While most students in 2025 doomscroll through photos on Instagram, WHS senior Michael O’Neil is the one taking the photos.
It all started back in the spring of his sophomore year when O’Neil got a drone. Like many teenagers, he was just curious about his new drone and how it worked, an interest that soon sparked a hobby and launched his photography career.
A few weeks later, during one of O’Neil’s meets for the WHS boys cross country team, he decided to bring along the drone and capture videos of his teammates. Not thinking much of it, he edited together a short compilation video. O’Neil said, to his surprise, “A lot of people liked it, and I had a lot of fun making it.”
That following summer he ended up getting a professional camera, and, with it, a bunch of opportunities.
From there, O’Neil stuck to taking pictures on his camera, where he found a new passion for photography. Starting around the same time as he began taking photos, he created an Instagram account, @michaelspictures_, to showcase his work. As his account gained more attention, he saw the potential to reach a broader audience and decided to create a personal website that he uses, “as a portfolio to show what I’ve done.”
His talent didn’t go unnoticed. Varsity Vantage, a local sports media outlet, reached out to collaborate twice. O’Neil eagerly accepted the offer, taking photos for some of our own WHS teams at the Blue Devil Classic, a large track and field event hosted by WHS every year, and a Westfield PAL flag football game last school year.
What began as simple curiosity turned into something much more for O’Neil. Through dedication and creativity, he has been able to capture moments that matter. As he finishes his senior year, O’Neil’s lens is focused on the future, with photography continuing to play a major role in his story.