Bio
Raymond McCrea Jones is an Atlanta-based photographer & director. He is a visual storyteller who creates imagery from a sense of boundless curiosity through his own unique blend of contemporary reportage and portraiture. There is no “lifestyle” to be found here, only life. Since 2018, he has served as creative director of Creature Studio which he co-owns with his wife Jenn Jones. In 2021 he joined the storytelling team at Habitat for Humanity International.
His approach to the creative process has been commissioned by brands and publications around the world. As a director of both photography and motion Jones is a steady hand with an intentional vision. He draws on his time spent at The New York Times to inform his unique blend of intimate portraiture and reportage throughout his editorial and commercial work. Jones is recognized for his inimitable positivity and efficiency on set as well as his seemingly effortless ability to connect with those he is with.
Jones places an emphasis on developing long term projects and has published two monographs of his work Out of Step: Faces of Straight Edge (2007, Empire Press) and Birth of a Warrior: Ten Weeks in Basic Training (2015, University Press of New England). His photography has been exhibited in galleries and museums and featured in publications around the world. Jones is the creative director at Creature Studio which he owns with his wife Jenn Jones. He is also the co-founder of ATL Photo Night and is represented by Redux Pictures for commercial and editorial commissions.
Selected Clients
Square, Mercedes-Benz, Spotify, Delta Airlines, Georgia Pacific, Home Depot, Samsung, Turner Broadcasting, CNN, Atlanta Hawks, The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, OUT, Time, Die Zeit, Stern, Adweek, Entrepreneur Art in Embassies, Megan Huntz, Discovery Network, TLC.
Exhibitions & Recognition
American Photography 36, 2020
Selected Winner, Trap Chronicles
Mary Stanley’s “Ones to Watch” 2018
Selected by Mary Stanley, the influential curator, for her 2018 “Ones to Watch” list.
Atlanta Celebrates Photography 2018 Gala & Auction
“This Life” 2013
United Photo Industries “The Fence” exhibition, 2018
Host cities Brooklyn, Atlanta, Boston, Santa Fe, Durham, Denver, Calgary, Sarasota
Selected works from the series “Cascade Roll”
Hambidge 2018 Art Auction
Selected works
Kibbee Gallery, “Doomsday Believer” October 2017
Solo exhibition
Center for Civil and Human Rights, “The Time is Right” October 2017
Group exhibition
The Columbus Museum, “Birth of a Warrior” February-March 2017
Solo exhibition
Art Crush, Burnaway art auction, February 2017
Selected works
WeLoveATL, “Southern Refuge” group show, September 2016
Selected works
Kibbee Gallery, “South” group show, July 2016
Selected works
A Smith Gallery, “Flawed” group show, January 2016
“DIY FDR FTW”
Hambidge 2016 Art Auction
Selected works
Birth of a Warrior: Ten Weeks in Basic Training (2015, University Press of New England)
Photobook exploring the transformation of civilians into soldiers by following one company of recruits at Fort Benning for 10 weeks.
The Arts Exchange, October 2015
solo exhibition Birth of a Warrior: Ten Weeks in Basic Training
Swan Coach House Gallery, Little Things 2015
Selected works
Hambidge 2015 Art Auction
Selected works
SXSW EDU, 2014
Panelist and Moderator, “Putting the Hollywood in MOOCs”
Art in Embassies, U.S. Department of State, 2013
One photograph to be placed in the U. S. embassy in Pristina, Kosovo.
PDN’s 30 Emerging Photographers 2013
Nominated for Photo District News’ 30 emerging photographers to watch in 2013.
National Press Photographers Association, Best of Photojournalism 2012
Honorable Mention, Best use of the web, ‘Love Endures Even Cancer’
1st Place, Documentary multimedia story, ‘Love Endures Even Cancer’
1st Place, Sports multimedia story, ‘Damian’s Ride’
Art in Embassies, U.S. Department of State, 2011
Three images selected to be placed in the U.S. embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Haiti Earthquake Coverage by The New York Times, 2010
Gold Award & Best of Show,
SND Best of Digital News Design Winners 2010
S cenes From A Ruined Boulevard, producer
Out of Step: Faces of Straight Edge (2007, Empire Press)
Independently published book of photographs by Raymond McCrea Jones documenting the contemporary American straight edge culture.
Solo Exhibit - Out of Step: Faces of Straight Edge, 2007
Solo exhibit of works from the book on display at Young Blood gallery in Atlanta, Georgia.
Self portrait, 2009.