Mural Artist
Description:
I would meet with clients and design and execute murals in their homes or businesses. I got my clients through marketing. I put an ad in the newspaper for murals, and I also put fliers up in public places and art centers. After I would meet with clients I went to the public library and researched art books and photographs to get ideas for their mural. Some clients were very specific and others didn’t care as much, but just had a general idea. Sometimes I would even sit at parks and nature to get ideas. With these ideas I made several sketches and designs. Then I would bring all the designs to the client and let them choose which one they wanted. In the first meeting I would ask their budget and make plans accordingly. I made a range for cost that was a five foot by five foot area with medium details would be $100-$300. Anything more or less would be negotiated.
How I got the idea / found the employment:
I always loved art and already had the talent and had taken art lessons. I started out showing my art at shows and galleries, and then began selling some of my art. After people saw it and my name got out into the public people asked me to paint murals and so I focused on just murals and started advertising for it.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
One of the hardest things was to find a price. I had to paint a couple for free to see how long it took me and to get a good estimate of the cost of materials and competitive price. Another difficulty was time management. I had to find a time to work and go to school. Sometimes I had to give up weekends and I was forced to learn to schedule better. I also had to readjust deadlines. Another advisement is that you should try to have a friend or assistant so that you aren’t going into houses by yourself.
What I learned:
The biggest thing I learned was confidence in my skills and in me. I wasn’t afraid to try new things and actually follow through with them. I learned many skills to start businesses that I used all my life in other businesses. I also felt the feeling of accomplishment, which was also helpful.
Photo Editing and Portraits
Description:
I am very interested in photography and spend a lot of my free time taking and manipulating pictures. In high school I learned about and became very proficient in the program Photoshop. The opportunities I had to use this program were endless! Family members and teachers that saw my pictures recommended me to friends and other family members and soon I was doing family portraits, taking and editing graduation and baby pictures, and restoring old photographs. I was able to earn both money and other things that high school students appreciate, such as a TV, from clients in exchange for doing what I love. This opened a career opportunity as I developed a clientele and improved my photography skills. I took classes and entered contests for exposure and practice. These steps helped me to realize a potential career that I would not have otherwise discovered.
How I got the idea / found the employment:
I started becoming involved in photography by taking a class in high school just for fun. I had a wonderful teacher who helped me discover a talent that I did not know I had. I took more photography classes and soon found a love for digital manipulation and still photography. I did not, however, experiment with more practical skills such as simple editing or portraits until about three years later. Throughout my high school career, I learned how to use a camera and combine images that were aesthetically pleasing into one picture. This helped me to be able to apply my knowledge to the more profitable field of personal portraits. A family that I knew needed pictures for their son’s Eagle Scout award and did not want to pay for a professional photographer. Because they were family friends and because I wanted the experience, I volunteered to do it for free. The pictures turned out really well and the family framed them and put them up in their house and had them displayed that the awards ceremony. Other people saw the pictures and wanted to know who took them. I began to do photographs for other families and friends until I eventually have enough credibility to charge money and make a profit.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
I did not respect photography as an actual career, but rather a hobby. It was not until I actually discovered a real application that I grew to appreciate the talent I have and opportunities I can gain from it. I had to learn to channel my interest suit a clients needs rather than my own artistic experimentations. Actually getting paid to do this certainly helped me overcome this challenge quite easily, but I am still tempted to over-manipulate pictures and make them more like art rather than the memory the client wishes to have.
What I learned:
Throughout this experience, I learned how to not only become a better photographer, but also to develop personal relationships with people and build a clientele. This helps me in other business applications because I am better at working with people and discovering what other people want from me that I can provide for a profit. I had to combine both my ability to take a good picture with people skills to be able to be as efficient as possible.
Photographer
Description:
Take senior pictures for my peers in my graduating class, as well as family friends. Includes a 30 min – 1hr session, advanced photo-editing, and free copies of all the digital negatives.
How I got the idea / found the employment:
In high school, every senior needs senior pictures. Because I was also in this same position, I had the opportunity to connect with those at my school and offer to take their pictures for them, at a reduced cost that you cannot find among established photographers. I knew the kind of pictures they wanted because I was a senior too and had similar interests. I also purchased photo-editing software which soon paid for itself. Eventually I am hoping to branch out to engagement, wedding, and family photo-sessions.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
Most parents trusted a more established photographer than someone the same age as their child. Once I built up my clientele, I was able to show them my sophisticated and in-depth portfolio.
What I learned:
Business is most successful when you stick to a basic concept or idea and build on it as you have the resources, time, and demand.