Daily Inspiration: Meet Sidney Sykes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sidney Sykes.

Hi Sidney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
All of my life, I have been heavy in sports but really sparked an interest in sports videography when my mom introduced me to photography. It was my dad’s idea to try doing video for Grandview’s football team in high school. From football, I continued my work in basketball, wrestling, and baseball all through my four years. Videography was then something for the teams. Using platforms like Hudl, I would do different angles for highlights and statisticians. It was nothing like I do now.

I then took a chance in college. I attended Northwest Missouri State University working directly on the sideline for the football team. I felt at home and learned amazing things. The first time flying a drone and winning a national championship in the FREEZING cold, it was the best time of my life. After leaving NWMSU, I took a break from sports to focus on life. But, with time, a hole got bigger. The need to continue videography kept pushing in the back of my mind.

It was then that I decided to get back into tradition. I formed Sporting Video Productions LLC, reached out to coaches and began to grow. Lincoln College Prep’s Athletics Director Coach Glasgow is on a mission to build athletics in the metro area for all students. With his help, SVP has gained numerous views as well as created exposure for the student athletes for college recruitment! We work hand in hand.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This is anything but smooth, in the best of ways. With all growing and new small businesses, it comes with growing pains. Finding financials to cover equipment and software used, finding schools willing to trust me with their program, or simply getting a response back. There are many obstacles with owning a small business but with all great things, you must want it bad enough. Taking time to film, edit, do research on teams and statistics, all come with being a sports videographer. But with that time, I meet amazing people, coaches making a difference, principles, family members and the best part, the students. Meeting the students and working with them to build a video is key. It is that relationship that gets me through the struggles of business.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a double minority sports videographer. In the sports world, women have made an introduction from being sports broadcasters, editors, publicists, head coaches and referees. In the world of videography, according to Zippia, out of 30,000 videographers, only 25% of them are women and only 8.05% are Hispanic and 4.6% are African American.

Being in the Midwest doing videography, the realm of double minority videographers are slim. Many believe I am a photographer. Unfortunately, people confuse photography and videography. Though much alike, videography is vastly different and actually growing in popularity. Videography is a chance to experience an event almost as if you were there! Close up shots, crowd noises and coaches’ speeches, videography is taking the internet by storm. I provide that experience in high schools!

The homecoming games, celebrating alumni for years, being in the team huddles, I provide that personal connection. But I not only provide experience, I provide opportunity, College coaches from D1 to NAIA or JUCO all watch the videos I put together for the teams. I work directly with juniors and seniors to build a portfolio to send to the coaches of the colleges, get a chance to be recruited and hopefully be offered to play at the next level. I love what I do not for the opportunity but to provide a chance for high school athletes to continue what they love!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
With every video, comes growth. I want to grow outside of the Midwest to help students across the United States. There are many students needing help with exposure, I would love to help! This is not only for high schoolers, I work with little leagues, training events, and more ranging in ALL sports.

Pricing:

• Pricing ranges from $50.00 to $150.00 depending on travel
• Anything within range 50 miles of Kansas City metro is $50.00-$75.00
• Anything outside of the 50 mile range of Kansas City metro is $75.00-$150.00

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sporting_vprods
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SportingVideoProds
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sporting_Vprods