We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aaron Kes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aaron below.

Aaron, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

As I get older, I think about legacy a lot. I recently heard someone say, “unless you are Jesus, no one will remember you in 1000 years.” Outside of some historical figures, that’s really true. That seems really depressing on the surface, but in a way it’s very freeing. It makes me focus harder on what I am doing with the time I do have. It makes me want to live it up, not beat myself up to badly over failures, and just to treat the people who are right here with me as well as I can. And in a way, that’s how my legacy will live on. If we all focus on being good humans, that will always teach the next generation to do the same and then together we make a big impact on the world.

There’s an ego side of me that says I want to have done extraordinary things and be remembered for them. On some level, I still chase that feeling. But a lot of it is simply about pushing my own limits. I think I can do great things so I want to see what I’ve got in me. But it’s about myself at that point and not about how others may perceive me or remember me.

Photographing weddings is fascinating in regards to legacy because every wedding you photograph you are creating art that serves as a piece of other people’s legacy. You have documented one of the most important days of their lives. Their family will always have those to look back on. So it’s an honor and a responsibility to be a part of that. In this line of work, I think I’ve found the perfect balance of being able to push myself to see what I am capable of, but also to push that idea of being a good human. I don’t want clients to simply say, “that guy took nice photos.” That would be all about the ego side. Yeah, I want them to love their photos, but I also try to make sure they loved how I made them feel. Then I get the best of both worlds. Doing my part to be good to others and be a part of that grand idea as well as pushing the liits of what I’m capable of and knocking them off their feet with my work too.

Aaron, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a wedding photographer based in Cincinnati, OH but available for travel worldwide. I shot my first wedding in 2006 and have been doing it full time since 2014. I shot my first one for some friends of mine while I was in school studying film and television. I still participate in some film work, mostly for fun. But still photography ended up being my favorite thing to do. I never get sick of learning about it or trying to get better at it.

The wedding industry can feel tailored to certain people. People with the right looks, money, etc. I want to be part of the industry that makes it for everyone. I’ve been overweight most of my life and I understand how the perfection of pretty can make others feel. So, I want to be someone working to show that this is for everyone. I love shooting people of all backgrounds, orientations, sizes, skin colors, etc. I love a backyard wedding just as much as a fancy destination one. I love people doing whatever the heck they want to with their weddings. Buck those traditions. We are here to celebrate your love, not what others think that should be.

I think what sets me apart is my demeanor and my vision. I am a very laid back, easy going guy. I put clients at ease pretty well. This really helps them have a better day and it helps keep everyone chill if the schedule doesn’t go according to plan.

In regards to my vision, I try and shoot a little differently than most. I mean, I’m not some crazy artist doing wild things, but I put my own spin on things. We all do, but I think I tend to fall into that category of doing things a little different than most of the industry. A wedding planner who brought their clients to me once said they love my photos because I’ll always surprise them with an angle or an idea they haven’t seen before. I loved that. I really want my clients to see some of that too. Something surprising. It’s fun.

I’m most proud that I’ve built a business based on being myself and others have been into that. Sometimes it’s tempting to want to do what others do or act a way you think you have to in order to get work. I think there are people out there who will love and “get” you and if you be yourself you’ll eventually find them. Then the work is so much more fulfilling. I think I’ve largely done that.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Hands down in my line of work word of mouth is the best way to get new clients. I can run ads all day long, but they’ll never have the impact that a good review or recommendation form a former client will. I have one couple whose wedding I first did, and ended up doing weddings for five more couples they knew. That’s a huge return on just doing a great job and treating those clients well. So I really try to go all out for my clients. They will remember that when someone asks them about their wedding vendors. You can also put this into concrete action by asking them to review you on Google, Yelp, etc. Then their glowing words are there for others to see. I like checking reviews myself as a consumer, so it’s a no brainer for me to ask for them too.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One of my favorite stories surrounding marketing was about my first trip to San Francisco. I had been a full time photographer for less than a year. A friend of mine had moved out to the Bay Area and wanted us (me and my girlfriend – now my wife) to come visit. It was a stretch to go out there to say the least. But I decided I can make it work if I also make it a business trip.

I decided to try and do some engagement sessions while I was out there. The only problem was that I didn’t know anyone who lived there other than my friend, and she didn’t know a ton of people yet either. So, I decided to try advertising for some engagement session giveaways. I used Facebook ads to target engaged people in the area and let them know I would be selecting some couples for a chance at a free engagement session. All they had to do was follow my business, fill out a small questionnaire, and tell me a bit about their story. Then I hand picked some couples who seemed like they’d fit my vibe well.

I chose the locations based on places that were iconic San Francisco area spots, but also places I really wanted to photograph. That way, even if nothing ever came of it other than the free session, at least I got to shoot in a spot that was very cool to me and I’d also have those images for my portfolio of iconic locations.

For one of the couples, we wanted to incorporate the Golden Gate Bridge. I had never been to the area, so I did a decent amount of Google maps research into the location. They not only loved their photos, but they were super impressed with how I managed to nail the spots where we went. So much so they booked me for their wedding the next year. It was a huge wedding, one of the most unique I’ve ever photographed, and the couple was really great to work with.

Other couples saw the iconic locations as well as this fabulous wedding I did. This led to shooting weddings in California each year for five years after. All because I took a gamble and worked hard to make it work for me. And I did it for free. It paid me back so much.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aaronkes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aaronkes/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronKesPhotography
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aaron-kes-photography-cincinnati

Image Credits
All images taken by me