Hilary Weekes

What did your 18 year old self see you becoming?

A Photographer! The next Ansel Adams, or maybe a shooter for LIFE Magazine.

What reality show would you invent?

I have to admit I have never actually watched a reality show, but I have been on some shoots where the behind the scenes action would make for some pretty shocking and entertaining TV!

What was one of the most interesting projects you worked on?

Hmmm, one of my favorite parts about working in this business is that each and every project is its own crazy unique challenge. And then it is over! And then I can look forward to the next adventure…

Can you remember the first time you got paid to (work in this business) take a photograph?

My first production was for Chevy Trucks and the photographer was David Stoecklein.  It was 1996 and Chevy was sponsoring the US Ski team and wanted an image that looked like a team from the 1950s.  I cast my boyfriend as the star, hired his mom to be the caterer, made the team uniforms myself from J Crew sweaters, borrowed old gear from a ski museum, and spread tons of dried potato flakes to make it look like snow.  We shot film, and the only post work involved spilling coffee on the final print to make it look aged.  All was a success, except when the sprinklers came on at the garden center location and we found out the hard way that there is literally no way to clean up soggy melted potato mash.  And for what it is worth I still have that ad framed on my wall as things worked out with that boyfriend/star of the pretend 1950s ski team and we have been married ever since.

If you weren’t a photographer, what would you do?

In my other lives I am traveling the world- maybe as as a heli-ski guide? or as a professional surfer? (To be clear I have never been heli-skiing and I can barely catch a wave, but what is more heavenly than being in the ocean or powder skiing on a sunny day?) Or maybe I am an architect living in Amsterdam, riding my bike everywhere.  Although living in Sun Valley with my family and working as a photographer’s rep and a producer is pretty hard to beat!

When you need it, what inspires you?

Being outside and watching the light on the mountains or the water.

How do you get your news?

NPR or online. The TV in our house is only for movie night.

What might surprise people about you?

I grew up on the 13th floor on 83rd Street in New York City, but now I live on a mountain in Idaho and have 9 chickens and a sourdough starter.  As well as 3 amazing kids and an incredible husband, but that part probably isn’t as surprising…

What were you like as a 10 year old?

Awkwardly tall, with big gold glasses and too short pants.

When was the last time you watched the sunrise?

This morning. 

What super power would you want? Feel free to invent one.

To be able to control the speed of time.  Not messing things up the order of things with time travel etc, but just making time go fast when, say, you are running late and the line at the airport is endless and it feels like time is standing still, and then being able to slow things way way down when you are surrounded by the people you love and having one of those magical moments when everything feels right and happy and you wish you could all just stay that way forever.

What is your dream assignment?

Well, I guess I have to go back to my above fantasy lives and say something involving heli-skiing or surfing somewhere remote and adventurous, or maybe bike riding in Amsterdam.  And I would definitely get to bring my whole family!