Rising Stars: Meet Kiera Price

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiera Price. 

Hi Kiera, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Growing up as a little girl, my family always had a camcorder in the house and that was because of grandma. Shout out to Grandma Ellen for the camcorder because she made my childhood lit! For fun, my 3 sisters and I would use it around the house to record videos of ourselves jumping on my brother’s bed, dancing, acting, playing dress up with my mom’s clothes and makeup, and we also played jokes on each other. When I was 11-12 years old, videography officially had a stamped seal on me, and I only got better at it from there. I was doing more stuff by the minute! One time, my sister’s close friend Georgette was pretending to be on Jerry Springer, and I was interviewing her with questions on my mom’s cassette recorder she had for nursing school, it was hilarious and so fun, and quite scary too. We didn’t have blank tapes in the house most of the time so us being kids would record over my mom’s church tapes and be nervous as heck not asking just hoping she wouldn’t be mad. 

Before the age of 16, I was already editing videos in Windows Movie Maker and creating slideshows with pictures, music, and text. My family moved from Columbus Public schools to Groveport school district and I’m glad we did. Going to Groveport Madison High School paved the way for the career center to be an option for me. The career center sounded like a big opportunity for me to learn and apply a career skill at the same time and I knew it was a big step toward my next move in life. There were a couple of programs that caught my attention, and I was not sure what I wanted to go for. So, I did what I knew to do, I prayed. With the program book in my hand, I asked God, and he told me a page number. That number was the program, interactive media. I didn’t see this program on the list when I was contemplating and after reading the description, I thought it was perfect. I went to the career center for interactive media in 2009. Eastland Career Center was my start to learning all aspects of media. I learned animation, audio recording/editing, graphic designing, green screen effects, film production, photography, web designing, and even how to make beats. Learning how to use all the Adobe suite programs and FL Studios was a plus. It was an amazing experience for me and after 2yrs, I graduated with an Academic & Technical Certificate of Completion. 

Going to college as my next move was something I knew I had to do. Applying was such a rushed experience for me; I just made it in on time for the first fall semester. Nevertheless, I was glad to be going to Columbus State Community College on scholarship funds (with the motivation and help of my 12th-grade English teacher) and grant money. Everything was covered, and I had abundant extra money up until 2013. During my time there, my starting classes were off, I switched majors from just a film degree to interactive media and I added on business management. So, I went to CSCC from 2011 to 2013 with 54 college credits with no degree. Sometime during my last year there, my grandpa Buchie and I were talking, and he asked me, “what is stopping you from doing what you do?” I said, “well I don’t have a camera grandpa.” He laughed and told me he will help me get a camera if that was it. And he did just that. During my time out of school, I started gaining experience as a freelance photographer and videographer. I first began shooting for weddings, but quickly found out it wasn’t something I enjoyed doing because it was hectic being one person taking pictures and videos for such a special occasion. Later I did a lot of videos for church services and moved on to shooting live events, live play productions, music videos, interviews, short films, fashion shows, real estate, and promo videos. 

I have worked with the Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. creating a short film and being an event photographer for their employee award ceremony and employee recognition ceremony. I filmed One Night Columbus and the National Day of Prayer in 2017 for Pastor Johnny Amos from Shiloh Christian Center. I have created music videos for 4 Corners Music Group artists Bink and Priest aka Anthony. Even for producer Skye on The Beat, I created videos from his Work it Out Challenge, originating from Tye Tribbett’s “Work It Out” song. And further filmed interviews for his Cross Culture Movement platform. I’ve collaborated with KFCImages Photography and Videography as a camera operator for a music video and shooting behind-the-scenes footage. I have teamed up with SK Mac Productions to film and edit various live play productions including for the Columbus Black Theatre Festival 2017. 

