Louis Jay’s photography career spans more than 40 years.

Born in Philadelphia, he moved to London as a young man to study photography at Harrow College of Art. Inspired by Kertész, Brassaï, and other classic documentary shooters of the 20th century, he roamed the city with his Leica camera, taking pictures of life on the streets.

Louis returned to the U.S. to continue his education with the great photographer Lisette Model at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Her mantra – “Never take a picture of anything you’re not passionately interested in” – had a profound impact on him throughout his life behind the lens. 

Taking a temporary break from photography, Louis entered New York University Graduate Film Institute, where he studied with the renowned Czech cinematographer, Beda Bakta. Following his graduation, he spent as an assistant cameraman on commercials and independent films in New York City. However, Louis clambered to return to his first love, photography. He subsequently launched a commercial photography business in New York City and began shooting portraits and working with advertising agencies. 

“NEVER TAKE A PICTURE
OF ANYTHING YOU'RE NOT
PASSIONATELY INTERESTED IN.”

– LISETTE MODEL

His assignments allowed him to travel widely. Louis developed a particular fondness for Rio de Janeiro and relocated his studio there – in the Gavia neighborhood – in 1986. There he photographed ads, record covers, and editorial portraits for Interview magazine. During these years, Louis continued pursuing his personal projects – photographing life and people in urban settings – which resulted in two one-man shows in New York (Cafeteria Portraits) and Rio (The Lapa Exhibit). 

In the nineties, Louis moved back to the States and established a studio in Miami’s Design District where he continued to pursue commercial and portrait work. Throughout his international career, Louis taught photography classes at schools like Parsons, the Miami Ad School, and Barry University. 

In 2011, Louis retired from commercial work, and returned to photographing people and their surrounding – his true passion. A lifelong dream to curate a book of photographs culminated in his first publication, Passing Fancies (Luce Press, 2018), a meditative documentary of Louis’s fascination with the spirit, mystery, and allure of his favorite places – Miami, Paris, the Amalfi Coast, and Rio, to name a few. 

Louis now photographs for himself. He and his wife, Marie Luce, live in Miami and Paris.