The man behind the lens, Aaron Jacoby, enjoys capturing memories around Orange, sharing them at #evvrythingorange.
- - - -
Aaron Jacoby
Longtime Orange resident Aaron Jacoby is the man behind the camera capturing scenes and memories around town since taking up photography as a hobby when the oldest of his five now grown children was born. When his kids entered high school, Jacoby began helping out.
“All five of my kids went to Orange High School and all five were chamber singers for Mr. Short,” says Jacoby of the longtime Director of Choral Activities Michael Short. “I started taking photos at their performances and just sort of became part of the fabric.”
Jacoby has since become the official/unofficial public relations machine for the school, taking the groups’ yearbook photos each year, and attending and shooting every sports teams’ home games and the performing arts shows.
“I go to almost every event I can at Orange High School,” says Jacoby, who shares that the students sometimes call him “dad.” He shoots their dances, assemblies, football, basketball, wrestling, golf, water polo, volleyball and graduations. “I try to make sure all the kids feel included, no matter what sport or what they do.”
Jacoby also runs the social media for many of the groups at Orange High, putting his photos under the handle #evvrythingorange, all as a volunteer.
“I don’t like to get paid because then it becomes a job,” he says.
Jacoby got into photography when his kids were young and he took their photos during school programs.
“People started reacting and asking me to take photos of their kids, and it just kind of grew from there,” he says. “I get called quite a bit for photography. If I don’t have a family obligation, I will say yes.”
Although Jacoby’s passion lies with Orange High School, he has also photographed and recorded events for the Friendly Center, the Community Foundation of Orange and Orange Unified School District, including Villa Park and El Modena high schools.
“I cannot say enough good things about Aaron,” says Short. “The kids love him because he will give them the shirt off his back. He goes over and above to be sure the kids get what they need in life. He is the humblest person I have ever met.”
While still working full-time as an IT Manager for CIK Power Distributors in Orange, Jacoby and his wife, Pricilla, run the Orange High Vocal Music Boosters, as well as help with the 3rd of July celebration and the Christmas Tree Lighting. Jacoby also serves on the board for GoCat to support the building of a performing arts center at Grijalva Park, and does the photography, video and social media for the nonprofit.