Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bree Byle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bree, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

My business journey began with a big risk. I had been working the same job at a publishing company for 6 years, and though I loved the people I worked with, I was restless. I had taken the first steps in job searching a year earlier, but then COVID hit. During the pandemic I was working from home and grateful for a job, but by June 2021 the restlessness was back.

I had been complaining for months, falling into the trap most of us do sometimes in assuming my life would change when someone or something else came along. I was talking to my sister one night, running through the usual complaints about not knowing what jobs I wanted to apply for, when she interrupted me and said “Why don’t you quit, and take some time to decide?”

Quit? And do what? The idea of quitting a job without another one lined up felt anti-adult. But I did it. Within three weeks of that conversation I had left my traditional job to take a 6-month creative sabbatical. That experience gave me the courage and time to start my freelance business. Embracing one big risk made it easier to take other risks.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I come from a family of writers, and grew up surrounded by books and authors. I’ve dabbled some with writing myself, but I’ve always been drawn more to the visual design aspect of the business. I worked in the interior book design department of a publishing house for many years, and taught myself photography and website design on the side.

I noticed there was a need for access to designers who knew the book industry. There are many independent authors, small publishing houses, and marketing firms who need freelance designers to create author websites, take book lifestyle photos for marketing, set up landing pages for launches, and more.

When I started my business I set out to fill that need. Through Bree Rose Creative I offer a variety of visual design services for authors and publishers, and am continually working to hone and add services the market needs. My main services include author websites, book launch landing pages, book lifestyle photography for marketing, and author headshots. I’ve also worked with authors on a range of other design needs, like interior book design, ebook exports, and designing figures, maps, and other interior illustrations.

I know design can be intimidating for word people, so I make sure every author I work with is free to ask questions and is more equipped to handle their design needs even after we are done working together.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Original lesson: the client is always right.
Revised Lesson: the client has hired you because you are the expert. It’s ok to push back or offer alternatives to their requests.

In the first few months of starting my business I was hired by a client to design the interior of a book he planned to self-publish. I way undercharged him, but the main lesson I took away was to speak up. This client had a very specific vision for the design. I knew it wouldn’t work, but this was one of my first clients and I wanted to make him happy. I did what he wanted and turned in the first draft of the design. He wasn’t happy, it was very cluttered and difficult for a reader to navigate. But he didn’t know why he wasn’t happy. I had, after all, done as he requested.

I then offered suggestions on where we could improve the design, and explained why. He was happier with the revised design, even though it was different from his original vision. By offering my expertise and skills while still involving him in the decisions, we were able to create something that was well-designed and that he was happy with. Lesson learned!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Saying yes to new types of requests. When I first started my business I had a vague direction I wanted to take it. That gave me a good starting point, but it was a bit like aiming in the dark. As I started growing, potential clients started reaching out and asking if I did specific kinds of work.

That’s how I started designing and hosting landing pages for book launches. It wasn’t something I initially advertised on my website, but when a friend at a larger publishing house reached out and asked if I did landing pages, I was open to learning. She hired me, and is now a regular client.

Word people are looking for designers to fill specific needs, and that’s what I want my business to do. If someone asks about a new type of project that I know I am capable of, I consider if it will add value to my business. If it’s something that adds value, aligns with my business goals, and is something I am interested in learning, I say yes.

Saying yes, and being willing to learn, has led to a more robust portfolio and a service list that offers work authors and publishers are actively looking for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.breerosecreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breerosecreative/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076928134989&notif_id=1728018927552118&notif_t=page_user_activity&ref=notif