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.

Angeline Tjia

Receiving my first commission was a truly unforgettable experience. It marked the moment when my passion turned into a professional pursuit, and it came with a mix of excitement, nerves, and curiosity. The project involved creating a custom illustration, and what made it even more special was that I got to collaborate with a dear friend and fellow artist, Izma Anwar. Read more>>

Markette Sheppard

The first dollar I earned as a freelance writer was with Essence magazine. I was in my early 20s and working as a digital content producer at a cable network. I had formed a nice professional working relationship with a freelance writer who wrote for the network and when she got a job as an editor at the magazine, she hired me to write feature stories at a rate of $1.50 per word. I was ecstatic. I had never thought of my writing as having a value per word. Some of my article would be 1,500 words, so it also helped me as a single 20-something living on my own in a big city. It was great because it gave me credibility in the industry and a huge confidence booster for me, letting me know that I was good enough to step out on my own. I went on to freelance write for that Essence magazine editor for five years. Read more>>

Margaux De Penfentenyo

It was back in 2015, during my first year working as an interior architect after graduating. I was 24 and employed as a junior designer at a renowned Paris-based firm. At the time, I was working on an ambitious ultra-luxury residential project in Dubai. For the first couple of months, I was genuinely curious and enthusiastic about my role, diving into the job with full dedication. But it didn’t take long for me to feel a deep disconnect. My daily tasks—drafting lines and plans on a screen based on instructions—felt monotonous and devoid of meaning. My creativity felt completely stifled. Read more>>

Gabriela Sibilska

My first proper paid project as an animated music video director happened during the pandemic, and my road into the intersection of animation and music started just a few months before that. Let me start at the beginning: I was a grad student at Pratt Institute at the time – I did not actually major in animation, my thesis was written in the department of Media Studies, but I took electives in the Digital Arts Department every chance I got. One of the classes I took was called Experimental Animation, where I started playing with some really cool stuff like microscope animation, stratacut or liquid light shows. Read more>>

Yeya Chávez

My first time charging for my portrait photography was for a group of girlfriends who just wanted pretty portraits together. This was back in 2009, Facebook was hot, and all the girls wanted the best profile pics. I charged about $60 per person and it was a group of 3 girls. I divided the earnings with my sister, who would do makeup & hair for each of them to maintain a tasteful and cohesive look. We worked outdoors, using natural light. It wasn’t glamorous, but it felt like magic. Seeing how happy they were with their portraits made me realize the power of photography: to capture not just how someone looks, but how they feel about themselves. That day planted the seed for what would become my life’s work. Read more>>

Haley Guilfoile

Oh man, my first dollar made by selling something I created… I was actually very young, 3 or 4 years old. My parents explained what a “yard sale” was, saying we would have one… and I was very interested in the money-making side of it since it meant I could buy more toys. They asked me which of my old toys I wanted to sell, and I was like, “What do you mean?! The whole idea is to get MORE toys, not lose some! Duh!” … to which they asked me “well then, what are you going to sell?!” I created what I called “Orsons”, silly little creatures made of dixie cups and post-it notes. I made 10-20 of them and filled up the folding table my dad put out for me to use. For just 25 cents, customers could take home one of these toddler-made monstrosities! Read more>>

Xinlin Wu

My first experience generating revenue from my creative work was through a collaboration with Y Magazine. They commissioned me to create illustrations for an article about the lifestyle of cruise ships, which highlighted how different people can enjoy the unique experience of cruise life. It was both a challenge and an opportunity for me, as I had to capture the diversity and inclusiveness of cruise life in my artwork. The client was very supportive of my ideas, and seeing my illustrations published in the magazine gave me an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. It was a moment where I realized not only my creative work was being recognized, but also that my art had real value in the commercial world. This experience boosted my confidence and motivated me to continue exploring and growing my creative career Read more>>

Tete Song

In my final year at ArtCenter College of Design, I participated in an art market organized by the school. That event became a turning point for me—it was where I earned my first real income as a creator. At the time, I was just starting my business and had designed and handcrafted my first set of solid wood coasters specifically for the event. To my surprise, they were incredibly popular. One moment that left a deep impression on me was when a girl bought the display set of coasters I had framed as decor. She said they were so beautiful that she wanted to use them as wall art. Read more>>