How to Get Your Creative Side Hustle Off the Ground: Jeremy Mitchell Explains

In New York City, you can never hustle enough. That’s why so many New Yorkers have a side hustle. And some, the talented, lucky and hard working, have been able to turn their side hustles into full time jobs. Jeremy Mitchell is one such New Yorker, spinning his high school years flipping sneakers into a multi-faceted creative career that includes roles like photographer, stylist, and influencer. To learn how Jeremy did it, we recently caught up with him in Brooklyn to ask him a few questions and get his best tips for hustling up creative side work.

So Jeremy, you’re a New Yorker with many creative talents. Can you start off telling us a bit about your first hustle making bracelets?

Actually, my first hustle started back in 2008. I was buying and reselling sneakers and other streetwear gear on ISS (sole collector marketplace) back in high school. Once I started college in 2010, my interest in sneakers started to fade. That’s when I picked up making bracelets.

How did social media help there, especially things like Tumblr?

Way before Instagram became a thing, I developed a decent following from the sneaker forum sites and Facebook. I caught the attention of another member on the sneaker forum site. We became friends over Facebook and eventually, we decided to do a collaboration. We made each bracelet match the color way of our favorite Jordans, posted the product on Tumblr, and from there it blew up.

Fulton Oxford

Rider Chino

From there, what came next: working as a photographer or working as a stylist?

I didn’t call myself a photographer until years later. I bought a camera mainly because I wanted to take my own pictures for the bracelets I designed. I had a vision and I felt I was the only one who knew how to execute it. And I loved every moment of it. I’ve learned a lot through trial and error. However, I felt like I needed to learn more if I wanted these bracelets to pop off. So from 2011-2013, I decided to pick up a job at the J. Crew men’s shop in SoHo. My first and last job [laughs]. There, I learned what customers had a taste for. I was also able to expand on my own personal style, and I started styling customers that happened to become regulars. I loved it. I loved the reaction the client makes when they try on the outfits I helped them pick out. I loved watching them come back just to do it all over again. I loved dressing people, men and women, and still do to this day. It wasn’t until I started taking photos of myself and others of the clothes I styled that I really called myself a photographer. I knew what I was doing when it came to photography, so I figured why not own up to it. I also had a mentor that gave me some tips on how to navigate as a photographer in fashion.

Then how did you link up with the New York tradeshows you worked with? Were you doing photos for them or more?

I had a friend that worked with Project NY way, way back – 2010 I believe. Twice a year, for like 2-3 years, I would shadow him. I’d help him with imagery, pulling product, whatever he needed. I was pretty much his intern. But I offered to do that because I wanted to learn more about this industry. Soon after, I got a call from the guys in charge of social wanting me to be a part of the team. From there, I’ve done almost everything. Shoot, style, consult, blog, model. It was a fun journey.

Sylvan Split Tee

Rider Chino

And then, when did you realize you could turn this all into being a blogger and an Instagram influencer?

I love photography and I love clothes. Once I started getting paid to put the two things I love together is when I started taking things seriously. And I’m very grateful to have a platform that allows me to showcase that side of me.