Jami Saunders is a New York City-based portrait photographer. She grew up in Dallas, Texas but after spending the last 12 years in NYC, she admits to being scared of big open spaces. And crocodile cowboy boots.

At Washington University in St. Louis, she studied Psychology (often relevant), Italian (not so relevant) and pre-med courses (relevant if she weren’t so queasy). (Foreshadowing: Jami requested a camera for her college graduation gift.)

After college, determined to find a career to feed the soul, Jami worked in suicide prevention, went to culinary school, and seriously considered going back to school for a masters in Architecture. She finally spent a life changing summer in Missoula, Montana at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography.

And has never looked back.

Back in New York, Jami spent 4 years assisting some of the best photographers in the industry, attended workshops in Santa Fe and in Maine,and taught as a teaching assistant at the International Center of Photography (ICP) the Santa Fe Workshops. She now shoots editorial, commercial, and privately commissioned work.
She was awarded First Place by the 2008 American Society of Media Photographers for one of her photographs, in 2008 was elected to be part of an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, and was awarded Directors Honorable Mention for the "Blue" show at the Center of Fine Art Photography in 2011.

She still finds living in New York endlessly inspiring. She is almost never found without a camera of some sort in her bag. For that reason she has an infinity for shoulder massages and large handbags. And she cant remember what life was like before photography.

Whether it’s a large assignment or a Polaroid snapshot, Jami is obsessed with creating work that is fresh and real and full of life. Ultimately, she found a career that actually isn’t a career at all…its simply a matter of life.