Michael Ayers, Master Photographer

sity, then realized a passion for professional photography, and completed two master's degrees, both in photographic fields. For the past 28 years, Michael has shared his education with fellow professionals: he's had more than 50,000 students from over 100 countries!

Calling Lima, Ohio, home is an internationally award-winning photographer from Shawnee, Michael Ayers. His studio, The Ayers Incorporated has been in business for 37 years, and Michael has literally photographed the globe, and amazingly, over 1,100 weddings! But giving back to his community has always been the priority.

As a veteran of the United States Navy, he initially studied civil engineering at The Ohio State Univer-

Awards amassed by Michael have been significant, including the world's highest scoring wedding album, International Photographer of the Year, an honorary master's degree from Europe, and the International Leadership Award from the United Nations. He credits his mentors for his success, many of whom are counted as the greatest photographers in history.

According to Michael, the studio was founded on a simple principle: "Be different and better," and this has garnered attention from the community, including the 2012 West Central Ohio Small Business of the Year. Lastly, Michael's principle for his portrait, corporate, and wedding imaging is simple, stating: "I don't wish to photograph just what my clients LOOK like, but what they ARE like."