Inspiring Creator Series: Jesse and Huzi from Florence James Collective

When it comes to creative duos in product photography, Jesse and Huzi of Florence James Collective are in a league of their own. Based in Australia, this talented pair has become a constant source of inspiration for the Creatively Squared community, known for their scroll-stopping visuals and inventive approach to content creation.

Like many creators, their journey began during the COVID-19 lockdowns, a time that unexpectedly sparked their creativity. Since then, their passion has only grown, leading them to build not just a standout portfolio but a thriving creative business.

From launching their own props brand, Propsyland, to sharing their expertise through their educational course Creative Scoop, Jesse and Huzi have made it their mission to support and uplift fellow creators. Their success speaks for itself, not just in beautiful imagery, but in the way they motivate others to explore their own creative potential (with a healthy dash of humour along the way!).

Let’s take a closer look at the story behind this powerhouse duo and how they turned a creative spark into a full-blown movement.

Meet Jesse and Huzi

How did your journey to photography start? Have you always been product photographers and content creators?

Hi everyone, we are Jesse and Huzi! I'm from a small country town, down in Dubbo, NSW. Huzi is originally from Wellington, NZ. But we both came together on the Gold Coast, and the rest is history!

I started taking photos in highschool, photographing friends and but my interest trailed off. Then I went on a holiday, taking photos of everything and that ignited the spark again. I started working in the nightlife scene as a photographer, and then moved into working with Uber Eats and that's where I met Huzi!

When COVID hit in 2020 and everything shut down, we started working more as product photographers, and we have never really stopped since!

What are some things people might not know about you?

I dressed up as Snow White for a school concert once. I love baking and I am so nostalgic that I kept all my Disney videos from childhood.

Huzi, on the other hand, was a semi-pro tennis player, he knows how to make a good steak, and just like Homer Simpson, he only wears one outfit (always an all-black LSKD fit!).

What equipment do you currently use to produce your content?

Our favourite camera is the Canon EOS Mark II.

What is your favourite lighting to use?

Our guilty pleasure is using gels on the Godox AD 600 Pro!

What are your three favourite props to use?

I recently posted a YouTube video of my all-time favourite props actually, so go check it out if you like! Obviously Propsyland props - we use them in most of our shoots, especially seeing as we have the entire collection!

I'm also a sucker for Halloween season, so I have a whole box of spooky props that come out every year.

And lastly, my pink corded phone, which is fun in portrait shots or even retro product photography scenes.

What is your best advice to share with aspiring product photographers?

You have to be persistent even when it gets challenging. You have to be brave to put yourself out there. Expect to experience rejection, but have faith that people will want to work with you. And of course, practice makes perfect!

Jesse (and the whole team!), your videos are so fun! Any advice for creatives wanting to produce this type of content?

Create content that you enjoy! It can be easy to get caught up in trends, or what people say will "perform well" but the more joy it brings you, the more likely you will be to execute it well and post it. Also, a little appreciation moment - I am so lucky to have a team that can help me bring my visions to life!

How do you keep learning and evolving your skills?

Shameless plug - we’ve just come out with our own educational content creation course called "Creative Scoop". But it’s also important for me to acknowledge creators like The Bite Shot, The Weekend Creative, Karl Taylor, and Brittney Lee Saunders. These creators help to educate me, build my confidence in business, and inspire me to think outside the box.

Which other creators do you admire and find inspiring?

The Colors Collective account! Not too sure who the creators are, but whoever is behind the Poppi shots needs a pay raise! Also, honourable mention to Peter Mckinnon for his positivity, inspiration and style of content. He really inspires me to put myself out there.

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Tell us more about your Propsyland venture, your props are very cool!

I wanted to step into E-commerce world and I thought what better way to do that than to piggyback off my current business. There wasn’t really anything like Propsyland at the time in Australia, so we were kind of pioneers in the industry. It’s been around for 3 years now which is crazy to think!

We ended up taking the leap and got a commercial printer so we can create whatever we like for backdrop collections, and even do custom printing for customers.

Props can be challenging with weight and shipping, and some colours have done better than others so we’re always learning.

What is next for you both?

For now, our focus is growing our YouTube and course communities. And without giving too much away, we’re always chipping away at exciting new things.

Thank you so much Jesse and Huzi! Your creativity and passion have truly inspired our community and brought a fresh sense of creative energy.

Follow this epic duo at @florencejamescollective for more inspiration and stay up-to-date on their courses and YouTube channel.