• Work
  • About
  • Services
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
    • Restaurant & Food Photography
    • Fashion, Swim & Beauty
  • Downloads (PDF)
    • Lifestyle & Travel
    • Athleisure & Swimwear
    • Restaurants Food & Beverage
    • Beauty & Cosmetics
    • Interiors
    • -------------------------------
  • Contact

GARY JAMES

PHOTOGRAPHER & STORYTELLER

  • Work
  • About
  • Services
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
    • Restaurant & Food Photography
    • Fashion, Swim & Beauty
  • Downloads (PDF)
    • Lifestyle & Travel
    • Athleisure & Swimwear
    • Restaurants Food & Beverage
    • Beauty & Cosmetics
    • Interiors
    • -------------------------------
  • Contact

About

I photograph the places people save all year to visit.

For over 10 years I've made images for hotels, resorts, restaurants and fashion brands — pictures that have to do two things at once. Hold up as photographs. And sell a room, a table, a garment.

The images that work don't look staged, and that isn't luck. It comes from the conversation before the camera goes up: building enough trust that a model stops posing, a chef stops performing, a general manager stops watching the clock. Photography is a form of seduction — convincing people to find comfort in the uncomfortable. That's where the frame you can't fake comes from.

The rest is production. Knowing that the suite faces east and has to be shot at 7:40am. Knowing which of the four pool angles will actually run on the homepage. Knowing how to get sixty finished images out of a three-day shoot without the property ever feeling like a film set.

Select Clients:

Wynn Resorts . Sandals Resort . Hard Rock Hotel & Casino . One & Only Resorts . Benihana . Encore Boston . Miami City Ballet . MSC Cruises . Vidanta Resorts . Detroit Symphony Orchestra

How I Work:

Every project starts with a conversation — a shot list and a schedule we build together, before anyone picks up a camera. If the property's new to me, or the spaces are tricky, we'll scout it first so we're planning around what's actually there. From there we'll agree on how many finished images you're getting, which spaces we're covering, and what light we want to chase and when — then work out what's needed on your end: access, talent, styling, maybe a room held back from inventory. The goal is a plan that fits how your property actually runs.

I build the crew the job needs and no more: solo for a fast turn on a restaurant or full production with assistants, digital tech, stylists and talent for a resort campaign. Proofs deliver same day, Retouched files typically deliver in 7–10 business days, with selects available sooner if you have a launch date to hit. Licensing is written into the estimate in plain language.

Where I Work:

Based in Fort Lauderdale. I shoot across Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties on a regular basis, and travel for resort, travel and campaign work throughout United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and internationally.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Tell me the property, the dates and roughly what you need to come away with, and I'll come back with an approach and a number.

 

What I Shoot

Hotels & Resorts — guest rooms and suites, public spaces, pools and beachfront, spa and wellness, F&B outlets, meeting and event space, lifestyle scenes with talent.

Restaurants & Food — menu and dish photography, cocktails and bar programs, chef portraits, interiors and atmosphere, launch and PR packages.

Fashion, Swim & Activewear — campaign, lookbook and e-commerce, athleisure and swimwear, Resort wear, beauty and cosmetics.

Travel & Lifestyle — editorial and destination work for tourism boards, airlines and magazines.

Aerial & Underwater — licensed drone work and underwater capability in-house, so property, coastline and pool imagery doesn't require a second vendor.

Text me now: (954) 540 -0989. | Send Email Here
[See more →] Download Portfolio

Affiliates

Some of the amazing people I am privileged to work with . 

Art Director extraordinaire : @stelladesigngroup

Stella Design Group Website : www.stelladesigngroup.com

The Brand Collective: www.wearebrandcollective.com

Starta Studios: www.thestartastudio.com

Moving Pictures Rentals: https://rentals.movingpicture.com/

BC Media: https://bcmediaproductions.com/

Hair & Makeup : @ninaalcantaramakeup

Hair & Makeup : @tiffdoesmakeup

Wardrobe Stylist : @lisacstyles

DigitalTech/Photographer : @conceptica

DigitalTech/Photographer : @kayciedavis

Lighting/Photographer : @lucasmathewstein

Video/Photographer : @alexmarkow

Ink Global : @inkglobal

Ocean Drive Mag : @oceandrivemag

Venice Mag : @venicemagftl

Press

Text me now: (954) 540 -0989 Send Email Here [See more →] Download Portfolio
Other Downloads: General | Indoor Lighting | Fashion | Lifestyle