She picks up her camera as her fingers effortlessly adjust the settings. Each shot is more than just a click — it’s a moment. It’s what she does best; her name is known, and her title is earned.
Senior Hailey Yoon started her journey in photography for fun shooting basketball games, but quickly realized it was more than just a hobby: it was a passion. She went on to start her own business in sports photography and even toured around the country with Nike.
“It was a really good experience in photography,” Hailey said. “I [saw that] you can tell the amount of emotions [the players] pour into their hearts while they play. “I [realized] I [could] find the emotions and express them through a camera.”
Hailey’s first experience with photography was during her sophomore year, when she first took photos at a Hebron basketball game. She continued to take photos for basketball, and exploring sports like soccer, track, baseball and football.
“I saw some other photographer taking photos, and I thought, let me pick up a camera and try it out,” Hailey said. “I [realized] I could do things that I didn’t think I could do.”
With both of her parents being photographers, Hailey grew up in front of a camera, frequently acting as a model for her parents’ shoots. It wasn’t until she was exposed to sports photography she decided to pick up a camera. While his focus was more on other types of photography, Hailey’s dad, John Yoon, said he was amazed by her raw talent.
“She has an eye when it comes to sports,” John said. “It’s more action, so to catch that moment, you have to have some kind of sense. She has the sense to capture it. She sees angles [that others do not].”
This past summer, Hailey toured with Nike to take photos for their Elite Youth Basketball League, a circuit for high school elite basketball athletes. She traveled around the country, taking photos and attending live sessions.
“Traveling with Nike was life-changing,” Hailey said. “I was so quiet and soft [in] my sophomore year, but [that experience] changed my way of connecting to others. I found people who helped me grow as a person, and I [made] so many connections. Finding connections is the most important part of photography because you’re not going to get anywhere without [it].”
Alongside taking photos, Hailey also explored making mix tapes and made her first one this year. She featured her close friend, quarterback PJ Crayton. Crayton said Hailey understands what the players want and the moments they value most.
“She understands a lot of the high schoolers differently,” Crayton said. “She knows how to get those certain shots that we want. She understands the game; she’s a hustler.”
With men making up over 63% of sports photographers in the U.S., Hailey said her hardest challenge was getting into the business as a woman. She said she was able to overcome the obstacle by shifting her mindset.
“If you look at the photographers on the sidelines, you’ll see all guys,” Hailey said. “Everyone just saw me as a 15-year-old girl. It was hard to put myself out there. I faced a lot of criticism, but I learned that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. It just matters how hard you work and prove to other people that you can do better than they think you can.”
Crayton has watched Hailey grow throughout her photography journey, from taking photos for fun to a fully running business. He said she doesn’t let the challenges stop her, but rather motivate her.
“She works really hard,” Crayton said. “She really values her work. She knows [what] her worth is and what her photos are worth. She’s got confidence and knows that she’s good enough to be anywhere and everywhere in the world of photography.”
Hailey said that she never knew what it felt like to have a passion until she picked up a camera. She plans to continue photography in college while obtaining a degree in sports management or sports marketing.
“[Photography] is a really big part of my life now,” Hailey said. “It’s what makes me me. When [others] look at me now [they think] ‘she’s the photographer.’ I enjoy hearing that because now I know my name is out there, [and] I have something to say.”