James Meech

Meech Creative, LLC

I’ve spent more than 35 years immersed in the creative worlds of photography, television, radio, and the performing arts. That experience shapes how I approach every photograph: not simply as an image, but as an opportunity to tell a story.

My life in the performing arts began at age nine on the musical theatre stage. By 13, I was climbing lighting grids as a theatre tech. Over the years, I’ve worked professionally as an actor, singer, director, producer, technical director, and scenic and lighting designer, eventually becoming a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

That background gives me a perspective behind the camera that is particularly valuable when photographing performers. I understand the audition room, the rehearsal process, the stage, and what performers need from the images that represent their work.

Through Meech Creative, LLC, I specialize in performing arts photography throughout Maryland, Washington, DC, and the surrounding region. My work includes actor and professional headshots, dancer portraits and headshots, theatre and live-performance photography, production and media-day photography, creative portraiture, and videography. I work with individual performers as well as theatre companies, dance studios, schools, and other performing arts organizations.

Headshot photography is an important part of my work. Having spent years on both sides of the casting process, I understand that an actor’s headshot is more than a flattering portrait. It needs to be an honest, current representation of the person who will walk into the audition room.

Dance and theatre photography bring together virtually every part of my creative background. I’m interested not only in capturing the peak moment, but in understanding line, movement, lighting, emotion, character, and the story unfolding in front of the camera.

I’m also an FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot and operate Shots Over Frederick, providing professional drone and property-imaging services including RTK drone mapping and photogrammetry, construction progress documentation, and commercial and residential real-estate photography.

Whether I’m photographing an actor, a dancer in motion, a theatrical production, or documenting a project from the air, the philosophy behind my work is the same:

I see things differently.

— James Meech