Student Spotlight
Meet Riley Sieple
EVSC Harrison High School Creative Media Intern, Class of 2025
Behind the Camera: An Interview with Riley
How did you get interested in photography?
I think I got interested in photography after I started doing YouTube in 3rd grade- just creating these little skit videos. When I entered my freshman year of high school, I decided to make it into a business.
I talked to our football coach (I was terrified to go into his office) and he gave me the opportunity to film the football games and photograph them. Once basketball season arrived I talked to the basketball coach and he gave me an opportunity to film the basketball games where I worked closely alongside with my mentor Logan to learn more about the art of videography and photography.
How do you use those skills now?
Now, being in my senior year, I run a freelance business in my own time. I also accepted an internship offered to me by Harrison Athletics and Coach Andre Thomas as the "Creative Media Student Intern", overseeing our creative media team which right now has 4 media team members (myself, Grace Collison, Josue Ramos, and Djuan Wall).
The person I have to thank the most for everything I’ve been able to do is Coach Thomas, because without him I probably would never fully found my passion for sports photography.
Dream photo shoot?
I’d have to say my dream photoshoot would be to photograph the Lakers or Chicago Bears one day. Kansas City Chiefs would also be cool to photo or video. Honestly, really anything on the professional basketball or professional football level.
What was your favorite moment to shoot at the Hangers Gala?
My favorite moment to shoot at the Gala was probably whenever someone won the Indiana Fever signed ball, and got a cool photo of the woman celebrating with her hands up in the air and everything!
What other types of events have you shot?
I have shot a numerous amount of events in the four years I have been in high school. I have shot for Harrison of course, but I have also shot for the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball championship for the past two years(with the help of EVSC AD Andy Owen).
I've had the opportunity to shoot the University of Evansville vs Murry State Mens Basketball game which later led to a Digital Media internship offered to me, and an opportunity to go to South East Missouri State University last year to film a football game. I just finished shooting the Oakland city football game at Bosse this past month and am leaving next month to travel to Bloomington Indiana to film and photograph the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Michigan Wolverines.
In my freelance work I’ve had the opportunity to photograph multiple senior shoots, film and photograph weddings, and so so much more.
How does photography play into how you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
Personally, my goal currently is to graduate high school and go to college to major in Communications and Digital media. The main end goal is to make it to the NBA as a photographer one day.