Jim Jordan (photographer)

Jordan grew up in Southern California.{{cite magazine|last = Rosene|first = Madeline|date =Summer 2016|title = An Interview with Jim Jordan: Fashion, Celebrity, and Lifestyle Photographer|magazine = LeFair|location = Los Angeles|publisher = Tracy Kahn|issue = 6|pages = 130–135|url= https://issuu.com/lefairmagazine/docs/lefair_vol1_issue2_final_issuu_uplo|access-date = April 7, 2018}} At the age of 15, Jordan dropped out of school and began working as a talent scout{{cite magazine|last = Test|first = Irene|date =Fall 2015| title = Absolute Brilliance: Jim Jordan|magazine = Clientele Luxury|location = Clearwater, FL|publisher = Clientele Luxury, LLC| pages = 14–17|url= https://issuu.com/clienteleluxury/docs/clientele_luxury_fall_2015|access-date = April 10, 2018}} for modeling agencies.{{cite web |title= Jim Jordan |url= https://www.photoshelter.com/tour/photographer-profile/jordan |publisher= Photo Shelter |accessdate= April 7, 2018 |url-status= dead |archive-date= Apr 12, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180412002144/https://www.photoshelter.com/tour/photographer-profile/jordan }} Jordan would find high school girls that were 5'10"-5'11" (178-180 cm), do their hair and makeup, and take them to his friend Greg Glassman (later the founder of CrossFit) to photograph. Jordan would then submit Glassman's photography to companies such as Elite Model Management, who placed many of Jordan's models in haute couture photo shoots. At one point, Glassman gave Jordan a camera so that Jordan could start taking the photos of the potential models himself.

Elite Model Management recommended that Jordan fly to Italy and submit a portfolio of his hair and makeup work to the women's magazine Grazia. After Jordan arrived, Grazia hired Jordan as a replacement hair and makeup artist when a crew member failed to arrive at a scheduled photo shoot. This initial opportunity opened up more opportunities for Jordan to work on photo shoots with other magazines. Jordan began traveling as a celebrity hair and makeup artist, working with celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, and Farrah Fawcett, and working underneath photographers such as Herb Ritts, Douglas Kirkland, Peter Lindbergh, and Patrick Demarchelier.{{cite web|last1=Sharma|first1=Shivanand|title=Featured Photographer – An Interview With Jim Jordan| url=https://www.apnphotographyschool.com/inspiration/interview/featured-photographer-an-interview-with-jim-jordan/|website=APNPhotographyschool.com|publisher=APN Photography & Web-Design|accessdate=April 7, 2018|date=December 2, 2011}}

While Jordan worked as a hair and makeup artist, he would get to know the models and celebrities being photographed, and would build a rapport with them. He would then photograph the subjects during lunch breaks and off hours, encouraging them to deliver more intimate and personal portrayals for his photography. Jordan stored the resulting photography in a large black box, with no intention of showing his work to anyone.{{cite web|title=Inside Jim Jordan's Black Box|url=http://blog.shootq.com/2011/11/17/inside-jim-jordans-black-box/|website=The Photolife (blog)|publisher=ShootQ|accessdate=April 10, 2018|date=November 17, 2011}}

Jordan worked 12 years as a hair and makeup artist before working as a professional photographer.{{cite magazine|author = |date = January–February 2005|editor1-last = Arnold|editor1-first = Kathryn|title = Contributors|magazine = Yoga Journal|location = San Francisco|publisher = Lynn Lehmkuhl|page = 12|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7-kDAAAAMBAJ&q=jim+jordan&pg=PA12|issn=0191-0965|access-date = April 7, 2018}} Circa 1993,{{cite magazine|author=|date=January 2003|editor1-last = Mislewski|editor1-first = Rik|title = Star Photographer|magazine = MacAddict|location = Brisbane, CA| publisher = Future Network USA | volume = 8|issue = 1|pages = 34–37|url= https://archive.org/stream/MacAddict-077-200301/MacAddict-077-200301-BobKiwi-v1#page/n0/mode/2up

|issn = 1088-548X|access-date = April 7, 2018}} he was booked to do hair and makeup for a photo shoot with J.Crew, and ended up working with the company's owner Emily Woods. Woods requested to see Jordan's photography due to the recommendations of several models Jordan had worked with previously. Upon examining Jordan's work, Woods booked Jordan as a photographer for a two-week shoot in Hawaii, launching Jordan's career as a professional photographer.{{cite web|title=Understanding Jim Jordan|url=http://focusofnewyork.com/understanding-jim-jordan/|website=Focus Magazine of New York|accessdate=April 7, 2018|date=May 16, 2013}} He has shot images of celebrities such as Kris Jenner,{{cite web |title=Kris Jenner: About the Author |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Kris-Jenner/82977535 |website=Simon & Schuster |access-date=14 April 2021 |format=Online}} Leonardo DiCaprio, Drew Barrymore, Charlize Theron, and Mila Kunis, and works for clients such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, and Marie Claire.

