We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Devon Moon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Devon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

If I was starting everything over today from scratch I’d definitely have to start building my business credit ASAP. Instead of using my own money to fund and grow my business, I would invest in credit to get access to business loans, credit cards, etc. for marketing and business development. Building relationships with your banks and vendors is important for the long run. Had I known what then what I know now, there’s no telling how much access to funding I’d have. The scale of the business would be so different because my mind was on using the few dollars I had to invest in the business and market when really I should’ve been using those few dollars to invest in the credit.

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

To the ones who don’t know me, my name is Devon Moon. I’m a 25-year-old photographer & cinematographer. I actually just turned 25 in September. I run a production company called Reel Dreamers LLC. I tailor towards social media content marketing for businesses & individuals looking to further/specify their reach in their audience and expressing their creativity. I originally only ever picked my first camera while I was in college to do YouTube & record my brother’s basketball games. Things happened so quickly that it went from me just being a college student to being “the camera guy” on campus. Before I knew it I realized why God put the camera in my hands. I thought I wanted to just capture highlights and make memories while in college, but when Covid hit everything changed. I realized that God had a bigger picture than just taking pictures. He wanted me to tell my story, and share my testimony. And not only that, but to tell everyone else’s as well because in the end what good is a memory if people can’t remember it with you and learn from it? It’s weird, but if I gotta be real… The biggest thing I’m most proud of with my business is not being where I see my end goal because I know I’m just getting started and there’s so many memories and stories to be made. I want to do more than just market and advertise individuals, brands, & businesses. I want to tell the story for what it is and witness the glory God did in other’s lives. The camera is just my way is showing that.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Truthfully, I’m still building capital for my business, but I know what I got planned is going to work the way I envisioned because God gave it to me. I’m still digging myself out the hole to build my capital. For the past 2 years, I was broke making just enough money to survive and pay on all the debt I’m in that’s dropping my credit. I’m talking about multiple maxed-out credit cards, loans, car payments, etc. So, for me to give an answer as to how I already put together the capital isn’t technically possible because I haven’t yet, but it’s already done. Everything that I’ve been planning since my low moments is going into play just as I said it would. This is for anybody who can relate to the pain and struggle of making ends meet but feeling like you’re never going to meet the end. Build your personal credit and make sure you’re in good standing, then start investing in your business credit. One of the best ways to increase funding is to invest in your credit meaning that you strategically purchase and spend money on things that will report and show you do good business. This helps you gain more trust with banks, vendors, and even sponsors which leads to more capital, and more access. The goal is to leverage debt and control it, not run from it. This is just me speaking it ahead of time before I do it in the flesh

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The main thing that’s helped me is my relationships. When you show people who you are without exaggerating and faking, God does the rest. Of course, there are other strategies for social media and things like that, but I always make sure I show the same respect to everyone because you never who someone is or who someone knows. Word of mouth is in my opinion one of the strongest ways people build opinions and their perspectives of you because you’ll listen & agree most times with someone you have a good relationship with. It’s important to make sure whoever you speak with you treat them all the same while being your genuine self. I believe when you do that, God puts you in the right place with the right people at the right time. There are plenty of methods to target and grow your audience and clientele, but having good relationships is what really sticks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thereeldreamers.com/