasing your chances of landing a job.

5. Start scouting for work.

Applying for work as a freelancer might be the most challenging moment in the life of a freelancer. But did you know that it doesn’t have to be that hard to land good freelance clients? While following some good practices and tips, you will land your clients in no time.

For starters, ensure that you have your portfolio ready. This can be both printed and digital copies that showcase your best previous works. Furthermore, your CV should stay updated at all times, indicating all the necessary qualifications that might increase your chances of landing that particular job.

The next thing to do is to create accounts and subscribe to job boards and freelancing websites. Here, you can advertise your expertise and keep monitoring the job boards for any job posting that might interest you. When the client wants a service done that you think you can handle, it is now time to reach out to them. There are also other methods of landing new freelance clients, such as cold pitching.

5 things to consider before becoming a freelancer

Have you made up your mind to become a freelancer? Great news. Before you get started, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind:

1. Successful freelancing takes time.

For any business to succeed, you ought to set realistic goals. The same applies to freelancing. Here, money doesn’t just start flowing overnight – it takes time. Don’t get into freelancing expecting to begin minting the following day, more so if you’re just getting started and have no client working with you at the moment.

Some freelancers that create accounts on freelance job boards such as Upwork, have complained of not landing a single client for months. This shouldn’t discourage you; take your time, and all will be good soon enough.

2. Personal health is vital.

Whenever you decide to follow the path of freelancing, you stand to risk overlooking other aspects of life. One of these is your personal health. As a freelancer, you may get bundled with so much work that you forget to take care of yourself. Here are a few tips that will help you to watch over your personal health as a freelancer:

• Have a designated room as your work-from-home office. Ensure that it has adequate lightning with as much natural light as possible. Your brain tends to think well when working in an ideal environment that it is used to. If you keep on switching the places you work from, your productivity will significantly reduce.
  
• If you work from home, ensure that you have the right furniture. The chair that you use should be built to protect your back when seated for long hours working.
  
• Always remember that cleanliness is next to godliness. Your personal hygiene is essential and as such, ensure that you begin your day all fresh and that your workstation is clean at all times.
  
• Eat healthily. It is no brainer that most freelancers have a tendency to ‘over depend’ on snacks and junk food. Limit your intake of such foods and always resort to eating healthy food at all times. Take plenty of fluid too, to keep your body hydrated at all times. You’ll be surprised at how much work you can do when properly fed and hydrated.
  
• Create a healthy work-life balance. This is yet another major problem that many freelancers face. Many of them have turned into introverts, spending much of their time in their workstations glued to their computers. Their social life suffers a lot, and if you’re not careful, you might lose social contact. Create time for your extra-curricular activities and quality time to spend with friends and family.
  

3. Proper finance management is key.

When working as a freelancer, you may not have a regular payment structure, unlike those in the formal employment sector. Some clients will pay you by the hour, per project, or after a couple of days or even weeks. That said, you do not have a clear structure of how your income generation is like.

This means you need to start planning for your finances to not run into financial problems along the way. You should figure out your monthly expenditure vis-a-vis your earnings. You also need to set a target for every month and figure out how much work you need to put in to achieve that goal.

Even though watching out on what you spend your money on is crucial, it is advisable to identify the key spendings that you must put aside, such as for emergency purposes or to take care of yourself during a scenario where there’s a delay in payment.

4. Don’t quit your day job yet.

Don’t make the mistake of quitting your day job to get into freelancing full time, more so if you’re just getting started. The best thing to do is to moonwalk for some time, as you get a better glimpse of what awaits you should you decide to venture into freelancing fully. You can even start by working over the weekends as a freelancer and see if it is possible to take up this new path full-time.

5. Have a firm hand approach

As you get into the world of freelancing, you’ll come to interact with different types of people who will treat you differently. To save yourself much trouble that many freelancers undergo, always have a contract handy with you to have your clients sign before beginning the work. This will set forward the rules from the onset of your relationship on how things will be handled.

A comprehensive contract should cover instances such as the expected pay, the frequency of payments, when the payments should be made, what times you’ll be available for contact or communication with clients, etc. This will hinder clients who overload you with work and expect you to work during ungodly hours.

You should also learn to be more of a ‘no’ person. Whenever you get approached with an offer you think may not work well for you, refuse it. You should also refuse to work with some difficult clients that will only give you stress. Having a firm stand will be one of your greatest weapons as a freelancer that you need to have with you at all times.

Is freelancing for you?

Freelancing is becoming a popular work model that millions are embracing every other day, but is it ideal for everyone? Of course not. One needs to perform a self-analysis to determine whether freelancing is for them. One of the best ways to do so is to weigh both the advantages that you may get and the drawbacks associated with freelancing.

While it all depends on an individual, we have compiled a list of the pros and cons of freelancing to help you get started with your decision:

Advantages of freelancing

• You are your own boss
  
• Flexible working hours
  
• The freedom to work from anywhere
  
• The freedom to choose which clients you wish to work for
  

Disadvantages of freelancing

• No steady or reliable workload
  
• This is a loner’s career, and you can easily become isolated when working on your projects
  
• You may not be entitled to employee benefits or perks working as a freelancer.
  

The main challenges you may encounter as a freelancer

The road to freelancing may not be a smooth one. Here are some challenges that you may encounter when you decide to become a freelancer:

• It can take time to land a good client
  
• It can take you a long time to make a self-sustaining full-time income.
  
• You must have good organizational skills to manage several clients at once
  

Conclusion

There we go – everything that you need to know about freelancing. The fruits of a successful freelancing business are sweet, but then you will initially have to face its bitter roots: the constant rejection, the inability to find good clients, etc. We hope that this post will open your eyes better to help you determine which career path you’d like to take.

As you have seen, becoming a freelancer isn’t as hard as people perceive it to be. All you need is to identify your niche, have the relevant materials ready, and scout for work either through cold pitching or through freelance job boards.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can you make a lot of money as a freelancer?
A:  Yes. Many people have successfully made a name for themselves just through freelancing. Some of them are even said to be making over $1,000 an hour through their freelancing projects.

Q: What are the biggest challenges of becoming a freelancer?
A: Like any other business, freelancing also presents its challenges, which you can easily avoid when you use the right techniques. For starters, it might be challenging to land on good clients for the first couple of days (or even weeks).

Apart from learning the necessary skills for your trade, you also have to master other related things such as proper organization, finance management, marketing, etc. These are the roles you’ll have to assume when you become your own boss.

