The war between creativity and business has raged for generations and rarely is it more evident than in the passion-sectors. Fashion, art, film, music… can feel almost vocational, as if an invisible force is driving us forward to do the one thing we are meant to be doing whilst at the same time, we're often forced to make commercial decisions. Continuing our Inspirational Freelancer series, we sent our Founder, Matt Dowling, to meet with freelance singer/songwriter LEIO for a coffee and a chat. They discussed the essence of creativity, striking a balance between art and commerce and the importance of naivety.  

Finance and doing your accounts is arguably the least exciting part of running your own freelance business. Unfortunately, it is one of the most important - getting savvy with your business finance will not only save you considerable stress when it comes to filing your taxes but could also be the key to your business growth and success.

Unfortunately, the tedious tax system that has taken many of us years to understand is now completely changing. You may or may not have heard that the way we calculate and file our taxes in the UK is transforming. Making Tax Digital (MTD) aims to make it a lot easier for individuals and businesses to keep track of their tax - and get it right!

IR35. You might have heard it mentioned, you might have been warned about it; IR35 has become a four letter word lately. It sounds like a dry subject and a bit of a headache, but it’s really worth knowing your stuff around IR35 as it may impact your freelance business greatly. If you’re not sure what IR35 is, don’t worry – you’re not the only one. Let’s take a look at the IR35 essentials and what you need to be aware of.

So, you’ve been told you need a DBS check for a job, or you know your ability to get work in your field relies on getting one. There are some important things to note about how this works for freelancers. Let’s look at DBS checks and the options for when you’re self-employed.

We caught up with Paul Price, freelance Digital Designer, about his life in freelancing and aspirations for the future for a rapid fire round of questions.

Mary Schmich, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune once said "Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth." In other words, not all advice is worth taking. With over 20 years of experience in the freelance sector, we've been given a lot of 'advice' and dished out our fair share. Here are a few gems we urge you to avoid. 

The man behind Freelancer Club and ex-fashion photographer of over 12 years, Matt Dowling, talks about his time as a photographer, directing divas, alternative techniques when working with models and how to produce pro images out of the most nervous of subjects. Model direction, the unconventional way.