Meet Kareem Gedra | Kareem The Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kareem Gedra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kareem, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was motivated to start my own business because I wanted to be able to get up every day and do something that l love to do and I was passionate about.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a professional videographer, photographer and director. I spent many years working as a licensed Barber at Simply The Best Barbershop located in Vallejo California. Also while barbering I was working nights at Queen of The Valley Medical Center in Napa California. as a housekeeper. After about 8 years of working both the Barbershop and Medical Center. I began to feel unsatisfied and frustrated. I just had that “This can’t be my life.” feeling.. I was pretty vocal about it too. So one day while venting to a friend of mines, she suggested that I go back to school. She new I had a passion for directing music videos, so she recommended I go to school to learn how to shoot music videos. After that conversation I went and sat with a requiter at the Art Institute of San Francisco.. The requiter was very persuasive and after she heard about my background and experience on the local independent artist and music scene. She convinced me that I was the type of person that belonged at the school. Her tactics worked, I enrolled and after about 2 years of attending I took a leap of faith, quit my job at the hospital and started my own videography and photography business. I didn’t have any gigs or clients booked or even any idea on how I was going to supplement the income I would no longer be receiving from my job at the medical center.. Needless to say those were very scary times. I had a dream but I also had bills .But the first sign that let me know I had made the right decision was when I received a call from the job a had just quit about a week prior. I remember looking at my phone like “Why is my old job calling me? I should not be on the schedule; I quit. Well when I picked up the phone the gentleman on the other end of the line was calling to book me to provide my photography services for a luncheon the Medical Center was hosting. Shortly after that phone call I received another phone call from a couple who got my number from a friend. The couple hired me to shoot their wedding. After those two bookings I knew I had made the right decision by leaving my job at Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh man, this is a difficult one. Lol It’s only a little challenging to answer this question because their are so many people that come to mind when I think about who has supported me or even mentorship.. I would have to simply shout out my community in Solano County and. the Bay Area. There has been so many business owners, local leaders and politicians and entrepreneurs who have hired me to to film, photograph, and create content for their business, brand or campaign. The support and trust I receive from my community has been overwhelming and in many ways has been the inspiration that not only keeps me going but makes me want to always strive to do my best.

Website: Kglenses.com

Instagram: Kglenses

Facebook: Kareem Gedra

Youtube: Kareem Gedra

Image Credits
Brigitte Ouabo