Where the action is, according to Apollo High School junior, Jason Soria, is the sidelines of just about any high school sport. He can feel his heart beat and is completely in the moment. His happiest times are right there behind the lens of a camera taking as many shots as he can.
“I’ve always had a camera in my hand – ever since I was little,” smiles Soria. “I would go around the house and shoot pictures of just random stuff. When I got older, I realized that I really like sports, but I also really like photography. So, over quarantine [shutdown], I got the idea to go to a baseball game with my camera. After I shot that baseball game, I was like, I love doing this.”
Soria began to learn more about photography and videography. He spent a lot of time on YouTube watching videos to learn the craft and then took a photography class at his previous school, North High School in North St. Paul.
When the pandemic forced students to learn from home a year and a half ago, Soria decided to start his own photography and videography business. At just 15 years old, he saved up the money to purchase better quality equipment and set out to enjoy his passion. He connected with some coaches at North and began shooting sports photos for the school.
Soria moved to St. Cloud last spring with only three weeks remaining in the school year. He didn’t get to meet a lot of people before school ended, so he picked up his camera.
“Over the summer, I reached out to some basketball programs here in St. Cloud,” explains Soria. “I did a bit of summer AU [amateur] basketball, photos and filming too. Last school year, I met the [Apollo] football coach, Michael Beehler.”
Soria offered his skills to photograph and make a video of Apollo’s football team, and Beehler said yes. Word soon got out about a junior who was photographing the football team, making a video and doing a great job.
Apollo’s Activities Director Alex Badger reached out immediately at the start of school to connect with Soria.
“Badger wanted content for the school year,” says Soria. “So, that’s how I got started at Apollo. I’ve filmed a girls soccer video and girls swimming. I’ll be shooting a cross country video, and along with that, the [boys] soccer booster club reached out to me.”
With the experience he’s gained, sports photography is now his career aspiration. It truly is his passion. He is considering St. Cloud State University after graduation. His hope is to major in business or marketing, so that he can continue to grow his sports photography and videography business.
“Portraits and everything, that’s cool and all,” says Soria. “I’ll go shoot senior portraits, but for me sports is the funnest thing to do – on the sideline right next to the action. I have the best seat in the house … right next to the players and coaches.”
View some of Soria’s work and follow him on Instagram.
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