Earning that first dollar is incredibly special and a moment many never forget. We asked some very talented creatives from the community to tell us the story of the first dollar they earned from their creative works.
Ary Sanchez
Honestly I couldn’t believe it when I received the email. After months of working on my portfolio (and still some of those portfolio videos are absolutely terrible!) and countless of emails, I finally heard a response back from one of my favorite brands, NYX cosmetics. I worked with them a couple times in free campaigns, and always tried my absolute hardest to make the best content that catered to their brand and their aesthetic. I studied their instagram, who they worked with, their most recent events, etc, to make the best work in both their and my eyes! Read more>>
Ashlie Tammaro
For my high school final project I chose the topic I was most passionate about which was art. I had my first solo art gallery with 20 different paintings and my Astronomy teacher bought a painting of a girl floating in space for 25$ I remember thinking to myself wow, i can really do this. It was really cool to have someone support my dreams like that in a world that told me to be realistic. Read more>>
Cassandra Smith
I was fortunate to sell two of the three pieces I created for my senior thesis. As anyone who has undertaken a senior thesis or project knows, you pour your whole life into your work for months. It certainly felt like the world’s biggest accomplishment at the time, and the satisfaction of selling that work was deeply rewarding. I truly believe it gave me the confidence I still have today, knowing that my work is desired and has value. Three of the pieces I made were sequin-covered taxidermy, and while my work has grown and evolved, those early pieces planted the seed for what it has become today. Read more>>
Jo Majesty
The first show I was ever paid for was back in 2020. I was in Atlanta for the weekend and I had 2 shows lined up. The first show, Training Day ATL, went well; I met a lot of dope creatives that I ended up exchanging information with. The next day, I asked the promoter of my next show, Big Script Saturdays, if they had any extra slots available because I had a few artists that would like to perform. They said it was fine, I hit everybody up, and about 5 or 6 of them actually came. Between them and the people who came with me, I had over 10 people come out. At the end of the night, the promoter broke me off with $100 for bringing everybody through. I had networked across, provided an opportunity to some talented people, and was compensated for my craft. Definitely a highlight of my career. Read more>>
Hsiming Wang
The first dollar I earned as a creative came from my work as a freelancer. The pay was decent, but I was too caught up in the experience to think much about the money I made. It was an exciting venture, especially since it was my very first time freelancing. What I learned from this gig is to never doubt your abilities and always ensure you get paid what you’re worth. Another important lesson I learned is the challenge of balancing creativity with a client’s needs. It all comes down to communication and finding ways to use your vision to persuade the client. I feel like I learned more as a freelancer than I did as a student in school. Read more>>
Nikki Block
I cannot even describe how excited I was when I got my first brand deal. I got a DM from a company called Zazzle which made me jump up and down because I knew that brand very well. They specialize in customizable gifts but also have great wrapping paper! They originally wanted one video, but after that they signed me for two more immediately! This moment was so surreal as I realized I could bring in income from a passion of mine. Read more>>
Kierra Nichole
In high school, I became obsessed with menswear designers like Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren, and to this day, I’m still absorbed by the Thom Browne team. I was really into preppy suiting and tailoring, and in my teenaged words, I wanted to be a “haberdasher.” Following that passion, I started making bowties, selling them on Facebook and Etsy, and using my dad and brother as models. Naturally, my dad made my first sale, but soon after, friends and family started asking where I was located, and that’s how my first fashion brand got its start. I sewed bowties literally until my fingers hurt and eventually expanded into matching cufflinks and handkerchiefs, proudly running my little sweatshop out of my parents’ dining room. Read more>>
Loralin Engel
Seven years ago, I sold my first art piece that was not intended to sell. I was shocked. That someone actually wanted to buy my art piece. I was posting on FB just to share my artwork. I was still learning how to dot the Mandala’s. I started with vinyl records. A 45 vinyl to be exact. Eventually people were asking if I was selling them. I was shocked and of course I said yes. It was only probably a month of practicing making these mandalas. I didn’t even know how to price them. so my first piece was sold for $35. it was one of my old clients. I use to do hair for 28 years and retired in 2015. I was nervous and excited. I knew I still had a long way to go in practicing making them. but that first sale gave me confidence and fuel to keep on going. Read more>>
Amy Maestas
While I love my work in the salon industry, my education and dream while in school was to become a working artist, or art educator. While trying to build a solid clientele, I lost sight of that over the years, but in 2020 when Covid shut our shop down, I had time to create again while I was home. Today, many of my clients have returned, and I have created a schedule at the salon that allows me the freedom to have time to create art and teach classes in addition to my work there. Read more>>
Tatiana Roberts
Oh my gosh, the first time I sold a painting I was so surprised! I had this moment of, holy smokes people actually love my work! My pet portrait journey began with a playful, colorful painting of my dog that I just happened to share on Instagram. It was the beginning of the pandemic, and I was re-exploring all of my art supplies that I had tucked away and forgotten about. I was slowly experimenting and playing. Just getting familiar with “old friends” and gaining the muscle memory of holding a paint brush again. I didn’t think the painting wasn’t very good, just a little doodle, but I started to get messages from friends and family asking if I could paint their pet. Read more>>
Megan Zina
The first dollar I earned as a creative was working with Fashion Stylist, Brooke Noelle, I had worked in the fashion industry for 4 or 5 years prior to that and needed to switch into the creative world to meet my inner child. My time with Brooke was brief because I was hired as a “Sample Coordinator” for the brand Carbon38, which I was really the In-House Fashion Stylist, they just made me fight for the title and pay. I was doing multiple jobs at once. My mind was blown the first time I walked onto a photo shoot set, I couldn’t believe I was getting paid for this. It was so fun! Read more>>
Hitesh Kamra
It had been a few months since I graduated from the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and I had mostly spent my time doing unpaid student roles and working side jobs to keep me afloat. It was right around this time that I started getting auditions for paid roles and one of them was for a commercial. Not just any commercial but one that was based on cricket the sport I have grown up to love so immensely. I submit my audition and eventually receive a callback. And then came that dreaded radio silence. Until that email came through with the subject in bold: Remitly. I slowly opened it, managed to read the first word of it, half expecting a bad news. Read more>>
Shanelle Campbell
Before realizing I was an artist, I had several careers along the way. One of them was working in the entertainment industry for the Brooklyn Nets. I was the liaison between the season ticket holders and their experience with the team. After resigning, I kept in touch with many of my clients. Those same clients would attend my exhibitions and cheer me on as I pivoted. In the early stages, I was only exhibiting prints, operating from a place of scarcity. Within the last year, I have worked through this fear and allowed myself to share original work with the world. One of my season ticket holders purchased my first original hand drawing at the asking price! He specifically wanted an original, not a copy. It taught me that my insecurities were holding me back from sharing my gifts with the world. Selling originals has created the momentum needed for me to be a better artist and business woman. Read more>>
Nikki Block
I cannot even describe how excited I was when I got my first brand deal. I got a DM from a company called Zazzle which made me jump up and down because I knew that brand very well. They specialize in customizable gifts but also have great wrapping paper! They originally wanted one video, but after that they signed me for two more immediately! This moment was so surreal as I realized I could bring in income from a passion of mine. Read more>>