Jordan-Lee Garbutt Photography

Jordan-Lee Garbutt Photography I'm Jordan a Film Director and Photographer that created "551Studios" a Productions & Media House

"MY MANTRA IS TO CHANGE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE WORLD, BY OPENING PEOPLE UP TO NEW EXPERIENCES AND EMOTIONS, THAT AFFECT THEIR OUTLOOKS IN POSITIVE WAYS.” -- JORDAN-LEE GARBUTT


My art business has been designated as a "Trusted Art Seller" with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.

10/08/2026

They thought I’d just rock up with a camera and film something… that’s not how I roll.

I put my soul into my work because that’s what it wants me to do. It’s not about the paycheck, it’s not about some kudos, it’s not about playing it safe.

It’s about shooting for the stars and not taking NO for an answer!

07/08/2026

I use these filters on pretty much all my photo and video jobs.

The technical filters help me control exposure (ND + Variable) and reflections/glare or when I need an extra blue sky are handled by the polariser.

The creative filters are my pro-mists (1/8 and 1/4) but I’m wanting to expand what I have. Any suggestions?

Also…What filters will never leave your bag?

07/08/2026

Every time I sit down to draw out a project, I discover something I’d missed.

A joke that isn’t funny visually.
A transition that doesn’t work.
A written detail that sounds important but adds absolutely nothing when I can finally see it.

But I don’t see that as failure because I think creativity is messy.
Ideas change.
Stories evolve.
And sometimes you have to build something before you can understand what it wants to become.

The script for this vertical drama has already changed more times than I’d like to admit, and I’m sure it’ll change again before the final edit.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the entire process, from pre-production to the shoot itself and eventually the finished film.

So I’ve got a question for you:
How embarrassing are your stick figures? 🫠

06/08/2026

Let me know your thoughts on this and here’s some context as to how this is unsustainable.

1. It’s takes a photographer or director about 3-7days to compile a great treatment. Often hiring copywriters, designers etc to make it perfect (these people get paid… not the photog or director)

2. You get no feedback on if the project went forward or who they chose. Also the IP you just created, is now for anyone to just use or tweak 5% to make it their own.

3. You don’t know if you are a “ghost” pitch. Which is a nice way of saying. You are pitching for a job you are never going to get but the person hiring needs to show that they have done due diligence to their client.

4. Often you are pitching against 5-10 different production companies. Those Production companies could be putting forward 1-3 different creative’s. Which gives you a 1-in-15 or 1-in-30 chance of getting the job.

My current record is for every 1-in-6 pitches, I win the job. Which is why we have to ask for inflated day/project rates because we need to account for all the jobs that never came our way.

Germany is the only country to have started to solve this problem with their Pitch-cost-share (PCS) model.

17/07/2026

After shooting photo and video for over a decade. This is what I live by 🤙🏻

The most economical and efficient way to get started is with these 3 items as they remove the friction when switching.

1. The speedring lets me use my lighting modifiers on flash and constant systems
2. The Camera cage lets me rig my stills camera for video quickly while letting me get back to photos with ease.
3. ND filters will let you use a constant shutter speed which is vital for video. I also love using flash outdoors. (I’ve never enjoyed high speed sync as it uses a double flash to get it done)

What gear could you never live without when shooting both?

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Durban

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+16562230571

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