New to the forums.

[davidolden]

Hello, Everyone.

 

I'm Dave Olden, and I'm starting out as a freelance visualizer.(You all can say to your friends, "Wow, I knew Dave when he was just starting out!" or "I knew Dave back when he showed promise....").

 

Since I'm introducing myself to other visualizers, I should show you what I've done. In person, you'd ask anyway. So, until I have my portfolio built up, this is all I have. (Feel free to be harsh in your crit. Makes for better work.)

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]47224[/ATTACH]

 

This got me my first client last week. It's a design mock-up I started a couple years ago. Modeled in Sketchup, and rendered with Kerkythea Echo using default settings. Lights haven't been added yet. Sofas and bookshelf I built from Ikea reference photos, and the monitor is modeled on a Philips Cinema 21:9.

 

Cheers.

 

Dave

Edited February 28, 2012 by davidolden
Image not showing.

[erkutacar]

this really go u ur first client? damn im starting to freelance tomorrow

[davidolden]

this really go u ur first client? damn im starting to freelance tomorrow

 

Hi, Erkut.

 

Well, I won't be sure until there's money in my pocket!

 

Right now, we only have a verbal agreement (which doesn't pay the bills), so his project is still a few months away. Until this gets locked down, I'm learning software, and building my portfolio, which at this point, means a lot of concept designs until I have more clients.

 

Good luck on *your* freelance work!

 

Dave Olden

[AubreyM]

Hi David, welcome to the forums.

Verbal agreements aren't worth crap, be careful or you will wind up working for free and without a written contract there is squat that you can do about it.

To be brutally honest, you need a lot of practice. Have a look at some of the work of some of the members here and then look objectively at the render that you posted. From what you posted I get that you have not created a render before as you say this was your first and it was for a potential client. Sorry to say there is a lot more to this work than creating a few models in sketchup and there is no fast track.

I don't say this to be cruel or to hurt your feelings. Just a bit of a reality check. I like your enthusiasm and wish you all the best.

I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't do it, just saying it's not as easy as you may think to be a "freelancer".

 

You have come to a great place to learn as there are some truly talented people here and many are happy to share that knowledge and help out. There are a few trolls but don't feed them or pay attention to them. There is also a wealth of information in the forums already so if you have a problem or a question there is a good chance that someone has already asked it. Search is your friend

 

Again, welcome to the forums, always good to see another Canuck join the forum, and I look forward to seeing your next render.

[Tommy L]

Agree with the above. Freelancing is not the place for learning. Someone at your evel needs to catch a break and work in a studio, maybe as an intern first and do all the tutorials you can get your hands on.

[erkutacar]

and i may add something as for being a rookie myself, dont get hasty to create a scene.. first get the hang of modeling completely.. coz if u keep changing ur models after each test render, u will lose a lot of time and i will need that precious time.. learn step by step

[davidolden]

Thanks for the welcome, Aubrey!

 

I had to be honest for Erkut's question, the client is -- at this moment -- verbal. I will have a written contract contract in place before I commence any work.

 

That I got a potential client from showing off *this* image (which was never intended as a work sample) was luck. I would not use this image to get work, but it did certainly spark this guy to ask, "What do you charge per hour?" (Caught off guard, I answered $20/hour. I have since considered that I may change this to a job quote, with deposit).

 

He also said, "It'll be pretty basic, you just punch in the numbers and it pops up three-d." (Yes, I told him: it's *not* that simple.)

 

I should add that I'm not entirely green, I did attend a design school for Building Technology.

 

But I figure, with as much as I *do* have to learn, (and I hold no illusions of my need to learn), if *this* image -- which does not meet my standards --- got me a potential client, can you imagine what an image I go all out on could do?

 

(Professionalism is an attitude, not a salary.)

 

My gut tells me: "Build on this. Use this as the *first* client." (My brain tells me: "You have a hell of a lot of work ahead.")

 

(And (more luck) I have a friend who's a Project Management and IT consultant helping me set up my business).

 

But I want to be honest in representing myself: I am not fully underway yet. But I am only moving forward.

 

Again, thanks for the welcome.

 

Dave Olden

Edited March 1, 2012 by davidolden
corrected error.

[davidolden]

and i may add something as for being a rookie myself, dont get hasty to create a scene.. first get the hang of modeling completely.. coz if u keep changing ur models after each test render, u will lose a lot of time and i will need that precious time.. learn step by step

 

Thank you, Erkut! That makes perfect sense to me.

[Tommy L]

Thanks for the welcome, Aubrey!

 

I had to be honest for Erkut's question, the client is -- at this moment -- verbal. I will have a written contract contract in place before I commence any work.

 

That I got a potential client from showing off *this* image (which was never intended as a work sample) was luck. I would not use this image to get work, but it did certainly spark this guy to ask, "What do you charge per hour?" (Caught off guard, I answered $20/hour. I have since considered that I may change this to a job quote, with deposit).

 

He also said, "It'll be pretty basic, you just punch in the numbers and it pops up three-d." (Yes, I told him: it's *not* that simple.)

 

I should add that I'm not entirely green, I did attend a design school for Building Technology.

 

But I figure, with as much as I *do* have to learn, (and I hold no illusions of my need to learn), if *this* image -- which does not meet my standards --- got me a potential client, can you imagine what an image I go all out on could do?

 

(Professionalism is an attitude, not a salary.)

