Behind the Lens of James Greco

Julia Bonavita
Nov 5 · 5 min read

James Greco is a jack of all trades, digitally speaking.

After graduating from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 1998 with a degree in Graphic Design, James began working full-time at his alma mater. For three years, he spent time working with UCF faculty, teaching the basics of digital photography — skills they would use in the initial rollout of online college classes.

In 2001, James relocated to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), where he worked to support distance learning, designing brochures and taking photos to market the new university.

From there, he upgraded his film camera to a digital Olympus, and covered athletics, campus building openings, and admissions marketing. James’ love quickly shifted from graphic design to photography, which led him to turn down a job opportunity to become a web designer for the university in 2009. Shortly after, he moved to the admissions department, and focused solely on marketing materials. His first DSLR camera (Digital Single-Lens Reflex), was the Nikon D90, a 2008 release.

James Greco on Florida Gulf Coast University’s campus. Photo by Julia Bonavita.

Recognizing that social media and the rise of digital photography was becoming more widespread, James downloaded the new Instagram app in 2012 for his personal work. After browsing through the FGCU hashtag, he realized a new marketing platform was at his fingertips, and quickly made an account for the university. In one year, James acquired over 4,000 followers by posting iPhone camera shots on the page.

In 2013, “Dunk City” was born. James followed FGCU’s team through the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, where the team advanced to the “Sweet 16”, gaining national attention. James’ FGCU Instagram account doubled in size, finishing the season with approximately 8,500 followers — the page now boasts nearly 37,000 followers and continues under his management.

However, James has not always been confident in his work. When taking photography classes at UCF, his professor focused primarily on the safety of developing film, and not the artistic aspect. This left him with little guidance on the actual principles of photography, requiring him to be primarily self-taught. His early negatives showcase an artistic technique that he still utilizes today: Motion. He admits that he has gotten better with time.

“It’s okay to make bad photos,” James said. “Learn from them.”

In 2007, James began adjunct teaching at FGCU, which helped perfect his skills. He enjoys sharing his love for the craft with those in his classes.

“I felt my photography took a huge leap forward,” James said.

James confesses that his greatest worry while teaching is “talking too fast”, out of enthusiasm — he wants to ensure all of the information is accurately and easily conveyed. His favorite part “are the students,” James said.

Anna Nguyen, FGCU alumna and owner of Zee Anna Photography, met James at a business etiquette dinner hosted by the Lutgert School of Business in 2009. She later enrolled in his Photography I class.

“He just encouraged my natural interest. It was a hobby when I met him, and his class gave me the freedom to create and express myself that I wasn’t given in my other degree programs,” Anna said.

Anna now guest teaches in James’ classes each semester — teaching students how to incorporate lighting into their work, and joining them on class field trips.

“James is an incredible individual. Not only does he continue to fulfill his obligations to his career at FGCU, but he manages to teach Photo I and II — dedicating much of his time to his students — in and outside of the classroom,” Anna said. “I’ve known James since 2009, he’s the same caring professor then, as he is now. FGCU is lucky to have such a positive influence on campus”

James has rose to become one of the most popular faces on FGCU’s campus. In 2015, he moved to the University Marketing and Communications department, where his official title became “Graphic Designer and Photographer”. He remains in this position today.

Constantly faced with the task of juggling photos from all campus happenings — including athletics, alumni events, and day-to-day student life — James has created a system for editing, storing, and distributing his photos that help him keep everything organized.

He primarily utilizes Adobe Bridge, a digital photo editing software, for editing and RAW (Read-After-Write) to JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) conversion, Dropbox, an online subscription service, for file storage and sharing, and multiple external hard drives for long-term stockpiling. He organizes all of his photos by semester.

“I spend more time behind my computer, at my desk, than shooting,” James said.

When James is not using his on-campus DSLR, he enjoys shooting with his iPhone. The rise of digital technology and social media has given everyone with a smartphone the ability to be a photographer.

“I think it’s a good thing,” James said.

He often uses social media to help find inspiration for his photos, and connect with other photographers with similar interests. James also enjoys attending conferences, including Photoshop World, the world’s largest annual conference for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and photography, and has been moved to tears at some pieces of art.

“It feels like a religious event — if photo is your religion,” James said.

James Greco on Florida Gulf Coast University’s campus. Photo by Julia Bonavita.

Maximilian “Max” Trullenque graduated from FGCU in May 2019, and currently works as James’ assistant photographer. Like Anna, Max met James after enrolling in his Photo I class.

“The first week of Photo I changed the course of my entire photography career. I never imagined being a professional photographer until I met James and took his class,” Max said.

James and Max share a love of automotive photography, and often cover campus events for FGCU’s Marketing Department together.

“The opportunities James opened for me as photographer are countless, and the experience I received as his student photographer for the University Marketing Department are unmeasurable,” Max said.

Throughout the years, James has worked to develop his own artistic style. He focuses primarily on motion photography, which is shown in his early work, panning, and lens flare. He takes pride in the fact that his work has contributed to students choosing to attend FGCU, and is proud of the confidence he has earned throughout the years.

If presented with the opportunity to give his early-self advice on photography, James would offer these words of encouragement: “I’ll be good one day”.

Uncalled Four

Julia & Veronica & Holly & Sophia

Julia Bonavita

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Uncalled Four

Julia & Veronica & Holly & Sophia

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