Q: Must you have a computer to become a freelancer?
A: No. it is not a must for you to have a computer to become a freelancer. There are many factors that determine this, and one of them is the nature of the job. For instance, you may not really need a computer to perform your duties in event management, hairstylist, and many more.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelancing/what-does-freelancing-mean-understanding-the-complete-definition-of-freelancing/

What are the best food photography camera settings?

Here are the main food photography camera settings to consider:

• Shutter speed
• Aperture
• ISO

For many years, professional photographers and tutors get asked the same question over and over regardless of the type of photography they are learning: What camera settings should I use? Well, the short answer is, there is none.
A photographer is creative, and they should always know how to shoot their subjects under any circumstances and still have great results. If you’re here looking for the magic formula to use in your photography, then you’re in the wrong industry.

If we were to be practical, we would have told you about the right camera settings to give you the exposure you desire, using different types of equipment, and the conditions you may be exposed to. However, this probably isn’t the answer you were looking for.

Photo exposure results from the combination of several photography ‘flavors,’ which include aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Food photography requires a well-thought combination of these three ‘ingredients.’ Whether you are working for a client or shooting images for your online channels, there are quite a few rules that you ought to follow if you want to take snaps of mouth-watering food images. Other things you should focus on in your camera settings are the composition, lighting, and style to make your food images worthy of a Michelin star.

If we are, to be honest, very many professional photographers have at one point been skeptical about turning off the auto settings and turning on manual mode on their camera settings. It is a no brainer that a good DSLR camera can take amazing photos in its automatic settings, basically because cameras are pretty innovative these days. However, if you don’t know how to operate the manual mode, then it is a hit and miss situation.

Ever wondered how you can make excellent food photography shots using your camera? I’m not talking about those barely clear shots, but a clear image that will show your food in its splendor. You will find that the following food photography camera settings will affect the outcome of your image significantly:

How to use your camera settings to achieve the best light control

When you are a freelance food photographer, it is essential to conceive a clear picture of the food image you want in your mind. But it is very tricky to obtain your perceived concept without a combination of factors.
The following factors will contribute significantly to your success. You will need to have your food photography camera settings set in a way that will ensure you obtain the image your mind has perceived while giving your concept life.
Natural light like sunlight is the best when it comes to achieving the best food image. You will note that not all-natural light goes well when it comes to representing your food. For instance, direct sunlight may cause your food to have dark shadows, making it look unappetizing.
Every freelance food photographer knows the importance of light when taking clear image shots. To obtain quality images, you take your picture in a place where you find quality light. Apart from quality light, you will need to have a quality lens to capture the image and have the best depth.
When it comes to light control, you will need to monitor the light exposure your camera lens receives. You can control light exposure by considering your camera’s aperture setting, shutter speed, and ISO.
If you want to attain high-quality images, you must employ a combination of fast shutter speed with a low ISO.

1. Shutter speed

Shutter speed determines the amount of light that your camera lens receives. When you apply fast shutter speed, the shutter is open for a short duration of time, which translates to less light reaching the camera lens. On the other hand, a slow shutter speed lets more light to the camera lens since the shutter opens for a more extended period. A slow shutter is problematic since it does not stop the motion.
We measure shutter speed as a part of a second, for instance, when your setting reads 1/60, and it means that your camera receives light during the 1/60 of a second that the shutter is open, which is slower when compared to another setting like 1/250 is a shorter or faster shutter speed.
Shorter shutter speeds allow less light to hit the camera’s sensor, and they are great when you are taking sharp images of moving subjects like liquids. To have a clear picture using a fast shutter speed, you will need to work in a setting with ample lighting.
You will need to work on a balance where you will apply some blurring techniques to enable you to avoid over-exposure or under-exposure to your picture. You will need to use dark and light colors to bring out the best texture on your food.

2. Aperture

To understand how an aperture works, you will need to compare it to the workings of your eye’s pupil. Aperture measurement is in f/stop, and aperture is found on the camera’s lens. If you increase the aperture setting, the amount of light hitting the sensor increases. A small aperture equals less light hitting the camera, and the f/stop number is large; for example, f/16 lets in less light compared to f/4.
You can adjust the size of your aperture depending on the amount of light available. When it’s dark or cloudy, you will need to allow a lot of light to fall on your camera’s sensors. You can attain this by making a low setting like f/2.8.
A large aperture will help you attain a differential or a selective focus whereby you can have a part of your image in soft focus and the remaining part in sharp focus. On the other hand, a small aperture will give your image a great depth bringing it into sharp focus.
If there is too much light, like on a sunny day, you can reduce the amount of light hitting your camera sensors. You may achieve this by utilizing a high aperture setting to minimize the amount of light reaching your camera.
When you utilize both the shutter speed and aperture setting, you will achieve a creative way to express the texture of your food, give your image depth, and at the same time attach emotion to it.

3. ISO

The ISO is a setting on your food photography camera setting, representing the level of sensitivity in your camera’s sensor. When your camera’s sensor indicates high sensitivity to light, it will result in a pale image. If your camera has less sensitivity to light, your pictures will be too dark. You will need to find a balance that will enable you to take images that bring into life the food concept you have in your mind.

A low ISO will ensure your image has minimum grain and noise, while fast shutter speed reduces camera shakes and gives you a sharper focus of your subject. To bring your concept to life, you must know how to control your food photography camera settings.

To achieve the right image, you will need to set your ISO setting on low; this will ensure your image doesn’t have any grain or noise. You can follow the guide below while setting your ISO:

• If you take the photo in a place with quality natural light, like during the day or outdoors, you can have your ISO camera setting set in the range of 100-200.
• When you take your picture in the evening or indoors, then set your camera at a range of 400-800.
• If you are taking the pictures at night, you should use a setting of 1600, and anything above this setting will result in grainy images.You can adjust the aperture or the shutter speed to allow more light into the camera’s sensors, which will improve the quality of your image significantly.

How does the type of light affect your images?

Using natural light is the best way to take your pictures. When you choose the best place to take your photograph, ensure the area has a light source directly in front or to the side of your setup. This will provide your food with an evenly spread light, which will enhance the beauty and texture of your subject.
Sometimes, natural light is not readily available when you need it. You can use artificial light in such instances or when natural light becomes too harsh, giving your food some uninteresting shadows. When you use artificial light, follow the letter’s instructions to achieve the best outcome. Using artificial light that will enable you to control power allows you to choose a shutter speed that will capture your food image well while showing the texture in clear focus.

