Why I Use Fiverr.

Getting to know yourself as a creative is important in many ways. One thing I came to discover about myself was that I could never feel safe being a full time "working artist". Full transparency, a lot of that comes from the fact that in my freshman year of college, I was daignosed with epilepsy after having multiple seizures. Having affordable insurance and taking medication for the rest of my life is something I had to reconcile with being an artist. This meant having a full time job with benefits and group insurance. Navigating that which felt like a cage at the time while still following my dream of existing in the arts or art adjacent world was still important, even if I couldn't live the adventure of a full time artist. (Cue morose but hopeful song Comptine D' un Autre Ete from the movie Amelie.)

Online freelance opportunities were limited in the early 2000s but grew around 2010. I've enjoyed Fiverr because it keeps my photo editing skills sharp while maintaining a balance between commercial editing work and personal creative projects. That's especially important because Adobe products are always changing, especially with the addition of AI to everything.

During my summer "downtime", I can offer photo editing services (or any creative/business services I choose) for whatever fee I choose on Fiverr. It's a much more relaxed indeavor than booking a photoshoot with editing. One of the great things about using Fiverr is that I don't feel pressured to take on a lot of projects (or any)—I can choose to work on tasks that interest me and fit well with my schedule. Whether I'm focusing on photography or exploring other artistic passions, it's not something I have to give much attention to, unless I really want to. It's a great place for students to start as well!

You can check out my Fiverr page here.