I filmed the well-known Darlene Bishop and actress Karen Abercrombie at the Manifest in Me, Women Conference. After the conference was over, I even rode with Ms. Karen as my best friend Mone’t chauffeured her to her hotel, which was on her birthday. We laughed for most of the ride, and she left us her birthday cake. And one I could not mention, I went overseas to Indonesia around different parts of North Sumatra as the designated photographer and videographer for a 7-day mission trip starting on October 11, 2019. Prior to agreeing to go on this trip, I did not have the money nor the camera that would be sufficient for what I was getting into. Three things happened. First, my way was paid in half, secondly, I won $500 from a video submission I submitted to help pay for this trip through Dream with Dreamers founded by Aaron Laroy. Lastly, three months later my Grandma Ellen was speaking over the phone, and we were casually talking. I told her about the mission trip I was excited to go on, but just didn’t have the right camera for the job. She told me whatever camera you need; she had it covered. Me being me, I already did my research and knew what camera it was going to be I just confirmed it one last time and was a little nervous to tell her because it was pricey. The price didn’t matter. This trip was such an amazing precious experience I have yet to share it entirely with the world. I was amongst a team of different professional backgrounds appointed by Franklin Culver of Resurrection Power church to capture the team sharing holistic guidance to the natives of Indonesia through the means of finances, health, hope, and spirituality. Throughout villages, a prison, churches, site seeing, native homes, health seminars, and screenings our team achieved this with excellence. 

I say all this to say every opportunity I have had, God made provision for me. That will forever be my story. Thank you, Jesus, for always making a way for me even when I wanted to stop; you kept giving me hope. Thank you, grandparents, for allowing God to use you in my life unexpectedly. Thank you to my parents, Leah and Norman Price, for supporting me financially as I pursued school and this career that’s dear to me. Thank you, Mone’t Robinson, for listening to my discouragements, boasting about my work to myself and to others, and for being even a director and financial advisor on projects behind the scenes. Lastly, thank you, Voyage Ohio Magazine for reaching out and sharing my story. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have had several struggles along the way being a freelance videographer/photographer. I always struggled with setting my prices, and a lot of times, I cut myself short by spending hours of my time on editing. Another struggle I have is doing this work all by myself. I don’t like to do it alone, but I love doing the work. Lastly, location matters. My dream job is to be a director for a live set, such as the Dove awards, Stellar awards, concerts, and possibly shows. For me to pursue this, I feel like I may have to move out of Columbus. To be honest, it’s been hard for me to get a job at a local news station in an entry position even with my experience. I have applied to many media jobs to the point I take a break and go at it again. I have even reached out to NASA to see if there were any open opportunities, unfortunately, there were none at the time. When you have the education and years of experience in a career you are passionate about; it sucks to not land even an entry position successfully. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Simply put, as a videographer, I record and edit videos for the purpose of client specifics. Depending on the style (documentary, music video, short film, promo, etc.), will determine the details of how the video is recorded and edited. I specialize in two things which is also what I am known for. I have naturally a good eye to capture great shots in live-action, and I also have a creative touch with editing. When I’m on camera, I feel like I have this instinct of Harriet Tubman when she led many slaves for a miles-long way into victorious freedom. When it comes to my editing skills, if you give me scraps, I can return a gold bar. The time I take to edit a video varies for me. Sometimes I get into a groove right away and other times, it takes me some time to get into the groove. But once I’m in it, I’m flowing. 

Every time I complete a project, I’m most proud. What sets me apart from others doing the same as me, it all ties into who I am, how God created me to be, and my purpose. I set myself apart by being me. I set myself apart by allowing God to lead me before, during, and after I press record or get behind a camera. And I set myself apart by not staying discouraged about how things are going now but always pressing toward to where I want to be. 

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was the left-handed kid who always wanted to do what was right. I enjoyed reading, mystery games, puzzles, and math. Those are some of the things I did for fun when I was alone. And yes, I did math problems for fun. I guess you can say I have a thing for solving. I was naturally good at using any electronic device without the need for instructions. You know that person an adult calls on every time he/she cannot figure out why something wasn’t working? Yep, that person getting called is me. One thing that’s different between the kid version and the adult now me is that I use to be very shy. I think most people who know me can attest to say out of all the words to describe me, shy is not one of them. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kierasview/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kpthevideographer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiera-price/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KieraPriceTheVideographer