Through Her Lens — Analise Gil’s Journey from Driller Nation to USC

Under the glow of Friday night lights, there is plenty of pressure on the gridiron, but not just for the players. For the past several years at Bakersfield High School’s historic Griffith Field, fans could also find senior Analise Gil on the sidelines, camera in hand, ready to capture the perfect shot. What began as a way to document her older brother’s baseball games quickly grew into a passion that would ultimately shape her future.

“I’ve always been artsy and grew up drawing most of my life, but I switched to photography when my older brother started playing baseball for BHS,” Gil said. “I wanted to try a different art form, and growing up we moved a lot and I lost many pictures, so I wanted to make sure we had those memories to look back on and know they really happened.”

Starting on the BHS baseball field, Gil began capturing moments for players, their families, and the school community. As her skills developed, so did her reputation, opening doors to new opportunities on and off campus.

Rob Meszaros, whose son played baseball at BHS alongside Gil’s brother, recalled noticing something special about her talent early on. He said he began seeing her photos on Instagram and assumed they were taken by a professional photographer before realizing they were Gil’s work.

“I remember thinking, who is this photographer they hired?” Meszaros said. “Then I found out it was a student, which was so impressive. Her eye for the moment and the quality of her work stood out right away.”

The Meszaros family, like many others who had come to admire her work, eventually hired Gil to take their son’s senior portraits.

Gil credits much of her success to the support of those who gave her a chance on the sidelines. 

“If our coaches, athletic directors, and principal didn’t let me out there, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Gil said. “There’s no way I’d be able to do what I do without them, and I wouldn’t be going to USC for photography.”

As the years passed, Gil took her skills from the baseball diamond and found a second home under the stadium lights of Driller football.

“I’ve watched these players grow from our freshman year to now,” Gil said, describing how documenting their journeys has become one of the most meaningful parts of her work. 

Through her lens, Gil has become more than a photographer. She has become a visual storyteller for the Driller nation and a central figure in Bakersfield High’s athletic community.

“What truly distinguishes Analise is how she has integrated her passion for photography into service to our school community,” said Principal Ryan Geivet. “She has become the chronicler of our campus life, particularly for our athletic programs, using her creative talents to celebrate student achievements and strengthen school spirit.”

Gievet says this ability to blend artistic vision with community service reflects a maturity that will serve her well as she pursues her passion at the collegiate level.

As a first-generation college student, Gil’s next step marks not only a personal milestone, but a meaningful achievement for her family. She will attend the University of Southern California, where she plans to pursue a Bachelor of Arts and continue her work in sports photography.

“I will hopefully be on the sidelines with Trojan football and all the other Trojan sports offered at USC,” said Gil. “That’s what I plan to achieve while I’m there.”

But, she has her sights set even higher. Upon graduating college, Gil hopes to become an international sports photographer for the NFL.

“That’s really my dream,” she said. “I want to be out there when NFL teams are traveling to different countries and playing games, and I’m holding on to that little sliver of hope that maybe it will happen.”

Reflecting on her journey, Gil encourages others to never give up on their own passions. 

“As cliché as it sounds, don’t give up,” she said. “Everything is going to be hard at some point, no matter what you choose to do. Being an artist isn’t easy, and a lot of people get discouraged because they’re worried about whether it’s realistic — but if you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.”