I Had No Portfolio When I Started...But I Still Got Clients
Starting freelancing without a portfolio is one of the, uh, let’s say, brave and risky things I did when I started. Sometimes you think you need a portfolio to start, but it’s okay if you don’t have one. Because you can still get clients without one, and that’s exactly what happened to me.
Okay, before you act, this blog post has no intention to misguide you or give you any misinformation. I just want to be clear before anything else.
The blog post intends to share with you my personal experience and what I did to create a portfolio after realising the small mistake, and also to recommend tools that are fit for your portfolio purposes.
How You Can Get Clients Without a Portfolio
In my previous blog post, I mentioned that I went straight to Upwork instead of creating a separate portfolio.
And it worked.
Even without a portfolio, I was able to get clients. One reason is simple. I made my proposals clear and easy for clients to understand.
So yes, you can get clients without a portfolio. And if suddenly, you got your first client and finished the project, you can create one even without a website.
How?
By using Upwork as your portfolio.
Instead of building something from scratch, you can create your portfolio directly inside the platform through your profile.
Here’s what I did:
After completing my first and second projects, I turned them into portfolio pieces. I used images from the projects, with the client’s permission, and added them to my profile.
The advantage?
Your feedback is already there. When clients check your profile, they don’t just see your work. They also see real reviews from previous clients.
That builds trust faster than any standalone portfolio.
How to create your portfolio on Upwork
- Add a clear title for your project
- State your role in the project
- Write a brief description of what you did
- Highlight your skills and key contributions
- Upload a clean image of your work
- Link it to the client feedback or rating, if possible
Is It Okay to Delay Creating a Portfolio?
For me, yes.
If you’re in the same position and thinking about creating a separate portfolio outside of Upwork, it’s okay if you delay it at the beginning.
Why?
Because you’re just starting.
Freelance platforms like Upwork, PeoplePerHour, and Fiverr can already act as your portfolio. They give you visibility, reviews, and proof of work.
That’s enough to get moving.
So use them. Take advantage of what’s already there.
If I were you, I’d focus on learning one platform first instead of jumping between all of them. It makes it easier for clients to find you and trust you.
That’s exactly what I did.
I used Upwork as my main resource and built my freelancing work there.
But here’s the part I didn’t realise early enough…
Relying too much on one platform can quietly hold you back.
And I didn’t see that until much later.
So keep reading because I’m going to explain this in the most honest way possible.
The Late Realisation When It Comes to Creating a Portfolio
Because I relied heavily on Upwork, I didn’t notice right away that I was starting to fall behind. I also didn’t realise how important it is to have a separate portfolio, something you actually own.
Then life changed.
I moved to another country, started a family, and eventually needed to take a break. I gave birth and became a stay-at-home mum.
After a two-year career break, I decided to return to freelancing and start accepting client work again.
That’s when it hit me.
Every time I reached out to clients, I kept sending my Upwork link because I didn’t have a proper portfolio of my own.
Honestly, I felt a bit stupid.
So I decided to fix it.
I started researching and created a simple portfolio, something that clearly showed my experience, achievements, and skills.
I began with Canva, then moved to Carrd.co, a simple website builder for creating clean and minimalist pages, and later used Notion…
Each one served a different purpose depending on the type of freelance work I was targeting.
I’m not saying you need to create three portfolios.
What I’m saying is this: if you want to get clients outside freelance platforms, you need to create something that’s yours.
Start with your current skills and the type of projects or clients you want. Research how to build a portfolio based on your experience.
For me, having a portfolio outside freelance platforms is a huge advantage.
- You have your own proof
- You can send it directly to potential clients
- You have something professional that reflects your work
- And you can update and customise it anytime as you grow
And the most important part?
You’re not dependent on one platform any more.
Because the truth is, platforms can help you start.
But they shouldn’t be the only place where your work lives.
Final Thought:
You can actually start freelancing without a portfolio. I know because that’s how I started.
And yes, you can still get clients that way.
But if you want to grow, reach out to clients outside platforms, and build something more stable, you will need to create one eventually.
Not a perfect one.
Not a complicated one.
Just something clear, simple, and yours.
Start small.
Use what you already have.
Turn your past work into proof.
And build it step by step as you continue working.
Because waiting too long, as I did, will only make it harder later.
If You’re Struggling to Start
If you’re unsure what to include, how to structure it, or where to even begin…
That’s exactly why I created the Freelance Beginner Master Kit.
It’s designed to guide you through each stage of freelancing, including how to organise your work, present your skills, and build something you can actually show to clients.
No guesswork.
No overthinking.
Just a clear starting point.
