Shoes squeak on the gym floor and tension builds as a player goes for an astonishing slam dunk. While the crowd roars in excitement, Oliver Phillips ‘25 focuses his lens on the player, understanding for the first time the power in his photos as he captures the intensity and enthusiasm of the game.
Phillips began his photography journey two years ago in his sophomore year after discovering his father’s old Nikon Coolpix P1000. Phillips was the manager of the football team when he began experimenting with photography and later bought his own camera to pursue it. He realized that this recreational hobby could be the beginning of a business in sports photography.
“Being in high school was obviously a factor [in what prompted me to start taking photos of high school sports],” Phillips said. “There’s an amazing market in LA for taking photos of high school sports and it’s untapped and it’s infinite.”
Over the years, Phillips has built a strong network of supportive and connected people to whom he gives credit for helping make himself known. Through contacting coaches and players, Phillips has shot for numerous schools throughout Los Angeles such as Brentwood, Campbell Hall, Oakwood, Notre Dame and Harvard Westlake.
To expand his business, Phillips has made and distributed stickers and worked with people with large followings on social media. He is currently concentrating on his personal growth as well as advancing his skills as a photographer, though he is still unsure whether or not he wants to turn photography into a full-time career. Phillips is content with his current growth in the photography field, yet still recognizes the difficulties of becoming well-known in the business.
“I want to continue to make a name for myself,” Phillips said. “It’s hard to be big in the photography scene, and I don’t really know if I want to [be big in the future], but I like what I’m doing now. I like the brand I built for myself and I just want to keep growing and expanding.”
Phillips’ approach to photography creates a powerful connection between his subjects and viewers. His work has allowed him to play a role in many athlete’s careers as he documents memories for them to look back on and cherish.
For as much pride as he feels for his professional accomplishments, Phillips also acknowledges what truly drives his passion for photography; it isn’t just about the pictures, but rather the chance to take the emotion of a moment and freeze it in time. Phillips believes high school athletics are full of energy, tension and amusement, aspects of his subjects that Phillips always tries to preserve in his photos. He’s able to appreciate the emotional impact of his work and finds joy in his ability to evoke feelings.
“I enjoy being a part of a player’s journey. I like taking photos because I can preserve moments forever and people can look back on that. It’s really rewarding,” Phillips said. “My favorite part is capturing people’s emotions and being able to freeze that in time and save that one moment. I think there’s something beautiful about that.”