Types of lens

As a freelance food photographer, you will need to invest in a camera lens. You will decide on the crop factor of your camera; in other words, does your camera have a cropped or full-frame sensor? There are four types of lenses that freelance food photographers use while taking photographs. These are:

1. The 50mm lens

This type of food photography lens is ideal for capturing images with more expansive scenes as it allows you to crop them afterward.  Photographers use this type of lens when they are taking photos in areas with less optimal lighting.

2. The 60mm macro or 60mm micro

This camera lens offers a sharp focus with minimum distance and captures light well, ensuring you have a beautiful food image. This camera lens is ideal if you are shooting the subject at a close range.
The 100 macro or 105mm Microlens
This camera lens allows you to take your subject’s shot at an angle of 45 degrees and have your background elements in a shallow depth.

3. Tilt-shift lens

This lens will allow you to zoom in and control your subjects’ plane. With this type of lens, you can focus on one part of the image while leaving the rest part blurred.

The distance between the camera and the subject

If you want to change the distance between your camera and your subject, you will need to focus on the subject by adjusting your camera lens to maintain the image’s composition. One way to increase your image’s depth is by creating a more considerable distance between the camera and the subject.
To focus more on your subject, you will need to reduce your camera and its distance. You can alternatively use your aperture settings to control your subject’s depth, which will enable you to take your shot at any distance using your desired focal length. If you use a large f-stop, you should always remember to change your shutter speed, cable release, and tripod.
You should note that when you want your food image to have a shallow depth, you will need to ensure that your lens has a long focal length. Though this may sound like an easy fit to accomplish, adjusting the focal length to attain the desired depth is tricky.

Manual camera settings

Most DSLR cameras offer the user three different ways to use the manual settings. They include:

TV

TV stands for time value and is sometimes referred to as the shutter priority. Some camera brands will simply brand this feature as ‘S.’ In this setting, you manually set the ISO and the shutter speed, and the camera will automatically set the aperture.

Getting started is pretty simple; all you need to do is set the ISO to between 100 and 200 and the shutter to 1/250, depending on the lighting available. You should test shoot and see how your images appear and readjust the settings accordingly:

If they’re coming out very dark, you can increase the shutter speed to 1/200 up to 1/125. You can also raise the ISO up to 400 or 800.
If the images are coming out looking pale, you should consider having the ISO lowered to 100.

AV

In this case, AV stands for aperture value or aperture priority. The user sets the aperture and ISO manually, leaving the camera to adjust the shutter speed automatically. This is an important consideration when you need to control the depth-of-field:

If you need a selective or limited depth of field, you can use a large aperture by setting it to a low f/stop such as f/2.8. You can also set the ISO as low as you can, up to 100, to compensate for a large amount of light let in by the wide aperture.
For an extensive depth of field, consider using a smaller aperture by setting a high f/stop like f/16. While a low ISO is generally recommended, it would be prudent to consider it upward to 800 or 1600 to compensate for the smaller amount of light let in by the small aperture.

M (Manual)

An M (Manual) setting is ideal when you wish to manually control every aspect of the camera, from the aperture, shutter speed, to ISO, all at once.

What are the best camera settings for food photography?

Even though this post was to take you through the best settings for a food photography camera, it is evident that the perfect settings do not exist and entirely depend on the situation. You should first begin by identifying the general conditions, such as lighting. This will help you determine the features that you need to set by yourself: is it ISO, aperture, or shutter speed?

Most experienced food freelance food photographers would prefer to use the AV (aperture value) settings. This is because, unlike other genres such as fashion photography, food photography involves a static subject, so there is no general need to worry much about the shutter speed. However, this would only apply to ideal conditions, such as in a studio or in a calm environment.

If you’re to take the photos at a busy kitchen or at an event, you may need to use the TV (time value) manual settings. This is because you not only have to capture the action in sharp detail but also by using a fast shutter speed that you can possibly have. Under these settings, you are able to activate features such as creating freeze-action shots, such as clear pictures of a liquid being poured.

The most important thing to consider is to identify what works best for you. Luckily, you can sharpen your food photography skills daily, as there is no shortage of any foodstuff to snap. Try out different setups and take the photos using different settings until you find your ideal settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What camera settings should you use for food photography?

A: The most popular food photography settings include the TV (Time Value) and the AV (Aperture Value) modes. In the TV setting, you manually set the ISO and the shutter speed, and the camera will automatically set the aperture. The AV setting enables the user to set the aperture and ISO manually, leaving the camera to automatically adjust the shutter speed.

Q: What is the best aperture for food photography?

A: If you need a selective or limited depth of field, you can use a large aperture by setting it to a low f/stop such as f/2.8. For an extensive depth of field, consider using a smaller aperture by setting a high f/stop like f/16.

Q: What is f/stop food photography?

A: The f/stop controls the opening of your lens that lets light into the camera. The f/stop also controls how much of your image will be in focus and how much will be out of focus.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelance-photographers/best-food-photography-camera-settings/

Best food photography jobs online.

If your social media pages are full of foodie snaps, it is worth considering whether you could turn your creativity into a career. Ever since the boom of social media, millions of people began to take an interest in taking quality pictures of food, either for fun or for commercial purposes.

With the popularity of food photography, especially on platforms such as Instagram, this became almost everyone’s dream job. Today, this trend has rapidly changed from an outcast photographic world to a medium that’s as ‘cool’ as other fields such as fashion photography.

This post will take you through all that you need to know regarding finding the best food photography jobs online, what it takes to become one of the best food photographers, and how to succeed in the field.

What does a food photographer do?

A couple of years back, having the precise definition of a food photographer would have been easy. Today, however, you may find many people who have no qualifications in professional photography claiming to be food photographers. Some of them merely work using their smartphones and have even contributed to the birth of a new genre of food photography – food porn.

But how would you describe a professional food photographer?

Food photographers work alongside stylists to create food images that can be used for advertising, menus, blogs, magazines, and other media. If you want to become one, you must be proficient with a digital camera and using all the relevant computer-aided software (CADs).

Creativity is another factor that distinguishes a professional food photographer from the wannabes you see on social media. You must have a knack for instinctual expertise that helps you arrange food in an appealing and appetizing manner.

Food photographers should be able to work extra hard to elicit strong emotions and reactions out of their work to influence their audience to want to try out the food. Although this may sound as simplistic, it is no small task.

You don’t just need to have a working knowledge or a background in understanding different types of foods, but also how to capture them through your lenses. This means that choosing this career path requires strong culinary expertise, mixed with good photography skills.

Although you can get freelance food photography jobs, they are highly competitive, and you need to set yourself apart from the competition by considering some best practices, which we shall cover in this post.

