Director of Photography & Camera Operator.
Based in Yorkshire & Manchester; shooting documentaries, branded content & broadcast television in the UK, USA & Internationally.

About James

Hello, I’m James, a northern-based DP and camera operator, creating visuals for documentaries, corporate communications, broadcast television and branded content.

My work has been featured on major international networks and in cinemas across Europe, the US, and the UK, for the usual suspects of Amazon, Netflix, BBC, and Sky. I relish the opportunity to collaborate with agencies and production companies to shape content for brands such as Porsche, The Peninsula Hotels, Ilford Photo and The Royal Northern Sinfonia.

I live in the beautiful Calder Valley, near Hebden Bridge, with a production base in Manchester. I frequently work internationally and hold a U.S. I Media Visa, ATA Carnet, and Global Entry, making for streamlined travel to the USA and beyond.

Background

I trained at Leeds Beckett University, Apple Computer, BBC Glasgow, and the National Film and Television School. I built my media experience as a combat camera operator in the Royal Air Force, earning several service awards after graduating from the Defence School of Photography at RAF Cosford. My first documentary assignment was walking across the Himalayas, and since then, I’ve shot feature documentaries in the USA, Japan, and Europe.

More recently, I was part of the British Society of Cinematographers' mentorship program, where I had the privilege of being mentored by an Oscar-winning BSC/ASC member. I’m also a friend of the Association of Camera Operators and a full member of the Guild of Television Camera Professionals.

Some of my more notable projects include work on the Netflix series Beckham, the Sky Arts series Inside Art, and the 2024 See the World from The Peninsula Perspective campaign. My work in the automotive and racing industry has also led to me becoming the 'go-to' UK cinematographer for F1 legend Daniel Ricciardo. As a documentary filmmaker, I’ve self-shot and directed two feature films and a collection of shorts, receiving several awards, including a nomination for a British Society of Cinematographers award.

As a creative problem solver, I’m passionate about developing a project’s visual identity through camera movement, composition, and lighting. I thrive on collaboration where I can support artistic, technical, and logistical decisions, creating work that matters with people who care.