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When some people receive hate comments on their Instagram, they’re discouraged from posting. But when Aiden McGuire saw the negative comments about his beloved hometown of Syracuse on his Instagram page, he took it as a challenge.

McGuire uses a drone camera to show the hidden beauty of central New York, from gushing waterfalls to sunsets over the city skyline and fields of orange and red trees in the fall. Syracuse residents may spot his drone flying overhead in the sky as he gathers this footage.

“I grew up in Syracuse, and every time I fly my drone, it’s almost like I am seeing it for the first time,” McGuire said. “I wanted to share that with people (and) social media was really the best way for me to do that.”

In 2019, McGuire started his aerial photography business with a small following of family and friends and a love for drone footage. As his passion grew, so did his fanbase. McGuire has a following of nearly 40,000 on Instagram. Along with promoting small businesses in Syracuse, McGuire uses his account to destigmatize ideas that the CNY area isn’t worth visiting.

Along with people who are unfamiliar with CNY, many Syracuse University alumni haven’t been back to the city since their time at the university. McGuire said he wants to show that the city is worth revisiting.

“Being able to share those things with people who haven’t been back, it’s always nice to give them a nod that ‘Hey, if you think you know Syracuse, think again,’” McGuire said.

With his platform, McGuire showcases different angles and perspectives of Syracuse that many people have never seen before. Some people even mistook Syracuse’s skyline views for New York City in McGuire’s comment section.

McGuire tells stories through his finished content, often accompanying his photography and videography with text or voiceovers. He keeps a pulse on current trends like viral hook videos to promote local businesses and keep followers engaged. He said humor is always a good way to connect with his followers and he can tell if they like what he’s putting out based on the engagement.

With the price of groceries increasing, McGuire has posted several meme videos addressing inflation at Wegmans.

“We like to shine a spotlight on all of the great things in our region, but also some of the things that are maybe a little bit more absurd or funny,” McGuire said.

Lars Jendruschewitz | Photo Editor

Aiden McGuire launches his drone. McGuire started his business in 2019 and has since grown a large following on Instagram.

For many viewers, his drone operation is a real point of intrigue, McGuire said. On his Instagram, McGuire has a chat titled “Come Fly With Me,” where he takes followers behind the scenes of flying the drone. His process consists of setting up different lenses on the drone, getting approval to fly, clearing the air space, keeping track of weather conditions and editing the footage.

As a prominent member of the Syracuse community, McGuire collaborates with various brands and people. Bob Allen, vice president of Crouse Health, has hired McGuire multiple times for promotional footage. McGuire has filmed the Crouse clock tower, a meeting in the JMA Wireless Dome and a tailgate event for Allen.

Allen said he’s grateful for the striking images McGuire captures with his aerial footage because nobody else in Syracuse offers that perspective. His work introduces a view people don’t get to see in their day-to-day lives, while simultaneously supporting local businesses.

“It creates a level of awareness for our organization in the community,” Allen said. “We take the stuff he shoots for us, the drone video, the drone stills, and then we package it and put it on social media. It really extends the reach of it.”

In his video about Green Lakes State Park, McGuire combines beautiful footage of the lakes and their surrounding greenery while telling the story behind the park that many people, even local residents, are unaware of, he said.

“Not only is he incredibly good at capturing these beautiful visuals, but also he’s an incredible storyteller,” said Jeff Knauss, McGuire’s friend and former colleague.

Knauss said McGuire’s work inspires a sense of community in Syracuse and makes people feel good about where they come from. He said it’s easy to look down on your hometown, but McGuire challenges that belief with his content.

McGuire is intentional with his posts. While he shows the natural beauty of the Syracuse region, he also calls attention to important issues.

Recently, McGuire made a video referencing the high levels of lead found in Syracuse water that amassed over 100,000 views. McGuire said many residents contacted him saying they hadn’t heard the news until his video. When that headline was later debunked, McGuire also followed up with a post about it.

McGuire said people’s trust in traditional media, such as broadcast networks, newspapers and online news, is dropping, while their trust in content creators is rising. He aims to take hold of this opportunity by sharing newsworthy content with his followers.

“His viewers on social media walk away inspired,” Knauss said “They walk away motivated for positive change in our community. I hope that they see it and believe they can make a difference.”

Published on November 6, 2024 at 11:33 pm