Food photographers may work directly for corporations as part of a team in a food organization where there is a regular need for excellent food shots. Depending on which industry one works in, the images may be used for promotional purposes, advertisements, food packages, etc.

Apart from being involved in taking the shots, food photographers are also directly in charge of the setup. They ensure that all the necessary materials are gathered and that the best-looking food items are used. Lighting in photography is another crucial bit that food photographers must consider, as it helps to highlight the food perfectly. In most cases, artificial light is used to point out tiny little details of the product, unlike when taken in a natural setting.

The end goal of getting into food photography would be to appeal to the audience to buy the food items directly or to have the images used in advertising such as menus, promotional materials, etc.

Getting started with food photography

The internet offers an excellent learning platform for those that wish to get started on food photography. There are many self-taught food bloggers on the internet that you can get ideas on making eye-pleasing food images. In some cases, you might also find different tutorials and tips for getting started as a food photographer.

However, regardless of the depth of information, you may find online from bloggers and Instagram stars, is it enough to get you started on a path to become a professional food photographer?

Much of the information you may find on the internet is intended for beginners and food bloggers. Although it will get you started on food photography as a hobby, it won’t help you land your first food photography jobs. This is because only a few sources, such as this one, will help you to understand the entire journey of what being a professional food photographer entails.

What does it take to become a professional food photographer?

Photography is an art, and just like any other profession in this field, the main requirement is creativity. You may have access to the best photography cameras but lack the creativity needed to bring out the best of an image. Moreover, you’re also required to be detail-oriented and have some experience using digital cameras. Expertise in handling computer-aided software (CADs) is an added advantage and can help you stand out from the rest.

Here are the main steps you need to undertake to become a food photographer:

1. Get the necessary certifications.

While getting a degree is not a mandatory requirement when scouting for jobs in the food photography sector, it may be an added advantage as you’ll get to understand the trade at an advanced level.

Besides getting a degree, you can also take other online courses to further help you comprehend all the nitty-gritty surrounding food photography. Apart from knowing how to handle a camera, you’ll also learn other factors such as lighting, composition, editing, etc.

There are also business courses that you can start learning if you wish to start your career as a professional freelance food photographer. This is because you still have to learn how to manage your business – handling factors such as finances, how to deal with clients, and many more.

2. Take a workshop

Workshops are an alternative route that one can take to learn the basics of food photography without obtaining a degree. Most of them are taught or organized by seasoned photographers who’ll offer you first-hand experience lessons of the trade.

This is some sort of apprenticeship method of learning, as you’ll be able to walk in the footsteps of some of the most experienced freelance photographers. However, you shouldn’t expect to walk into those workshops without having the slightest clue on how photography works. Before enrolling in any of them, take some time to learn photography basics by self-training at home. The basic thing you need to know is to know how to shoot using a digital camera in manual settings.

3. Build a portfolio

All freelance photographers must have a professional portfolio that they can use to show their potential clients when applying for jobs. A food photographer should have both a print and digital copy of their well-curated portfolio, displaying some of their best works.

A portfolio is beneficial as it shows your creative side. Even if you lack the necessary certifications, some clients may be more inclined to offer you the job simply because they love your creativity.

4. Check freelance job boards.

To find food photography jobs, simply go online and scout on freelance job boards. You’ll be surprised at just how many postings you get of people looking for professional food photographers with tons of work to offer.

5. Check at local restaurants and eateries.

What better way to find food photography jobs than from your local eateries? Simply walk to a restaurant or hotel that you like and speak to them regarding your services. You can start by inquiring about who makes their food menus and show them how your services would benefit them.

Bakeries or cake decorators are also an ideal target audience to reach out to. These artists would always love to have a display album of their best works that they can use to show to prospects. You never know if you’ll be picked as the person for the job.

5 crucial elements to a professional food photographer’s career

Food photography isn’t all about knowing how to handle your camera. There are many other crucial factors that are often overlooked, and in most cases, you come to learn about them while on the job. Here are five elements regarding professional food photography that no one really wants to talk about:

1. No specific photography equipment will make you a professional

No specific camera or gear will make you the best food photographer in the world – the secret lies in the person behind the camera. You might be having the most expensive gear, but your skills are wanting. Your images won’t be as good as those who use budget equipment but with great skill.

Forget about the hundreds of review websites that will tell you that camera so and so will help you make the best images, as some of them are often out there to make beginners spend too much on the equipment. To be realistic, some gear will definitely help you create better imagery than others, provided the skillset and expertise remain constant.

2. You need to outline a project ahead of time.

Being a professional means having the entire process figured out, even before you even begin working on it. As a food photographer, you need to plan ahead of time on the type of equipment required for the job, and depending on the food that needs to be captured, you may have to apply some special ‘treatment.’

Some of the factors you ought to consider before stepping into the studio include:

• The story you wish to tell with the photos
  
• The location of the shoot
  
• Set design
  
• The necessary props
  
• The models, if necessary.
  
• Special effects involved (SFX)
  
• Camera and lens specs
  
• Post-production needs
  

3. Having an emotional attachment with the subject

One thing that sets a professional photographer from the rest is having an emotional attachment towards their subject. The same applies to a food photographer. You’re unlikely to become a great food photographer if you do not care and appreciate the process it undergoes from the cooking, preparation, eating, and the beauty the food offers.

4. Professional food photographers have other skills besides photography.

Getting to the top of the food photography food chain means going beyond the creative and technical expertise. A professional needs to incorporate other skills such as the necessary business skills, organizational skills, effective communication, and diligence. Food photographers also don’t work alone. This means you need to have excellent collaborative skills and the ability to work as a team player.

5. Food photography isn’t all about glamor.

Let’s be real, even though food photography produces some really nice results, the process isn’t as glamorous and can be quite physically draining. As opposed to other genres such as fashion photography, food is a stationary object, and it requires constant human intervention to achieve the ideal caption.

A food photographer also doesn’t work alone. They need to collaborate with other professionals such as food stylists, restaurant owners (or managers), marketing teams, etc. You can imagine the pressure you may have to endure if working with demanding clients.

All in all, the driving factor towards becoming a food photographer should be passion. You should love the field first before venturing into it. Getting started with it will be much simpler if you love what you do.

5 types of food photography jobs

By now, you should be aware of all the nitty-gritty that will help you get started with food photography. Still interested in pursuing this field? Here are the five main types of freelance food photography jobs that you can get started with:

1. Commercial food photography

Commercial food photography takes a lot of skill, as you’re not just taking photos of the product, but you’re trying to convince people into buying the product. You have to make the food appear more enticing, so you have to develop a different creative angle from your competitors.

