Introducing MC Photographer Wes Hope
He didn’t get a degree in photography, but through the lens of his camera, Wes Hope is working in his field of study regardless.
A 1998 graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Hope – who serves as the Maryville College photographer – earned his degree in anthropology. His work as a professional photographer is, in many ways, an anthropological endeavor, he told The Highland Echo.
“The American Anthropological Association defines anthropology as ‘the study of what makes us human, exploring the full sweep and complexity of cultures across all of human history,” he said. “Every time I take a picture, I’m documenting the human experience, so in a way, it fits in well with what I studied. At least, that’s what I like to tell myself to justify those student loans.”
The same month he graduated, Hope got a job as a photographer for The Daily Times newspaper of Maryville. It was a seminal experience that allowed him plenty of opportunities for growth, and by the time he stepped away from the Times in 2007 to dedicate himself full-time to his own business, Hope Photography, he was already an award-winning photographer with a healthy clientele of Maryville residents who were familiar with his work.
The Great Recession, which hit in early 2008, was a rocky time for small business owners, and after a detour through several non-photography jobs, he finally returned to his calling in August 2024 after Maryville College offered him a job. Today, he’s a familiar presence at almost every College-related event; just look for the guy with a literal Bat-belt of lenses and other photography gear and who towers over almost everyone else (he’s 6-feet, 5-inches tall.)
And, he added, it’s quite literally the best job he’s ever had … or at least a close second to parenthood: he’s the father of two girls, including Maddie Hope (’28).
“If you’ve ever taken a photo that captures the perfect moment, you know how rewarding it is,” he said. “I wouldn’t call my work perfect, because good photographers are always looking for a better shot. But being able to document Maryville College and its history as it unfolds is an honor. Years from now, I hope folks studying the history of Maryville College… or its’ anthropology, if you will… are able to see the stories I tell with photos, and recognize just how special this place is and always has been.”
For this week’s photo story, we asked Wes to select some of those perfect moments to share with you.
