Conversations with Aaron Sager

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Sager

Hi Aaron, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
About me page. I grew up in Mr. Roger’s neighborhood, known as Squirrel Hill, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I graduated from Colorado University, served 10 years on Active Duty in the Army in Germany and The Former Yugoslavia, and South Korea. I moved to Chicago after Korea and lived there for 11 years then moved to Castle Rock, Colorado. My professional life has revolved around my almost 31 year military service. I serve as a Colonel in the Army Reserves as a Finance Officer. The Army has provided me life opportunities that no other organization could have ever offered. Overseas living in Europe and Korea, education both for me and opportunities to serve as a educator, leadership experience and, most importantly lifelong friendships.
My photography training comes from my father and personal experience. I have always possessed a gift of capturing special moments. I will capture those moments for you. I want to you remember me for capturing those moments.
I have always been the informal “adventure photographer.” While living in Europe and Korea I photographed my friends, events, adventures and scenery. I remember mailing the negatives to York Photo and looking forward to seeing my work 2 weeks later. I started taking photos “en masse” during my adventures as an Army Lieutenant in Europe.
I have a sizeable lens and camera collection. I am a Nikon Shooter. I own a few mirrorless and Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras. My favorite camera is my Nikon D850 and favorite lens is a Zeiss Distagon 35mm F2 Nikon Mount.
Currently I am expanding my photography. My tag line is that “in 1/200th of a second I will capture you at your best”. Your best includes professional headshots, events, family portraits, and sports. I want to expand my photography into the dating profile picture market. Most of those profile photos could use studio work and / or information action shots with a high-quality camera.
My perfect professional life would be teaching and photography. I have a Masters of Science of Finance Degree from the University of Illinois and a Bachelors of Arts in English from the University of Colorado. I can teach photography, writing, and / or finance.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Marketing. I want to get my talent out into the Denver Metro and ski areas. In addition to capturing, you at your best, I want to serve as the go to photographer in the Online Dating profile picture market. There is room for improvement with online dating profile photos.

Marketing is my top challenge. My military experience enhanced my leadership, management, socializing and public speaking skills, but not marketing in the commercial sense. Personally, I don’t feel comfortable going out in public with a “look at me” sign. But I will fight through this fear and find a way to convey my unique message.

Video presence is my next challenge. I created a few primitive videos to get my message out. I have been using my Creative Writing skills to draft scripts for some video marketing ideas. Thankfully my photo equipment moonlights as exceptional quality video. To the extent my videos entertain and inform, I would like the thank the Army’s Public Speaking and Command Presence Training.

Now that I have committed to perusing photography full time, I expect to learn many lessons and thrive through challenges. I cannot identify these lessons now, but I know they lie on my journey. As a member of the Castle Rock Commercial Community and the Douglas County Veteran’s Groups, I am fortunate to have strong support groups. Someone(s) will provide me with information to mitigate the effect of these forthcoming lessons and smooth my transition through challenges.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Photographer, I capture you at your best

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I always focus on the closest person eye when I photograph them.

This is a difficult question for me to answer because my outward behavior remains constant on all situations. I say surprising things, but people expect surprisingly funny comments from me so it’s not a surprise when I say something that surprises them. I am extremely empathetic and conscientious towards everyone regardless of my personal opinion. I want success and happiness toward everyone.

Pricing:

• $425 for a one-hour session in studio or outdoors. Includes one photo. $50 each additional photo.
• $300 / 1st hour on site Event or Sports Photography $200 / hour after 1st hour on site

Contact Info:

• Website: www.donoraa.com
• Instagram: donoraa_photography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571953659568

Image Credits
all pictures are mine