Who is Jason Byron Lee?

Photography has always been a part of my life. I received my first camera at 6 years old, and since then I’ve rarely had a moment in my life that I didn’t have a camera in my hands. I'm an avid hiker and love photographing the outdoors, and every National Park I set foot in. I'm a Master Freemason, and currently a member of Eureka Lodge #16 of the Free & Accepted Masons here in Auburn in the same building where my Great Grandfather was also a Mason. I'm married to Erin who is a teacher at Placer High School, and the father of 2 beautiful daughters.

How do I describe my work?

As of now, most of my images are my own fine art photography that I create while traveling over the summer & when I'm not working at Auburn Union School District in the I.T. Department as a Computer Support Tech. Recently, I also started my own YouTube photography channel called the "Fotogs Channel" where I share my experiences with being a Fotogs along with gear reviews and "how to" videos.

 

In my past career as a camera store owner and studio photographer I spent my time as a commercial, wedding, & portrait photographer, focused on high quality, impactful images with a modern 1940's flair.

I still create classic fine art portraits for a select and highly limited number of clients per year, And I've been creating my images in both digital and film formats since the late 1980's

(Well, the film portion at least)

 

Qualifications:

My images have been published in print magazines in over 80 countries and hold numerous regional and national awards for my imaging. I photographed weddings all over California for over 20 years. And also had the opportunity to create still images for T.V. and Movie industries.  I'm skilled in historic photo restoration and have done work for many local museums and historical archives. Taught advanced photography classes for the Placer School for Adults in Auburn, Ca. for over ten years. Became a lifetime member of the International Freelance Photographers Organization (IFPO) in 1990 and am a currently registered correspondent for the American International News Service.

 

My family history in the photographic industry

Lee Photo opened in 1897 as the W.E. Banbrock photography studio. In 1945 it was purchased by my grandfather Howard Gibson Lee and renamed “Lee of Auburn Photography” and operated as a full camera store, photo lab, and photographic studio. Howard Lee was also the President of PPC (Professional Photographers of California) from 1969-1970. In 1970 it was purchased by my father Byron Gibson Lee, and in January 2004 My wife and I purchased the business and shortened the name to “Lee Photo” And on November 1st, 2012, we sadly closed our brick-and-mortar location in downtown Auburn due to economic downturns and dramatic changes in the retail industry. I’m very proud of the history of Lee Photo, and I still own W.E. Banbrocks original camera that he used in his studio over a century ago.

 

Currently I'm a Full-Time employee of Auburn Union School District as a Computer Support Tech. and Education Application Administrator. Most of my photographic works currently revolve around Landscape images and my own Fine Art pursuits, and the occasional commissioned work.