Class of 2019’s Will Hanmer has taken his artistic vision to new heights in Loyola Marymount University. During his time in Palm Desert High School, Will was already exploring his talents in photography and videography. He had created a brand for himself through the photos and videos he recorded on and off campus under the name “WillsVisuals”, which were often shown during ASB assemblies. Through working for the KESQ news station, Hanmer “gained first hand experience in working with others,” and by joining the journalism class at PDHS he says that he “learned what makes a good story and how to translate that to the public,” which he explains that he essentially does now, just through a different medium.
Now, he primarily photographs and records for the LMU men's basketball team (some his work can be found at @lmulionsmbb on Instagram) which blends his two interests of photography and sports. He humbly explains that he generally feels like his work is “actually quite bad” when he reflects on older pieces, but by looking at his photos one can tell that his perfectionism causes him to undermine his talent. He confesses that his proudest moment thus far was when he had the opportunity to photograph Championship Sunday at The Genesis Invitational, where he was one of only about ten other photographers who got to shoot celebrity golfers like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Hanmer says that he “kept looking around that day thinking ‘wow, I’m really here doing this.’”
Will is currently majoring in business marketing and hopes to minor in film, which he feels will make him more rounded upon leaving college. Hanmer says that by getting a background in areas that he normally would not get from a film major, like “branding, advertising, and how to ultimately run a business,” he will be able to pair his artistic talent with the practical knowledge of building a company. While it is currently a hobby for Will, he hopes to turn his passion into a career. Will explains that he is keeping his options open for the future, but he has a few possible career choices in mind. One would be to “start a creative marketing agency” where he could “hire and manage some of the top cinematographers, photographers, and graphic designers in the country.” A second possibility would be to work for a professional sports team, university, or a company, “like National Geographic.” Otherwise, he can imagine himself in the film industry working as a cinematographer or director. No matter his end goal, Will has high standards set for himself that, upon viewing his work, is clear he will undoubtedly achieve.