During 20 something years in the photography business, Jim Steinfeldt has worked with everyone from Miles Davis to the Ramones. Born in Minneapolis, Jim first focused and clicked at age 14. Cars (not the band), were among his first photographic subjects.

Jim moved to California to study at San Diego State University where he graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Management. After college he shot his way through many long road-trips and rock concerts armed with his first real camera. A one-hundred dollar Minolta!

Although lens-man Richard Avedon, and cinematographer Karl Freund are among his strongest influences, Jim is largely a self-taught photographer who has only to squint through the lens for inspiration.  His unique photographic style conveys the personality of his artist-musician subjects while conveying the story of their music.  His technique of cross processing with a pink border as well as his black and white portraiture have become his signature.

As a live action photographer, Jim was first published in 1985 in SPIN magazine. In that same year Rolling Stone published one of his photographs of Madonna, which he credits as a major boost to his career.  In 1986 his dreams as a music fan and photographer came true when Rolling Stone published his photo of Bob Dylan.  CD covers followed from this exposure: Miles Davis, Willie Nelson, John Denver, Dee Dee Ramone and many others.

Jim's Elusive Studios, in the canyons of Hollywood, is his current base of operations and has become a haven for music, film and television artists. In 1998, industry players recognized his work and named him Photographer of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards.

Jim's advice to aspiring photographers? "Try something new on every shoot - experiment with lighting, film, filters and gels."  As for your camera, never leave home without it!