About

My name is Aaron Cranford, and I am a traveler, photographer and Tar Heel.

Raised in South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina, I graduated as a Covenant Scholar from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy. Through UNC-CH, I was also awarded the Frances L. Phillips Travel Scholarship, providing me with an opportunity to independently design an international education experience following my graduation.

I currently live in Orlando, Florida, and am the son of Stephen and Janet Cranford and have one sister, Hannah, and one brother, Nathan.

Career

Having worked in the world of marketing, communications, public relations and social media since 2014, I currently serve as the Director of Digital for Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC and NWSL’s Orlando Pride.

I previously served as the Senior Director of Business Operations for South Georgia Tormenta FC, a professional soccer club based in Statesboro, Georgia. I joined the Georgia-based club as the Director of Marketing from 2020-21, and in my first year with the organization, the Tormenta FC Front Office was awarded “2020 Best in Web” by peer USL League One teams. In my second season with the club, the Tormenta FC Front Office was awarded “2021 Best in Digital” by peer USL League One teams.

I also served as the Manager of Communications and Public Relations for Lansing Ignite FC throughout the 2019 USL League One season, worked as a Manager of Communications and Social Media for the United Soccer League, based in Tampa, Florida, and worked as a Managing Editor for SBI Soccer, a web-based soccer news website.

My Travels

My love for traveling started in 2011, when I journeyed outside of the United States for the first time. Since then, I have enjoyed many unique experiences, visiting numerous countries and municipalities, including Iceland, Japan, Turkey, Italy, Brazil and France. From spectating cockfights in the Dominican Republic to watching whirling dervishes in Istanbul, I am always looking for the next adventure and open to making new friends around the world.

My Photography

My love for photography, as well as videography, started in 2014, working as a staff writer for The Daily Tar Heel and as a site contributor for SBI Soccer. I have continued to hone my craft since then and have a significant interest in travel, street and landscape photography.

Over the years, I have also offered my photography services for special events, including graduations and engagement photo shoots.