I can trace my lineage with photography to my dad. He was a fanatic about taking pictures of me and my family was we grew up and grew older. In 1972, I entered several Polaroids of scenes from the summer camp I worked at and another of a sunset in the midwest. The sunset got me an honorable mention, but the camp photo of two of the kids in my group WON FIRST PRIZE in the non-precision camera category. I won $75 in cash and I was thrilled to get it. However, a precision camera was a bit out of my budget until in 1979, while on vacation in Miami, my father-in-law presented me with his old Nikon F-2, a few lenses and a speedlight. I was off to the races! Tens of thousands of exposures later and I was getting pretty good with this thing. The camera recorded still photos of the birth of my sons and was put to good use while they grew up. Then, incredibly, in 1999, my car was stolen with all my photo gear in the trunk. It took me 3 years to get over that loss. No photos were taken in all that time by me.
Then, in early 2002, I purchased an Olympus 1.3 Megapixel digital camera. When I realized what it meant to be able to take all the photos you want and then load them on your computers, edit them and make prints of only those shots I wanted, I was hooked forever. In 2005, I purchased my first DSLR, a Nikon D50 kit. In 2006, I bought a Nikon D200 and inherited another from my son in 2008.
My road to becoming a Professional took a sharp turn in 2007 when I was a volunteer photographer for the people who ran the Sony Ericsson Open Tennis Tournament. That year and the next three years after I was given an all-access pass to shoot this internationally known event for IMG. As luck would have it, not only was I shooting the world's greatest Tennis stars, but also had the chance to shoot the fashion runway shows.... I cherish shooting those shows now....

It's been a sharp and quick learning curve. I've attend numerous workshops, and shot many the likenesses of hundreds of models since those days. In each and every case, I can say the biggest charge I get is interacting with everyone in the process of shooting a photo spread right from the model to the makeup artist, hair stylist, wardrobe.. the whole crew.

If you know me, you know I only work with people I know, like and respect. I give up that right from the first time you see me and I expect it back in return. No synergy, no photos.... it's as simple as that. I want my model to feel at home with me and my camera and encourage laughter and music within my studio.

I've wanted to post my profile on MM for the past 1.5 years, and now is the time to make my move. Please feel free to contact me through my website at www.jjimagery.com. Look forward to hearing from you.

Good Shooting!!!

Jay Manne

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