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

Jenn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I currently am a full time, self employed content creator working within the music industry. I predominately tour with bands and artists handling both their photo and video content from shows and daily life on the road. I also do photo and video work in town when I am home. It took awhile to find the right clients and build relationships to get to a level of touring where it is financially feasible to make a living from content. One thing that has been quite helpful has been branching out beyond content on the road to take on other roles as needed, such as assistant tour manager or VIP coordinator. Learning how to create pricing structure for the workload was absolutely the hardest part for me, and still can be! There has been a push towards more transparency with rates and there are certainly more resources available to see what others are charging for similar roles which has been extremely helpful for me to keep up with current rates. It also took me a long time to realize that not every job was one I had to say yes to.

Jenn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a touring content creator who does photography and videography work for bands and artists both on the road and at home as needed. I am self employed though I do tend to stay work with the same artists, bands, and digital marketing companies a fair bit. I am responsible for capturing and creating the photos and videos fans see on social media after a band/artist’s shows or promoting new music. This includes show recaps, photo galleries, and short play throughs of songs to promote on socials along with album or single artwork and other promotional materials.

I started out in rock and metal music though have branched into country as well since moving to Nashville. I absolutely love having the opportunity to work within different genres and create content to meet each specific clients needs.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective way I’ve found for gaining more touring clients is through connection and treating others well. The majority of my tours have been either artists/bands I met while on the road with other artists/bands or jobs I’ve been recommend for by someone I’ve worked with for a long time. With concert related content a quick turn around time is vital and often times that has allowed me to stand out with publicists, managers, and artists.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Many of the jobs I’ve been recommended for have been through people I’ve worked with for a long time. I pride myself on a quick turnaround while on the road and for shows locally. On the road specifically I tend to do more than just photo/video but even when I’m not explicitly hired for more, I try very hard to help others when I can. There is so much that needs to be done on a daily basis and it is very important to help those around you to make the day go smoother.

Contact Info:

• Website: jenncurtis.22slides.com
• Instagram: @jenncurtisphotography