By Alix, Founder of Cucamonga Media

When I was 15, I started freelancing as a photographer. Not because someone told me to. Not even because I thought it would become a career. I just genuinely loved capturing and even more so, editing photos.

There was something so satisfying about taking a raw image and polishing it into something beautiful (hot take but I think editing is my favorite part), especially when I was the one who took the shot, chose the lighting, and shaped the final vibe. I also loved the hustle: booking clients, marketing myself, figuring out how to make it all work. I didn't realize it at the time, but I wasn't just building a portfolio. I was learning the fundamentals of running a creative business.

From Photography to Full-Service Marketing

By the time I got to college, freelancing was a very steady side hustle for me. It helped pay for school, landed me gigs that looked better on a resume than any internship, and gave me a crash course in real-world client work. Senior portraits, wedding shoots, event photography, and freelance social media management — all of it helped me set up my earliest systems for taking payments, hiring second shooters, and paying contractor taxes.

I didn't know it then, but I was laying the groundwork for what would eventually become a full-service Denver marketing agency.

The Side Hustle That Took Over

About three years ago, I quit my full-time job and jumped back into the freelance hustle. I'd always taken on a few clients here and there while working 9–5, but mostly just if they found me first. I wasn't actively trying to grow anything.

I didn't have a business plan. No five-year vision board. Honestly, I just needed to pay rent and take a breather while I figured out what was next. So I gave myself permission to freelance "for fun" while I looked for a new job.

But the thing about freelancing, especially when you've been doing it for nearly a decade, is that the momentum kicks in fast.

Thanks to a few Facebook groups and some intentional LinkedIn cleanup, inbound leads started rolling in way faster than I expected. And before I knew it, I had more work than I could handle on my own.

From Solo Hustle to Fractional Dream Team

Within a year, I brought on my first team member. Then another. And now, Cucamonga Media is almost three years old, with three full-time employees and a crew of brilliant contractors who help us bring campaigns to life every week.

Going from a solo freelancer to the leader of a Denver social media agency was scary… but also surprisingly natural. Don't get me wrong… There are definitely moments where being "the boss" feels overwhelming. But most of the time? My team makes my job easier, smarter, and infinitely more fun. They're not just talented creatives — they're sharp strategists, thoughtful collaborators, and some of the best brainstormers I've ever met!

What We Actually Do as a Denver Marketing Agency Serving Clients Globally

At Cucamonga Media, we act as a fractional marketing team for growing brands, especially women-owned businesses and early-stage startups. We plug into our clients' ecosystems to handle organic social media marketing, paid advertising, email marketing, photography, video production, website design, and more.

But here's our twist: we're a content-first agency.

That means we don't just "make stuff." We make content on purpose. Designed with platforms and algorithms in mind. Optimized to feel native, never forced or salesy. Whether it's a TikTok ad, an IG carousel, or a launch email, we build creative that feels like a trusted friend, not a cheesy used car salesman yelling on your feed.

As a Denver marketing agency, we understand the unique challenges that growing businesses face. We're not here to sell you services you don't need. We're here to be your strategic partner, helping you build marketing that actually converts.

Viral Isn't the Goal. Loyalty Is.

A lot of businesses come to us wanting to "go viral."

But here's the truth: viral isn't a strategy. It's a gamble.

What we teach, and what we build, is community-driven content. We believe strong, loyal audiences will outperform "random viral moments" every time. We want our clients to own their brand narrative and show up consistently. That's how you grow sustainably. That's how you scale smart.

This philosophy is at the core of our social media marketing approach. Whether we're managing your Instagram, creating TikTok content, or developing LinkedIn strategy, we focus on building relationships that last beyond a single scroll.

First Things First… Why the Name Cucamonga?

People ask this all the time, and the answer is a little different!

When I was little, if I wore socks that left a mark on my ankles, my dad would say I had "Cucamonga Fever." It was just a funny family term for the silly impression left by tight socks.

When I was naming this business, I kept coming back to that phrase because that's what we do here.

We make content that leaves a mark.

Why Fractional Marketing Is the Move Right Now

Hiring full-time marketing talent is expensive. Payroll, benefits, onboarding, software — it adds up fast. And let's be real: most brands don't need five full-time marketing experts… they just need smart, nimble, high-level support when it counts.

That's why fractional marketing teams are exploding in popularity. It's the flexibility of freelancers, with the consistency and collaboration of an in-house team.

We're perfect for:

Marketing Directors who have the budget to hire one full-time person but who really need two or three different experts to execute on social media, paid ads, and email marketing.
Founders who want to scale their marketing without getting sucked into hiring purgatory or dealing with the complexities of building an in-house team.
Business owners who don't want to set up payroll (which, FYI, is way more expensive than you'd ever expect, trust me, I know!).
Anyone who's grown tired of DIY marketing that "looks fine" but doesn't convert or drive real business results.

We're not a vending machine. We're not a churn-and-burn agency. We're the warm friend of a friend, the one who shows up with ideas, solutions, and the kind of questions that make you go, "Whoa… I've never thought of it like that."

Who We Work Best With

While we serve all kinds of brands (CPG, B2B, B2C, and more), we especially light up when working with female founders and women-owned businesses.

There's just something magic about watching women bring their ideas to life, grow their audience, and create real impact. Our clients are passionate, bold, and full of vision — and our job is to turn that vision into creative content and marketing strategy that moves the needle.

We're proud to be a small-but-mighty team, and that's intentional. We don't want to become some bloated agency. We want to stay tight, nimble, and able to add real strategic value to every client we work with.

Whether you need a Denver social media agency to manage your daily content, help with paid advertising campaigns, email marketing strategy, or a complete brand refresh with website design, we approach every project with the same care and attention we'd give our own business.

Final Thoughts: From Freelance to Founder

If you told 15-year-old me that one day I'd run a content marketing agency in Denver with a full team, I'd believe you… But I think I would have thought I'd be 40 before I started! However, the journey here — from senior photos to startup campaigns — has been wild, humbling, and honestly, the best thing I've ever done.

To any creatives, freelancers, or early-stage business owners reading this: you don't need to have it all figured out. Just start where you are, do the work that feels good, and trust that the path will unfold.

Because sometimes, the "in-between" is where your real business begins.

Want to Work With Our Denver Marketing Team?

If you're a brand or marketing director looking for a fractional marketing agency that actually gets it, we'd love to chat. Reach out here or follow us on Instagram to see the kind of magic we're building every day.

Freelancer to Founder: How I Built a Denver Marketing Agency from Scratch