Aaron Daye

"Great minds must be ready not only to take opportunities, but to make them." -Charles Caleb Colton

As a young man, Daye would travel around his hometown, Durham, North Carolina, with disposable cameras he received from his sister, snapping photos of his friends and neighbors later displaying them in albums.

His hobby would later lead him to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications from North Carolina Central University.

Shortly after graduation, Daye was selected as 1 of 4 photographers in the nation for the New York Times Student Journalism Institute where he produced a print & online newspaper; sharpening his writing, editing and photography skills.

His fellowship with the New York Times led to a full-time job where he would become the first African-American staff photographer at The Gainesville Sun, at the time owned by The New York Times Regional Media Group.

Daye covered some of the biggest stories in North Central Florida--including University of Florida football player Tim Tebow's wins, First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign stops for her husband, President Barack Obama and Pastor Terry Jones' burning of the Quran demonstration which garnered international headlines.

On assignment to the White House in 2007, Daye snapped a photo of President George W. Bush doing the "Gator Chomp," catching the attention of University of Florida fans worldwide.

Daye's catalogue includes photos of the "Dr. Death" Jack Kevorkian, hip-hop stars Kanye West, Lil' Wayne and Drake, R & B artist John Legend, actor Boris Kudjoe and American Idol contestant, Daughtry.

Daye's work has been published in Sports Illustrated, Ebony Magazine, The New York Times, Gainesville Magazine, Gainesville Sun, Undersea Journal and Women's Day Magazine.

Daye currently runs Aaron Daye Photography, digital branding firm Gorillaz Ink | Gorillaz Ink Promotions & Marketing and is a Social Media Strategist for GrubStubs, a dining network that bring people together over food.