Jordan appeared in four episodes Season One of the Lifetime Network reality TV series Making a Model With Yolanda Hadid (2018).{{cite web |title=Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8367736/ |website=Internet Movie Database |access-date=14 April 2021}} He was featured most prominently in the episode "Learning the Ropes," which aired January 25, 2018.{{cite journal |title=Best Bets This Week |journal=The Fresno Bee |date=21 January 2018 |volume=118 |issue=34678 |page=On TV, p. 9 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/667282509/ |access-date=14 April 2021 |publisher=The McClatchy Co. |location=Fresno, CA |url-access=subscription }}{{cite journal |title=Critics' Choice: Tonight's Review of TV |journal=Central New Jersey Home News Tribune |date=25 January 2018 |volume=139 |issue=308 |page=5B |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/376529682/ |access-date=14 April 2021 |publisher=Gannett Co., Inc. |location=Somerville, NJ |url-access=subscription }} Jordan is currently working on his autobiography.{{cite web |title=Jim Jordan on Building a Star, Importance of Teamwork and Upcoming Autobiography |url=http://malendyer.com/jim-jordan-on-building-a-star-importance-of-teamwork-and-upcoming-autobiography/ |website=MalenDyer |access-date=14 April 2021 |format=Online |date=27 June 2018}}

File:Kris Jenner shot by Jim Jordan at White Cross Studios (cropped).jpg shot by Jordan at White Cross Studios]]Jim Jordan describes his style as "energetic, bright, warm and light."{{cite web|title=Jim Jordan: Fashion Photography With The Leica S-System|url=http://blog.leica-camera.com/2012/11/19/jim-jordan-fashion-photography-with-the-leica-s-system/|website=The Leica Camera Blog|publisher=Leica Camera AG|accessdate=April 7, 2018|date=November 19, 2012}} His style has also been described as having a "crisp edge and a brilliant energy."{{cite web|title=Jim Jordan: A Visionare Par Excellence|url=https://www.ifdcouncil.org/jim-jordan-the-master-of-the-looking-glass/|website=IFDCouncil.org|publisher=Islamic Fashion and Design Council|accessdate=April 10, 2018|location=New York|date=February 23, 2018}} Jordan's frequent use of bright lighting{{cite web|title=Admirable Photography by Jim Jordan|url=https://astrumpeople.com/admirable-photography-by-jim-jordan/|website=Astrum People|date=August 24, 2011 |accessdate=April 7, 2018}} is influenced by natural lighting from the sun. Jordan's style is primarily self-taught, and was achieved through trial and error and through observing other photographers work. Jordan credits Bruce Weber and Arthur Elgort as major influences on his work.

Jordan's photography also features a "human element" that derives from his practice of getting to know this subjects and building a rapport with them before photographing them. Jordan is able to tailor his approach to a wide range of subjects to bring out an honesty and authenticity not often seen in commercial photography.{{cite magazine|last = Shaw|first = Steven|date = January 2009|title = Celebrities, Children, and Animals, Oh My!|magazine = Studio Photography|location = Fort Atkinson, WI|publisher = Cygnus Business Media|volume = 10|issue = 6|pages = 10–11, 14–17|url= http://www.imaginginfo.com/print/Studio-Photography/Celebrities--Children-and-Animals--Oh-My/3$4662|access-date = April 7, 2018}}

In 2011, Jordan discovered supermodel and actress Taylor Hill{{cite web |last1=Wiseman |first1=Ellie |title=Absolutely Everything You Could Ever Want To Know About Taylor Hill |url=https://graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/news/taylor-hill-model/ |website=Grazia |publisher=Bauer Media Group |access-date=14 April 2021 |location=Peterborough, Cambridgeshire |format=Online |date=24 April 2020}} while on location for a photo shoot at a ranch in Granby, Colorado where Hill and her family rode horses.{{cite web|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/2077314/taylor-hill-is-the-youngest-victorias-secret-model-and-the-one-to-watch/|title=Taylor Hill Is The Youngest Victoria's Secret Model And 'The One To Watch'|author=Chanel Adams|date=May 9, 2015|website=Inquisitr|access-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515144443/http://www.inquisitr.com/2077314/taylor-hill-is-the-youngest-victorias-secret-model-and-the-one-to-watch/|archive-date=May 15, 2015|url-status=live}} Jordan photographed Hill and subsequently shopped the images, securing her contracts with a number of modeling agencies.{{cite web |last1=Rice |first1=Lilyanne |title=The Untold Truth Of Taylor Hill |url=https://www.stylesrant.com/the-untold-truth-of-taylor-hill/ |website=StylesRant |access-date=14 April 2021 |date=22 July 2019}}

Jordan was also instrumental in the discovery, development, and placement of model Gigi Hadid.{{cite web |last1=Pressler |first1=Jessica |title=The Felon is Hot |url=https://www.thecut.com/2016/06/jeremy-meeks-hot-felon-hollywood-c-v-r.html |website=The Cut |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=5 April 2021 |location=New York |format=Online |date=June 2016}}

