Between balancing school, late-night editing sessions and filming sports games, Sayri Sanabria doesn’t just capture the action – she lives in it. Since launching Sayri Citlalli Studios in December, Sanabria has transformed what started as a simple business class assignment into a personal brand, driven by her pursuit of filmmaking.
“In my sports marketing class, a couple of the TAs have their own businesses for videography, for sports, and they just inspired me,” Sanabria said. “Especially because our assignments are filming videos and highlights, so I really enjoyed doing it as an assignment, but also doing it just for fun, too.”
Her Business II teacher, Mr. Alex Anderson, has watched Sanabria’s journey from student to an entrepreneur unfold.
“She is one of the most ambitious students I have in my sports marketing class,” Anderson said. “She might not be the most vocal student, but she has such an amazing work ethic that other people see and want to get on her level.”
While only being active for a few months, Sanabria’s idea has been constructed, reformed and edited. Initially, she was unsure of the direction she wanted to take and how to launch the business successfully.
“For me, my biggest challenge with my business was just even starting it,” Sanabria said. “In the summer, I had an idea of my designs, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do; I didn’t have the idea of making videos for sports or anything. But then, my sports marketing class gave me inspiration, so I was like, ‘Okay, now I’ll do this,’ and I’m so thankful I did.”
Running a business while being a full-time student is no easy task, Sanabria said. Often staying up late, she spends hours perfecting her videos and photos all while balancing school’s workload.
“I usually end up going to sleep around midnight because I really put a lot of time and effort into videos or photos that I’m editing,” Sanabria said. “But my sleep is more affected than my grades, because I prioritize my grades more than my business at the moment.”
Capturing unpredictable moments from a sports game can be challenging for many, but that hasn’t stopped Sanabria from pushing forward and growing.
“I really enjoy the way she is always looking to learn something,” Anderson said. “She differs in a way that when she doesn’t know how to do something, instead of just not trying it or giving up, she looks to teach herself the skills she needs to accomplish the tasks. Whether it’s filming or video editing, she’s always looking to learn.”
The sports videography landscape is evolving rapidly, with a growing trend toward capturing natural, unscripted moments. Sanabria’s ability to adapt to this changing environment, particularly in unpredictable sports settings, positions her well for future success.
In the sports marketing class, Sanabria also works with her partner, Dharaa Chauhan. Together, their partnership balances their workload with both bringing their own strengths to each business project.
“We usually come up with a solid video idea, usually using other sports teams on Instagram for inspiration, and then go immediately into choosing a song,” Chauhan said. “Both of us have agreed that all the edit videos should be perfectly in line with the beats of the song, so that choice is super important.”
Those who work closely with her see potential. As the demand for sports videography continues to grow, particularly in creating videos for student athletes, Sanabria has been able to use her technical skills and entrepreneurial approach to take on more projects within the local community.
“I was so proud to find out that one of the basketball players had personally asked for some edits and pictures to be taken by her for the account and also her filming for sports outside of the specific business groups is super great as well,” Chauhan said.
Currently, SC Studios focuses on filming highlight reels for student athletes, but Sanabria has already made plans for her future. She hopes to expand her business beyond sports photography and dive into the film industry, eventually leading her own team and producing short films.
“I want to essentially have a crew and make short films and feature films,” Sanabria said. “I definitely want to focus on sports, because it’s easier at the moment, and it’s great for my age and the time that I have, but I do want to expand my business later on that part.”
by PAIGE FRIESEN
