Articles by: Hanna Brooks Olsen

One of the best things about outdoor photography is that, while photographers may trek to the same gorgeous locations, season after season, year after year, their photos are completely different. Outdoor photographers capture not only the natural beauty of a breathtaking location, but also an emotion, a feeling -- and a unique experience.

[caption id="attachment_6908" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image by Pete O'Shea via Flickr[/caption] You know — because every SEO expert, marketing consultant, and armchair internet critic under the sun has told you, either directly or indirectly — that a blog is a great tool for your freelance career or small business. Blogging helps potential clients get to know you, creates new and ever-changing content for search engines to find, can drive sales and revenue, and helps you give your products or services a platform.

The US may have been knocked from the World Cup, but the beautiful game's biggest tournament will continue to play on without us, and we're ok with that. Really, we are.

Long summer weekends are great for lazily letting the hours slip away, but before you turn to Netflix to zone out, why not use some of your time to get inspired and start the second half of the year on the right foot?

[caption id="attachment_6859" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image via Flickr[/caption] Creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and regular old people are forever searching for the secret to inspiration. Is it a flash, like lightning that strikes when you least expect it, or is it a slow burn that builds over a lifetime of paying close attention to everything around you?

Studio lighting can be intimidating — so much so that even renowned photographers like Sue Bryce admit to not fully understanding the complexity of it. Fortunately, editorial and commercial photographer Felix Kunze has a knack for making it look easy.

[caption id="attachment_6793" align="alignnone" width="612"] Image via Flickr[/caption] Networking events. Mixers.

[caption id="attachment_6797" align="alignnone" width="620"] Image: Chase Jarvis[/caption] At the tender age of 22, one of my friend editors gave me the most important piece of freelance advice I've ever heard: You are the product. Because being successful as a freelancer or creative entrepreneur requires a lot of things: Hard work, a few very supportive friends, and probably at least one credit card that you're comfortable putting some serious spending on until the work starts to pick up.