After "Hot Felon" Jeremy Meeks' mugshot went viral in 2014, Jordan's White Cross Management took an interest in signing Meeks to a management contract while the latter was still in prison.{{cite web|last1=Hutchinson|first1=Bill|title=Jeremy Meeks, dubbed 'Hot Convict,' hires second Hollywood agent to handle modeling, endorsement deals|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jeremy-meeks-hires-hollywood-agent-article-1.1854310|website=New York Daily News|publisher=tronc, inc.|accessdate=8 April 2018|date=July 3, 2014}} Jordan then signed Meeks to a contract with White Cross Management in March 2015.{{cite web |last1=Heigl |first1=Alex |title='Hot Convict' Jeremy Meeks Finally Signs That Modeling Contract in Jail |url=https://people.com/celebrity/jeremy-meeks-hottie-thug-signs-modeling-contract/ |website=People.com |publisher=Meredith Corporation |access-date=5 April 2021 |location=Des Moines IA |format=Online |date=4 March 2015}} Jordan began working with Meeks upon the latter's release from the transitional housing facility which he was ordered to stay in after his March 2016 release from prison.{{cite news |last1=Holley |first1=Peter |title=The 'hot mugshot guy' is free: 'It's almost as if being in jail for so long made him hotter' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=31 March 2016 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/13/the-hot-mugshot-guy-is-free-its-almost-as-if-being-in-jail-for-so-long-made-him-hotter/ |access-date=11 April 2021 |publisher=Nash Holdings |location=Washington, DC |format=Online}} White Cross Management continues to manage Meeks,{{cite web |title=JEREMY MEEKS: MODEL, ACTOR |url=https://whitecrossmanagement.com/male-model/jeremy-meeks |website=White Cross Management |access-date=11 April 2021}} and featured Meeks on the cover of their online magazines James Magazine USA Vol. VII{{cite web |title=VOLUME VII - JEREMY MEEKS |url=https://jamesmagazineusa.com/volume-jeremy-meeks |website=James Magazine USA |access-date=11 April 2021 |format=Online}} and White Cross Magazine Vol. 01.{{cite web |title=VOL. 01 - JEREMY MEEKS |url=https://whitecrossmagazine.myportfolio.com/jeremy-meeks |website=White Cross Magazine USA |access-date=12 April 2021 |format=Online}}

In November 2020, Jordan discovered social media personality Garett Nolan, and White Cross Management took Nolan on as a client soon thereafter.{{cite web |first1=Jim |last1=Jordan |author1-link=Jim Jordan (photographer) |title=Exclusive Q&A with Garett Nolan |url=https://majormagazineusa.com/garett-nolan |website=Major Magazine |publisher=White Cross Productions |access-date=March 9, 2021 |format=Online}}

Jim Jordan is the proprietor of several independent businesses. Jordan's photography business, Jim Jordan Photography, employs seven full-time employees in Los Angeles and four in New York.{{cite web|title=Jim Jordan Photography / White Cross Productions|url=https://www.necdisplay.com/success-stories/jim-jordan-photography--white-cross-productions/111|website=NECDisplay.com|publisher=NEC Display Solutions|accessdate=April 7, 2018}}{{cite magazine|last = Miller|first = Alice|date = January 2005 | title = FileMaker Pro 7: A Database System That Almost Runs the Business by Itself | magazine = Studio Photography and Design|location = Fort Atkinson, WI|publisher = Cygnus Business Media|volume = 6|issue = 6|pages = 42–43|url= http://www.imaginginfo.com/print/Studio-Photography/FileMaker-Pro-7--A-Database-System-That-Almost-Runs-the-Business-by-Itself/3$1340|access-date = April 7, 2018}} In 2003, Jordan launched White Cross Productions, a full service production and management company. The company has produced ad campaigns and commercials for clients such as Mercedes-Benz, American Express, Warner Bros., etc.

White Cross Management, Jordan's talent management agency, launched in the early 2000s. As of 2015, the agency represents fifty models, as well as musicians, actors, and other creatives in the entertainment industry.

Jordan is founder of the fashion and lifestyle publications James Magazine USA,{{cite web |title=About James Magazine |url=https://jamesmagazineusa.com/about |publisher=White Cross Productions |access-date=14 April 2021}} Major Magazine USA,{{cite web |title=About Major Magazine |url=https://majormagazineusa.com/a-b-o-u-t-1 |publisher=White Cross Productions |access-date=14 April 2021}} and White Cross Magazine.{{cite web |title=About White Cross Magazine |url=https://whitecrossmagazine.myportfolio.com/about |publisher=White Cross Productions |access-date=14 April 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://jimjordanphotography.com/ Jim Jordan Photography]
• [http://www.whitecrossproductions.com/ White Cross Productions]
• [https://whitecrossmanagement.com/ White Cross Management]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, Jim}}

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American photographers

Category:American fashion photographers

Category:Photographers from California

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)