2. Packshots (Product photography)

Ever seen the images added to product packaging, for instance, the case of a juice box? Well, that’s the work of a food photographer. A product photograph is the image of the subject itself, which can be extracted from the background in a post-production setting. Thanks to advanced technologies, these images can be placed on any background or new color background.

This is a technical type of photography and requires extensive photo editing expertise, attention to detail, styling, etc. Due to how transparent their background is, packshots are flexible and can be used for any purpose – from catalogs, webshops, and many more.

3. Advertising

Food photography can also be useful when advertising a product. The photographer has to work side by side with an art director and the client to meet the creative brief. The images can be used on advertising materials such as banners, social media posts, and many more.

4. Editorial

Unlike commercial photography, which aims at promoting the product to customers, editorial food photography is more oriented towards representing a mood. You can use this type of food photography to tell a story.

There are many ways that editorial food photography can come in handy, such as using it as an image to explain a recipe, which can be used in cooking magazines. In essence, these are simply the kinds of images that would make you hungry when scrolling through the web.

5. Lifestyle

Lifestyle images try to tell a story with food being part of the main characters. In most cases, the food is taken alongside another subject, which in most cases is a human. The main goal of such photos is to show the use of the product in a real-life situation. The food photographer’s main job is to ensure that the right message is passed while making it look as natural as possible.

6. Mood

In this type of photography, you’re trying to showcase a still product and try to bring out the mood that it depicts, even in its natural state. Product in mood photography shows the raw version of a product before it is incorporated into a recipe. An example would be to show a tea bag placed next to a cup of steaming tea or water. You could also show marmalade with strawberries placed next to it, to show what it is made of. Such images may be used to promote the product indirectly.

7. Documentary

Did you know that you can shoot documentary-like images of food? This type of photography is used to depict a real-life situation, and it is not staged like a product in a mood image, and no one specific moment is targeted. Such images are used to tell the entire story of a product and can encompass factors such as what the food makes people that consume it feels, how it is prepared, where the key ingredients originate from, etc.

Bottom line

Food photography is now a prevalent subject in the film industry. Regardless of the category you choose, one must have an eye for detail, an understanding of how food behaves under different circumstances, backed with other vital details such as composition, lighting, and more.

Ready to become a food photographer? Don’t wait any longer and start practicing today. You can even start by taking cool snaps of the foods you eat or the ones you get from your local eateries. With enough skill and experience, it’ll be much easier for you to land freelance food photography jobs from different clients and job boards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the recommended background for food photography images?
A: Most food photographs are taken in studios where the photographer controls factors such as lighting, composition, etc. However, you should first understand the aesthetics of the shoot that the client seeks to help you identify the correct style and color choice. Either way, the background that you choose must be cohesive and blend in well with your subject.

Q: Who supplies the food used in food photography?
A: If you’re doing commercial photography, the client will provide the food, and in some cases, all the supporting props or ingredients needed. In other cases, food photographers have to work with a food stylist, who will then come with the necessary styling ingredients.

Q: Who oversees a food photography shoot?
A: The food photographer is the creative talent in a shoot, but they have to report every progress to the client or a representative of the company they’re shooting for. The client needs to provide creative direction and approve the shots before they are taken for post-shoot editing.

When working for a long-distance client, you may have to send it to the client for approval at every stage. This process might take a little longer. Therefore, you may need to factor in the total time taken by the project when submitting your invoice.

Q: Who does post-editing for food photography?
A: If you’re a freelance food photographer, you’ll most likely be the one responsible for the post-production editing. This means you may have to undergo training on using editing tools and other computer-aided software (CADs). In case you work for an ad agency, you may get assistance from other specialists to edit your pictures.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelance-photographers/best-food-photography-jobs-online/

The complete invoicing guide for freelancers

You have set yourself free from the corporate world and joined the freelancing community. It must feel nice being able to control your business – who you work with, what your working hours are, etc. In a nutshell, you are your own boss!

Unlike in the corporate world, where everything is streamlined and done for you, you have to do much of the heavy lifting when you are a freelancer. This not only means that you have to handle the work, but you also have to deal with the finances all by yourself.

To prosper as a freelancer, you ought to gain sufficient income, which you get from the payments for the services you offer. To have a seamless process, it is essential to learn how to create, fill, and send an invoice for your work.

It is no brainer that for any business to succeed, you must get paid. Whether you are working on a long-term project or a short-term gig, you still have to get paid – taking into account various factors such as how big the task is, how long you’ll take to complete it, the nature of the work, among other factors.

Regardless of how much your freelance services are worth, you need to calculate the total amount due and bill your clients. This means that you have to know how to create an invoice template and send it to your clients.

But where should you start? How do you create a professional-looking invoice? How will you send it to your clients?

Get the answers to these and many other questions in our comprehensive guide to creating a freelancer’s invoice.

What is an invoice?

In layman’s terms, an invoice is a document created by a service provider or a seller and sent to the client or buyer. One can send their invoices physically or through electronic means (which has become a more popular method of sending invoices with many freelancers).

Invoices are essential not only for freelancers but also for their clients. They can keep track of all their dealings, making them plan better for future projects and allocate the necessary budget.

From a freelancer’s perspective, an invoice is important as it helps them keep track of all their supplied goods or services. This comes in handy when you need to create a list of your previous projects when making your professional portfolio. Moreover, it also helps keep tabs on your work – understanding which work belongs to which client.

What’s the difference between an invoice and a bill?

After going through our post above, it is clear that many of you will be wondering what the difference between an invoice and a bill is. Well, the two terms are often interchanged and misused – but there is a huge difference.

As mentioned earlier, an invoice is a payment request that includes more information and not just the services offered/ goods sold. It consists of essential data that must be reviewed, approved, and thereafter paid to the freelancer. Apart from having the details of all the work done, invoices also include the freelancer’s name (or business name if applicable), their registered address, payment conditions, a unique invoice number, and other details such as tax compliance.

On the other hand, a bill is simply a list of services or goods offered with the total price indicated alongside the list. You don’t have to include all the details such as tax compliance, official freelancer or business name, current address, etc.

How does an invoice work?

An invoice is defined as a financial document issued by a seller to a buyer (client) for the services rendered. The key purpose of an invoice is to seal the deal of the exchange with monetary remuneration. In this case, an invoice is used as an itemized bill for the amount due. All the goods or services are listed separately alongside their price and all the other information included in an invoice. More on this later.

