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

Jaydon, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When I first started High School, I struggled to stay focused, with my thoughts jumping from topic to topic. Everything changed when I enrolled in a Media Studies class. There, I was introduced to basic film editing tools and started working on footage from various school events. As I spent more time editing in a dark room, something clicked—I became deeply immersed in the process, and my focus sharpened.

The turning point came when I created my first short film. My sister was the lead character, and I used action shots of her playing soccer. The energy I could inject into the footage through my edits was exhilarating. When I showed the finished video in class, something unexpected happened: athletes started reaching out to me, asking if I could edit highlight reels for them to share online for recruitment purposes. However, as I began editing, I became frustrated with the quality of the footage. I started envisioning how I could capture shots that would better highlight an athlete’s skills, and I realized I needed to take my camera work to the next level.

At that point, I had limited experience with cameras beyond basic point-and-shoot. So, I borrowed a camera from the athletic department and nervously asked the football coach if I could film practice. Although I was initially unsure, once I got behind the lens, I felt a surge of excitement. I started posting my first videos on Instagram under the name “JaydonCKMedia,” and before I knew it, I became known as the person who made “cool sports videos.” My growing reputation with athletes drove me to improve my editing skills and create more polished, stylish videos. Soon, students began paying me for hype reels, and I found a way to turn my creative passion into a small business.

To improve my skills further, I took a summer course to learn DaVinci Resolve, a powerful editing program. With new tools at my disposal, I started to think more critically about video production, focusing on techniques like cutting, crossfading, and visual effects. My increasingly sophisticated videos caught the attention of the athletic office, and they asked me to become the official sports videographer for the school. It was then that I discovered my passion for filming basketball. I found myself positioning my camera under the net to capture each dunk and layup, putting myself in the overall atmosphere of the game.
Filming sports has since become more than just creating highlight reels or gaining social media followers. It’s a way for me to tell the stories of athletes’ determination and hard work. Each video I create reflects not only the athletes’ journeys but also my personal growth through the creative process. My skills in editing and videography have evolved, and I continue to push myself to create videos that resonate with audiences and showcase the hard work and emotion behind every performance.

Looking back, I now realize that the most important skills I developed were in problem-solving and creativity. I learned how to quickly adapt to new software, how to communicate visually, and how to better manage my time. While obstacles like balancing academics and business challenges stood in my way, I found ways to overcome them by focusing on what I loved—filmmaking—and using it as a tool to fuel my growth.

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.

I’m a 17-year-old high school senior from Sherman Oaks, California, and the founder of Jaydon Kuntz Media. My journey into sports media began when I wanted to help athletes at my high school get noticed – especially those who don’t always get the spotlight. I realized that every highlight reel tells a story, and I’m passionate about making sure each one captures the energy and excitement of the moment. For me, it’s all about creating something that gets people hyped up and shows athletes in their best light.

What really sets me apart is the fact that I’m not just another young creator – I put a ton of focus on the athletes themselves. I take the time to connect with them, understand their strengths, and make sure that comes through in every video. Even though I’m still learning, I’m proud of how professional my edits look. What’s even more unique is that I do everything – I shoot the footage, edit it, and tell the full story from start to finish. A lot of my peers just specialize in one area, but I love being hands-on through the whole process.

When it comes to editing, my style is all about energy. I like to keep things fast-paced and sync everything with music – usually hip hop, R&B, or pop – to match the vibe of the footage. I love adding cinematic touches like magic hour shots, sun flares, and smooth transitions that make my videos stand out. Slow motion is another trick I use a lot to add that dramatic effect, especially in highlight reels. My goal is always to make the athletes look their absolute best and create something that grabs attention.

While I mostly work with athletes looking to grow their personal brand on social media, I’m also passionate about showcasing the diversity of athletic programs at my school and in my community. My main focus is on basketball and football, but I’ve worked with athletes from all kinds of sports – soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, track, water polo, and cross country. No matter the sport, I’m all about bringing out the best in every athlete I work with.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the best part of being a creator is the personal connections I’ve made with so many athletes. Through my work, I’ve met so many amazing people I probably never would have crossed paths with otherwise. It’s not just about the videos – it’s hearing their stories, understanding what drives them, and seeing how much my work can mean to them. I’ve made new friends and gotten a better understanding of different perspectives along the way.

And honestly, there’s nothing more rewarding than making the athletes look amazing. It feels great knowing that I’m capturing their talent and hard work, helping them show off what they’ve achieved. Seeing them proud of the final product is what really makes all of this worth it.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started building my audience, it was pretty simple – I began cutting highlight reels for athletes and asking them to post and collaborate with me. I wanted to help them get noticed, and in return, they’d share my work with their followers. Over time, I started getting more attention, and eventually, my school caught on and began sharing my edits, which gave me even more exposure. From there, I started networking with other content creators who were shooting high school sports, and we teamed up on different projects and posts, which really helped grow my presence.

For anyone just starting out, my biggest advice is to do what you love. When you’re passionate about something, it’s so much easier to stay motivated and create content you care about. Also, connect with people who share similar interests – collaborating with others can help take your work to the next level. Look for interesting people to feature in your content because that gives you more chances to create cool, engaging stuff. The right content will lead to more opportunities and help grow your audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: jaydonckmedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaydonckmedia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556769444249
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaydon-c-kuntz-b76265292/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JaydonCKMedia/videos

Image Credits
Gregory Fiore DC7 Visuals CEO Captured TakenbyCharlie