If you missed the last two, you can click through to meet insurer and photographer Ashley Baxter, and digital marketer Kaye Symington.
Today we're saying hello to freelance photographer Colin Tennant.
"I run my business, Colin Tennant Photography, as a sole trader," Colin told us ahead of Small is Beautiful 2015. "I work within the disciplines of photography, film and visual art. I try to maintain a balance of commercial work, and personal projects that allow greater artistic freedom."
Colin is based in Glasgow, but his work takes him all across Glasgow and the UK. "My studio-office space is located in the East End of Glasgow, however I travel regularly across the UK," said Colin. "I can be in Ullapool one week, taking promotional stills for a feature length film, and be in Norfolk the next, filming a series of videos for a sustainable tourism client."
"I also work a lot in Dumfries and Galloway, the region where I am from. Much of my work in that region is centered on the culture and tourism sectors. I am currently working on a 6-month photography project documenting the commercial seafood industry of the region as well as creating a short film about a modern heritage craft initiative run by the arts organisation 'Spring Fling'.
Everyday is different for me, both in terms of where I am and what I am doing. I like that, it keeps things interesting."
Like many other solopreneurs and freelancers in the creative industries, Colin worked with an arts organisation before making the leap into business.
"After graduating from Glasgow School of Art I worked as a Visual Arts Development Officer for Dumfries and Galloway Council for two years. In that position I learnt a lot by speaking to other individuals who had been running their own creative business. I really enjoyed my job with the council but I always knew that I wanted to be a photographer, so I took the plunge and set up my own business on my 28th birthday in November 2010."
"I always knew that I wanted to work as a full-time photographer and it seemed that setting up my own business was the best way to achieve that goal."
Colin chooses to be self-employed, but he is also a co-founder of The Stove Network – an artist collective which develops large-scale public art projects primarily in Dumfries and Galloway. "I choose to be self-employed, mainly because the nature of my profession lends itself to being self-employed," he told us.
"I also enjoy the flexibility that being self-employed offers. It allows me to work on many different types of projects across many disciplines. At the same time, The Stove Network allows me to work on diverse art projects with a multitude of creative people. This allows me to work on projects that vary in size and collaborate with like-minded people regularly."
His involvement with Stove is also integral to his idea of growth in business and staying small. " 'Growth' is a term that I interpret in several different ways, and something I think about regularly, he said.
"I'm not sure if I will grow my business in terms of personnel as I enjoy the flexibility, freedom and creative autonomy of being a sole trader. In the context of my business, growth means improving and developing my creative practice, understanding my artistic output and making considered choices about projects I develop and work on as well as collaborating regularly with like minded people."
We asked Colin where he's found support for his business. "Financially speaking, I have received support from Business Gateway and the Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust. I have also received grants from Creative Scotland and Dumfries & Galloway Council.
"The Cultural Enterprise Office also provided me with valuable advice and support when starting out and still continue to do so. I find them to be a valuable resource for individuals and organisations working in the creative industries."
And what is he looking forward to at Small is Beautiful? "My business survives on a demand for high quality visual communication from diverse industry clients. Small is Beautiful events convey a strong message that working with micro enterprises provides benefits to both the creative professional and the wider economy, and that's really invaluable. It's also full of people who are less likely to say things like 'that cant be done' – which I appreciate!"
Want to meet freelancers and creative entrepreneurs like Colin at Small is Beautiful 2015? Early bird tickets are £99 and can be purchased here.
Learn more about Colin on his website – Colin Tennant Photography, and follow him on Twitter. You can also visit The Stove.
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