James Stiles, a celebrated photographer and dedicated Palos Verdes Peninsula High School teacher, combines his passions in the creation of an engaging new photography book, School’s Out for Teachers. This book, featuring photographic portraits of school staff, is a testament to Stiles’ ability to capture the multifaceted lives of educators, showcasing their rich, three-dimensional personalities beyond the classroom.
James Stiles has been a professional photographer for over 25 years, specializing in portraits, fashion, still lifes, and exhibition works. His distinguished career includes international and national publications and exhibitions alongside notable photographers such as Robert Mapplethorpe and Helmut Newton. Stiles has held one-person shows at prestigious galleries like MBM Gallery in SoHo, NYC, and Drkrm Gallery in Los Angeles.
Stiles’ academic background includes a B.F.A. degree from The School of Visual Arts, and he holds two teaching credentials in art in California. For the past 20 years, he has dedicated himself to teaching photography, spending the last 16 years at PVPHS. Additionally, he has taught at Otis College of Art & Design, sharing his expertise with aspiring artists.
Beyond his professional achievements, Stiles and his wife Kie have been married for 14 years. “Kie plays a pivotal role in the technical production of School’s Out for Teachers and she has been instrumental in maintaining the website for my classes at Peninsula, updating it with new student photo galleries every two weeks for the past 12 years,” Stiles shares.
The journey of School’s Out for Teachers began in the first half of the 2019-20 school year, only to be abruptly interrupted by the pandemic. Stiles resumed the project in the 2022-23 school year, capturing staff members without masks. “My objective was to reveal the depth and richness of these individuals beyond their professional roles, providing a glimpse into their personal worlds,” says Stiles.
Stiles invited PVPHS staff to bring personal items-whimsical, self-defining, or related to their hobbies and passions—for their portrait sessions. This creative approach allowed him to explore and highlight the diverse interests and personalities of the staff. The result is a collection of portraits that not only showcases the staff but also fosters a sense of community, as colleagues get to know each other better through these images and the accompanying quotes.
In addition to his book, James Stiles will be showcasing his work at The Hive Gallery in their group show “Rising Stars of L.A.” this September. Stiles will have his own wall of photos in the exhibit, further establishing his reputation as a prominent photographer in the Los Angeles art scene.
For more information about James Stiles and his work, visit www.stilesphotography.com and explore his educational resources at www.mrstilesphotographyclass.com/index.html School’s Out for Teachers is available for purchase on Amazon.
