• Instructors

    Isaac Johnston
  • Skill Level

    Level 2

    Your friends think you are good at taking photos and you want to take the leap to doing freelance.

  • What You Get

    2.5 hours of learning

    + 19 segments

    + Downloadable lesson PDF

    + Exclusive knowledge

  • Learn To

    Become a freelance photographer

    + How to solve for the problems that “prevent” photographers from going freelance

    + Developing an audience outside of social media

    + Gear – what matters and what doesn’t to get started

    + Shaping stories through photo and video

    + How to build a creative community

What You'll Learn

Isaac Johnston teaches how to remove the barriers to working as a full-time creator. If you have been waiting for the right moment to start, this course provides the steps to go from your day job to your dream career.

Meet Isaac Johnston

1/19 (3:54)

Meet Isaac: a full-time freelance photographer who specializes in adventure photography. He quit his job a couple years ago to pursue his dream, and hasn't looked back since.

Problems Becoming A Fulltime Freelancer

2/19 (2:45)

It's important to know some of the problems you'll face as a fulltime freelancer: income, scheduling, self-doubt. Isaac covers some of the problems he faced to give you a realistic expectation of what you can expect.

The Tools I Use To Create

3/19 (21:29)

Choosing gear that you can use forever. Which drone to buy? Which lens to use? Isaac looks for the gear that gets our of his way so he can focus on one thing: creating.

How To Know If Your Hobby Should Be Your Profession

4/19 (5:10)

It's important to think about whether or not your hobby should become your profession, and if you have reached that point. Isaac lays out a couple steps to help you decide if you are ready to become a full-time freelancer.

Showing Your Work Daily

5/19 (2:55)

Showing your work daily is an immensely helpful routine in the creative process. It helps craft your own story, improve your craft, and strengthens your sharing muscle.

Getting Support

6/19 (3:05)

Becoming a full-time freelancer is not an easy process. So it's imperative that you build a network of support around you: family, friends, loved ones. Isaac shares how the people surrounding him made it possible for him to make the jump to freelance.

Handling Fear of Failure

7/19 (3:08)

The fear of failure is very real, but also something you can avoid. Mindset is incredibly important as you make this journey, and Isaac lays out steps to help you keep a positive mindset as you achieve your dreams.

Creating Your Own Unique Value

8/19 (8:39)

Every creator has something unique to bring to the table. When approaching brands or clients, you need to know what your unique value is so you can harness it and win the job.

My Work Flow

9/19 (19:24)

Backing up, organizing files, getting ready to edit. It's a boring part of the photography process but it's crucial to master if you want to become a professional.

How I Approach A Brand

10/19 (7:10)

To pursue a freelance career you’ll need to be able to get work. Isaac shares his approach to finding new clients and getting brands to work with him.

How To Build A Proposal

11/19 (8:46)

Once you've been talking with a brand, it's time to send them your proposal. A good proposal can make you stand out and secure the job. Isaac shows you a real-world example of a proposal he uses.

3 Strategies on Increasing Exposure

12/19 (5:01)

You don't need to have a huge social following to increase your exposure. Treat social media like its social. This is where a friendly approach meets strategic planning. Isaac shares his tips on giving your work more exposure in ways outside of follower counts.

How To Meet Artists You Love

13/19 (6:19)

Meeting other creatives is one of the best parts of the job for Isaac. He shares his philosophy about reaching out to other creatives on the internet in non-creepy ways.

How To Find Ideas

14/19 (7:54)

Creative blocks can be very real. But Isaac has created a tried-and-true method to coming up with ideas for photo shoots.

My Techniques To Shoot Photos

15/19 (5:44)

Join Isaac in the field as he shoots a spec job for motorcycle gloves.

My Strategies To Make Better Stories

16/19 (8:48)

Story is king. In this day and age it's ever so important to be able to tell a story well. Isaac shares his tips on how to make better stories. Hint: do more interesting things!

Writing Videos for the Internet

17/19 (7:56)

Crafting a video to tell a story is no easy feat. Isaac shares some of the things he learned along the way learning how to make YouTube videos.

How To Be Comfortable In Front Of The Camera

18/19 (6:08)

Being comfortable on-camera is an invaluable skill in today's culture. Isaac shows you some of his tips to acting comfortable and natural on camera, and how he makes his Instagram stories look so professional.

Final Thoughts & A Note On Obsession

19/19 (1:54)

Isaac recaps his final notes from the workshop and shares a few tidbits on obsession.

Isaac Johnston

Hey, I'm Isaac! I grew up on a farm in Montana and from a young age worked as a stock hand and guide in the Great Bear Wilderness.
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