The stock photography business isn\u2019t just about good photos. It\u2019s also about working with clients to find a cohesive visual concept. That\u2019s why we at Westend61 place great value on individualized, personal support. This, too\u2014just like photography itself\u2014is a creative process. And creativity needs freedom. A freedom that Andrea Fichtl from our sales team lives out as a \u201cdigital nomad\u201d: For about two years now, she has been working for us almost exclusively from abroad, primarily from Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Someone who lets the winds of the wide world blow through their hair fits right in with the Westend61 team. After all, our photographers live and work all over Europe. And good stock photography should be as colorful and inspiring as an exotic journey. Our business thrives on trying something new every now and then. Nevertheless, it was an exciting experiment for both sides when, about two years ago, we agreed with Andrea that she would handle client support for us from abroad going forward. Since then, Andrea has proven to us that work can be good even when it feels (almost) like a vacation.
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A change of scenery as a way of life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always been someone who needs something new every now and then. For as long as I can remember, I\u2019ve never stayed in one place for long, even though I\u2019ve spent most of my life in Munich. I just need that basic excitement of traveling,\u201d says Andrea. Since 2021, the certified office communications specialist has been part of the Westend61 sales team. Before that, the 43-year-old worked for six years at another major stock photo provider, following eleven years in project management at a Microsoft subsidiary.
A change of scenery as a way of life: \u201cAfter a maximum of five years, I\u2019d move from one apartment to the next, and at some point I realized that there\u2019s a nomad inside me who needs freedom and constant change.\u201d Still, a few years ago, it wasn\u2019t foreseeable that Andrea would one day combine the two ways of life\u2014that of a German employee and that of a permanent traveler. The impetus for this came from a sabbatical three years ago: five months of full-time work for half pay, followed by five months of paid time off.
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Many miles and a self-discovery
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\u201cThose five months shaped me,\u201d Andrea says today, looking back. She used the career break for a long trip through Asia, as she had always had an affinity for that cultural sphere. Nepal, Bangkok, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra, Bali, Borneo, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti\u2026 Bustling cities, foreign cultures, nights in the jungle, new experiences, countless encounters\u2014satisfying her thirst for adventure and wanderlust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.westend61.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Gross-IMG_5654-1-768x1024.jpeg\")
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It was a long journey, not just in terms of miles; it also led Andrea to an important self-realization: \u201cI realized how well this lifestyle suits me, because I need change and personal growth.\u201d It wasn\u2019t just the friendly serenity of the people in Asia, the new friendships around the world, and the many powerful impressions. \u201cTraveling also changes you as a person,\u201d says Andrea, \u201cand there isn\u2019t that constant, hectic background noise like there is at home.\u201d Added to that is the realization that even with just 14 kilos of belongings, you don\u2019t miss anything\u2014and you can gain so much!
Once you\u2019ve fully savored the freedom of being on the road, everyday life in Germany can become difficult. That\u2019s why it soon became clear to Andrea after her return: she wanted to combine travel and work in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sound of the sea is simply motivating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Andrea works in the afternoons and early evenings, which corresponds to the hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Germany; so the time difference isn\u2019t an issue. Work\u2014even in a place where others are on vacation\u2014remains work, of course. But it just feels different when you do it somewhere where it\u2019s always warm, perhaps with the sound of the sea, the sun shining, and birds chirping. \u201cI\u2019m motivated in a completely different way then,\u201d Andrea has found.
So Andrea\u2019s sabbatical agreement with Westend61 turned into a part-time \u201cremote work\u201d contract. Work location: somewhere in Southeast Asia. An experiment for both sides that has proven successful. \u201cSince I\u2019ve had the freedom to choose where I live, my numbers have improved,\u201d Andrea noted. After all, generating revenue in sales is a very measurable activity. \u201cMy surroundings relax me and stimulate my creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nA touch of the exotic that benefits everyone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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