Freelancers must know how to create their invoice templates to use at all times, in case the freelance service isn’t settled upfront by the buyer. Sending an invoice is a professional way of requesting payment for services offered, instead of the ‘informal’ methods of sending the clients messages and calls.

This information begs the question, ‘What would a freelancer do without invoices?’ Absolutely nothing. Creating and sending out invoices is a special and crucial skill that freelancers can use. Failure to receive the correct payable amount for the services rendered would become a significant problem to freelancers, besides killing their morale.

The key to solving all these issues is to have a good invoice template to use whenever the need arises. So how does one go about writing a professional invoice?

How to create a freelance invoicing template?

There are many perks associated with sticking to the right invoicing method. For starters, it shows that you conduct legally accepted business activities and that you wish to create a transparent relationship with your clients.

Furthermore, this also ensures that you receive the correct payments and that no mistakes are made when making the payments – either by not getting the accurate figures or the correct details. But why is it important to have an excellent invoicing template ready? Well, the answer is pretty straightforward – an invoice that’s half-done or with mistakes has a huge impact on your finances and professional credibility.

While some freelancers prefer to write their own customized invoices from scratch, others prefer to take upon already made templates using some of the best invoicing software. 

Whichever direction you decide to take, a step by step analysis of the most important elements of writing an invoice for freelancers is crucial. Getting this right has never been made any simpler; all you need to create the ideal invoice is to ensure that it contains all the vital parts and the correct information.

Keep reading to understand what exactly is required to be included in a professional freelancer’s invoice and how you can create one by yourself.

Sections of an invoice

For you to create a professional invoice, you need to include a number of sections. So what makes up a good freelancer invoice template?

1. The header

The first thing that a client will see before going through your invoice is the header. They probably receive many invoices and might not have the time to go through all of them. But if you want yours to be given a higher priority, you ought to let them know who the invoice came from, just at a single glance.

Your unique branding should always stand out from the rest. An easy way to go about this is by having your name (or business name) as the header. This way, the client will immediately know who the invoice is from.

The other (and recommended) method you can use to create an eye-catching header is to include your logo. It can be a personal logo, company branding, or simply stylized initials of your name.

If you’re running a business without a logo, you should note that it is a major branding blooper. There are many experienced freelance graphic designers that can help you to come up with unique branding for your freelance business.

2. Unique invoice numbers

If there’s one universal rule to having invoices is that they should all have unique numbers. This helps you keep track of all your dealings and be better positioned to trace your finances. Furthermore, if you’re dealing with a single client, it is important as it also helps to know how many transactions you’ve had in total.

It is also recommended to keep things simple. This means, if it is your first time dealing with a particular client, you can number your invoice as 1. Other users find unique ways to number their invoices, sometimes considering the year or month the invoice was sent. For instance, if you’re sending out your first invoice of 2021, you can number it as 21001. The second one will be 21002, 21003, and so forth.

3. Your contact details

Another important detail to include in your invoice is your contact address. Your clients need to know how to contact you should they wish to discuss the invoice further. Your contact details should be in a visible location, whichever part you want to add them to. Be sure to include your email address, phone number, and any other contact information you wish to add.

4. Your client’s contact details

Apart from displaying your personal contact details, you can also note down your client’s contact details. This will also show that the invoice was indeed directed at them, and it was not a result of some mixup. If the invoice is directed to a specific department or individual within the company, you can still add their names as the recipient. It is not uncommon for invoices to get lost, so you have to ensure that it reaches the right hands.

5. Clarify the terms and conditions

Although much of this would have been handled in the contract, it is still a good idea to include it in the invoice. What forms of payment will you accept? Will you accept partial payments? This part of the invoice should act as a reminder, and it shouldn’t be the first time you are discussing it with the client.

For instance, if you had agreed on a particular amount for the job but not the payment method, it might strike the client as a surprise when you indicate that you prefer to be paid via PayPal, yet they only payout through bank transfers. Always be sure to agree on the terms and conditions before you sign up for the job and start creating invoices for your freelancing business.

6. A detailed list of services provided

Have an itemized list of services that you offered. Write the service or product and the price alongside your agreed-upon rates. If need be, you can also have a product or service description to shed more light on the item you’re invoicing for.

7. Date prepared

Another often overlooked yet crucial part of an invoice is including the date it was prepared and sent. This will come in handy when the client takes too long to respond to you or clear your invoice. In some cases, the clients might also claim not to have seen your invoice, and you can simply show them the date that it was prepared and sent.

8. Due date

Before you sign your contract, you should go over a couple of things with your employer, including how long they should take before they pay you for your services. You should add the expected date of payment for the invoice, or you can also indicate it as ‘due upon receipt.’

This means that the invoice ought to be cleared as soon as it has been received. If the client fails to pay in time, you can refer to the due date and even to the date the invoice was prepared if necessary.

9. Total due

Of course, your main agenda at the end of it all is to get all your money paid for. After listing all the services that you offered, you should sum them all up and indicate the total amount due. Ensure to place it right below your itemized list of services or products. Moreover, you should also strive to have a well conspicuous ‘Total Amount Due’ subsection to indicate the total payable amount.

This is because some clients won’t have the time to add the total of all the services you offered – while others won’t even have the time to go line by line checking how much each service costs. Most of them will only skim through your invoice, looking for the total, and clear it.

10. Thank you note

Maintaining good client relations isn’t hard – it is as simple as having a thank you note at the end of your invoice. A simple ‘Thank you’ message shows your gratitude, and it also fosters a good working relationship with your clients. Furthermore, it also encourages future cooperation by setting up a good foundation for social interactions. You can keep it as simple as ‘Thank you for your business. It is my pleasure to work with you.’

As a freelancer, having repeat clients is one of the best ways to succeed in the trade. You can still use this chance to convert this one time client to become a repeat client. You can offer them incentives, such as the one shown below:

Regardless of the words, you decide to use; you can always show your own style and look for different ways to make your clients feel special.

Quick tips to using invoices and get paid faster

While the tips above will help you create better invoices, here are a few that will navigate you to the proper usage of invoices to ensure that you get paid faster:

Allow for several payment methods.

Having various methods of payment gives your clients a lot of flexibility. Furthermore, having a payment method that is preferable to them can get you repeat businesses, unlike someone without their preferred method. For instance, as a freelancer, you should strive to allow for mediums such as bank transfers, credit card payments, online payment channels such as Payoneer and PayPal, etc.

