Working remotely: A guide by Nina Catt

Last year, beauty journalist Nina Catt packed her suitcases to head for Canada with her husband and two bunny rabbits - but she didn’t close the door on working in the Australian beauty industry. Far from it. Though she lives on the other side of the world, Catt still produces work for Australian brands and publications. Here, we talk to the beauty editor to find out how she makes it work, and the challenges and benefits from working abroad...

Is it hard to work for Australian brands/companies when you are living in another country?
No, not at all. I’ve actually found it so much easier than I expected. When the opportunity arose for my husband and I to relocate to Canada, I hoped it would be possible to continue writing for Australian brands and publications - but I didn’t imagine I could still be so involved. I’m really fortunate that I was able to keep writing the beauty section in that’s life! as well as picking up a few new clients along the way!

Are there any benefits to working abroad?
I’m experiencing living in a new country, while still having my foot firmly in the door in Australia. It’s also really exciting to see new beauty ranges that don’t yet exist in Australia. I feel like a kid in a candy store in Shoppers Drug Mart (Canada’s Priceline equivalent). I spend hours gazing at all the micellar waters. No joke!

Have any brands/companies had an issue with your location?
Not at all. I have great relationships with a lot of Australian brands and PRs - in both beauty and fashion. I’m so grateful that I’m still approached for freelance work, and that PRs make the extra effort to keep me updated with news and new launches.

Is it harder to approach brands/companies about freelance work?
The only thing I can’t do remotely now is fashion styling. Everything else - writing for mags, beauty blogging, shooting beauty products and social media management - is done as if I was still in Sydney. Although there’s a huge time difference (Toronto is 16 hours behind Sydney), I work around the clock to ensure I’m still contactable for most of the Sydney working day.

Does modern technology make it easier to work remotely?
Communicating is really easy. A lot of things can be done over email, plus there’s FaceTime and the good old postman for parcels. I shoot a lot of products and swatches for my beauty work myself, so images are sent to my clients via email or Dropbox!

What resources and sites do you use the most?
I can honestly say BEAUTYDIRECTORY is my absolute savior. I don’t know what I’d do without it. I can’t speak highly enough of the site - it’s brilliant. [Thanks Nina!]

What do you miss most about working in beauty on Australian soil?
The beauty girls! Having been in the fashion and beauty industry in the UK before spending eight years in Sydney, I feel privileged to have met and worked with such a great bunch in Australia. I miss events in the sunshine, gossiping in the back of taxis with other Pac Mags beauty eds, and Tims Tams. And most of all, the friendships I made.