Starting a new project? Download our free workbook to build your brand with confidence.
The email you entered is invalid.
Thank you for subscribing.
By entering your email, you indicate that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy and agree to receive marketing from Squarespace.
Frauke Hameister, also known as Frauki on social media, didn’t necessarily plan to become a full-time creative. Her freelance photography career began with the decision to take a gap year after finishing school. Though she’s now based in Germany, she spent a year in Vancouver, Canada, and quickly fell in love with the mountainous areas around the city.
“Vancouver is surrounded by some stunning landscapes, so every day I had off, I tried to escape into the mountains,” Frauke says. “I originally just loved documenting the journey with my phone camera and posted the images online to share with friends. I picked up a camera a couple years later and well, here I am.”
Now, she hikes and photographs her way through mountains all over the world, sharing her travels with her social media followers. Find out more about the point of view Frauke brings to her photography, how Squarespace helps her manage her business from anywhere, and how her website helps her protect her creative freedom.
Transporting viewers into nature
Though not everyone can take long trips into the mountains, Frauke’s goal is for her photography to give viewers the next best thing. “I try to pull the viewer into the image, so that they feel like they are there with me in that very moment,” she says.
She also hopes that by bringing viewers into her travels and showing them the raw beauty of the natural world, her photos will have a more lasting impact. “If 10 people look at my art and say, ‘Hey, I want to connect with nature and protect it more now,’ then that's a win,” Frauke says. “It is what aligns best with where my heart truly lies.”
Defining your artistic niche with a strong website
Frauke began her creative career online, so she understands the value of a website and regularly updates her own to ensure it reflects her artistic style.
“I believe that the first couple seconds a person spends on a website are the most important ones,” she says. “They decide if the viewer continues browsing, or if they just leave. So I focus on displaying some of my favorite images right away, full screen. The gallery tool is really useful for that. It’s also perfect for showcasing a portfolio or a series of images taken on a specific adventure.”
Her website has also helped her put a stake in the ground when it comes to brand partnerships. Frauke credits her Squarespace site, which hosts her blog and an online store where she sells image presets, for helping her support herself without compromising her authenticity.
“I am lucky enough to be in a position now where I do not accept brand deals that are not a true fit. Squarespace definitely helped a lot with that,” she says. “I can generate income that I need for my travels and projects by selling something that I made, instead of having to push products to my viewers that they might not even be interested in. When a company reaches out, I research them, and try to hop on a call with the people behind the project to really get a feel if this is the right fit for me and my audience.”
That creative freedom has translated into a collaborations portfolio on her website that features major brands, but still has the sweeping, adventurous point of view that’s unique to Frauke.
“I think it’s a process that will never end,” she says of designing her website. “Just like my photography has changed over these years, so has my Squarespace website.”
Running a creative career on the go with the Squarespace app
It can be challenging at times, however, to be an online creator who spends a lot of time living and working out of a hiking pack or a camper car. For those periods, Frauke turns to the Squarespace app.
“On the road I don’t always check my laptop or have it with me, so I heavily rely on my phone,” she says. “The Squarespace app makes it really simple to update projects, respond to clients, and stay on top of sales or questions.”
As for what’s next, Frauke has some big ideas brewing for her audience. “I am thinking of making an area that gives exclusive access to only a small portion of my audience, where they can ask questions or get a newsletter, where I can upload videos or blog articles about travels, and teach about photography and editing,” she says, referring to Squarespace’s Member Sites feature. “It’s an idea, but I think this could be a fun winter project to work on.”
Inspired by Frauke’s story? Start building your own brand on Squarespace.