 

My gut tells me: "Build on this. Use this as the *first* client." (My brain tells me: "You have a hell of a lot of work ahead.")

 

(And (more luck) I have a friend who's a Project Management and IT consultant helping me set up my business).

 

But I want to be honest in representing myself: I am not fully underway yet. But I am only moving forward.

 

Again, thanks for the welcome.

 

Dave Olden

 

I think you have al this the wrong way around. You should get good at something, then make a business out of it, not make a business and then try to get good at it. Seems you are making a life plan out of one conversation with a stranger.

[davidolden]

Agree with the above. Freelancing is not the place for learning. Someone at your evel needs to catch a break and work in a studio, maybe as an intern first and do all the tutorials you can get your hands on.

 

And thank you, Tom. I will remember that advice.

 

I see this offer as an opportunity, and I have already said yes. So, the only way forward I can see is make the best images I can make. By saying yes to a potential client, I *am* a freelancer. The client has given time to build up my skill-set. He knows, he has seen what I can do, and he wants me to fill the need.

 

 

Dave Olden

[davidolden]

I think you have al this the wrong way around. You should get good at something, then make a business out of it, not make a business and then try to get good at it. Seems you are making a life plan out of one conversation with a stranger.

 

Not entirely a stranger, Tom. I've known him for about a year, but this is the first he's seen of this part of me.

[davidolden]

... Seems you are making a life plan out of one conversation with a stranger.

 

And, I'm not making a "life plan" from "one conversation."

 

I'm taking a *job* offer, and pursuing it thoroughly and professionally.

 

I have training, and a basic tool set, and a customer who's allowing me time to hone my skills and build a portfolio.

 

(Maybe the above image wasn't the best to show here... or considering all this great input, maybe it was )

 

 

Dave olden

[Brodie Geers]

Welcome to the forums Dave. I wish you luck with the freelancing. You'll find lots of advice on here if you search around a bit. There are many people here who have succeeded and failed at it and they all have plenty of advice to give.

 

Sure, the quality of your rendering is pretty simplistic and you'll find some severe criticism of such work amongst professionals but I wish you the best. You may very well find a market for people who simply need to visualize a space but don't need a marketing level image. Sometimes clients are pushed away by high end renderings as they look very expensive. You may find that as you learn the software you can pull some of those people in as it looks like you could do quick visualization work at a low cost. Just beware as I imagine getting ANY money out of people looking for budget priced renderings may be tricky. Be sure to follow the more cautious freelancers advice on these forums as they suggest contracts and clear payment schedules, etc.

 

Good luck!

 

-Brodie

[davidolden]

Welcome to the forums Dave. I wish you luck with the freelancing. You'll find lots of advice on here if you search around a bit. There are many people here who have succeeded and failed at it and they all have plenty of advice to give.

 

Sure, the quality of your rendering is pretty simplistic and you'll find some severe criticism of such work amongst professionals but I wish you the best. You may very well find a market for people who simply need to visualize a space but don't need a marketing level image. Sometimes clients are pushed away by high end renderings as they look very expensive. You may find that as you learn the software you can pull some of those people in as it looks like you could do quick visualization work at a low cost. Just beware as I imagine getting ANY money out of people looking for budget priced renderings may be tricky. Be sure to follow the more cautious freelancers advice on these forums as they suggest contracts and clear payment schedules, etc.

 

Good luck!

 

-Brodie

 

Thanks for welcome and good wishes, Brodie.

 

I'm learning a lot from just posting this one image!

 

I initially thought I should show *something* but didn't think it would be as a marketing tool.

 

But, I should've known, in this industry image *IS* everything!

 

I showed off what I had at that Starbucks, and it got me (potential) work. (Again, I was just showing off, I didn't anticipate getting a job out of it. But once it came up, I had to say yes. "Luck"? A client who is giving me time to get up to speed, *and* willing to pay (for the result, not the practise)? That's luck! The good kind!)

 

All due respect to Tom, this is freelancing with a client who knows I'm learning! How is that not great?

 

But as for samples, future images will be much more to my standards.

 

I posted what I had here, and got some great input. For that I am very thankful. All advice has been good.

 

-- Dave Olden

[Tommy L]

And, I'm not making a "life plan" from "one conversation."

 

I'm taking a *job* offer, and pursuing it thoroughly and professionally.

 

I have training, and a basic tool set, and a customer who's allowing me time to hone my skills and build a portfolio.

 

(Maybe the above image wasn't the best to show here... or considering all this great input, maybe it was )

 

 

Dave olden

 

ok, well good luck. In my opinion, you are making a mistake. Bottom feeding in a market that's fairly saturated is going to be a tough spot. You also should consider that you have a duty of responsibility to a paying client that maybe exceeds your capacity at this stage. Low end clients tend to be very demanding.

[davidolden]

... You also should consider that you have a duty of responsibility to a paying client that maybe exceeds your capacity at this stage. Low end clients tend to be very demanding.

 

I said yes, because believe I have the potential to deliver great work*. But, if I cannot meet that responsibility, I will turn down the work.

 

EDITED TO ADD: *I know that until I show you, this is just a claim.

Edited March 1, 2012 by davidolden

[davidolden]

... Sure, the quality of your rendering is pretty simplistic and you'll find some severe criticism of such work amongst professionals but I wish you the best. ...

 

Ah, I remember 'Crit Sessions.' (And that they *always* resulted in better work.)