Spring of 1983 was a watershed moment for James. He graduated from Queen's University with a BA (Honours) in Economics - but realized that his passion was photography, not economics. Fortuitously, as a graduation gift, his parents gave him a professional grade camera. And so he began work in commercial photography. He honed his craft by assisting some of Toronto's preeminent photographers at Westside Studio for five years. He has owned his own photography business since 1991. After a decade in downtown Toronto, he moved his business to rural Millgrove. His photography studio is in a beautiful renovated barn. James has wide ranging photographic interests, from the engagement of portraits and weddings to the technical challenges of advertising to the serenity of landscapes.