MEET JAMES
Hey there! I am from the beautiful city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is where my artistic journey began. As a little kid, I was completely smitten by the captivating world of art. I’d draw everywhere I could, even on the walls of my own house. Believe it or not, my “masterpieces” are still proudly displayed on those walls decades later.
As I grew older, my passion for drawing started to fade, but my love for art did not. It was in my teen years that I watched a movie which prompted my love for music and, specifically, the guitar. It became my life’s mission to acquire one-but my mom was not the type to just buy things for me. Inspired and determined, I vividly remember sneaking to the bookstore every time we went grocery shopping. With no intention of buying, I consumed as many books about the guitar as I could.
My persistence paid off when my mom finally noticed my dedication and surprised me with an electric acoustic guitar. That day, I felt like an absolute rockstar, even though the guitar was a bright blue color. Not too long after owning a guitar, I formed a band with my friends. We played at school talent shows and any event that would have us. All of these moments marked the beginning of my journey and shaped the person I am today.
I’m about to take you on one heck of a journey. So there I was, leaving behind the comfort of home to study abroad in the United States, all because of my crazy passion for music. I had to say goodbye to my awesome family, friends, mouthwatering Thai food, and the vibrant culture I grew up in. With determination I took my first-ever flight, as a seventeen-year-old kid, to the land of opportunity
But you know what? As brave as I thought I was, my parents were the true heroes here. They had the guts to let their kid loose in the big, wild world to pursue a career that had no guarantees. Talk about trust! They saw something in me, something special. This gave me the confidence and inspiration to give it my all. Every single day, I poured my heart and soul into sharpening my craft and making my parents proud.
While I was in high school in America, a lightbulb went off in my head—I wanted to start a YouTube channel, recording myself playing the guitar. That’s when I made a big move and decided to get myself a Canon T5i camera. Oh boy, let me tell you, unboxing that camera was AMAZING! I felt so inspired when holding it for the first time. As a high schooler with no job, it was definitely a splurge. But you know what? It turned out to be one of the best investments I ever made.
That camera became my trusty companion, teaching me invaluable lessons along the way. From understanding exposure and composition to exploring different lenses and experimenting with lighting, I dove headfirst into the world of videography with my YouTube videos.
It wasn’t long before I began to learn the art of photography and people began to take notice. I started receiving requests to capture special moments, events, and portraits. That’s when I realized that my love for photography had transformed from a hobby into something more. I embraced this newfound path, honing my skills, and expanding my knowledge through hands-on experience and online courses. Photography became my outlet and my way of sharing the beauty I saw in the world.
- photo by jnicholephoto
Now is just the beginning of my journey. College was incredible—I pursued a degree in Music Business and Entrepreneurship and had the time of my life. But you know what made it even better? Meeting my amazing wife. She’s a local girl from Missouri, and she’s my biggest supporter. Seriously, without her, none of this would be possible. She’s the one who pushes me to follow my passion for photography. With her by my side, I know there are amazing things ahead. So get ready, because this is just the start. There’s so much more goodness to come, and I can’t wait to share it all with you. Stay tuned, my friends.