Russell James (born 1962 in Perth) is a fashion, celebrity and beauty photographer.

Early life

Russell James' name at birth was Russell Thomter. He was born in

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

and the family lived in country areas and in Perth. He has two sisters and his father was in the police force and became a detecive. After dropping out of school at age 14, Russell got his first job working in a factory that made trashcans. After working in the factory, Russell held several odd jobs to make ends met before becoming a police officer. He was in a unit which protected eminent people. He was charged with guarding the then Prime Minister Mr Bob Hawke. During his time in the police force he dated a model who suggested he try out as a model. He has Scandanavian features inherited from his Norwiegan grandfather. He was a successful model and worked in Perth and then Japan and Sweden. Russell arrived in the United States in 1989.

Career

Russell James is most famous for his work as the main photographer for

Victoria's Secret Victoria's Secret is an American lingerie, clothing and beauty products, beauty retailer. Founded in 1977 by a Stanford graduate student and his wife, Roy Raymond, Roy and Gaye Raymond, the company's five lingerie stores were sold to Les Wexner i ...

, but his work has appeared in a large range of

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

s, including ''

Vogue Vogue may refer to: Business * ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine ** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine ** '' Vogue Adria'', a fashion magazine for former Yugoslav countries ** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine ** ' ...

'', ''

Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with a circulation of over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellen ...

'', '' W'', ''

Marie Claire ''Marie Claire'' (stylized in all lowercase; ) is a French international monthly magazine first published in France in 1937. Since then various editions are published in many countries and languages. The feature editions focus on women aro ...

'', and '' GQ''.James's biography on his own site
/ref>''Photoicon''
/ref> James has worked with many celebrities and fashion models, such as Alessandra Ambrósio,

Tyra Banks Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973), also known as BanX, is an American model, television personality, producer, writer, and actress. Born in Inglewood, California, she began her career as a model at the age of 15 and was the first Black A ...

Kendall Jenner Kendall Nicole Jenner (born November 3, 1995) is an American model, socialite and media personality. She rose to fame in the reality television show ''Keeping Up with the Kardashians,'' in which she starred for 20 seasons and nearly 15 years ...

Gisele Bündchen Gisele Caroline Bündchen (, , born 20 July 1980) is a Brazilian fashion model. Since 2001, she has been one of the highest-paid models in the world. In 2007, Bündchen was the 16th-richest woman in the entertainment industry and earned the ...

Naomi Campbell Naomi Elaine Campbell (born 22 May 1970) is a British supermodel. Beginning her career at the age of eight, Campbell was one of six models of her generation declared supermodels by the fashion industry and the international press. She was th ...

Karolína Kurková Karolína Kurková (; born 28 February 1984) is a Czech model known for her work as a former Victoria's Secret Angel and '' Vogue'' cover star. Mario Testino praised the "proportions of her body and her face, as well as her energy level", which ...

Adriana Lima Adriana Lima (; born 12 June 1981) is a Brazilian model. She was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 1999 to 2018. She was the longest-running model and named "the most valuable Victoria's Secret Angel" in 2017. She is also known as a spokesmodel fo ...

Michelle Alves Michelle Kristine da Silva Alves (born September 19, 1978) is a Brazilian model. Biography She was born in Londrina, Paraná (state), Paraná, Brazil, as the daughter of a lawyer (mother) and an engineer (father). Alves was a student in ...

Marisa Miller Marisa Lee Miller (née Bertetta; born August 6, 1978) is an American model best known for her appearances in the '' Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' and her work for Victoria's Secret. After a stint shooting with photographer Mario Testino ...

Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Beatriz Barros (born 29 May 1982) is a Brazilian model, known for her multiple appearances in the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' and for her work with Intimissimi, GUESS (clothing), GUESS, Bebe stores, Bebe, Victoria's Secret, Chanel c ...

Heidi Klum Heidi Klum (; born 1 June 1973) is a German and American model, television personality, producer, and businesswoman. She appeared on the cover of the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' in 1998 and was the first German model to become a Vict ...

, Angela Lindvall,

Fernanda Motta Fernanda Motta (born May 29, 1981) is a Brazilian model, actress, and television host. She was the host of the reality TV show '' Brazil's Next Top Model'', the Brazilian version of the show, created by Tyra Banks. Biography Motta was born and ...

Oluchi Onweagba Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi (born 1 August 1980) is a Nigerian model based in New York City. Growing up in the suburbs of Lagos, she won "The Face of Africa" contest at the age of 16. Early life Onweagba (a native of Isuikwuato, Abia State) gr ...

Miranda Kerr Miranda May Kerr (; born 20 April 1983) is an Australian model. She rose to prominence in 2007 as one of the Victoria's Secret Angels. Kerr was the first Australian Victoria's Secret model and also represented the Australian department store c ...

Behati Prinsloo Behati Prinsloo ( , ; born 16 May 1988) is a Namibian model. In 2008, she became a Pink contract model, and moved on to become a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2009. She walked in eleven Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows (2007–2015; 2018; 2024), and ...

and

Erin Wasson Erin Elizabeth Wasson (born January 20, 1982) is an American fashion model, actress, fashion designer, and stylist. Early life Erin Elizabeth Wasson was born in Irving, Texas on January 20, 1982. Career Wasson's modeling career began after wi ...

. Russell James has appeared several times in

America's Next Top Model ''America's Next Top Model'' (abbreviated ''ANTM'' and ''Top Model'') is an American reality television series and interactive competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to b ...

Australia's Next Top Model ''Australia's Next Top Model'' is an Australian reality television series which premiered on 11 January 2005 and concluded on 22 November 2016, and was based on Tyra Banks' ''America's Next Top Model''. It was broadcast on the Australian subsc ...

and Germany's Next Topmodel, as a guest photographer or judge. Russell James was one of the twelve

Hasselblad Masters Award Hasselblad Masters Award is an bi-annual award granted by the camera company Hasselblad to selected photographers each year across various specialties in recognition of exceptional accomplishment through photography. While its sister prize, the Has ...

recipients in 2007.Hasselblad Masters of 2007
/ref> James also directs art films, music videos, and television commercials for Victoria's Secret and

Gillette Gillette is an American brand of safety razors and other personal care products including shaving supplies, owned by the multi-national corporation Procter & Gamble (P&G). Based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, it was owned by The Gil ...

Books

Ellen von Unwerth Ellen von Unwerth (born 1954) is a German photographer. She began her career as a fashion model, before becoming a fashion, editorial, and advertising photographer. Early life and education Unwerth was born in Frankfurt, West Germany. As an or ...

, Raphael Mazzucco, Russell James (photographers): ''"Sexy" : A Tribute to a Decade of Sexy Swimwear'', Victoria's Secret, 2005 (3 volumes).

References

External links

* *
Becoming Jangala
– Biography, ''

Australian Story ''Australian Story'' is a national weekly current affairs and documentary style television series which is broadcast on ABC Television (Australian TV network), ABC Television. It is produced specifically by the ABC News and Current Affairs, AB ...

'' {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Russell Australian fashion photographers Living people 1962 births