We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maggie Reina. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maggie below.

Alright, Maggie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you 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?

Viola Hill Studio started as a side-hustle alongside of my full-time job as a UX Designer for a software company. I had always loved design— ever since I took my first graphic design class in high school— but after 4 years of being in the corporate world, I just wasn’t feeling fulfilled.

I decided to start an Instagram for Viola Hill Studio as a “creative outlet.” Everything I was dreaming up and designing, I wanted to house in one spot. I had no official plans for VHS, but knew that I was finally starting to feel inspired again, so I kept posting whatever fueled me. When I started to gain traction with my Instagram, I knew I needed to try this whole “business thing” for real. I had a few client inquiries and I wanted to look official, so I made a website, curated a portfolio of projects, and nailed down my services.

In the beginning of 2018, I told myself that one day I wanted to go full-time with my business. It was a pipe dream, but isn’t that what dreams are all about anyways? With barely any clients in my roster, I figured I’d give myself a year or two before going full-time. I ended up filling up my client bookings and was able to quit my job in May of 2018.

For me, it wasn’t a matter of trying to speed up the process to go full-time with my business, but rather enjoy the natural progression of starting from nothing and now, 5 years later, continuing to hit huge milestones in my business. Every part of this journey is necessary— all the trials and errors— in order to consistently improve my client experience, creative process, and overall work/life balance.

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 always had a passion for design, but when I was in school, it was a matter of “how do I actually make money in the creative/art industry?”

I went to a community college to get my Associates Degree in Graphic Design and had plans to transfer to a 4 year college to finish out my degree. On my Portfolio Night at my community college, I was actually able to land a full-time job right out of the gate. In my mind, industry experience was better than schooling (that and no college debt), so I decided to go for it.

I learned a lot in my 4 years of corporate design experience, but I knew I wanted to take what I learned and apply it to my own business.

Currently, I create custom brands and Squarespace websites for small businesses across the globe. From interior designers, to candle makers, to restaurants, to photographers— I work with devoted business owners looking to elevate their entire branding experience.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

First thing’s first, Instagram was wayyyyy different back in 2017 when I first started my profile for Viola Hill Studio. As someone who still gets 95% of her business through Instagram, I know that it’s a vital tool, but it also has changed quite a bit throughout the years.

When I first started my Instagram, I saw it as more of a creative outlet— no real rhyme or reason to what I was posting. Then I started to slowly gain a following and people started to inquire about my services by finding me through Instagram, so I knew I needed to up my game. I turned it into more of a portfolio/educational platform for my business, which is when my business really took off. I still think a good mix of client work and educational content is the best strategy for Instagram, but now it’s a matter of how to share this content.

My biggest advice would be to post whatever feels natural for you. Don’t pay attention to the numbers (I was getting clients when my follower count was in the 100’s) but instead, focus on posting relatable content that your audience can actually connect with. Show your face! Be personable. But most importantly, if you’re feeling burnt out, take a break! The less pressure you put on posting, the more naturally it will come.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of owning my own business is, well, owning my own business! I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d ever be able to sustain my own income, support my own retirement fund, and attract the type of dream clients that I always wanted to work with.

It’s amazing to know that the effort I put into my business is directly correlated with the success. It keeps me motivated and passionate. I know that even at the low points — and believe me, there are LOW points — there’s always a high to balance it out.

Contact Info:

• Website: violahillstudio.com
• Instagram: @violahillstudio

Image Credits
Brand Photos – Sonya Kammes