Today we’d like to introduce you to Jérôme Scullino.
Hi Jérôme, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
was born in the south of France and spent part of my childhood in the French Alps, where I first learned photography at eleven years old. I didn’t know then that it would become my life’s work — I just knew I was fascinated by the way light could make an ordinary moment feel sacred.
My path wasn’t linear. I studied in England, the United States, and Canada — exploring art, philosophy, anthropology, mathematics. I was trying to understand the world before I tried to photograph it. Eventually I realized photography was the language that allowed me to bring all of those interests together.
I’ve now been a professional photographer for over twenty-five years. Along the way I lived in the Caribbean, built studios in Canada, and recently expanded to Miami. Each place has shaped my perspective. Travel, culture, and family have all influenced how I see people.
In the beginning, like many photographers, I was focused on technique — mastering light, composition, craft. But over time, my work shifted. I became less interested in taking pictures and more interested in presence. What happens when someone feels truly seen? What shifts when the camera stops being about performance and becomes about connection?
Today my practice centers around commissioned black-and-white portraiture and mixed-media works. The experience is intimate and intentional, and the final pieces are created as heirloom artworks — not just images, but objects meant to live on walls and in families for generations.
If there’s a thread that connects everything, it’s this: I’m not photographing appearance. I’m documenting presence. And that journey — from technique to meaning — is really how I got here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
Like many creatives, I started out doing everything — photographing, editing, marketing, sales, framing, installations. There were years where I was just trying to survive the business side of art. Talent is one thing. Building a sustainable company around it is something entirely different.
One of the biggest challenges was positioning. Photography is everywhere now. It’s accessible, fast, and often undervalued. I had to learn how to communicate the difference between “a photoshoot” and a commissioned work of art. That took time — and a lot of trial and error.
There were also financial pressures. Expanding studios, investing in equipment, refining production processes — all of that requires risk. Some investments paid off immediately. Others didn’t. I’ve had campaigns that failed, partnerships that didn’t convert, and moments where I questioned whether I was overreaching.
On a personal level, balancing ambition with family has been another real challenge. I travel between markets, I build, I refine — but I’m also a husband and a father. Learning to build something meaningful without losing myself or the people closest to me has been an ongoing lesson.
The deeper challenge, though, has been internal. Shifting from “service provider” to artist. From competing on price to standing firmly in value. From seeking validation to trusting my own voice. That evolution is not comfortable — but it’s necessary if you want your work to grow.
In many ways, the obstacles shaped the clarity I have today. They forced me to define what I stand for and who I serve. And honestly, I’m grateful for them. Without the friction, the work wouldn’t have depth.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a portrait artist working primarily in monochrome, creating commissioned works that are designed to live as heirlooms rather than digital files. My practice sits at the intersection of fine art portraiture and collectible object-making.
I specialize in intimate, studio-based portrait experiences where the focus is not performance, but presence. I’m less interested in capturing how someone looks and more interested in revealing who they are in a quiet, unguarded moment. The session itself is intentional and considered, and the final result is crafted as a physical artwork—printed on museum-grade cotton rag paper and, in many cases, transformed into hand-finished mixed-media pieces using beeswax and layered techniques.
Over the years, I’ve become known for the emotional stillness in my monochromes—portraits that feel contemplative, grounded, and quietly powerful. Clients often tell me they recognize something deeper in themselves when they see the work.
What I’m most proud of is that the practice has evolved beyond photography. It’s no longer about producing images; it’s about creating objects of meaning. In a world saturated with disposable content, I am committed to slowing the process down and honoring portraiture as something enduring.
What sets me apart is that I don’t operate as a volume-based studio. Each commission is treated as a singular work of art. The craft, the materials, the pacing, and the emotional depth all matter equally. I see myself not just as a photographer, but as an artisan preserving presence in physical form.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising is that before dedicating myself fully to art, I was a freestyle ski champion in the French Alps.
People are often surprised because my work today feels quiet, contemplative, almost meditative. But my early years were shaped by speed, risk, and physical intensity. Freestyle skiing taught me discipline, repetition, and the courage to commit fully in the air — there’s no hesitation once you leave the jump.
In many ways, that training shaped my artistic practice. There’s a similar balance between control and surrender. You prepare meticulously, and then you trust your body — or in my case now, my eye.
It also taught me resilience. Falling is part of the process. You get up, adjust, and try again. That mindset carried directly into building a creative career.
Most people see the stillness in my monochromes. They don’t see the years of motion and risk that built the foundation underneath.
Pricing:
- Private portrait commissions begin at $1,500
- Most clients invest between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on scale and medium
- Hand-finished mixed-media works are commissioned individually
- Each project is custom designed and crafted as a collectible artwork
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jerome.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeromeartphotography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromescullino/
- Other: https://medium.com/@jeromescullino
Image Credits
Jérôme Scullino
