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

Praiya, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

As a young child with a foot in 10 different doors and countless aspirations in the world, the one thing that always allowed me to obtain my goals was the unwavering support from my parents. The same parents that made sure I used every coupon at H-E-B, were the same parents that jumped to the opportunity to buy me a 4 thousand dollar camera set up so that I could start my internship with Texas Football on the best foot possible. No matter what obstacles my family has endured, my parents have always stressed their unconditional support for my dreams as they believe in everything that I do. I work hard to become better in my craft everyday, and continue to reach high in my career because I know that my family will always be right behind me to support whatever I do. It has not only helped lift my business up, but has inspired me to move with love and grace in my professionalism. This is why my prices for services has not changed since I’ve started my business back in 2021, and I strongly believe it’s also why I enjoy my experiences so much. My parents have taught me to make life enjoyable and positive, which inspires me to give my clients the same fruitful experience.

Praiya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Praiya Smith! I was born in Chiang Mai Thailand, but raised in Kyle, Texas. For as long as I can recall, I have been in love with media. YouTube, Movies, Television and Live Sports, I was fascinated by it all. I grew up playing sports such as high school soccer and volleyball, and watched the NFL, NBA, and NSL. My Father had such an impact on my love for sports throughout my childhood, which rooted my knowledge in several sports. By my sophomore year of high school, I decided I was done being a player on the field for an impacting meniscus tear brought me to the sidelines. After feeling stuck, I decided to take my eye for sports from the inside and dust off my skills for camerawork as I started taking photos and videos of my soccer and football teams. Before I knew it, I had the support of my high school and town community sharing my work and contacting me for services. I am now a Sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, and I offer photography, videography and editing services! I also currently volunteer for Texas Football as an Intern to provide social content and other forms of media. I am most proud of my unique eye for gameday photography, for I get the privilege to work side by side the rest of the creative intern crew and capture content of the environment and players. Lately, I have been enjoying senior photoshoots with seniors at UT and high schools in Austin/Kyle/Buda areas!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative for me is growth. At the end of the day, the journey is all about learning and improving your craft everyday. I’ve seen my work grow both physically and mentally. I am more resilient than ever, and I feel that it shows through my content. By continuing to pursue my craft and consistently finding new ways to tweak it, the validation of visual and mental growth is something that I’ll always admire. Photography is truly something I have found solace in through growing with it as my journey goes on.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Taking into account that I started my creative journey off of pure interest and no technical knowledge, I wish that I took the time to really educate myself on the craft. I feel that there is value in knowing what you’re working with in combination with the passion you have for what you’re making. There are endless YouTube videos and mentors around schools and social media that are willing to share their knowledge. If I had utilized these tools, I feel that it would have initially helped my confidence in starting my journey. Ultimately, I believe that passion alone with get you places!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://praiyasmith.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/praiyasmithproductions/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/praiya-smith-63244b239/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfr9tThFoSEscmesF6REYnQ

Image Credits

Image credits: Praiya Smith