#106 | If We Had To Start Again Today

#106 | If We Had To Start Again Today

Sign-up to our newsletter for a FREE budget calculator! - https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share In this episode, we break down a powerful question: If we had to start our creative careers again from zero… what would we actually do differently? We rewind all the way back to the beginning and walk through it step-by-step. From staying broad early on to discover what you actually enjoy shooting, to niching down once you find your lane. We talk about building a portfolio with work you truly want to be hired for, not work that simply pays, and why gear and money shouldn’t be your focus in the early stages. We also discuss making a “good enough” website instead of spending months perfecting it, and how your energy is far better spent creating strong projects. Once the portfolio is live? Outreach begins. From direct emails and networking to documenting your journey online, not for virality, but as a personal scrapbook of progress. We dive into what we’d aim for in the first 3-6 months, how to slowly level up clients, when to start becoming selective, and why real progress often takes at least three years of consistent work. We also break down what we’d completely ignore if starting again: obsessing over camera gear, locking yourself into rigid technical “rules”, and chasing trends in the hope of going viral. This episode is practical, grounded, and honest, especially for beginners trying to figure out what actually matters. Cameron's socials: 3D YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCzspZD6dpsO4RrZQ9GMI-dA Gaming YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@camincontrol Cameron's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cameron_hall96/ Cameron's website - https://tinygrade.com Matt's Socials: Matt's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt.pearsonn Matt's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/matt.pearsonn/ Matt's website - https://www.mattpearson.co.uk CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 08:33 - Staring over, what would we do differently? 12:48 - Build the RIGHT portfolio 17:23 - Make a simple website 20:25 - Start Outreach & Making Content 24:40 - Document the journey 43:30 - Finding Better Clients 50:45 - What would we ignore? 55:50 -  Chasing trends: when to do it STAY CONNECTED WITH US! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lateinvoices/ ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠: https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LHl6iPM84u6L0oBsPWrYb?si=9TzClF-5RZm7GmodEFgElQ

#105 | Ask For The Opportunity (Seriously)

Sign-up to our newsletter for a FREE budget calculator! - https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share In this episode, Matt breaks down his recent Nike trail campaign shoot, travelling through Milan, boarding a branded train past Lake Como, and hiking in the mountains to capture Nike’s outdoor range in real conditions. But the bigger conversation goes beyond the scenery. We talk about what it really means to stop holding back in your career. Early on, you have to be bold, you reach out, you introduce yourself, you create opportunities. Later in your career, referrals and reputation start to do the heavy lifting. But somewhere along the way, many creatives lose that edge. So we ask: are we playing it too safe? Should we be more intentional, more direct, and more “ballsy” about who we want to work with? We also unpack networking on set. Why collecting everyone’s contact details isn’t the goal, and how natural, meaningful interactions are far more powerful long-term. Finally, we dive into something rarely discussed: creative longevity. Backpacks with wheels, posture on set, hydration, range of motion, standing desks, optimising your workspace, because if you want to build a long career, your body has to keep up with your ambition. Cameron's socials: 3D YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCzspZD6dpsO4RrZQ9GMI-dA Gaming YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@camincontrol Cameron's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cameron_hall96/ Matt's Socials: Matt's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt.pearsonn Matt's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/matt.pearsonn/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 16:26 - Stop holding back, ask for opportunities 25:50 - Staying Healthy as a Creative 36:10 - Optimising your workspace STAY CONNECTED WITH US! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lateinvoices/ ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠: https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LHl6iPM84u6L0oBsPWrYb?si=9TzClF-5RZm7GmodEFgElQ

