We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Daniella Hume a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Daniella thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How has Covid changed your business model?
The world as we knew it ultimately shut down once the pandemic hit. Many were forced to close up shop altogether. Face-to-face interaction was now a thing of the past, and all we could do was innovate. And that’s exactly what I did.
What started as a photography company flourished into a multimedia business during the pandemic. When Covid first hit, I only thought about how my business could help the community. Since I couldn’t go out and take photos of people, I had to change how I was making a living, all while finding a way to help other business owners.
One of the first things I did was create a Facebook group targeted toward the city I live in, Sanford. This became a great platform to get help to those who needed it. I encouraged small businesses to use the group to advertise their companies/services. In just one year, the group grew to over 1,500 members. I’ve had many people reach out over the last couple of years, telling me how much they benefited from this community platform. Working together as a community to help build a better tomorrow makes me very happy.
This made me realize how important social media was during the pandemic. And I knew if I could help these small businesses operate online, I would not only find a new way to make a living, but I would also be helping small businesses stay afloat during these challenging times.
So, I changed my business model and started reaching out to companies that weren’t that active or active at all on social media. And little by little, I gained clients. I was marketing for multiple small businesses in my community, from restaurants and realtors to magazines and stores. I used my visual storytelling skills and began to craft branding stories worth telling.
I also turned to my journalism and writing degree for innovation during the pandemic. I was hired to start photographing and writing for magazines all around the state of Florida. And I knew this was the direction I wanted to take my company.
When businesses started opening back up, and events started taking place, people wanted a way to show it. That’s when I added videography and voiceover acting to my list of services. I began to build a team of videographers, and we gained several more clients who wanted video services.
On top of that, a local store in Downtown Sanford asked if they could start selling my landscape photos in their shop. It was the first time I saw my work on display for sale. After getting inquiries from people interested in purchasing my work from all over Florida, I decided to add that option to my website. Now, if there is a photo someone would like to buy, they can do so on Mastropieces.com or at the Colonial Room Country Store in Sanford, Fl.
So, when people ask me if Covid hurt my business, the answer is always no. It made me become a better version of myself and pushed my company into the spotlight. Since then, Mastropieces Photography has been nominated for the Seminole County Business Awards for the last two years, and I recently won the Best Photographer in Sanford award. Covid was and still is a terrible worldwide phenomenon. But we can’t change what happens; we can only change with it. And that is what I did. So far, it’s paying off, and business is thriving.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
My life took an unexpected turn four years ago. I got into an accident in June of 2018 and, since then, have been dealing with chronic pain. Before this incident, I was just a girl full of life, ready to take on the world. I am still that same girl with just a few extra hurdles to get through daily.
I graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando with my broadcast journalism degree and a minor in writing. I started working at a local TV station as a news producer, and in the beginning, I loved it. I worked the weekday morning show, so my shift would start at 2 a.m.
I met my now husband, Jerry, at the news station. He was a reporter on my shift, and with our schedules being the same, it was a great way to get to know one another. We quickly learned how much we enjoyed being together and fell in love. The two of us traveled the world together and then got married in March 2018. On our honeymoon to Italy, we were blessed to meet Pope Francis!
Back in Orlando, I really enjoyed working with my husband. We always had something to talk about. I’ve dreamt about becoming a journalist since I was a kid. However, it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be, like most things. Day in and day out, I’d write sad and depressing stories. I went into this career wanting to shine a light on the good people do in this world. I also wanted to spread awareness of things people should know. But I wasn’t getting that satisfaction every day going to work, even with my husband being there. I didn’t feel like I was making a difference, and that’s not what I wanted to do with my life.
Following my accident, my whole world was flipped upside down. I didn’t know how to continue doing the same things I was used to doing every day. I knew I needed to make a positive change to get through my injury. So this pushed me to get out of a job that wasn’t bringing me happiness anymore.
That is when I decided to start my own business: Mastropieces Photography. My maiden name is Mastroianni, so I wanted to create a play on words with masterpieces. From birth and graduation to weddings and family reunions, I started this company to highlight the happy moments of life through photography.
Over the last four years, my business has found its niche and expanded to include video services, social media, marketing, and content generation. Since I now offer more services than just photography, I decided to rebrand my business to Mastropieces Productions. I will be ready to launch my new brand and website at the beginning of the new year!
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview the Vice President of Culinary at Gordon Ramsay North America and TV personality Christina Wilson and former NFL star Max Starks. Currently, I am working with Fortune 500 companies like Disney and Ford Motor. This year has been my most profitable one to date. Earlier this year, I gave birth to my son Luca. Now, I am learning how to balance running a business while being a mom. And so far, out of all the jobs I’ve ever done, being a mom (and dog mom) is the best! I can’t wait to show my son how I started a company from a simple idea and turned it into a nationwide multimedia business. As long as you believe in yourself, anything is possible!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
My best source for new clients is the word of mouth and social media! I make sure to keep an open form of communication between my clients. I talk to them on a professional and personal level. The opportunities are endless when you build that relationship and trust with someone. You’ll see how quickly they will refer you to others when they trust your work. And don’t be scared to ask them to refer you to others. If you know you provided them with quality work, tell them to help spread the word. Don’t be shy; this is what brings more work and money through your door.
And social media, social media, social media! If you aren’t active on it, change that right now. I have noticed following the pandemic that many people are turning to “supporting local.” So, when you’re out to eat at your local restaurant, please take a photo, and tag them on social media. This simple task helps boosts your company’s exposure and helps others see that your business supports local, too! Take behind-the-scenes photos/videos while you’re on the job. Get testimonials. Content is key! Make sure you’re not just posting a blurry image. Take some time to create quality content to post, and you’ll see how fast your followers and likes start coming in!
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
I love this question because morale plays a significant role in your career. Before owning a business, I worked multiple jobs while going through college. When I had a boss or manager who was rude, disrespectful, and unkind, the entire team’s morale was impacted. It’s almost contagious. Everyone around you starts acting the same, and you’re not producing the best results possible.
I have also worked with many bosses who treated me with the respect and kindness I deserved. It’s like night and day working in these two very different environments. I made sure to promise myself that no matter how bad of a day I may be having, never to make my team feel disrespected or unworthy.
You will see better results, high productivity, and a better working experience with that mindset. You’re going to meet all different personalities, and that’s ok. Maintaining a high morale is not so hard as long as you are treating everyone with the same respect.
I do everything I can to ensure my team is on the same page. And if something is wrong, I give constructive criticism and talk to everyone to find out what we can do differently next time.
Being a kind individual doesn’t take much; whether you’re an employee or business owner, it shouldn’t matter. We are all in this together, so we might as well do it with a smile!
Contact Info:
- Website: Mastropieces.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastropiecesphotography/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/100063718113933/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniella-hume-a77b75a2
Image Credits
Daniella Hume