Kia Aird shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kia, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
What I feel called to do now is work with people. In the past, I shied away from group projects or collaborative activities, partly because I lacked confidence in my own performance, and partly because I doubted the group’s ability to succeed. That mindset led to a lot of anxiety and isolation, and ultimately kept me from connecting with some amazing people.
Today, that has completely shifted. I’ve had the chance to meet and collaborate with incredible groups and organizations, and it’s something I’m genuinely excited about. Whether it’s working with upcycling collectives, people in the fashion world, or teams behind music festivals, I’ve learned that collaboration doesn’t have to be stressful. As long as we share a collective moral compass (putting the consumer’s experience and care first) the results don’t just meet expectations, they exceed them.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Kia Aird and, I built Prime Contrast Media to be more than a media company; it’s an extension of my vision to capture people in their truest light. I’ve spent over a decade behind the camera, building a style rooted in high contrast, vibrant color, and storytelling that feels both authentic and bold. What sets Prime Contrast apart is the balance between professionalism and comfort; I make sure clients feel at ease so their genuine personality shines through. From individuals to businesses, every project is approached with the goal of creating visuals that don’t just look good, but elevate experiences, brands, and memories.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
One belief I’ve let go of from my early life is the idea that I didn’t deserve the good things coming my way. As a child, I often felt that if I let myself fully appreciate something, it would disappear or fall apart. That mindset created a lot of self-doubt and kept me from enjoying the results of my own hard work. Today, I’ve learned to embrace those good things with gratitude and confidence, knowing they’re not fleeting but a reflection of the effort and dedication I’ve put in.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Resilience is the true measure of growth. At one of my lowest points, someone told me life is like a roller coaster: full of ups and downs, but always moving forward. Listening to people share their journeys-their failures, struggles, and eventual breakthroughs showed me that if you can survive the lowest points, you can’t truly fail. Every hardship I’ve faced has taught me to learn from the pain, sweat, and tears, and that perspective allows me to fully appreciate the successes I experience now and those still to come.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
My wonderful husband, Andrew. His thoughts, ideas, and perspective on a lot of different topics influences my life quite a fair amount. He is my best friend and another creative as well so, it makes brainstorming sessions fairly easy which has lead to several of my photoshoot ideas. Sometimes, he can see a finished product before I can especially when it comes to more vibrant/colorful edits and ideas!
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I grew up as a “do as I say, not as I do” kid, which meant I listened closely to my family, my mom, and my educators. While they supported my talents in fine arts—like band and photography—they also made it clear that these weren’t realistic paths for building a living. That mindset pushed me away from music after middle school, led me to dismiss photography as something anyone could pick up, and eventually guided me into studying Computer Information Systems at Texas State. I dropped out in 2018, not because I didn’t respect formal education, but because I realized it wasn’t the right path for me. Now, with clarity from those detours, I know I’m doing what I was born to do—you can see it in my work, and I feel it in my bones and soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://primecontrastmedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primecontrast/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kia-aird-355207215/
Image Credits
All images taken and edited by Kia Aird of Prime Contrast Media
