Meet Dilan Mistry of Dilan Mistry Films

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dilan Mistry.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I first got the idea to start a photo/video company my sophomore year of high school. At that point, I had already been shooting photos and creating videos since the sixth grade, and doing it for pay for the last two years. I also owe a lot of my success to what I learned in my high school broadcast journalism program, Live From 205. So by my sophomore year, I felt that I had a lot of solid work in my portfolio, and I could start my own company… and that I did. Over the next couple years, I began to branch out and see what types of other digital media I could get into. Soon enough, I started taking product photos for watch companies, clothing lines, water bottles, etc — that’s where I found a love for creating photo advertisements. In addition, I still continued to create videos, whether it be commercials, short narratives, wedding videos, or even a school-wide lip dub.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the beginning it was very hard to establish myself as a trustworthy photographer/filmmaker. Starting out as a high school student, not many people believe a ‘high school student’ is capable of creating an elaborate wedding video, for example. But this was understandable, and I didn’t let it stop me. I continued to keep producing high quality content, and I also created videos for many people in my community, thus increasing the credibility of my name within my community. Overtime, the more quality work I had to show, the more people began to see me as a trustworthy photographer and videographer.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dilan Mistry Films – what should we know?
Dilan Mistry Films is a photo/video, digital media company. I, sometimes with the help of a small team, create a wide variety of digital content anywhere from wedding films, to photoshoots, to commercials. As of recent, the majority of the content I produce is for advertising purposes, whether it be product, food, or apparel photos.

Around the South Bay, I’m best known for the videos I’ve produced for Palos Verdes High School Associated Student Body, including the 2017 Lip Dub. Collectively the videos I’ve created for the school have seen over 123,604 views via YouTube.

What I’m most proud of my company is how within two years, it’s grown from a small venture no one knew about, to a company well established within the community, holding over 13+ brand clients, and an expanding, diverse portfolio of work.

What sets my company apart from others, is age. Some see my young age, 18, as a severe disadvantage — however, I’ve learned to turn it into my advantage. Many of my brand clients try to target an audience that is similar to my age. So, instead of having someone way already off into adulthood trying to guess what would intrigue the millennial audience, I don’t guess — being a millennial myself, I know what works and what doesn’t for the very age audience I’m in.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel that good communication, the ability to work well with others, and a passion to help people, is vital in my success.

Contact Info:

• Website: dilanmistry.com
• Email: dilanmistryfilms@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dilansmistry/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dilanmistryfilms/
• Other: http://www.youtube.com/dilanmistryfilms/

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