Jess Ruby James developed a deep love for photography early on in life, inspired by her father who was constantly behind the lens. A chance discovery of one of his old cameras set her on a path that transformed her childhood fascination into a successful career. From shooting Hollywood icons like Anya Taylor-Joy and Natalie Portman to working on high-profile fashion campaigns for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, Jess’ work offers a cinematic visual language, capturing the strength and beauty of the body, light and nature.

“It was a way to make sense of everything around me and connect with people that I found interesting,” says Jess, reflecting on her journey. “What I love most is that there are no rules or parameters when it comes to creating a world within still images.” 

Seamlessly navigating human anatomy, portraiture and landscapes through an artful and often surreal lens, her thoughtful observations through analogue film and digital empower her subjects—an approach that deeply resonates with our creative director, Sarah Munro. As an ongoing creative collaborator with SARAH & SEBASTIAN, she has lensed two of our recent campaigns—including our OBSCURA collection. We were thrilled to invite her to contribute to our latest Mark of a Milestone project, celebrating the evolution of the brand.

"There are no rules or parameters when it comes to creating a world within still images."

For her contributing piece, she photographed a striking image of polished stones collected from a beach in Biarritz, arranging them in hand to trace the fluid curves of our new brand symbol. “Stones have always held a nostalgic value for me—I’ve collected them for years and it’s a little secret of mine that I love,” she muses, adding, “It made sense to incorporate them into the image as it felt aligned with Sarah & Sebastian's design values inspired by the natural world.”

OBSCURA Volume III campaign

Growing up by the ocean in Perth, Western Australia, Jess’ photography also serves as an ode to the natural world—the place where she feels most at home. Now living and working in Paris, her appreciation for nature has deepened: “In Paris, I don’t have the same access to the ocean I had growing up and I’ve come to truly understand the importance of my relationship with nature,” she says.

When asked about how intrinsic the natural world is to her work, Jess emphasises its influence on her entire creative process: “I need open spaces to reflect and create, and I feel most at ease when shooting in nature, so I’ve always been drawn to create within it and use it as my canvas.”

"I feel most at ease shooting in nature, so I’ve always been drawn to create within it."

Behind the scenes shooting OBSCURA in the Sapphire Coast

Framed photographic print, displayed in our Paddington store