My name is Aaron Self...
“As a multimedia professional, I strive to create compelling content I am proud to put my name on. Over the years I have honed my skills as a photographer and videographer; while also learning to write, direct, perform, manage, and speak before audiences. I am always willing to acquire new techniques while perfecting old ones. Telling stories through my work has been my passion and it’s wonderful my passion is my career.”
Education
Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Kent State University
Concentration: Photojournalism, Minor: Biology
Work Experience
Photography and Videography Coordinator, Baldwin Wallace University
(August 2023 - February 2024)
Conceptualized, planned, and executed photo and video shoots to develop engaging and authentic visuals that aligned with the university’s brand identity and messaging. Utilized advanced photography techniques and equipment to capture compelling images of campus events, student activities, faculty members and facilities. Created professional-quality videos, including event highlights, promotions, interviews, and educational content by leveraging various filming techniques and editing software.
Restored and modernized the university website with a dynamic homepage video. Exhibited campus culture and beauty to leave a lasting positive impression.
Revitalized the photography and videography content library to meet post-COVID demands, emphasizing both internal and external utilization.
Bolstered brand visibility and outreach by curating content tailored for the university website and social media platforms.
Photographer, Videographer and Social Media Manager, Bethel University
(August 2020 - August 2023)
Spearheaded photography and videography initiatives as the primary content creator, for all departments and athletics programs, while staying current with industry best practices and trends. Performed roles outside the job description as needed for projects and events. Managed student workers to cover events and create content for social media. Created editorial calendars and content schedules to ensure consistent and timely delivery of photos and videos across social media channels in line with university events, initiatives, and campaigns.
Established and maintained a well-organized multimedia repository, housing 30K+ readily accessible images and video clips for immediate utilization by the university and public consumption.
Generated engaging videos for social media, such as stop motion, to demonstrate giveaway products and drive increased participation in promotional campaigns or events.
Crafted videos featuring university leadership, student leaders, and town residents to boost attendance and social media engagement for large events or joint projects with the local communities.
Designed and distributed promotional materials, such as a set of compelling photo books, to showcase campus life, aid recruitment efforts, and elevate the university’s image at promotional events.
Key Projects:
Recorded Physician Assistant students delivering medical assistance to underserved rural communities in Belize by capturing photo and video content for promotional materials and social media platforms. (2022 & 2023)
Captured photo and video footage of university students engaged in volunteer work as part of a study abroad program. Enhanced development of an online classroom program catering to dual-enrollment high school students, facilitating cultural immersion experiences despite financial potential constraints. (2021)
Photographer and Social Media Manager, The Canton Repository
(September 2019 - April 2020)
Shaped high-quality visual content for print and digital platforms, including coverage of community events, sports activities, general news stories, features, and long-form projects via management of the newspaper’s website and printed version. Applied journalistic principles and ethical standards to capture compelling images that accurately represented the news and events, while adhering to deadlines and editorial guidelines.
Covered a diverse range of community events, sports activities, general news stories, features, and long-form projects via management of the newspaper’s Instagram account, resulting in substantial audience growth.
Doubled followers and tripled engagement in two months by transforming the paper’s Instagram presence through strategic content curation and a consistent posting schedule.
Key Projects:
Documented volunteers and staff within the Stark County parks system rehabilitating animals injured in the community for re-release into the wild. (2020)
Photographer, Videographer and Warehouse Manager, Raise the Roof Entertainment
(September 2018 – October 2019)
Captured photo and video content for the company’s marketing and social media accounts. Created photo galleries of corporate events for the companies we had contracts with. Organized and maintained all equipment within the company warehouse. Assembled different equipment setups for transportation to job sites across northeast Ohio. From weddings to live broadcasts, we provided a range of services for live events with in-person supervision to maintain quality and oversee successful productions.
Photographer, Kent State University Communications and Marketing
(August 2015 – May 2018)
Worked with team members to coordinate coverage, identify photo opportunities, and integrate visual storytelling with editorial content across print and digital platforms. Captured university and athletic events for internal and external dissemination while working closely with faculty, staff, and students on various projects. Contributed to maintaining an online archive housing photographs captured by university and student photographers.
Collaborated with reporters, editors, and other team members to capture university and community events, plan future content opportunities and develop photo stories with editorial writing across our digital, print and social media channels while working for the university newspaper.
Recorded university and athletic events for both internal and external dissemination. Collaborated closely with faculty, staff, and students on various projects.
Key Projects:
Spearheaded and published a collaborative documentary project shedding light on fishing communities in Ghana. (2017)
Led the planning and execution of a team project documenting the ongoing recovery efforts for Hurricane Irma in the Florida Keys, post-mainstream media coverage. (2017)
Contributed to the establishment and enrichment of photo and video archives, while also creating compelling research project content in collaboration with the wildlife conservation group, ALERT, operating in Zimbabwe and Zambia. (2016)
Documented scientific research endeavors undertaken by university students throughout Costa Rica, capturing findings and experiences through photos and video. (2015-2016 & 2017-2018)
Core Competencies
Technical Proficiencies:
Adobe Creative Suite | Apple & Windows Systems | Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, and Panasonic systems | Social Media & Web Publishing Platforms
Areas of Expertise:
Video Production & Editing | Public Speaking | Directing & Scriptwriting | Journalistic & Creative Writing | Studio Lighting & Audio Capture | Archives Management | Public Relations | Project Management | Video Editing | Photography | Branding | Color Theory | Visual Storytelling Image Retouching | Layout Design | Social Media Platforms Management | Search Engine Optimization | Digital Asset Management | Analytics & Reporting | Field Production | Content Strategy | Post-Production | Customer Service | Event Planning | Time Management
Honors
Eagle Scout, 2013
Best Athletic Homepage Banner, NAIA, 2022
Finalist, SPJ Region 4 Mark of Excellence Awards for Best Feature Photography, 2018
3rd Place for Sports Action, Ohio News Photographers Association, 2018
Award of Excellence, Ohio News Photographers Association, News Picture Story, 2017
Award of Excellence, Ohio News Photographers Association, Feature Picture Story, 2017
Eddie Adams Workshop class of 2017
4th Place for Feature Photo, Associated Collegiate Press, 2016
Personal Activities/Services
Volunteer with the Perry History Club (2018 - Present)
President of Kent State University Photography Club (2017)
Board member of Kent State University Ornithological Club (2016-2018)
Board member of Herrick Conservatory & Sustainability Club (2016-2018)