Meet Bree Byle

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, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I don’t think anyone completely overcomes imposter syndrome, but there are ways to keep it at bay. When I first started my freelancing journey, there wasn’t room for imposter syndrome. I was busy making a website, learning how to set up a business, and finding and delivering my first jobs. It wasn’t until I was past the early days when it set in.

Sure, I had started a business. But a lot of people start businesses. The accomplishment, imposter syndrome would tell me, was growing and sustaining a business. And I hadn’t done that yet. The imposter syndrome crept in during the slow days, and the days I made a mistake or had a difficult client interaction.

How did I tackle imposter syndrome when it got overwhelming? I turned to others who had done this before me. I read books about other business owners working through the tough times. I read stories of those who felt the same and kept going anyway.

And I kept working. I continued to create and learn and deliver designs and photos that were the best I could do in the moment. I delivered designs even when imposter syndrome was overwhelming; clicking send even when I was terrified to do so.

And you know what? After clicking send, not one client replied that I wasn’t good enough.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I run a freelance business called Bree Rose Creative. I offer design and photography services to authors and publishers. Words are powerful, but are difficult to convey in our image-based world. I work with both independent authors and large publishing houses to bring book concepts and author brands into the visual space.

I offer two main services: Website design, and author and book lifestyle photography. My website services offer a range of designs depending on the author’s needs: a one-page online profile for those getting started, or a complete branded site for established writers. For those in West Michigan, I offer traditional headshots for use on book jackets or media appearances, or a more involved author branding session that includes lifestyle shots that can be used on social media and websites.

My book lifestyle photography is a unique service I offer. Think of it as a photoshoot for your book! I design lifestyle sets with details specific to a particular book, and create images that can be used in ads, on social media and websites, or printed on bookmarks, posters, or flyers. Custom book images set you apart from generic template and mock-up images often used in book marketing, giving viewers a more memorable impression of your book and a way to envision reading it.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three important skills and qualities I had starting this freelancing journey were 1) an understanding and knowledge of the needs of the industry I wanted to work with, 2) a willingness to take risks, and 3) the ability to think both as a creative and as a business owner.

I had worked in the book publishing world for close to ten years before setting off on my own business journey. I had an in-depth knowledge of how the publishing world worked, contacts in that world, and an understanding of the needs I could fill as a freelancer.

That knowledge, however, wouldn’t have gotten me very far if I wasn’t willing to take risks and chase challenges. As I took those risks and started growing a client base, the ability to be an organized and effective communicator became just as important as my ability to deliver creative services.

For anyone starting out in a creative business, I would recommend taking the time to learn and develop their organization and professional communication skills. You could be an amazing photographer, but if you don’t communicate well, and make the experience disorganized and unprofessional for the client, they will find someone else next time.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

I feel two main types of overwhelm while running my business. Creative overwhelm, and regular task overwhelm.

If I’ve let administrative tasks build up I start to feel stressed. And, let’s be honest, there are some tasks that just aren’t fun to do. If my task list gets too long, I start to feel like there won’t be time to do it all, and just let it get longer. When the overwhelm sets in, I know it’s time to buckle down. I find a couple hours (or a whole day!) and reserve it just for tackling that list. When it comes down to it, things usually don’t take as long as you think they will. Checking things off a list always helps.

If I get stuck in creative overwhelm, I do the opposite. Instead of buckling down and checking things off the list, I give myself a break. I take a walk, or run errands. Sometimes just 20 minutes away from the creative project helps refresh me, and can bring solutions to the creative problem that had me stuck.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Bree Rose Creative

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