Aaron Mercado: The man with many talents

When he was little, his house was haunted. Senior theater studies major and former Volante staff member Aaron Mercado first got into photography when he picked up the small digital camera his family owned. Mercado said he used the camera to go ghost hunting and would explore his house trying to capture spirits on film. Even though that was his first experience with a camera, Mercado said he always had a passion for pretty photos. 

“It’s when I got to high school my freshman year, that I finally got my camera. And I realized that through photography, I was able to network and meet so many different people. Photography opened up so many opportunities just in that one year that I started doing it. Through that, that kind of inspired me to continue,” Mercado said. 

After taking up photography, Mercado said the photos create a tangible representation of his memories and allow him to look back on his experiences.  

“On the creative aspect of it, there’s something about using it as an art form, as a creative outlet, that I find so satisfying at the same time. Whether it’s trying a different lighting technique, a different style of shooting, there’s so many things that you can continually learn and explore. And I think part of the reason why I love it so much is just because there’s always something more you can do,” Mercado said.  

Although Mercado photographs different things, he said his favorite is people. Mercado got his start with sports photography and actively learned how to use a camera by using it every day after school.  

“Back when in high school when I got my camera, I was in the yearbook and newspaper committee, and oftentimes I would stay behind almost every single day to photograph practices and games while my brother was in practice because he was my ride home,” Mercado said. 

Through photography, Mercado found a love for cinematography. Mercado grew up watching Hollywood movies and developed an appreciation for the art.  

During Mercado’s freshman year at USD, he met cinematographer Zbyněk Surovec who helped him get into cinematography. From there, Mercado has taken video production classes and independent study courses to help refine his directing and cinematography skills.  

Outside of telling stories behind a lens, Mercado produces his own cover songs, indie and alternative music. He said his biggest inspiration is Taylor Swift because a lot of her music is storytelling and he tries to emulate that.  

“We’ve had a guitar in my family for like 10 plus years, and no one has ever learned how to use it. So I would say my second year in college, I picked it up one day, and I said ‘you know what, I’m going to sit down, learn all these chords, and I don’t care how long it’s going to take me.’ And within that week, I had memorized all the chords I needed to learn to be able to start producing my own music,” Mercado said. 

Writing and creating music has become therapeutic for Mercado and is another outlet for him to use his voice in a positive manner. 

“I’m someone who doesn’t really seek help from people and so I’ve learned to use my writing skills, my songwriting skills, as almost my own personal diary and as a way to express what it is I’m feeling and to be able to put out into the universe and just let go of that. Whether it’s guilt or sadness or trauma or whatever, I just let go of that energy,” Mercado said. 

Mercado is not sure about his future but said he wants to do everything he is doing now and does not want to be limited to any one outlet.  Students can find more information about the services Mercado offers on his website, https://www.aaronmercadoofficial.com/home.