Hi, I’m James.

I’m a freelance photographer, full-time traveler, and trip leader with a passion for mindful travel, telling meaningful stories, and the transformative nature of the great outdoors. For more than a decade I’ve dedicated almost all my time to exploring our world, experiencing different cultures, learning languages, and taking on a challenging adventure every chance I get.

Growing up, my travel experiences came to my door, by way of the dozens of foreign exchange students my family hosted year after year. It sparked a dream to one day visit the countries I heard so many stories about, to taste the food they described, and learn about the traditions and history they come from. My first true international experience came via a multi-country road trip through Europe I financed by working at a summer camp the previous year. Although the trip was a dream come true, I found that my real desire was to be fully immersed in a culture and place much more different than my own.

In 2010, I decided to study abroad in a country I had barely heard of, on a continent I knew next to nothing about. I packed my bags and headed off to a full semester at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The next six months were the most transformative time in my life so far, challenging my worldview, widening my perspectives daily, and inspiring a lifelong passion to first and foremost, “go and learn.”

And so, I went. In the years since, I’ve spent most of my time slow traveling through over 40 countries, taking language courses in Indonesia, motorcycling the length of Vietnam, learning meditation in Malaysia, eating my way through Turkey’s regional cuisines, thru-hiking from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail, and tracking down abandoned Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia. I have also turned my passion for experiential education, one cultivated working at summer camps and after-school programs in the outdoors, into a career of trip leading where I can help others to “go and learn,” and to challenge their perspectives, stereotypes, and worldview through meaningful travel and cultural immersion.

Recently, my attention has turned to sharing these lessons through photography and writing. What was once a hobby of documenting life and events for memory’s sake, has evolved into broader multi-media storytelling about the places I go and freelance photojournalism on the events and issues most relevant, from protests in Hong Kong to the riots in the US Capitol. My work has been featured by a wide variety of clients and publications and has developed an active and engaged community of followers on social media.

Below is a brief overview of my professional and educational background, I look forward to working with you!