Jayme Burrows
Q What do you do?
“I’m a commercial lifestyle photographer.”
Brands hire me to make the photos and videos you see in their ads, on their websites and social feeds, and on their packaging. My job is to show real-feeling people enjoying a product: friends sharing a bottle of wine, a family around the grill, guests settling into a hotel. I usually produce the whole shoot as well. That means finding locations, hiring talent and crew, planning every shot, and then delivering finished images and video the brand can use right away. I shoot stills and motion, and I'm also an FAA-licensed drone pilot. My clients are mostly in wine and beverage, hospitality, and consumer goods, and I work in LA, on California's Central Coast, and wherever a project takes me.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I found photography in my high school darkroom, but I was an ambitious kid who planned to be a senator. I went to college to study law, and an internship made me realize it wasn't my path. So I pivoted and enrolled at Brooks Institute of Photography. I started out as a photojournalist covering breaking news. As that industry declined, I moved into editorial-style commercial work and brought a journalist's instinct for real moments with me.
From there, my career grew steadily. I started by assisting a high-end product photographer, then shot content for smaller CPG brands and stock, which turned out to be a lovely and stabilizing gift for me. Over time my productions grew in scope. Today I shoot stills and video from nimble small shoots to very large scale productions.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I'm a photographer and a producer in one. Many of my clients are in-house marketing teams juggling several brands with small staffs and tight budgets. I've worked on their side of the table, so I know how to take a shoot from concept to final files without adding to their workload. I handle locations, casting, crew, and logistics, so the client can focus on the creative. I also shoot stills, video, and drone myself, which means one person can cover a lot of ground. That keeps productions lean without cutting corners on quality.
Q What are you working on right now?
After a couple of years as an in-house producer and photographer, I'm returning to freelance with renewed energy and optimism. I've moved from LA to California's Central Coast, and I'm excited to lean further into hospitality work: hotels, restaurants, resorts, and the experiences that make California special. I recently moved out of my LA studio and am looking for a new local space to create in. Most of all, I'm glad to be back in the creative community and ready to collaborate. I still take on projects in LA and beyond.
Q What’s your style?
My work is lush, warm, and editorial, never stiff or corporate. I grew up loving glossy magazines, and my photojournalism background taught me to look for moments that feel real rather than posed. Authenticity matters to me in who I photograph as much as how. I cast and shoot people of all backgrounds, ages, and walks of life, because I want everyone to see themselves in the brands they love. I hope that all of my work showcases this vibe.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Travel and hospitality. I love to travel, and I'm happiest photographing places that make people want to pack a bag: hotels, resorts, restaurants, and the experiences that make a destination feel special. Wine fits right in, since so much of it is about place and gathering around a table.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Budgets keep getting leaner, and more clients are pushing back on paying for usage and licensing. Some are turning to AI-generated content instead. I understand the pressure brands are under, but authentic imagery with real people in real places still connects in a way AI can't. Part of my work right now is helping clients see that value and finding creative ways to deliver great work within tighter budgets. The task that keeps sliding to the bottom of my list is updating my portfolio, posting on socials, and all things marketing. I'm always busy making images for clients, so my own work doesn't get shown as often as it should.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Social media and marketing. I'd love someone to help me post my work regularly, keep my website and portfolio fresh, and stay in touch with past clients. I'm great at making images for other people, but my own marketing tends to get pushed aside when I'm busy producing shoots. Having someone keep my work visible would free me up to focus on what I love: being on set and creating. Also, having someone to tackle the financial aspects like taxes and book keeping would be AMAZING!
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I'd go back to myself just starting out in commercial work and say: shoot the work you want to be hired for, and don't wait for permission. Clients are very literal. They want to see exactly the kind of work they need already in your portfolio. If it isn't there, they have a hard time picturing you doing it, no matter how talented you are. So do test shoots, team up with stylists and talent, and build the book you want instead of the one your past jobs gave you. Being industrious about personal work is what moves you toward the clients you actually want.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Directing on a larger set. I'd love to spend time with an experienced commercial director and learn how they run bigger motion productions. A lot of my skills carry over: directing talent, building a shot list, producing, and keeping a crew moving. But a larger set feels like a parallel world, not an identical one. I'd want to understand how they work with a full crew and a director of photography, communicate a vision across departments, and handle agency and client expectations on set.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I'm looking for lifestyle campaigns where I can capture real people in beautiful places. I especially want to work with hospitality brands: hotels, resorts, restaurants, and travel destinations. I'd also love more wine and beverage work, as well as consumer brands for the home and family. My ideal clients are agencies and in-house marketing teams who need a partner to produce a full shoot from start to finish, covering both stills and motion.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is a brand that trusts me as a creative partner, not just a pair of hands behind the camera. They come in with a clear goal and a story to tell, then give me room to shape how we tell it. Usually that's an in-house marketing team juggling a lot, who's relieved to hand off a full production and know it's in good hands. The ideal job has a beautiful location, real people, and enough time to let authentic moments happen. It might be a resort at golden hour, a restaurant during dinner service, or friends around a table. It's a set where everyone, from stylists to talent to crew, feels invested and inspired. And it's a relationship that grows, where one great shoot leads to the next.
Q: What is your rate?
Every project is different, so budgets vary a lot depending on scope. A fully produced lifestyle campaign, with crew, talent, styling, locations, and usage, typically starts around $20,000 per shoot day. I also love working in a smaller, nimbler way, with a lean crew and a focused shot list, which can cost much less. The best first step is a conversation about what you need and where the images will live. From there, I'll build a plan that fits your goals and your budget.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email is best. You can also see my work at www.jaymeburrows.com. In your intro, tell me a little about your brand, what you're hoping to create, where the images will be used, and your timeline. If you have a budget range in mind, include it. It helps me suggest the right approach, whether that's a full production or something leaner. Mood boards and reference images are always welcome!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Molly Crist, Prop Stylist
Molly has an incredible eye for detail. She builds sets that feel lived-in and real, and she always finds the perfect piece to make a scene come alive.
Bettina Bati, Wardrobe Stylist
Bettina understands how wardrobe tells a story. She dresses talent in a way that feels authentic to the brand and the moment, and she's a calm, creative presence on set.
Allison Vale, Hair & Makeup
Allison makes people look and feel like the best version of themselves. Her work is natural and polished, and she puts talent at ease, which shows in every frame.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Travel often, create, get outside.
This member profile was originally published in October 2026.