Photographer Xavier Buendia

EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE  Record high quality video & audio with Riverside.  See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business.  It’s free to get started, but use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan.  Head to: beingfreelance.com/riverside -----------  ABOUT THIS PODCAST EPISODE  In this episode, Xavier Buendia shares his journey from Mexico City to Brighton, and more importantly from the world of hospitality as a sommelier to a career as a successful freelance photographer. Xavi discusses the importance of people skills, marketing consistency, self-confidence, and believing in yourself.  He highlights both the financial benefits and creative downsides of having routine retainer clients; his pivot when COVID and Brexit hit the food industry he’d relied upon. And his recent experiments with hiring a very human PR and using AI – both to help his business in different ways. 00:00 Introduction to Xavi Buendia 02:04 Xavi's Freelance Journey Begins 03:16 Moving to England 04:04 Discovering Photography 04:38 First Photography Gigs 06:57 Building a Photography Business 07:24 Using Social Media for Business 08:19 Learning Business Skills 09:08 Expanding the Business 12:11 The Role of Customer Service 17:01 Challenges of Freelancing 18:11 Managing Work and Life 19:28 Embracing Food Photography 20:20 Lockdown and New Opportunities 21:13 Impact of Brexit on the Food Industry 23:18 Networking and Diversification 28:14 Managing Retainers and Routine Challenges 37:01 Working with a PR 39:18 Advice for Freelancers and Relocation Insights     JOIN THE COMMUNITY You're not alone being freelance.  Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends). beingfreelance.com/community   NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU! The Being Freelance course is made for you! Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.   FREELANCER MERCH Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on: Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland