Jay Holben

Former motion picture director of photography for 8 years. Active film producer and director. Practicing still photographer for 18+ years.

I am here on Model Mayhem to build new contacts specifically for still photography.

I am also the author of A Shot in the Dark: A Creative DIY Guide to Digital Video Lighting On (Almost) No Budget.


You can see my work on the new Cinemax series Femme Fatales. I shot, produced and directed the opening titles and served as second unit director/director of photography for the series.


A little caveat:
I always start online networking with a friend's request. If you've received a request from me, it means that I've looked at your work (here and elsewhere that you provide links for) and I'm interested in connecting with you. I'm not here to collect random 'friends' and I'm happily married to a beautiful woman, I'm not trying to use MM as a dating site. I don't generally send a message before a friend request, unless I read that as your preference on your profile. If the friend request isn't accepted, I presume you've looked at my profile and work and are not interested in connecting and I will mostly like not contact you again. I'm not trying to be rude - it's just my method of working online. I do apologize if my friend request without previous contact is uncomfortable to you. For me - it's the virtual equivalent of a handshake before starting up a conversation.

I shoot a lot of equipment tests for DV Magazine (DV.com), for which I am the technical editor. I always prefer to do these tests within practical shooting situations, so I look for creating a shooting environment within which I can thoroughly test the equipment. As there is no budget for these kinds of shoots, this results in a somewhat unique TFP/tear-sheet situation for the models I work with as the results of the test will be included in the print and/or online version of the magazine.

Some additional shots:

Movie one-sheet examples.


Actress/Model Becka Adams playing in the rain.


My tribute to Sante DeOrazio; Actress/Model Becka Adams.


Actress/Model Becka Adams, about to melt the glass...


Sparrow's dark hobbies...


Nathalie Daoust, dreamy, under the pier in Santa Monica, CA


Nathalie dancing in the sand


Amanda Bolten from 5 O'Clock Somewhere shoot


Amanda Bolten and Lucas DiMedio from 5 O'Clock Somewhere shoot


Amanda Bolten and Lucas DiMedio


Michelle Berthelot headshot shoot


Michelle Berthelot headshot shoot