I wrote the following text for those considering a freelance life or for those simply curious about how I organize my time.

My working days vary but generally consist of similar elements. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle that can be arranged in many different configurations. I do photo shoots in my studio at various times, photo shoots at clients’ premises, meetings, conversations with clients, email correspondence, photo processing, social media, website and shop maintenance, blog writing, invoicing (plus visits to the accountant), and drawing up contracts, devising strategies, and preparing various activities. I’m also involved in the art world, realizing my own projects, taking part in exhibitions, attending meetings, applying for exhibitions, and seeking artistic residencies.
I educate myself by reading, listening, and taking courses on various topics—both photography-related and business-related, as well as those focusing on personal development.
Plus, there’s a bundle of logistical and technical self-service activities. 😉

It’s a lot, but I suppose that’s normal for self-employed people.

There are weeks when I spend almost the entire time in front of the computer, especially after multiple photo shoots when I need to catch up on processing. Fortunately, I can organize such a “computerized” working day flexibly. For example, I can take a midday break and go for a jog in the woods. I admit, sitting in front of the computer for hours on end is quite difficult for me. It’s not just the position; eye fatigue also takes its toll. I like to take breaks from this activity, especially in the autumn and winter when daylight is scarce. I want to make the most of the day and do something for myself while it’s still light outside.

Shooting days are much more dynamic, especially the long ones where I photograph a lot of people. The hustle and bustle, along with the crowd dynamics, make me drop everything after the session, and I absolutely have to eat lunch first! A big one! It’s quite an energy expenditure for me, so I usually end up terribly hungry 😉 😉
Sessions with one or a few people flow with a pleasant calmness, have a slower pace, and are usually shorter.

I work in a variety of locations. Photo sessions take place in my Portrait Studio in Katowice or at clients’ businesses. I also have a computer workstation at home. When I first opened my studio, I thought I would move the desk there. But I quickly realized that my mornings require a long “run-up”—while my head is already working at full speed, my body still needs some time. So, I sit down (sometimes still in my pajamas), and once my head is engaged, I can focus and get a lot done. I don’t waste time moving around. I ended up doing away with the desk in the studio because I wasn’t actually using it.

By concentrating my work on portrait photography for businesses, I’ve also been able to structure my working hours around times that suit me best. I wanted to work only between Monday and Friday, with a focus on the first part of the day. This type of photography allows such flexibility. Many entrepreneurs treat a photo shoot as part of their working life and also prefer to schedule it during traditional working hours.
Of course, there are sessions in the afternoons or evenings—for those who also work full-time—but these are far fewer.

I remember when I started my career as a professional photographer in 2006. For the first five years, I worked as a photojournalist, and my working hours had no framework. I was fulfilling press assignments on any day and at any time. That was the nature of the business. Back then, my main priority was to gain experience and cover as many topics as possible because I was still learning. It was a dynamic, crazy time, but very valuable. Those five years were like a solid photography school. The following years were quieter. I focused on reportage for companies, so I knew in advance what I was going to do, when, and where. But my availability was still full.
It wasn’t until I opened the Portrait Studio in 2018 and began focusing primarily on portraiture that I narrowed my availability to weekdays.
Does this mean I categorically do not work on weekends?

Sometimes I make an exception, but it has to be something really special. On the other hand, workshops and cultural events—art-related festivals—usually take place on weekends. I accept this, of course, and organize and participate in them with pleasure.
Sometimes I also write on weekends. Particularly the mornings, when there are no scheduled activities, give me the space and energy to write.

To summarize, I try to organize my working time within a specific framework. It creates a rhythm, and it’s easier to identify when to rest. As you know, in freelance life, resting can often be a challenge, and professional activities can drag on endlessly. I really need time off, a clear separation between work life and personal time.
During times of abundant commissions, I may end up working into the evening, sometimes working 12-hour days. But there’s a flip side to this coin: I take advantage of days off during the week if I feel like going to the mountains (or elsewhere), knowing that it doesn’t clash with my commitments.

Diversity and variability are probably what I like most. Every day can be different.
I’m writing this text in Wrocław, on a beautiful sunny Friday, sitting on the boulevards by the river, not far from the hotel where I’m staying. Yesterday (6.03.2025), I opened my exhibition Portrait of a Woman, which is part of the review ‘Interstices. Women in the Performing Arts 2025’, organized by the Jerzy Grotowski Institute in Wrocław. In a moment, I’ll head to the Institute for another event—a talk titled ‘I Carry Thousands of Faces in Me’, led by Jarosław Fret, with the participation of Gosia Kozera-Topińska, the author of the documentary film Agata’s Faces, and Agata di Masternak, the main character in the documentary.

I photograph, I share my experience, I present the results of the need to create. So let it flow interestingly.

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You can find the texts in this series under the ‘I have a company‘ category. Or click the tag: 18.

It is this December (2024) that the company I founded in 2006 celebrates its 18th birthday. And actually I’m celebrating this birthday, because in the case of a one-person business, combined with a personal brand and being an author, the company is me.
Over these eighteen years, I have accumulated a whole bagful of experience. My business has gone through several transformations, I’ve caught up with crises and doubts, and I’ve also enjoyed a huge number of successes.
In all this time, photography has been my only source of income.
I don’t know if I can count how many people I have photographed, how many events and places.

Of course, a one-person business isn’t just – in my case – about photographing and post-processing. It’s also a huge amount of work: communicating and meeting clients, running the website, social media and the shop, writing the blog, running workshops, dealing with documentation (invoices, contracts, etc.), promo activities, strategy and trying to get away from the day-to-day to draw visions and plans. It’s also personal development, education, new competences.
And a whole bunch of crap, such as servicing my car (which is my work tool, after all), taking care of the studio or running to the parcel machine with a delivery. So it’s not just a crap.

To celebrate my anniversary, I have decided to write a series of texts about how I run my business, what difficulties I have encountered and what goes lightly. Where I get my inspiration from and where I look for answers. What values do I hold dear. What my typical working day looks like – do I even have such a thing as a typical working day. And I’ll probably catch a few more ideas in between. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, I’ve experienced some total fuck-ups 😉 Fortunately, moments of elation and happiness were more frequent.