Full plate? He wouldn't have it any other way

Editor’s note: Twice each week, The Press shines a light on the life of interesting locals active in the community. Up today: Aaron Borg

By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

Meet Aaron Borg, a passionate photographer as the owner of Aaron Borg Photography. He’s also a tech startup recruiter who has lived in Coeur d'Alene since 2000. You'll find him at concerts, stand-up comedy events, occasionally playing music or gaming with friends — and otherwise taking photos of his pursuits.

Generation: Millennial by definition, but my folks were old-school baby boomers so a lot of those "old school" values were instilled in me that not many people my age share.

Career and community involvement: By trade, I am a recruiter for Stay Alfred, but by passion I own Aaron Borg Photography, and am a founding member and photographer with Cursed Crypt, a rad new tabletop gaming company based in Spokane that recently fully funded a Kickstarter campaign. I'm involved as a member of Kootenai County Young Professionals and the Coeur Group outside of my work, so I definitely keep my plate full.

Parental status: My girlfriend insists I'm a proud "cat parent," but seeing as I'm allergic, I disagree.

1. What do you do at Stay Alfred, and what is Stay Alfred?

I work with our company's leadership to hire new employees, and preserve a small slice of the rapid growth, startup tech culture in Spokane. Stay Alfred is a travel company that operates in 34 cities around the country, and has the best parts of a hotel and Airbnb and none of the bad. Imagine a downtown luxury apartment in a mid- to high-rise building within walking distance of a city's best features, where you can bring friends, cook your own food, and wash your own clothes at a hotel price. Yeah. It’s pretty awesome.

2. What do you enjoy most about working as a photographer?

Photography is very engaging for me. I enjoy the independent and artistic nature of the work, and one-on-one client or small team interaction. The photography community in North Idaho and Spokane is particularly supportive, so over the course of the last few years I've learned a lot about lighting and studio work, which I enjoy the most.

3. What is one moment you are extremely proud of in any of your professions?

If I have to choose just one, it’s the opportunity to produce photography for features in Forbes and Inc. magazines. It's one thing to take photos for enjoyment, but another thing entirely to have your work in a well-known publication. It's given me a sense of achievement, and motivates me to continue doing better.

4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I used to play baritone saxophone in a ska band with my best friends during college, and even rocked a pretty serious Mohawk, although you'd never guess it with my bald head now. We toured up and down the Pacific Northwest, playing as show openers predominantly, and I wouldn't give up those experiences for anything. It was a wild and fun time.

5. What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?

The driver for me is in the one-on-one engagement with people. Whether it's helping a peer get recognized for a promotion or being behind a camera capturing someone's special moments, I enjoy supporting others, building a relationship and seeing them experience the joy from my efforts.

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Email Devin: dweeks@cdapress.com