James D. Hastings

James Hastings is a photographer/editor living in the greater New York City area. Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, he grew up in west Texas. James started making photographs at the age of twelve, inspired by his father, a journalist/photographer who taught him to love the fundamentals of photography.

Shooting though out his school years, he opened his first business at nineteen. At the age of twenty five, James moved to NYC to learn from some of the best in the business. TIMOTHY WHITE, ANNIE LEIBOVITZ and OBERTO GILI were the first photographers he worked with.

Shooting on his own, he got his first break with Blue Note Records. He produced album cover photography for BOBBY WATSON, JACK DEJOHNETTE, STEVE SMITH, BOB BELDEN and BENNY GREEN. The transition to still life, beauty and fashion work evolved later through his network of associates. 

The Digital revolution in the 1990's changed how photographers shoot. Hastings enrolled in digital editing classes at Parson's School of Design and studied multimedia at NYU. For twenty years and counting, he's embraced new technological advances and never looked back.

Working with Tiffany & Co. for over ten years, James enjoyed a rewarding and challenging experience capturing images of spectacular jewelry with a variety of luxury items. The lighting & editing skills needed for this type of work have greatly expanded his skill set for many other types of assignments and clients.

Partial Clients

BlueNote Records

Capitol Records

Tiffany & Co.

David Yurman

J.Crew

Bumble & Bumble

Proctor & Gamble

Vidal Sassoon