We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Destiny Herrera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Destiny , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
In the beginning of 2023. I was a stay at home mom to a 1 year old. I was home 24/7. I felt like I was losing myself. I had money saved. Not sure what I wanted to do with the money but it was just sitting there. My partner was fetching ideas on how to get me involved with a hobby or “side hustle” so I can feel better. Nothing caught my eye. I wanted to be something more than “just a mom”. I loved being a mom so much, but I knew that couldn’t have been my only label. So I continued to search for something. We came across the photo-booth world. It intrigued me. I was nervous because I knew nothing about it and no idea where to start. Without any hesitation I bought one. I took the risk to buy something I knew nothing about. I had no idea if it would be a waste or an investment. It arrived in August of 2023. It sat in my home for 5 months untouched and unopened. I was a little discouraged because I had no clue where to start. In February of 2024 I had my first event. Now in August of 2024 I am booked out every single weekend. I grew a love for this industry. I found a new hobby and I feel very productive. If I would of never taken a risk, I wouldn’t have found this new side of me and I would probably still be in a slump.
Destiny , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Destiny. I am 24 years old and I own a photo-booth business called Carpe Diem PhotoBooth. I rent out photo-booths for all sorts of different events. I got into this industry by taking a risk. I had no idea what the photo-booth industry entailed but it peaked my interest. I went on a limb and bought my first booth. My goal was to find something to add to my identity. At the time I felt like “just a mom” and today I am a business owner. This has helped me with my self confidence and to show my child what it is like to to be an entrepreneur. I think what sets me apart from others is I’m not in this industry just for the financial gain. I prioritize the emotional impact of my service, ensuring that every interaction is meaningful and every photo captures a genuine moment of happiness. It genuinely makes me so happy to see how much joy my business brings to people and their families and that is what keeps me going. I am most proud of building a successful venture that reflects my values and passions.
I am also proud to say my business has helped me get out of a slump. Being a stay at home mom can take a toll on you. With owning a business it gave me a confidence boost I didn’t know I needed. I want my clients and followers to know that my journey represents more than just a business—it’s a testament to embracing multiple roles and passions. Whether you’re a mom, dad, or professional you can pursue your interests and expand your identity beyond conventional limits. It’s possible to integrate personal passions with professional aspirations, highlighting that there’s room to excel in various aspects of life. Also none of this would be possible without God. I give all of my gratitude and glory to him.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I built my audience on social media by starting out with a giveaway. I partnered with two other businesses that were fairly new to the event world as well. We used our following we already had to help each other gain more. I had 50 followers going into the giveaway. My goal was to reach 100 by the end. At the end of the giveaway I had a little over 200 followers. Connecting and networking is a great way to start your social media. Now I have 400 followers. I create my own flyers and marketing for my social media. I think consistency is key and creating content that your followers can interact with (polls) is a great idea to get insight on what they want to see.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing clientele is networking. Finding vendors or people in the same industry who want to partner with you to help you both get clients is a great start. There is enough room for everyone to be successful and working together will get you there. It’s important to bring business cards with you everywhere you go. You never know who you will run into. Personally, I get a lot of my clients through social media. I promote my business through social media and make sure to post almost daily. Staying consistent is key. I join groups on social media that help me reach people who I wouldn’t have normally on my own. This has helped grow my business tremendously. The last thing is word of mouth. Most of my current clients get me more clients. Either by leaving a review or by telling their friends and family about their experience with us. Accept all feedback from clients, good or bad it will help you grow.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carpediemphotobooth_?igsh=MXQ3ODl0czdpeGI0MQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095286653293&mibextid=kFxxJD
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@carpediemphotobooth?_t=8ovb3BRUaC7&_r=1
