Director of Photography & Camera Operator.
Based in Yorkshire & Manchester; working across the UK, USA & Internationally.

About James

Hello, I’m James, a Yorkshire-based cinematographer with a base in Manchester, working across documentaries, broadcast and branded content.

My work has been featured on major networks such as Amazon, Netflix, Channel 4, BBC and Sky. I’ve collaborated with brands such as The Peninsula Hotels, Ilford Photo and Porsche — helping them engage their audiences through authentic, emotionally resonant storytelling with strong narrative/cinematic production value.

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

Background

I trained at Barnsley College, Leeds Beckett, BBC Glasgow and the National Film and Television School. I began my career at Apple as a Creative Consultant before gaining my first documentary experience on a six-month assignment in the Himalayas. Seeking further adventure, I served as a photographer in the Royal Air Force, earning several service awards and graduating from the Defence School of Photography. My military work focused extensively on helicopter operations in the UK at RAF Benson and in the USA at NAF El Centro, Southern California.

I left the service to work on two international feature documentaries, leading to multiple awards and a series of short-form films — including Best Feature Doc at Snowdance for Last Fisherman, a British Society of Cinematographers nomination for Truth & Illusion and Best Visuals at Prolific North for Mental Health Motorbike.

I was accepted onto the British Society of Cinematographers' mentorship programme, where I had the privilege of being mentored by an Oscar-winning BSC/ASC member and working on high-level Netflix projects. I became a Friend of the Association of Camera Operators and a full member of the Guild of Television Camera Professionals.

Notable projects include the Netflix series Beckham, the Sky Arts series Inside Art and the See the World from The Peninsula Perspective campaign. My work in automotive and racing has included shoots with Jenson Button, Lando Norris and extensive filming with Daniel Ricciardo across multiple projects. I’ve operated trackside in Bahrain for Aston Martin Valkyrie testing and shot branded content with Porsche, Kia and Triumph.

I’m based in West Yorkshire’s Calder Valley near Hebden Bridge, with a production base in Manchester. I frequently work internationally and hold a US I Media Visa, ATA Carnet and Global Entry, allowing for streamlined travel to the US.