b a d x

About the Artist

William Ames

Personal note from Bill: My family has just moved to Vermillion, SD this past August 2022, and so you'll see a lot of Penn State and "mid-atlantic" photos on this web site. No worries! We're excited to join the 605 community, and please join us during the transition. While I don't have a studio space yet, I'm available for a wide variety of photo gigs. USD students, take note...collegiate graduation portraits is one of my specialties :-)

Named "Best Local Photographer" by the readers of State College Magazine an unprecedented five years in a row, William Ames has taken millions of photographs during his career and is the leading photographer of the Penn State Campus. His work has been published in a variety of media, including books, video, television, magazines, posters, and thousands of fine art prints.

Mr. Ames lives and works in State College, Pennsylvania, and has a bachelor's degree in English from the Pennsylvania State University. His Studio One portrait studio is located in the heart of downtown in the Calder II Building. In his spare time, hiking, travel and photography create an enjoyable mix of memories and images in lasting photos.

Mr. Ames is a Life Member of the Penn State Alumni Association.

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Ames has specialized in landscapes, architecture, photojournalism, commercial photography, portraits and weddings. Combining this experience elevates each image.

For more than 20 years, Mr. Ames has photographed the Penn State Campus, capturing the essence of the university, but that isn't the extent of his work. With some of the best hiking and scenery in the state, there are many opportunities to create lasting images from nature. The Mid State Trail, a favorite subject, is close to State College, and the many hours Mr. Ames spends roaming the hills for photographs is time captured for all to enjoy. In addition to the Happy Valley, Mr. Ames regularly visits and photographs historical sites, such as Gettysburg National Battlefield Park, offering reflective studies.

As a wedding photographer, Mr. Ames has photographed more than 100 couples at numerous locations throughout Centre County and the Penn State campus. "Weddings combine a lot of different styles and genres. You have traditional portraits, but there are also landscapes, architecture, and fast-paced action that capture the day. I bring experience together on wedding day."

Mr. Ames'  commercial clients include The Wall Street Journal, ESPN/General Mills, Ann Beha Architects, The Penn Stater Magazine, Adidas Wrestling, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Nittany Bank, Grateful Dead Productions, Adobe Corporation, Hershey Medical Center, Bank of America, Sorinex, Applebee's, and many more. For more information on professional services, click here.


 


Professional Photographers of America