The world needs artists and creatives. Unfortunately, being needed doesn’t often easily translate into financial stability. The struggle is real for so many incredibly talented artists and creatives and so we think it’s important to hear from creatives who have made it work – there is so much to learn from the folks we’ve featured below.

Omar Dejesus Quintanilla, Jr. (mr. Omar King)

I would make a couple of bucks here and there on my art when I am asked by a vendor if I would be interested in selling my art pieces at their events/venues. And I would accept. I would make 50 to 300 dollars in the past. Now, at this very moment, I am not selling art pieces, not by choice, it is that I am not asked or approached about them that often. But, I would like to do it again at some point. Get back in the horse race/game and get going. Read more>>

Federico And Barbara

Fede: My career has been determined by fate and Life itself. I am the third generation of wedding photographers: my grandfather was a wedding photographer, and my mother was a wedding photographer. Initially, I was not interested in pursuing this career, even though I dealt with the video aspect when I was about twenty years old (but only to earn some money). Then, 13 years ago, my mother fell ill with leukemia in the middle of the wedding season and I had to abandon my studies and current interests to take care of her and to fulfill the emergency commitments and engagements. From that moment, something clicked inside me that made me fall in love with photography, what I could do with it, and what I could tell through it. Meeting Barbara and growing together within this world made me even more connected to all of this. Read more>>

Barbara Macferrin

Yes, I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it was not without its challenges. It was a gradual ramp-up, requiring persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to wear many hats. Running a successful photography business means being more than just a photographer—you have to be a marketer, an administrator, a bookkeeper, an advertiser, a networker, a social media manager, and so much more. Read more>>

Kat Thatcher

This adventure has been morphing for the last several years. It has gone from fun with a travel blog and Lew taking photographs to… how are we going to make a living while traveling and taking photos of the places we visit. Combining my writing skills and enjoyment with his talents and passion for photography, we jumped in head first nearly without direction. I would not advise this path.
It began when we realized that retirement would shortly become a reality and we wanted to have not only passive income but have the ability to actually do the things we wanted to do. Lew started getting really serious about his art of taking photos, while I was noticing how much writing was enjoyable to me. Smashing these two things together along with our joy of travel just seemed natural. Read more>>

Andre Parris

From the heart of Barbados, Andre “Puffy” Parris is the celebrated DJ who has set the world alight with his infectious energy and genre-blending style. A Red Bull Thre3style World Champion 2016, DJ Puffy’s journey from wildcard entrant to global phenomenon has cemented his legacy as one of the most skilful DJs of his generation. He is recognized for pioneering a Caribbean-EDM sound that brings crowds to life, transcending borders and electrifying audiences worldwide. Read more>>

Carrie Jennings

I am very passionate about this topic, and with every new phase of my life, I question what it means to be a full-time artist. I believe that art comes from experiencing life, and that in some way or another, everything we create is art. We may assign it little or no value, we may create it with varying degrees of intention, and, in some cases, we may even spend a lifetime trying to share it with the world. I say this because no matter where my money is coming from, I am a full-time artist. I try my best every day to live in such a way that invites the beauty of life into my consciousness, and I create music that reflects those experiences. I do not create music to make money, I create music because it is one of my deepest desires, an urge to express my humanity and connect with others, and I make money so that I can continue to make art. Read more>>