Director of Freelancer Club, Matt Dowling, is interviewed by freelance Illustrator, Holly Exley about the true cost of free work and how we can fight it.

You’re self-employed and planning on having a child soon or you or your significant other is already pregnant. The panic has subsided and planning can begin. What are your options?

What is the difference between an Editorial Shoot and Commercial Shoot? We get asked this question a lot and, although many of you may have heard the term or even shot in one or both formats, there is still plenty of confusion around the terminology, format, and outcome. Here's the lowdown.

In the era of #MeToo, we are all becoming more aware and empathetic of sexual harassment in the workplace. A recently published personal anecdote detailed the horrific story of one female freelance journalist who experienced being sexually harassed by a famous man while attempting to interview him at his flat. The incident made her realise that “most (women) do not take legal action,” and she puts this down to “cost and lack of evidence” as well as the “he said, she said” aspect that accompanies cases that “often take place behind closed doors.”

So you’ve finally gained enough clients to start working for yourself and the thought of full-time freelancing fills you with excitement. But a few months or even years down the line, a sense of loneliness starts to creep into your life. A couple of weeks without work starts to make you question whether freelancing was the right choice in the first place. Juggling multiple clients brings on a suffocating feeling. The unpredictability of income causes anxiety in the middle of the night. Last year, 1.4 million people were referred to NHS mental health therapy, but what role do self-employment and freelance work play in this surge? 

For many, freelancing is synonymous with living the dream. A better work-life balance, less stress, more time with family and friends, turning a passion into a career.  However, with erratic working hours, an unpredictable salary and days spent alone at home, it’s easy to become somewhat of a ‘self-employed precariat.’

Most of the freelancers we know would rather gnaw off their left arm than do their bookkeeping - and with good reason. It’s confusing, it’s boring, and it’s not what you signed up for. You became self-employed to spend time doing what you love - not wrestling with spreadsheets. But, like it or not, accounting is important as a way to understand your business finances and a legal requirement! Thankfully there’s a simple way to not hate bookkeeping. Let's address the accounting spiral of doom.

Photo shoot locations in the UK that propel your photography project forward and flawlessly deliver your vision are difficult to find. It can take days and weeks to discover the perfect location to shoot not to mention timing, lighting, access permission and travel. To help you scout unique photo shoot locations in the UK, we have compiled a great list of striking and beautiful photoshoot locations all across the UK for your to research. These outdoor locations in the UK are free to use, just make sure you're respectful of others.