Team

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The Story of Directive Digital

We have both spent our careers capturing stories through video and imagery. Our shared passion for creating videos in industries that thrive on hard work and innovation led us to form Directive Digital five years ago.

We are focused on video storytelling that highlights people and organizations who farm fresh food, create amazing products and shape our communities. It is these companies who benefit most from developing stories through video to grow their business. We know that by helping share their stories now, we can support their success into the future.

Meet the Team

Matt Taylor

Matt pursued his passion for film, getting his start at FUEL TV, where he learned the subtleties of capturing undirected action in natural light. He’s used his experience to help major consumer brands like Nike, Microsoft, & Apple as a freelance Director of Photography.

Balancing beauty with authenticity into the final aesthetic is Matt’s greatest strength. He is passionate about film and loves collaborating with clients on strategy. His award-winning projects have captivated over 30 million online visitors. He’s always looking to explore the technical aspects of filmmaking and pushing his skills forward. Matt’s personal passions include his family, urban gardening, surfing and hunting.

Mike Santaella

Mike graduated with a BA degree in Film & Digital Media from the University of California Santa Cruz and honed his craft over ten successful years as a freelance artist working on live broadcast productions, special events, and corporate video.

With an enthusiasm for storytelling as visual art, Mike loves working with other passionate business owners to bring their narratives to life. Known for his ability to find unique angles and ways to highlight products, he’s been trusted to showcase recognizable brands in the agriculture, real estate and lifestyle industries. A true outdoorsman, when not chasing the perfect shot you’ll find Mike surfing, fishing, or mountain biking.

“With previous endeavors we felt like much of what we did was transactional and lacked the heart and soul of what we do, with Matt and Mike they jumped in and wanted to know our stories at a more intimate level. The result has been nothing less than fantastic, we’re now telling our stories with the emotion and feel of who we are. That’s all because of them and their interest in who we are at our core and desire to bring that to life on our behalf. I’ve never felt like we were a paycheck for them but that their heart was in translating our message.”

Dan Davis, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Starr Ranch Growers

“Strategic yet flexible—exactly what an agency needs in a video partner. We rely on our creative partners to be collaborative, and we found it in Directive Digital. Their collaborative approach is just what we were looking for in a video partner. Directive Digital will literally go the extra mile to get the ideal shot, and it makes all the difference. ”

Lisa Hansen, Founder, Harbor Creative Inc.

“I continue to work with the team at Directive Digital because they have the perfect combination of creativity in capturing a compelling story behind the camera, and then incredible talent with editing content to produce a world-class finish piece every time. They have a relaxed and professional style that puts everyone at ease and they are truly a pleasure to work with.”

Cindy Jewell
SCJewell, Inc / Bobaluberries