#104 | Busy… But Going Nowhere - Why Being Busy Isn’t Progress

Sign-up to our newsletter for a FREE budget calculator! - https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share This week we tackle a topic every creative struggles with at some point: being busy vs actually being effective. We discuss how creativity is vulnerable by nature. Making real work means risking judgement, which makes it tempting to hide behind “safe” tasks, emails, admin, tweaking, reorganising. Instead of producing the thing that actually matters. We also talk about the power of personal projects and why simply booking a shoot date in the calendar forces commitment and momentum. Another big theme is over-caring. After a certain point, obsessing over details, perfection, or what others think can actually slow you down and reduce the quality of your output. There’s a tipping point where caring becomes diminishing returns. Finally, we dive into trusting your own creative taste. In a world full of opinions, metrics, and feedback, it’s easy to lose touch with what you actually like. But your taste is your compass and learning to trust it is one of the most important skills a creative can develop. Cameron has started his 3D portfolio with the clear intention of attracting client work for 3D modelling, and using ChatGPT to identify work he likes and how he can push his portfolio in that direction. Matt shares a mystery Nike gift box ahead of an upcoming shoot in Milan and the Alps, but the heart of this episode quickly moves into something deeper: how easy it is to fill our days with movement that looks like progress, while avoiding the uncomfortable work that actually moves us forward. This episode is about focus, courage, momentum, and learning to create from your own internal standard instead of external noise. Cameron's socials: 3D YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCzspZD6dpsO4RrZQ9GMI-dA Gaming YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@camincontrol Cameron's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cameron_hall96/ Matt's Socials: Matt's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt.pearsonn Matt's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/matt.pearsonn/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 06:07 - Busy Work VS Effective Work 17:45 - Fear of Creation 18:55 - Value of Personal Work 22:22 - Caring too much 29:21 - Trusting Your Taste STAY CONNECTED WITH US! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lateinvoices/ ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠: https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LHl6iPM84u6L0oBsPWrYb?si=9TzClF-5RZm7GmodEFgElQ

#103 | Overdelivering & When To Do It

Sign-up to our newsletter for a FREE budget calculator! - https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share In this episode, we dive into the idea of overdelivering. When it’s powerful, when it’s unnecessary, and how to decide which projects genuinely deserve more of your time and energy. We kick things off with Cameron sharing updates on his 3D journey, finishing his drone project and stepping into more intentional portfolio work. He also touches on something that feels universal across creative industries, the familiar noise around “no work,” slow periods, and frustration, and how that mindset shows up just as much in 3D as it does in photo and video. Matt breaks down his recent trip to South Africa, including the realities of travelling for shoots, navigating safety concerns in Johannesburg, and working under intense conditions, high heat, high altitude, and fast-moving environments while photographing elite athletes. This leads into a broader conversation around staying sharp, adaptable, and professional when working on location. We also unpack the real heart of the episode: overdelivering as both a creative choice and a business decision. We discuss how to recognise which projects are worth pushing further, when overdelivering actually strengthens long-term relationships, and when it risks burnout or diminishing returns. We also talk about choosing images for yourself versus choosing images for the client, and how those decisions impact your portfolio and reputation. We wrap up by discussing building rapport with talent, why trust and connection often lead to the best work on set, and how strategising on the best way to showcase and share your work is just as important as the core work itself. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 11:01 - South Africa Shoot 12:44 - Travelling for shoots 18:55 - Selecting Best Shots for Clients VS Yourself 38:44 - Overdelivering & When To Do It 43:35 - Finding Balance with Shoot Intensity 46:02 - How You Share Your Work Matters 53:16 - Building Rapport with Talent STAY CONNECTED WITH US! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lateinvoices/ ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠: https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LHl6iPM84u6L0oBsPWrYb?si=9TzClF-5RZm7GmodEFgElQ

#102 | The Psychology of Freelancing

Sign-up to our newsletter for a FREE budget calculator! - https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share In this episode, we dive into the psychological side of freelancing — the parts people don’t talk about enough. We unpack belief as a freelancer: belief in your creative process, your pricing, your pace, and the way you choose to show up. We discuss the difference between being loudly confident versus letting your skills and craft speak for themselves... and why both approaches can work if they’re authentic to you. We also get real about self-motivation and resilience. Freelancing doesn’t wait for motivation, it demands commitment. We talk about turning up even when you don’t feel like it, handling feedback and rejection, sending messages that never get replies, and sitting with silence without letting it knock you off course. This episode is about understanding that uncertainty, quiet periods, and doubt aren’t signs you’re failing, they’re part of the job. And if you can stay committed through that, things do start to click. Cameron's socials: 3D YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@CameronHall⁩  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCzspZD6dpsO4RrZQ9GMI-dA] Gaming YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@camincontroll⁩  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCLKg24Nx7q5XvciPJr4wr9A] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cameron_hall96/ Matt's Socials: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Matt.pearsonn Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/matt.pearsonn/ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 08:44 - Psychology of Freelancers 09:28 - Belief as a Freelancer 14:03 - Work ethic as a Freelancer 20:43 - Self-doubt & taking action 26:13 - Feedback and rejection 29:48 - Silence & uncertainty STAY CONNECTED WITH US! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lateinvoices/ ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠: https://linktr.ee/lateinvoices?utm_source=linktree_profile_share Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LHl6iPM84u6L0oBsPWrYb?si=9TzClF-5RZm7GmodEFgElQ