📸: @airamdphoto
In my quest to introduce you to local people, businesses, and organizations to know in the city, I realized that I knew many, but I didn't know-know them. What better way than to slide into their DMs or their inboxes and ask them all of my burning questions, right?
That's how I feel about Airam Data-On. I've only ever "met" him via Instagram. He's pretty consistent in tagging Pulptown in beautiful photos and he freely shares his photography tips AND he's pretty witty in his responses to our Instagram stories. Win-win-win, right? Anyway, that led to me asking Airam if he'd be up for a Pulptown feature. He happily obliged and now, here we are.So let's get to know the super talented photographer, small business owner, and Orlando cheerleader, shall we?
What neighborhood do you live in? Maitland
Are you a long-time Orlandoan? I've lived in Orlando for a cumulative of 8 years. 2007 - 2013 and 2019 to present. I lived in Hong Kong from 2013 to 2019, but Orlando was my home in the US.
Tell us about your work in Orlando. Your day job and any volunteer work, too. People know me now as a photographer first but when they ask if I do it full-time, my answer is that I'm a full-time creative. I am also a brand designer, social media manager, and a fried chicken enthusiast on the side (wait, aren't we all? Chikin included). I'm the Creative Director for the Taglish Collective restaurant group and a co-founder of EightySix Media.
What is one Orlando news story that you think people need to be paying more attention to? The food scene in Orlando is blowing up and people need to pay attention to it. Not just Orlandoans but big wigs like Eater, Bon Appetit, TimeOut, etc. (PREEEEEAAACH, Airam!)
What local business has really impressed you during the pandemic? And how? I have to say local food businesses as a whole. The whole community rallied to make sure our favorite local spots were up and running throughout this pandemic. Several of them took risks and have expanded or moved from a food truck into their own brick and mortar. I love seeing how these business owners took risks and the locals stood by them the whole time.
Your calendar opens up and you get one happy hour with an Orlandoan of your choice. Who's it going to be? Why? And where are you meeting them? My wife. And we would go to the University Club downtown for the best Old Fashioned I have ever had. I do have to find a member to let us in because it's a private club.
What's a project you're working on (big or small) and how can Pulptown readers help you with it? EightySix Media, a content creation and social media agency that I just started with chef Mike Collantes. Our goal is to help brands connect with their customers through the power of story. Pulptown readers can help get the word out for what we just started! Go check out instagram.com/eightysix.media or www.eightysix.media
Fill in the blank (specific to your time in Orlando): 100 years from now, I hope I'm remembered for… Helping people find their creative potential. I love encouraging people to embrace curiosity as a way to experience space that they live in.
Follow Airam for tips like where to find the best 8 underrated photo places around Winter Park and head here to read about his all-time favorite Orlando moments (it involves Qreate coffee), where he would go for his "last meal" in Orlando, what his "billboard on I-4" would say, and the one thing he would change about Orlando.
Who/what should we feature next time? Hit reply and let us know.
