Why You Should NEVER Call Yourself a "Freelancer"

Hey,

A really short but to the point article here:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/freelancer-f-buddy-business-world-terri-trespicio

That's just the opposite of what I've always considered a freelancer to be. I'd consider them as hired guns so to speak, experts in their field who answer to no one but themselves and the job at hand, a troubleshooter who will come in for a premium and get the job done when none of your other employees can do so.

Is the author saying you should not be a freelancer - or is she saying it's okay to be a freelancer, but you should call yourself something else because freelancer has negative connotations? If the latter, what should you call yourself? The only suggestion I see is 'business owner'. I guess the answer is to call yourself whatever the prospective client is looking for, but leave out the 'freelance' part.

The other article linked on that page gets more directly to the point, saying you should call yourself a consultant. 'Yes sir, I am a consultant photographer.' <pause ... blank stare from prospective client>

When I see either term I do wonder how competent and successful that person is at whatever skill he/she is offering, and how many other unrelated things a freelancer/consultant/whatchamacallit must do to earn a living.

sybersitizen wrote: Is the author saying you should not be a freelancer - or is she saying it's okay to be a freelancer, but you should call yourself something else because freelancer has negative connotations? If the latter, what should you call yourself? The only suggestion I see is 'business owner'. I guess the answer is to call yourself whatever the prospective client is looking for, but leave out the 'freelance' part. The other article linked on that page gets more directly to the point, saying you should call yourself a consultant. 'Yes sir, I am a consultant photographer.' <pause ... blank stare from prospective client> When I see either term I do wonder how competent and successful that person is at whatever skill he/she is offering, and how many other unrelated things a freelancer/consultant/whatchamacallit must do to earn a living.

I like this little server vs chef analogy below.

It seems to be a simple "no" to being called a freelancer due to the negative association.

What do you actually call yourself? Well in line with the chef, I think is what she's getting with. That could be consultant, but that might not apply or be relevant for everyone. I think the key here is the message you're sending with the language you're using - in everything you do.

I admit it seems less prevalent in photography than in writing. But if you make yourself the chef - the expert who can't be replaced, then you just find the right language of introducing yourself to your own audience.

I want you to think like a chef. Servers, after all, are utterly replaceable. A chef, however, is the one creating the food, the experience, everything. She's the mastermind. It's her expertise that determines what's on offer to begin with. The waitress says, "What can I get you?" while the chef says, "You're going to love this." A chef has a sense of what her client needs, and creates something valuable, unique, and utterly her own. I can find a waitress anywhere. But a chef—that's worth seeking out and sticking with—and, by the way, paying for.

That's an American term isn't it? I've never heard it in a business context in the UK. Contractor is the British equivilent (which means something else in the US).

5thElefant wrote: That's an American term isn't it? I've never heard it in a business context in the UK. Contractor is the British equivilent (which means something else in the US).

It's commonly used in any writing capacity in the UK. I don't hear it too often but it is used by some start-up photographers too, usually in the commercial area.

The brand got a little life round these parts... for a little while.