Aaron Daye

Building a Legacy through Visual Stories

Aaron Daye has lived and worked in Gainesville for 18-years. He arrived from his home state of North Carolina for a 10week internship that turned into a year-long experience as photographer for the Gainesville Sun Newspaper. This experience launched him into his photography career, which has included the Communications & Creative Services Department at Sante Fe College and the University of Florida (UF).

Aaron’s love for photography started with disposable cameras his sister would bring home from her part-time job. His curiosity turned into a hobby that quickly became a selftaught passion. Aaron’s work follows in the footsteps of his grandmother. While she never referred to herself as a photographer, Aaron sees the photography techniques she applied to the pictures she captured of her friends and family through her life.

Aaron specializes in portraits and capturing people in natural moments. He covers live events at UF and loves telling a story through pictures, “capturing a moment in time.” Each photograph is an opportunity to relive the memories that shape people’s lives.

Aaron credits the New York Times Regional Media Group formerly based in

Tampa for setting him on this path with his internship placement. He knew the experience would be something great, but couldn’t put his finger on why at the moment. He followed his instincts, put his faith and trust in knowing this was the place he was supposed to be.

Through his career, Aaron has sought out mentors, teachers, and connections that have been critical in perfecting his craft. His motivation to create opportunities for himself that were not available to his family drives him to push through adversity. Every image he captures is a piece of his legacy, one of pursuing dreams without inhibition. The relationships he’s built along the way have pro- vided him the safety and security needed to step out onto an unfamiliar path.

His brothers from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. stepped in early in his career to provide critical support during his internship. He has taken these life lessons and turned them around tenfold to support other young Black professionals in achieving their dreams. Aaron encourages dreamers, professionals, and entrepreneurs to step out on faith. Find mentors to learn from. Connect with people that share your passion and vision. Emulate the leaders you admire. Have the courage to dream of a bigger life for yourself, put the work in to pursue it, and watch your legacy grow.