Valerie Topete - A Changing Photographer

As a successful bike courier in New York, Valerie Topete has seen her fair share of the city. Working full time for one the most competitive courier businesses out there, Topete spends her days weaving through the city, racing to deliver her parcels, packages and letters. Her dedication to her job has led her to become the most well-known and successful couriers at her company. Working for Mercury Rises for the past four years, and as a freelance courier for three years before that, Topete knows her way around and excels at navigating the blocks between deliveries.

For several years she had enjoyed the architecture and people that she observes every day so much that she took up photography as a way of capturing the sights. Her unique photos of the city, from angles and spots that most tourists never see, became so popular that she turned a hobby into another part-time career.

Topete began as an amateur photographer snapping photos from her smartphone as she biked around for work. She stands by her advice to always be ready to take a photo, and while she uses her SLR camera as much as she can, more often than not, her smartphone is what she has available. Regardless of the type of device, the most important factors to Topete when it comes to photography are the lighting and subject matter.
As each courier assignment takes her to a new part of the city she has never seen, Topete had the opportunity to observe the assortment of gardens and parks scattered about. Designed by some of the best in the business, the garden displays nestled between skyscrapers and the shadows of monuments always intrigued Topete. The more she traveled, the more she started to notice the varieties and intricacies of the plants that made up these gardens. Soon, Topete found herself planning her courier routes past these gardens or through Central Park. Now, as her eye for photography focused on the beauty of the gardens, Topete shifted her subject matter from architecture and people to high resolution, up-close botanical photography.

With all of the hidden garden gems tucked away throughout the city, Valerie Topete is never at a loss for subject matter and quite enjoys the hunt for new and interesting locations. During the workday, Topete scopes out previously unknown gardens, and during the evenings or weekends, her and her family picnic in the parks. The hobby really has turned into a family affair, as the children run around hunting for pretty flowers and plants, and Topete follows with the camera to capture their finds. Whether the shots are professional quality or just family memories doesn’t matter, but combining passion and family does.

Valerie Topete - Choosing The Right Bike

Valerie Topete is a bike courier in New York. She delivers special documents and other items to various people and companies. Working as a bike courier means that she spends a lot of time on her bike. She carefully chose it and if you plan on riding your bike a lot you should use these tips to help you choose the bike that is right for you.

Size
You want your bike to be a good size. It should be easy for you to reach the pedals without stretching and should be easy to control and steer. If a bike is too big or too small, it may be harder to control and pedal and will make your job as a courier harder.

Equipment
There are certain things you may want to add to your bike to make your job easier or to carry on you. Think of backpacks, baskets, and attachments that can hold documents and packages while you transport them to their destinations.

Cost
When you buy a bike you have a lot of options but you likely have a budget as well. You want to choose a bike that is not necessarily the most expensive or the cheapest, but the best value. A bike that is designed for courier services may be more expensive than a traditional bike

If you are going to be riding your bike a lot like Valerie Topete, you need to make sure you choose a bike that is made for you. The above tips can help you choose a bike that you can enjoy riding.

Valerie Topete - Tips For Being Successful As A Bike Courier

Valerie Topete has been a bike courier for several years. She started out as a freelancer but now works for a company called Mercury Rising. If you enjoy riding bikes and want to make a living doing so, these tips can show you how to become a successful bike courier.

Be On Time

You won’t be able to keep a job if you can’t deliver packages on time. You need to be fast and efficient at what you do and give the employers a reason to choose you over other couriers or people offering similar services.

Have A Good Bike

Your bike can determine how fast you are able to perform your duties and how comfortable you are while doing them. You can’t use a regular bike for courier services you need to choose one that is modified for the job. You may also choose to modify your bike yourself.

Be Dedicated

Being a bike courier isn’t an easy job. You have to be able to deliver various documents and packages and often have short deadlines to meet. You may also have to go out and find the jobs you want. Many bike couriers are freelancers and spend a lot of time hunting jobs.

If you are or want to be a bike courier, there are several things you can do to make your business successful. Valerie Topete has been working as a bike courier for several years and loves what she does. The tips above can help you become successful as a bicycle courier too.

Valerie Topete - Tips For Freelance Bike Couriers

Valerie Topete is a bike courier in New York. She currently works with a company called Mercury Rising but worked as a freelancer for many years. Being a freelancer means you have to find your own clients and sometimes work harder at your job. If you are a freelance bike courier, these tips can help make you more successful

Choose The Right Bike
When you decide to become a bike courier, you should have a good bike that can help you get the job done. Not every bike can be used for a courier bike so you need to choose one that is durable and comfortable. You should also keep in mind that you will be using your bike every day and it will need repairs done regularly. There are certain bikes that are designed to be used for courier services or you can have your own bike modified.

Become Familiar With The Area
You need to be able to deliver your packages and documents quickly and that means you should know the delivery area well. You won’t be able to ride a bike and look at a map so it is a good idea to study maps and become familiar with the area before you start working. If you don’t make your deliveries on time, you may not get paid for them.

Stay Safe
Being a bicycle courier can be a dangerous job, especially if you are working in a big city. You always need to be safe while doing your deliveries. You should carry pepper spray with you in case you run into trouble and be aware of your surroundings at all time. If you do not feel safe in a certain area, you should avoid going there. Trust your gut instinct and if you do not feel comfortable delivering to a certain area, speak up and let the company you work for know how you feel.

Finding Jobs
It can be hard to find a job as a bike carrier. Many businesses and companies do not use bicycle couriers and it can be a competitive job market. If you cannot find a job as a bicycle courier you can offer your services to different companies. You never know who will take you up on your offer and help you start your career as a courier. Many couriers are freelancers who work on different projects and with different clients throughout their careers.

Valerie Topete knows that being a freelance bike courier can be difficult, but it can also be a successful career. If you want to be a freelance bike courier or already are and want to be more successful, these tips can help.