Meet Uchechukwu Ibemere, an African Freelancer

Uchechukwu Ibemere is a Lagos based content creator, photographer and local guide. He enjoys surfing the internet for new ideas from Artists across the globe to inspire his work and knowledge. African Freelancers had a chat with him! Continue reading below…

What services/products do you offer? 

I create and curate content both for individuals and brands/businesses. I’m an iPhone photographer who shoots lifestyle photos of both individuals and products (Flatlays). On other days you’d me taking outsiders across strange but interesting corners of the city of Lagos is a local guide. I also occasionally write articles on travel, food and culture for media houses.

When did you realise that you wanted to become a freelancer? 

Well, I’ve always had an interest in weird kinds of stuff and places which are also interesting, and these led me to randomly writing lengthy captions to my awesome photographs of different people and places within my city. I got lots of compliments from strangers and friends about my posts, and some folks even advised me to look into monetizing my skills. I decided to go into freelancing when I realized that there were people around my circle who needed my skills to achieve certain goals of theirs, from bloggers to creators and business owners and the likes.

What factors determined your choice? 

I wanted to make little impact in the creative industry while also helping to fill certain gaps some individuals and brand owners desired filled. I enjoy doing what i do a lot and I wasn’t into it only the monetary returns which was one of the reasons why it took me long to put a price tag on my skills and services i offer as a freelancer.

How did you initially feel when you started getting gigs? 

Well it felt great and also like magic you know, because my skills seemed all so basic to me and i wondered like “wow these people actually want to pay me to this simple stuff”. It was an amazing feeling honestly.

Was it difficult to pitch to potential clients and how did you source for them? 

Sourcing for clients at first seemed like I was bringing myself down. But I later realized that some of them don’t really see the gaps needed to be filled in their businesses, which makes them not to reach out to freelancers or creatives for their services. But luckily for me, I had folks who were 2-3 steps further than I was in the freelancing business who showed me around how to properly pitch brands. These days, I simply surf Instagram for potential clients with hashtags and strategic searches online and it always ends successful 80% of the time.

What are the major highlights of your career as a freelancer? 

Being a personality a lot of people from different corners of the world look up to is one of the things i never thought would ever happen. But the major highlight of my career as a freelancer and creative is when i got commissioned to document an art project for an international Art organization late last year which is exhibiting in South Africa in about a week’s time.

What are the down-times in your career? 

Well, being a freelancer could be daunting most of time. There are times when you might not get gigs for weeks if not months and all you’ve gotta depend is funds from past projects and works. Sometimes you could be forced to even settle for low commissions as you don’t want to starve or maybe you need funds to carryout personal projects which will bring better work in the nearest future.

What do you love most about your work? 

I love the fact that freelancing could connect me with the outside world and anybody regardless of how important they are in the industry. Freelancing can also take you anywhere in the world so long you take you’re competent and always improving your skill set.

Share an advice with young freelancers 

Put in work everyday. Practicing is the only way you can get close to being perfect even though perfection is unattainable. Network and intern with people who are far ahead of the creative industry and be humble to some extent as well. Researching is one of the quickest ways to getting well sought after, so let that be one thing you do at least twice a week.

Any other additional information that you would like to share with young freelancers? 

Attend networking events by tech companies like Google, TechCabal and the likes of them.

Contact Uchechukwu:

Instagram & Twitter @selfmadeuch

Email ibemereuchechukwu@gmail.com