Meet Your NYS Music Staff: Photographer Jim Houle

Jim Houle was raised in Oneida, New York, a small town along I-90, between Syracuse and Utica. Being very active as a child had him competing in several contact and recreational sports like baseball, football, skateboarding, snowboarding, and BMX biking. Learning that sports and pretty much everything in life has rhythm, Jim wanted to expand on his passion for music and acquired a guitar at the age of 9. Intrigued by the art and creation of music, he took on the challenge of learning other instruments such as drums, keyboards, and bass guitar.

jim houleBeing independent most of his life, Jim started working while in high school and continued after graduation. Eager to take on the world, he accepted a job to travel the country working on log cabins with a group of friends. Time away from home, allowed him to focus on music heavily and continue to create. After a few years of exploring the country, Jim was called back home for the passing of his only sibling, which led to staying home to be with family. While taking time to heal, he re-evaluated his direction and gained a new appreciation for life.

With a breath of fresh air, Jim began playing with multiple bands around Syracuse in genres including Blues, Hip Hop, Jam, Funk, and Rock. Gaining more experience in the music industry, he began helping his sound-engineer step-father with controlling lights and general stage hand on weekends. After a few years of learning about Lighting, Jim purchased some intelligent lighting, a control board, and ventured into his own business called HOO Productions. While working in the live performance world, he decided to take up photography to capture the experience for his clients. Jim has also enjoys photographing weddings, animals, nature/landscapes, portraits, and sports.

Jim had begun working with the NYSMusic team shortly after a meeting Pete Mason in January of 2015 while designing lighting for Formula 5 at the Java Barn in Canton, NY. Since then, Jim has had the pleasure of meeting many members of the company and working with some of the best people in the business.

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