Stanley Willis was born in Manchester in 1912. He left school at the age of 14 and went to work for S & J Watts in Manchester, eventually becoming a sales representative. During this time, he developed an interest in photography and taught himself the basic techniques of producing prints, and also how to make his own cameras.

During the Second World War, Stanley joined the RAF and became a trainer in photography, including aerial work. After the War, he began work in the Publicity Department of Platt Brothers & Co. As an industrial photographer, his work took him to countries such as Malta, Italy and Nigeria. In 1954, Stanley moved to Saddleworth and began working freelance to provide publicity photographs for many local companies, including Platt Brothers. He retired from Platt Brothers sometime around 1970.