James is a Toronto based cinematographer and video editor with a diverse portfolio that primarily focuses on documentary and commercial.
He got his start after following in the footsteps of filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker — a pioneer in Direct Cinema — by filming live music and interviews with musicians including, Metric, Kendrick Lamar, Florence & the Machine and Billy Talent. This endeavour led to his position as Senior Video Editor and later Director of Photography at Blue Ant Plus, a division of Blue Ant Media. James is currently a freelance cinematographer and video editor.
Over the course of more than a decade, he's contributed to an array of projects, from branded campaigns, commercials and television documentaries for various clients and television stations like The Smithsonian Channel, Travel & Escape, CBC, BBC First.
His journey began with a simple yet profound experience: at eight years old, he filmed his first project during a three-week road trip across America with his dad—a journey that planted the seed for a lifelong love of travel and the camera.
When not working on video projects, he quietly immerses himself in still photography. His personal photography blends documentary with fiction, creating image sequences that flow with an intuitive visual rhythm.
Whether in motion or still frames, James remains committed to contributing meaningfully to the stories he helps tell.
