The part nobody posts about
Here's something I don't see many creators say out loud: freelance life can be really lonely.
From the outside it looks like freedom. You set your own hours, pick your own projects, and work with people you love. And honestly, a lot of that is true. But there's another side that rarely makes it onto the feed.
There are the quiet mornings at the desk with no team to check in with. The editing sessions that run past midnight with nobody to ask, "Does this look right to you?" The wins you celebrate alone, and the slow weeks you carry alone too. I've had days where I show up to a shoot full of energy, give everything I have to my clients, and then come home to a silence that feels heavier than it should.
Why it hits us so hard
I spent most of my career on teams. In New York I worked inside agencies and corporations, and I co-owned a dance studio for eight years. There was always someone around to bounce ideas off, share a coffee with, or vent to after a long day.
When you go out on your own, that built-in community disappears overnight. You become the photographer, the editor, the marketer, the accountant, and the cheerleader all at once. And because so much of our work is personal, it's easy to tie our worth to every booking, every post, and every client reply.
Add the pressure of always looking like you have it together online, and the weight builds up quietly. Behind the smile we bring to our clients, a lot of us are carrying more than we let on.
Finding your people
What has helped me most is finding other creators I genuinely align with. Not just people who do the same work, but people who share the same values, the same hunger to grow, and the same heart for what they make.
Here in Brisbane, that's come through showing up. Leading photowalks with Among Creatives, emceeing at CreativeMornings, and saying yes to coffee with people whose work I admire. Some of my closest creative friendships started with one simple message: "I love what you're doing. Want to grab a coffee?"
The right creative community does a few things for you:
It reminds you you're not the only one. Hearing someone else say "me too" takes so much of the weight off.
It gives you honest feedback. People who get your craft can push your work further than any algorithm.
It opens doors. Collaborations, referrals, and second shooting gigs often come from the people beside you, not from cold pitches.
It celebrates with you. Wins feel bigger when someone is cheering alongside you.
If you're feeling isolated right now, start small. Reach out to one creator this week. Join a photowalk, a meetup, or an online group. Show up, be curious, and let people see the real you. Your people are out there, and they're probably looking for you too.
Slowing down and going deeper
In that same spirit, I'm taking a break from short form content for a while. The constant pace of quick posts was adding to that heavy feeling, and I want to make space for more honest, slower storytelling.
So I'm exploring long form instead. I'll be sharing more of the real journey, behind the scenes of shoots, the ups and downs of building a freelance life, and conversations with creators who inspire me.
Watch the vlog on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@robespierre-au
Read more on the blog by subscribing to the blog for more stories: https://robesdornagon.com/newsletter
If you've ever felt this way, I'd love for you to come along for the ride.
You don't have to do this alone
Freelancing will always ask a lot of us. But it doesn't have to be a solo journey. The heaviness gets lighter when we share it, and the work gets better when we make it together.
If any of this resonated with you, reach out. Send me a message, leave a comment, or say hi at the next photowalk. Let's build something together.
With gratitude,
Robespierre
