We were lucky to catch up with Dannieka Cuttino recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dannieka , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I feel that I took this year was going full-time entrepreneur. At the time I was working a regular 9-5 at a call center. My job at the time was a very high customer demand, micromanaged environment. It took up most of my day which resulted in me abandoning my creative arts and my business. It got to the point where it affected my mental health and the only reason I continued to hold on to it like every other creative is for a stable income. I prayed and ask God to help me remove myself from this job so that I can focus on my films and Videography and Photography business. In March, I received an opportunity to film a documentary in Doha, Qatar and I knew I could not pass on the opportunity. So I took a chance and put in my time-off request which was approved. I went to Qatar for a week and had the experience of my life. It was very motivating to create an exit plan from my 9-5. I got back to work in a positive mood, and told myself “this job is only temporary, show up as my best, do my best and you will attract everything you desire”. My first day back to work, I was on calls for two hours, then my systems shut down on me. My supervisor pulled me to a teams meeting and told me they was letting me go because I took too many days off from work. I was confused but relived at the same time. I then decided that I was not going back to any more customer service jobs, I took a risk and decided to go full time as an entrepreneur. Since then I’ve been working for myself and feeling a lot more healthier; Though times do get hard I always remember the risk I took and I remember my why.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the founder and owner of SheTheCamera, Reel Effect 360 Photobooth and Write Now, Right Now Productions. I started my business ownership in 2015, with SheTheCamera; formally known as DC Photography. During that time I was doing sports and fashion photography while being a full time graduate film student. In 2017 I changed my business name to SheTheCamera and started offering video services. After graduating from SCAD in 2018, I moved to NYC and started working as a freelance videographer and photographer for a few companies. During that time I learned so much in which has assisted me in perfecting my craft and learning the business of a production company. Working for different companies allowed me to learn what my strength and weaknesses were and what interest me the most. I am currently a full time Business Owner of SheTheCamera, Reel Effect 360 Photobooth and Write Now, Right, Now Productions. SheTheCamera provides videography and photography service that capture moments and shape stories. At SheTheCamera, we’re more than just a videography and photography business; we’re your partners in preserving memories, showcasing businesses, and elevating brands. Our passion lies in the art of storytelling through the lens, and we do it with creativity, expertise and dedication. We provide event excellence, business brilliance and brand elevation. You should book SheTheCamera for our creative vision, cutting-edge equipment and our tailored solutions. SheTheCamera will capture your moments, tell you stories, and elevate your brand. Our goal is to make your vision a vivd reality. Reel Effect 360 photobooth is where memories come alive in 360 degrees! Our cutting-edge 360 photobooths are the life of the party, adding a unique and immersive twist to your special occasions. We provide an immersive experience, interactive fun, instant sharing, customizable options and unforgettable memories. At Write Now, Right Now Productions, we are passionate storytellers with a mission to unearth and illuminate the remarkable tales hidden within the real world. We specialize in crafting powerful screenplays and producing compelling films that are inspired by true events, real people and authentic emotions. My main goal as a Business owner is to create compelling storytelling and unforgettable memories.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The main lesson I had to unlearn as a creative business owner is that having a creative business is all about creativity. I had to learn that I can be creative all I want to, but if I do not have a business plan and marketing strategy then my business will not be as successful as I want it to be. In the beginning I was so caught up in the creativity aspect of my business that I neglected the business aspect of my business which led me to low sales and clients who always wanted discounts and freebies. I knew my work was amazing and that I was very creative, but I did not know what was preventing me from not meeting my sales goals. I had to unlearn that all I had to focus on my creativity and re-evaluate my business and started doing more research on scaling and marketing a creative business.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I truly believe that there is nothing wrong with working a 9-5 or working for someone; just as long as you do not get stuck in that position and you have a strategic exit plan that will allow you to have a sustainable lifestyle that works for you. At the beginning of starting my business I always had a part-time or full-time job which has helped me fund the initial capital I needed to start my business. Because of working for someone else I was able to buy my first camera and other equipments I needed to create for my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shethecamera.com
• Instagram: @shethecamera @360reeleffect @writenowrightnoww
• Facebook: She-The-Camera and Reel Effect 360 Photobooth
• Linkedin: Dannieka Cuttino
• Youtube: SheTheCamera

Image Credits
SheTheCamera