Looking to boost your career as an illustrator? Networking is essential but there are other important tips to progress in this field!
You can meet potential clients and develop referrals by networking with your friends and family. There are several networking events you can attend, such as conferences and business events. These connections are invaluable. If you are new to the profession, consider networking to build your portfolio and client base. Here are a few other tips to jumpstart your career:
Try Remote Work
When applying for freelance illustration jobs, make sure to include your professional summary. This summary is an excellent opportunity to highlight your skills, experience, and accomplishments. If possible, work from home. This option allows you to be more flexible. Also, it can boost your career as an illustrator. If you do not live near a big city, you can work from a remote location and still be able to have a good quality life.
You can find freelance illustration jobs in a variety of industries. You can design video game sets, create movie storyboards, and even illustrate medical textbooks. No matter what industry you’re in, there are illustration jobs in remote locations that fit your skills and interests. You don’t need a college degree to work as an illustrator, but it can help you advance faster. If you love to travel, working from home can help you save money on airfare and accommodation.
Developing a Client Base
As a freelance illustrator, securing freelance jobs is not as easy as obtaining one. It requires networking and building your profile to get work. Upwork is a great place to put your portfolio and showcase your work. You should consider building a professional image, as this will increase the likelihood of repeat business. You should try to be as courteous as possible when communicating with clients. Being friendly will also boost your chances of getting more work in the future.
When developing a client base, you should evaluate your skills and strengths. Then, narrow down your focus to those areas where you excel. This will help you develop a portfolio that highlights your talents and strengths. Companies want illustrators that create works that match their specific needs, so targeting them will give you a leg up on the competition. Upwork can simplify the process, allowing you to sort by industry or size of job.
Take risk: Developing a Personal Style
The key to developing your personal style as an illustrator is taking a risk. You can take risks in your illustrations by pushing the boundaries of convention and doing things differently. You can also take risks by pushing your own ideas and taking them to the next level. In other words, be bold and audacious! Once you develop your personal style, your work will become more unique and more marketable. Developing a personal style is one of the most important aspects of any career in illustration.
The key to developing a personal style as an illustrator is to take a look at your previous illustrations. Identify the objects, symbols, and graphics that appear in your doodles or sketches more often than not. By taking the time to observe your past work, you can incorporate these unconscious tendencies into your own work. These tendencies are not necessarily consciously deliberate, but they are nonetheless signature moves that define you as an illustrator.
Asking for Referrals
When it comes to getting paid projects as an illustrator, asking for referrals is an invaluable skill. While many freelance illustrators may get a few gigs based on their previous relationships and client support, there are several ways to get new work and build your portfolio. Here are some tips:
If you’re not familiar with the type of clients you’re targeting, offer to send a resume or other needed information. You might even offer a portfolio of your past work. Be sure to offer the referral text as well. This makes the job easier for the referrer, and it’s easier to edit than trying to write it on the spot. The easier it is for them to give you a referral, the more likely it will be that you’ll get the job.