Communicate terms upfront

To avoid any complications and surprises later on after the job’s done, always communicate your terms and conditions before you even sign the contract. This entails what modes of payment you’re more comfortable with, how soon after the job has been completed you should get paid, and many other important factors. Once this has been settled, it will be a lot easier to release your payment when due.

Keep the lines of communication open.

If you keep an open line of communication with the clients, it will be much easier for you to get paid much faster when the time comes. If you are in regular contact with the buyer, you will keep updating them of every move till the end. The lines of communication remain open, and the client will see your invoice much faster – meaning it gets cleared as soon as possible.

Have an independent contractor agreement

Although many freelancers often ignore this point, having an independent contractor agreement signed by both you and the customer is crucial for your freelance business’s survival. The contract that you design beforehand covers various aspects such as the scope of the services, the terms of the work, the expected compensation, rules determining the termination of the contract, payment terms, and details, among other important considerations.

Send reminders for late payments.

It is no brainer that invoices get lost amidst the hundreds of emails some clients receive in a day. Furthermore, they might have seen it and probably forgot to clear it. Do not worry if your invoice hasn’t been paid after you sent it. Give it time – how long depends on your job’s nature, and contact the person responsible for clearing it with a reminder. This way, you can expedite the release of funds to your account.

When should you send an invoice?

Before you sign the contract, you should also iron out how often you need to be paid? For a recurring project, you should plan to bill either at the end of every month, biweekly, or if you’ll get paid every Friday. For one-off assignments, the invoice is to be sent once the work is completed and approved.

When you should invoice is totally up to you and your client and the nature of the job. However, ensure to get this out of the way before you begin working on any projects.

The growth in popularity for electronic invoices

Each passing year, the number of e-bills and e-invoices grows exponentially by 10% to 20%. It is predicted to hit the 30 billion mark within the year. Unlike paper invoices, electronic invoices are a lot easier to create and send, and receiving payments is often instantaneous. Using online payment platforms such as PayPal or Payoneer enables one to create an invoice within the site and send it to the recipient, who can, in turn, pay for it at the click of a button. Some of these providers, such as PayPal, keep track of all your invoices and which clients you send them to. This enables it to create relevant invoice numbers automatically.

Apart from these online payment platforms, you can also take a look at some of the best online invoicing platforms. Let’s take a sneak peek into some of them:

Google Docs

If you never thought you could create a professional invoice using a free tool such as Google Docs, then you are wrong. Unlike Microsoft Word, Google Docs is entirely free to use, and what’s more, it has numerous templates that you can use, including invoicing.

You can download your invoice as pdf and send it to your clients. Although this might look old-fashioned, it gets the work done.

Invoice to.me

This is yet another free invoicing tool that you can use for all your invoicing needs. You simply need to go to the website and get straight into the editing mode. Even though the tool isn’t so much customizable, at least you get a professional invoice created freely without having a watermark placed on your document.

Zoho invoice

For those that have been interacting with business tools for quite a while, you must have heard about Zoho software developers. This tool is easily customizable to fit your needs, and you can create your invoice and download it as a pdf to send to your clients. The free version is pretty impressive if you’re only looking for the basic features. The paid versions have better features and what’s more, is that you will not get the watermark branded on your invoices.

Hiveage

If you’re searching for the best feature-rich invoicing system, then hiveage is the answer for you. The tool allows you to design beautiful invoices while adding some cool graphics – with various templates to choose from. Furthermore, the tool also enables you to create estimates that you can share with your clients for approval before working on the project.

Hiveage also allows you to attach a payment gateway such as PayPal to your invoices to enable your clients to pay you directly on the invoice itself. If you’re not on a very tight budget and wish to come out as a professional to your freelance clients, an investment in hiveage would be a great idea.

Invoice Ninja

Just like Hiveage, Invoice Ninja also enables you to create professional-looking invoices with the ability to integrate up to 45 different payment methods. There is also an auto-billing feature, which can come in handy for recurring clients. You can also decide whether you want the bill to be paid partially or in full by your client.

Creating an invoice for your freelancing business

Now you know what it takes to create a professional invoice for freelancers. Ensure that you follow a few basic rules, such as understanding all the important sections and other factors you need to consider. Creating an invoice is pretty simple, but investing in invoicing software is the road to take if you want to get more features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What must you include in an invoice?
A: The main sections to include in an invoice are your name (and logo, if any), your address, the client’s name and address, an itemized list of all the services provided, the applicable rates and quantity, and the total amount due.

Q: Is PayPal a good invoicing tool?
A: PayPal has its own integrated invoicing tool, which you can use free of charge. It works pretty well, but if you’re looking for a more advanced system, you can scout for tools such as Invoice Ninja or Hiveage.

Q: How long should I wait to send in a reminder for an unpaid invoice?
A: It is recommended to keep an open line of communication with clients to avoid late invoice payments. However, it would be permissible to send in invoice reminders at least seven days after it was first sent.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelancers/the-complete-invoicing-guide-for-freelancers/

What are the 5 best types of freelance editing jobs?

What are the 5 best types of freelance editing jobs?

Here are the five best freelance editing jobs you can look for:

1.Proofreaders

2. Copy editors

3. Developmental editors

4. Manuscript evaluation

5. Line editors

If you are an avid fan of a particular sport – say football, you’ll most often notice simple mistakes as the players move around the pitch. However, when you try to play yourself, you’re most likely to make such mistakes too. The thing is, as humans, we are easily prone to making simple mistakes, which we may not even realize until someone else points them out. This notion gave birth to having editing jobs, which are now considered a full-time career, unlike years ago, when it was a sub-section of the primary role.

When writing your own content, such as an article for your blog, you may be too tired to notice the many minor mistakes in your writing. At times, you may decide to rely on some of the best spell-check tools used by freelance content writers, but these too aren’t always completely accurate. The best option would be to have your friends or colleagues go through your document for you and pick out some of the errors you missed earlier.

While this type of editing would come in handy, it isn’t the only route you would take should you decide to become a professional editor. There are many other editing jobs out there that you could either do full-time or become a freelancer.

What exactly do editors do?

Whenever you mention to people that you are an editor, most of them will picture you as someone who scrutinizes a paper or writing, using their red-inked pen. Well, while some editors take the traditional approach, others employ some quite advanced methods. However, regardless of the technique used, editors are generally people who fix, tweak, and enhance the content others create to make it more exciting and up to the standards required.

The advice and invaluable corrections made by these professionals to your content can turn a boring piece to a flourish. You can now find editors in various settings, basically anywhere content creation is the norm. For instance, you can find them at newspaper or magazine publishing companies, digital marketing agencies, or online through freelancing platforms.

