Is it possible to make a living from your hobby? How do you start from zero? What mindset will help you succeed in your new business?
I discussed these questions with the gorgeous Parrikrrama, who has turned her passion into her business. Pari is now working as a freelancer in product styling. And it all started with some photos she posted on her Instagram as a hobby.
“Styling was a hobby for me in the beginning. I went to a fashion school, so decoration and design always fascinated me. Initially, I just started posting design photos on my Instagram for fun. One day, a cosmetics company messaged me that they liked my work and asked if I would love to design their product. I did a few shoots for them, and after 4-5 projects they offered me my first contract.
In the beginning, I started to work with whatever brands I was getting. In styling, there are so many fields: fashion, interior design, and product styling. So I tried many different angles, and slowly I understood what I am good at and what I like to work with. So I started to pitch more brands in jewelry, skincare, and home decor, and this turned out to be my specialty.
It took me a long time to find my niche though. So I would advise anyone, for any kind of business, to decide on their specialty as early as possible. The best way to do that is to try to work with as many different fields as possible. Your niche will be clarified to you with time. But the most important is that you must choose a field that you enjoy working with.
My favorite brand was always Sula Wines. They are the most famous wine producer in India. I liked their brand so much that even without any previous contact with them, I shot a few photos of their products. I shared the photos on my Instagram, tagged them, and I also sent them an email showing them the design I did for free. One month later, I got a contract with them and continued to work as their product stylist. This gave me the confidence to approach more brands.
But I know that sometimes it takes a long time to set up your business, and you get disappointed if you don’t see the result soon enough. I didn’t care. Even if I didn’t get any brand collaboration in the beginning, I remained consistent. I posted every day, created content, and never gave up. You have to change your focus and understand that in the process, you also gain experience. My first styling picture wasn’t that great. The second one was good. The third one was much better. So you have to focus on that practice and on the skills you develop on the way.
Initially, I was very upset about making mistakes. But those mistakes helped me to grow in the future. For example, my first product was a designer bamboo bag. I had just graduated and was impatient to design. But I didn’t do enough research and didn’t know my target audience either. So this first launch was very slow. But later I came up with a new product idea, a pre-styled, subscription-based, designer box with fashion accessories that customers received monthly. I did the research, I knew my audience so that turned out to be a huge success. The idea was so original that it was even published in Indian newspapers.
So, I think you don’t have to be afraid to try many different things. You will learn from your mistakes. Just love what you do, stay consistent, and go for it.”
I was looking at Pari while she was talking about her projects. Her eyes were shining, and her whole presence radiated joy. I think this is the number one step to restart your career. No matter the field. Maybe a waitress wants to go to law school because her dream is to work for the UN. Maybe another lawyer just wants to open a beach bar in Bali after long years of corporate practice.
There is no objective measurement of your career goal. One’s dream is someone’s nightmare and vice versa. What matters only is to find a career that you love doing every day. This is the only thing that will help you to be consistent. This is the only way to continue even when it doesn’t work out. In the beginning, you have to do it for the purpose of doing it. And when you gain enough experience, the result will come, naturally, as a byproduct.
Cover photo copyright: https://www.instagram.com/pari_stylefiles
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