Passion: Trevor Hayes
State College, Pa. — If it were up to Penn State senior Trevor Hayes he’d be traveling the country, acting as an on tour photographer and shooting festivals across the world.
It’s his passion.
But he doesn’t just get here. Photography isn’t even something he’s been doing that long. Only a year and a half to be exact.
Hayes was always on the video side.
His only interaction with photography was in collaborative efforts with his best friend. His friend handled photography, and Hayes did video, watching his friend from afar.
It wasn’t until Hayes got to Penn State as a junior that he joined Onward State and stepped up when an opportunity presented itself.
“Someone needed an event covered for photography and I was like you know what, I’m a video dude, but I’ll give it a try,” Hayes said.
That event was a Penn State women’s volleyball game against Nebraska and it was the event that led him down the path he’s following now – concert photography – a passion he found by continuous event coverage.
“I just kept going and going, if anyone needed like someone to step up to the plate and I just kept doing it and doing it and I saw my work kind of like evolve and grow and I was like, 'Oh wow, maybe I should really consider doing this'” Hayes said.
Hayes has shot shows at Alumni Hall, the Bryce Jordan Center, and the State Theatre.
One of his most memorable, because of the physical obstacles he had to face, was the Waka Flocka Flame show at Champs.
“The hype man jumps onto the sub, pins it into like my pelvis and stomach and pins me up against the wall, or the staircase that’s behind me. And he’s standing on it, and I’m like being crushed, like 'Oh my god, this is it,'” Hayes said.
Despite the obstacle, the pictures turned out fine.
Hayes is a part of the 2018 Movin’ On Core Committee, where he works on the Photo team along with the Marketing directors.
Looking ahead, Hayes is preparing to shoot the Movin’ On Music festival, which is happening on April 27th.
What is he looking forward to the most?
“It’s Logic, the headliner. I can not wait. He’s been a huge influence in my life since like 2014 since his debut project, I’ve loved him since the day I listened to it. I love him as an artist and I also love him as a person,” Hayes said.
It’ll be the cherry on top to Hayes’ Penn State career, as Logic is one of the main musicians he’s dreamed of shooting for photography.
“I know for a fact that it’ll be my best photo sets I’ve ever taken. I know it. It’s guaranteed.” Hayes said.