Things have rapidly changed regarding the requirements for one to succeed in this field, as a degree in journalism is no longer a requirement. All that one needs is to garner the relevant experience and become an expert skilled in the correct grammar, not only based on the spoken version but also the spelling and the flow of the story.

When it comes to content writing, having an editor is as important as the actual pixel to screen process. This is because they have the expertise to turn whatever incoherent jumble of words that are there into credible and understandable prose. The type of work you may have to do as an editor is dependent on the scope of the project. However, any company, agency, or individual who wants to write professional copy will require an editor’s services.

What are the different types of editors?

Selecting the right type of editor or the correct career path to follow is not as daunting as it appears. All you need is to pick a niche you’re more comfortable with and the services you can best offer to people. Here are the five most popular freelance editing jobs that you can take up in 2021:

1. Proofreaders

There are many types of editing jobs that one can take up. However, proofreading is probably the most common of them all. Proofreading is referred to by some people as the final stage that a piece takes before publishing. In some way, the content goes through other forms of editing before it is proofread and then posted or shared with the consumers.

Proofreaders usually fix the content by highlighting the mistakes in grammar and punctuation. The direction of the story or the flow of the piece is usually not the proofreader’s concerns as they don’t mainly focus on the ‘relevance’ bit but the ‘readability’ aspect. At times, proofreaders may offer feedback regarding the quality of content and other avenues to develop the piece.

If you’re looking for the most straightforward freelance editing job online, then setting your authority as a proofreader would land you more gigs much faster. Almost every person concerned about the punctuation of their work, the spelling, grammar mistakes, etc., will look for a professional proofreader. It doesn’t matter which type of content it is, as a proofreader will edit any piece, from articles to resumes.

2. Copy editors

Just like proofreaders, copy editors will go through your articles or content and highlight (or edit out) grammar errors, punctuation mistakes, and issues in spelling. Copy editors, however, go beyond just that.

They also ensure that your content has the relevance it needs – from portraying the correct image, passing the right message, having a good flow, etc. Copy editors come in handy to website owners or those who wish to send out marketing copy and need it to pass the right message depending on their target audience.

3. Developmental editors

Just as the name suggests, developmental editors are key in the entire development of the content, from the inception to the deployment phase. These editors will collaborate with the content writers to create the articles’ overall structure, including how it is to be planned, organized, etc.

There are also other considerations such as the tone of voice, character development, flow of the story, and many others. In a nutshell, developmental editors are concerned about the general and overall overview of the content instead of only focusing on specific matters such as grammatical errors.

4. Manuscript evaluation

If you want to get a professional’s thought on your work before you publish it, you should get manuscript evaluation services from a seasoned freelance editor. These professionals will go through your work and offer feedback based on their findings. These findings will provide you with ideas on the next steps to undertake.

If the feedback from the manuscript evaluation sounds good, then you may only need to take your document through a proofreader who’ll, thereafter, highlight the various required changes in terms of grammar and flow.  If your project’s general evaluation requires more work, you should receive a report guiding you on the next steps to undertake to ensure that your piece is in a publishable state.

5. Line editors

Think of a line editor as one that reviews content line by line, without just scanning the entire document at once. Also referred to as substantive editors, line editors go beyond the work done by copy editors to address clarity and style. Apart from just pointing out the issues within a document, line editors will also perform moderate re-phrasing up to re-writing entire paragraphs to make the piece readable and in line with all the set rules.

Substantive editors will consider factors such as pacing, run-on sentences, the use of fluff within the work, cliches, etc. Even though line editors aren’t so concerned with punctuations and the correct use of grammar, many of them can’t help but correct whatever they deem necessary.

However, you should note that after passing your work through a line editor, you may also need to get a copy editor to go through your work. Sounds like a daunting task, right? Well, many clients will have done some soul-searching, questioning whether they need only to run their work through peers or get the advice of a professional editor. This is why it is essential to understand what each type of editor does so that you may not miss out on such opportunities, as clients will always go for someone who has a working knowledge of all fields.

While these five types of editing jobs are the most popular, most people often don’t understand its career progression. Even if you’re working as a freelancer, you will still have hopes of career progression wherever you get employed. To understand better what awaits you, we have compiled a list of the main categories of work as an editor to get you started.

Here is a summary of editorial jobs at a typical online publication or magazine company:

Editor-in-chief or editor

The editor-in-chief is responsible for the entire editorial content of the company. Just like the CEO would, the editor-in-chief is the ‘boss’ for the editorial team and would delegate tasks and responsibilities to other team players. If you are a freelance content writer, the article ideas and pitches are usually passed to the editor-in-chief, who then decides whether they will approve or disapprove it.

Managing editor

The managing editor is like the COO (chief operations officer). They are tasked with running the company’s day-to-day activities and would report directly to the chief editor. Managing editors are the direct supervisors of other departmental staff such as content writers and other junior editors. Managing editors can also write and edit special projects and work on feature articles.

Support staff

Depending on how large the company is, you can also have other editors within the same department. Some can take up titles such as senior, associate, assistant, and specialty editors. This category of editors sometimes doubles up as staff content writers and would create the relevant content as tasked by their managers.

Getting started as a freelance editor

Are you looking to work at a magazine or as a freelance editor? Do not get overwhelmed by the thousands of ‘know it all’ websites online that can discourage you from achieving your dream. You do not have to obtain a degree or higher education to become an editor, so this shouldn’t hold you back.

All you need is a knack for grammar and excellent language and communication skills. Relevant certifications will be a plus if you decide to pursue this career path with the intention of getting to top management at some point.

The first step to take would be to look for an internship position, preferably a paid editorial or writing gig. You’ll stand to gain lots of experience and tips to help you understand the trade’s secrets. Secondly, ensure to keep tabs on some of the best platforms to get freelance editorial jobs where you get well compensated for your services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many types of content editors are there?
A: There are many types of content editor jobs that one can take up. Some of the most popular ones include proofreaders, copy editors, line editors, developmental editors, and line editors.

Q: Can you do editing jobs as a freelancer?
A: Yes. With increased internet usage, people have developed a remote working culture. This means you can work as an editor from whichever part of the world at the comfort of your one home.

Q: What are the requirements for one to become an editor?
A: Unlike a couple of years back, one doesn’t need to have a degree in journalism or its equivalent to become an editor. All you need is basic education certificates and a good knack for grammar and excellent communication skills. However, certifications in the same field would be an added advantage.

from Bawabba Blog https://blog.bawabba.com/freelance-content-writer/5-best-types-of-freelance-editing-jobs/