Alumni and Supporters

Award-winning photographer James Simmons still remembers his earliest exposure to the world of photography.

“My mum was a photography teacher in Southern Cross when I was little, and she helped convert the old gaol – which happened to be on the school grounds – into a dark room,” James recalls.

“I have some pretty cool memories of seeing prints being developed, making pinhole cameras from Milo tins and even doing double exposures at the local graveyard!”

The ECU Creative Industries graduate – who is now a successful director of his own photography company and has won a slew of industry awards – points out that despite his initial interest in the art form, it wasn’t the first direction he took his career in.

“After I finished school in 1998, I studied Viticulture – wine grape growing – in Margaret River,” he says.

Though he remains passionate about brewing beer to this day, James began to develop an interest in the original form that had captured his heart.

“I enjoyed taking photos of friends in the surf with the old waterproof disposable cameras, but I wasn’t very good at it,” he recalls.

“And to be honest, at that time I was more interested in being photographed in the surf myself!”

A series of life experiences continued to foster James’ interest in pursuing photography as a viable career. Upon moving to London in 2004 and enjoying what he refers to as “some real life experience”, he began to seriously look in the direction of multimedia, film and video or photography as a possible career choice.

A freak accident in 2006 – he broke his right arm while surfing in Margaret River – spurred James on to try something new.

“I couldn’t do much for six months, so I thought I’d enrol in university,” he says.

James was accepted into a Bachelor of Creative Industries at ECU, undertaking a double major in Photomedia and Film and Video.

He said ECU’s flexible study options made it possible for him to commence the course while still convalescent from his injury.

“The ECU course seemed like a good fit for what I wanted to study – and the first semester I could do from Geraldton while I was recovering,” he recalls.

“What I really liked about the ECU course was that it gave me a great insight into visual art and its history, which I like to think gives me an edge in the commercial world when it comes to visual literacy.”

“Develop your photography first – before going into business. And only go into business if you want to commit to running a business,”

It was during his degree with ECU that James began working at a portrait and wedding studio in Perth, cutting his teeth and learning about the commercial realities of photography.

It was a career-defining – and life-changing – experience.

“I worked at the studio for five years, effectively doing my apprenticeship, and I had great mentors there for which I am so grateful,” James says.

“For the past five years, I have been working full time for myself.”

James’ business – he is the sole director of James Simmons Photography – specialises in wedding photography.

Beyond simply building a successful business from the ground up, the proud ECU graduate has picked up a host of industry awards for his striking and phenomenal photographs.

His recent awards and accolades include the 2017 AIPP Wedding Photographer of the Year, 2014 Canon AIPP Wedding Photographer of the Year and 2013 WAIPP Illustrative Category Finalist.

James said every award was special, though he was also exceptionally proud of a recent achievement.

“I just recently got the cover of one of my favourite industry magazines, so that was fun,” he says.

James said that although building a business was a tough challenge, it could be done – though he had some strong advice for students considering making a business of their photomedia skills.

“Develop your photography first – before going into business,” he urges.

“And only go into business if you want to commit to running a business. Then, start with your own network first and build on that.”