Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vanessa Mitera. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Vanessa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

I began my business as a motherhood photographer, which happened organically after the birth of my first son. I loved documenting his early stages. In my heart, I knew I wanted to become a business owner, so I decided to go all in and learn how to become a photographer. For years, I had one foot in my 9-5 and the other learning how to grow as a business owner. For four years, I worked my business as what I thought was a business rather than a hobby. I felt lost on how to scale; my business finally hit five figures in year four, and I was beginning to feel defeated. After the birth of our second son, we were left without childcare for him, so I decided to quit my corporate job and opted to keep both boys at home. I learned to embrace it as much as I could.

I ran my photography studio out of my home, and having both boys home made it almost impossible for me to operate my business successfully. A commercial studio didn’t make sense financially, and I was at a crossroads. At one point, I questioned if I should leave photography altogether.

I had recently taken a course in branding photography and loved it. I decided to pivot to personal branding and go all in. I attended networking events 3-4 times a week after my husband got home. I took every opportunity to be involved and immersed myself in education. Within five months, I grew from 0 consistent clients and no recurring income to 12 monthly clients and multiple five figures monthly. My work is featured in multiple magazines with local business owners. I was able to put my boys in daycare full-time after month 3 of being home with them. I currently work with some of the top leaders in my area and employ two other teammates. I’m on the board of three local organizations and co-hosted a women’s summit of over 150 women. I recently started an adjacent business called Omaha Lux, where my three other co-founders and I offer a holistic luxury branding experience through photography, web design, and identity. Photography now has become a smaller portion of what I do in my day-to-day life, and I can help businesses elevate their businesses holistically. Last month, I also launched a new podcast called Hustle with Heart with Vanessa Mitera, where I connect with entrepreneurs seeking to incorporate God into their businesses.

To some, it may seem like it happened quickly; it took a lot of roadblocks, setbacks, and growth for me to learn where I was meant to be.

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.

Some may know me through my branding photography. Others may recognize me through my work with local business owners in magazines like Papillion City Lifestyle, Her Story Magazine, Bold Journey, and Canvas Rebel.

For others, the larger part of what I do comes from my work with some of the top leaders in my area. I coach businesses on how to elevate their brands online, grow on social media, and develop a brand identity.

I recently started an adjacent business, Omaha Lux Branding, where my three other co-founders and I offer a holistic luxury branding experience through photography, web design, and identity. Last month, I also launched a new podcast called Hustle with Heart with Vanessa Mitera, where I connect with entrepreneurs seeking to incorporate God into their businesses.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Getting out and meeting new people and networking. While not everyone may need what I offer, as I build relationships, they can refer me to others who may need my help. It’s also such a great way to support other businesses. My number one goal is to always be a cheerleader for the success of other businesses.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

It was scary after I quit my corporate career and went all in. I am blessed that my husband is also a business owner of a successful landscaping business, but leaving the comfort of a corporate job that provided all our benefits made leaving hard. I had little success in the four years of working my business, so I feared it wouldn’t pan out. It changed everything once I shifted my mindset and realized I had to make this work. I also needed to be aligned in the business area I was meant to be in. Sometimes, it’s about pivoting and restructuring so that you can find yourself along the way. I’m a perfectionist at heart, but thankfully, when I find clarity in my goals, it doesn’t keep me from doing the work to make things happen. I am a forever student, and I make it a point to educate myself in the areas I need to grow. God, mindset, education, and brand perception are why I’ve scaled so quickly. I also learned how to delegate when I needed to, which is why I worked hard to get to a place where, early on, I could invest in a team.

Contact Info:

• Website: miterabranding.com
• Instagram: miterabranding
• Facebook: miterabranding
• Linkedin: miterabranding

Image Credits
Mitera Branding