Working remotely as a content creator — My experiences
Working remotely as a content creator — What I've learned in 3 years
Sounds like a dream, right? Laptop on the beach, coconut palms in the background, working whenever and wherever you want. And yes — parts of it are true. But reality is more complicated than any Instagram post would suggest.
- Income mix: 65 % from brand collaborations with tourism boards and hotels, 20 % content-for-hire, 15 % presets, consulting and affiliate.
- Best location in winter: Medellín in Colombia — perfect spring climate all year round, fast internet in El Poblado, vibrant nomad community and manageable time difference to Europe during the day.
- A cheaper alternative: Chiang Mai costs between €600 and €1,000 per month with 50-200 Mbps and the best coworking spaces in Southeast Asia — ideal for the start-up phase.
- Months 1-6: Platform building without income; first paid deals from 10,000 engaged followers; full-time only after three months of stable funding.
- Harsh reality: Remote days last 10-12 hours between sunrise shooting and community interaction — a camera-free week is needed every six to eight weeks.
Since 2017, I've worked remotely as a content creator. I've worked from over 25 countries, in hostels, cafes, coworking spaces, at airports, in vans, and yes—once actually on a beach (sand in my keyboard, never again). Here's my honest account: what works, what doesn't, and how you can make the leap.
Revenue sources as a travel content creator
Before I talk about the "where" and "how," let's talk about the "what." Because without a stable income, remote work is just an expensive vacation.
Brand collaborations (60% of my earnings)
Tourism BoardTourism boards, hotels, outdoor brands, tech companies—they all need content. And they pay for it. When I started, I worked for free hotel nights. Today, I negotiate completely different sums. The key: having a clear niche (for me: adventure travel + drone content), a professional appearance, and a media kit that transparently demonstrates reach and engagement rate.
Content production for third parties (20%)
Many brands need photos and videos but don't want to fly in their own photographer. I produce content on my travels that companies can use for their own channels. It's less glamorous than posting their own content, but it's lucrative and predictable.
Digital Products & Affiliate (15%)
Lightroom presets, a drone photography guide, equipment recommendations with affiliate links. Passive income is the holy grail—but "passive" doesn't mean "without work." My presets took hundreds of hours to develop before I earned a single euro.
Consulting & Speaking (5%)
Tourism boards and marketing agencies are increasingly booking me as a consultant, and conferences like ITB Berlin as a speaker. High hourly rates, predictable appointments—a valuable addition to my creative work.
My typical workday on the road
Forget the "4-hour workweek" myth. As a content creator on the go, you work more, not less — because the boundaries between work and leisure become blurred.
My average day:
- 6:00–8:00: Photo shoot (golden hour, the best light)
- 8:00–9:00: Breakfast, checking emails
- 9:00–13:00: Editing block (Lightroom, Premiere Pro, writing texts)
- 13:00–17:00: Explore, gather content, shoot videos
- 17:00–19:00: Sunset shooting + drone flight
- 19:00–21:00: Social media posting, community interaction, planning
That's 10-12 hours where something work-like happens. But: I absolutely love it. The difference to the office is that the "work" consists of photoshoots on dream beaches and writing about my experiences—not meetings and Excel spreadsheets.
My most productive days are when I settle down somewhere for a week. In a coworking space in Medellín, a café in Bali, an Airbnb apartment in Lisbon. The "a new place every day" romance doesn't work with remote work. You need routine, a stable internet connection, and a place where you can work with focus for 4-6 hours.
The best places to work remotely
After three years of remote work, I have a clear top list:
| Location | Internet | Cost of living/month | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medellín, Colombia | 50–100 Mbit/s | €800–1,200 | Perfect climate, affordable, nomad community |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 100+ Mbit/s | €1,200–1,800 | Europe, good internet, surf culture |
| Chiang Mai, Thailand | 50–200 Mbit/s | €600–1,000 | Cheapest nomad hub, best coworking spaces |
| Cartagena, Colombia | 50–100 Mbit/s | €800–1,200 | Caribbean warmth in winter, colonial old town |
| Tbilisi, Georgia | 30–80 Mbit/s | €500–800 | Absurdly cheap, 1 year visa-free, wine culture |
The hardest lessons as a remote content creator
The first three months traveling alone were magical. From month six onwards, it hit me. You miss deep friendships, not just hostel acquaintances. My solution: regularly return to the same place and build real connections there. Medellín and Las Palmas are now my "bases".
If every day is supposed to be an "adventure," it eventually becomes exhausting. I've learned that every six to eight weeks I need a week of "normal life": staying in one place, cooking, reading, not touching a camera. It sounds unglamorous, but it's essential for survival.
International credit cards with no foreign transaction fees (Wise, Revolut), travel-appropriate international health insurance, and a reliable cloud backup for your entire photo/video library are essential. Those traveling for an extended period should set up their banking, insurance, and healthcare arrangements with local experts at their chosen place of residence.
4. The internet can make or break your day: I lost a meeting with a tourism board because the Wi-Fi in my Colombian hostel crashed at 2 p.m. Since then: always have a backup hotspot with a local SIM card, run a speed test before every important call, and never leave critical uploads until the last minute.
5. Not every trip is content: The biggest mistake I made was filming everything, photographing everything, turning every experience into content. Eventually, you stop experiencing anything—you're just producing. Now I have a clear rule: At least one day a week is camera-free. Period.
How you can get started as a content creator
Phase 1 (Months 1–6): Build a platform on the side. Start an Instagram account or YouTube channel on a topic you're passionate about, alongside your regular job. Post regularly (at least 3 times a week), learn photography and video editing, and build a community. Expect zero income.
Phase 2 (Months 6–12): First collaborations. Once you have 5,000 followers with good engagement (3%+), you can approach local businesses. Restaurants, small hotels, local brands. Initially, work for portfolio material, not for money.
Phase 3 (Months 12–24): Monetization. Once you have 10,000–20,000 followers with consistent quality, you'll start receiving paid inquiries. Create a media kit, set professional rates (don't work for free!), and diversify: affiliate marketing, presets, collaborations.
Phase 4 (from month 24): Full-time. If your monthly income covers your living expenses for three consecutive months AND you have a three-month financial cushion, you can take the plunge. Not before. Seriously.
If you want to travel through Europe in a van alongside your creator business, read my Van life costs Articles — that's a popular combination.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Remote Working as a Creator
Is it really possible to make a living as a content creator?
Yes — but it takes time. Plan for a 1–2 year build-up phase during which you'll earn little to nothing. The content creator market is competitive, but the demand for good content is huge. The key is niche + consistency + professionalization. Anyone who gives up after 6 months should never have started.
Do I need a lot of followers for remote work as a creator?
Fewer than you think. 10,000 engaged followers in a well-defined niche are more valuable than 100,000 ghost followers. Micro-influencers (10K–50K) often have better engagement rates and are more attractive to brands than large accounts with purchased followers. Quality always beats quantity.
What equipment do I need to get started?
A current flagship smartphone (iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or better—older models can't keep up in low light, video stabilization, and 4K HDR), a laptop with Lightroom and Premiere Pro (or DaVinci Resolve, which is free), and a simple tripod. That's it. No expensive camera equipment is needed until you've mastered the basics. Only upgrade when you realize your smartphone is limiting you.
Want to know where to take the best photos? Read my Travel photography tips — these apply to creators just as much as to hobby photographers. And for aerial photography: mine Drone recommendations.
Max Haase
Travel Content Creator · Drone Photographer · Visual Storyteller
A professional travel creator for over 10 years with over 4.2 million followers. Specializing in high-end tourism board collaborations and visual travel storytelling.
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