Colgate University’s campus is home to a widespread creative community of students who extend their artistic talents beyond the classroom, and senior Ellrose Hanlon is no exception.
Hanlon began her videography and photography career mid-pandemic, when she filmed a game for her high school basketball team and never looked back. After launching a social media page where she could produce content on the regular, her passion soon turned into something bigger: EditsbyEllrose.
“I’ve always jumped at any chance to make videos growing up — iMovie trailers, our sixth grade graduation video, even GoPro edits of my friends and me tubing, which will never see the light of Instagram,” Hanlon said. “It became a real hobby when I found my mom’s old Nikon camera in her closet right before COVID. I started bringing it everywhere, documenting moments with friends, and during lockdown I taught myself to edit using Final Cut Pro.”
Hanlon discussed how her business was a long time coming, inspired by numerous projects and time spent taking photos and gaining hands-on experience in her high school years.
“To build a portfolio, I began reaching out to local sports teams and small businesses, offering to create promotional content at no cost,” Hanlon said. “For months, I worked solely with my mom’s old Nikon camera, spending evenings after lacrosse practice teaching myself how to edit and improve. Eventually, I launched an Instagram account originally called ‘livefrom315’, and inquiries slowly started coming in. My parents encouraged us to chase what genuinely inspires us and trusted that we’d find our path.”
A film and media studies major, Hanlon is heavily involved in Colgate’s athletic media content, a local production company known as “American High” and has been producing content and film projects for the duration of her time in Hamilton. Her business offers media services to a wide array of events, advertisements, creative projects and more.
“EditsbyEllrose focuses on capturing moments that feel authentic and editing them into stories that connect with audiences,” Hanlon said. “I enjoy working closely with people on every project, from ads to documentaries, and aim to give each story impact with a fresh perspective and creative twist. I feel grateful when people tell me that my videos hit home, bringing to life memories of their own experiences.”
During her time abroad last year in Tanzania, Hanlon extended her creative talents into the realm of documentary work. While producing a documentary was not in her initial plan for her four months living and studying in Africa, Hanlon filmed “Her Path to Education: A Maasai Girl’s Journey” after seeing the impacts of education on young women in the Longido District.
“It was my first documentary and I was really inspired by the real stories I got to witness in such a unique culture. I’m not much of a script-driven filmmaker; I enjoy working on the go and telling stories that feel genuine,” Hanlon said. “For this project, I spent two weeks with a Maasai tribe and documented the work of Project TEMBO, an organization that provides education micro-business opportunities to Maasai women, who often face cultural barriers to these opportunities. Their stories gave me a new perspective and inspired me to continue global stories in the future.”
Naturally, as a senior, Hanlon is looking to see where she can continue to grow beyond the boundaries of Colgate’s campus.
“I’m excited for life after graduation. For a long time, I had no idea what direction I wanted to take because I loved every part of filmmaking — documentaries, feature films, freelancing, all of it. It was hard to imagine having to choose just one,” Hanlon said. “I love working with quick-thinking people and building ideas together. That realization led me to advertising and marketing, where creativity meets strategy. I’m excited by both the creative and business sides of shaping a message that impacts an audience and supports a brand’s goals.”
Freelancing will also still play a key role for Hanlon as a creative, for her passion projects hold a special place in her day to day life. Her journey so far has opened up her horizons.
“Although I focus more on video now, photography has always been my creative outlet. Finding my mom’s camera was the moment I realized I could actually pursue this, beyond just making things for fun,” Hanlon said.
It is clear that regardless of what she pursues, Hanlon‘s goal will always be to capture stories and authentically produce work that is meaningful. EditsbyEllrose can be found on most social media platforms, where you can read more about Hanlon’s business and explore her impressive portfolio of works.
