JAMES HOUSTON
James Houston is a multi-disciplinary creative visionary whose career spans sculpture, photography, filmmaking, and design, and who now leads a movement that merges intentional living with elevated home and outdoor aesthetics.
SENSE + VISION METHOD
As the founder of SENSE+VISION, James brings a rare fusion of artistic soul and practical design thinking to the world of home, outdoor, and lifestyle products.
He believes most people live in homes that unconsciously reflect their often-negative past—spaces that quietly hold them back. In response, he developed a simple yet powerful philosophy: your home is more than a place to live; it’s a tool to shape the life you desire. This belief forms the foundation of his signature SENSE+VISION Method, a transformative approach inspired by quantum physics, psychology, and sensory design. Through it, James empowers people to create environments that embody their aspirations and inspire meaningful change.
MEET THE FOUNDER
James’s creative journey began at just 18, when he was recognized in Australia for his sculptural work. That early immersion in form, flow, and spatial emotion continues to influence everything he creates. To him, every object and space is a living sculpture—an opportunity to shape feeling, movement, and meaning through beauty.
Before launching SENSE+VISION, James built an international reputation as one of the world’s leading beauty and body photographers based in New York. He collaborated with iconic brands including L’Oréal Paris, GAP, and Givenchy, and captured some of the world’s most celebrated faces, such as Jennifer Lopez, Cate Blanchett, Christy Turlington, and Hugh Jackman. His work has been published in Harper’s Bazaar, Interview, and Vogue, exhibited globally, and collected in five fine-art photography books.
As an activist, James has used his creative platform to raise millions for global charities. He also directed the award-winning documentary Let's Talk About Sex, which aired nationally on TLC, sparking cultural conversations around youth, sexuality, and education.
But his greatest creative awakening happened not behind the camera—but at home.
In post-9/11 New York, during a period of deep personal struggle, James began experimenting with small, intentional changes to his living space, surrounding himself with what he calls “Positive Anchors”, symbols of the life he wanted to create. The transformation he experienced became the seed of the SENSE+VISION Method: a proven process for designing home environments that align with personal energy, goals, and vision.
In 2020, James and his husband Brian McGrory co-founded Studio JBD, a luxury design, build and landscape firm serving celebrity and high-end clients from Beverly Hills to Aspen. Their work—blending architecture, art, and lifestyle—has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Luxe, and Belle Australia. Whether it’s a Palm Springs modernist estate or a California canyon sanctuary, James infuses each project with storytelling, sensory design, and purposeful beauty.
Growing up in the Australian outback instilled in James a lifelong connection to nature and the fluidity between indoor and outdoor living. In 2023, while restoring a mid-century modern home in Palm Springs, he became captivated by the potential of outdoor spaces as sanctuaries. This vision inspired the creation of SENSE+VISION, a collection of thoughtfully designed outdoor products that elevate everyday living through beauty, sustainability, and emotional intention.
“My inspiration comes from years spent immersed in places like Greece, Africa, Morocco, Mexico, Indonesia, and Japan—exploring craftsmanship, soulful design, and meaningful spaces. SENSE+VISION is the culmination of that global journey: a collection created to help people design homes—and lives—they truly love.”
MISSION
James believes most people live in homes that unconsciously reflect their past, often filled with emotional residue that limits their potential. His simple three-step SENSE+VISION method empowers individuals to consciously shape spaces that celebrate their past, honor their present, and embody their future dreams.
His mission is clear: to inspire people around the world to transform their homes into spaces of clarity, beauty, and intentional living—environments that awaken the senses to enhance the vision of what they really want in life.
James shares the SENSE+VISION Method in his book YOUR HOME YOUR FUTURE so that anyone can understand this powerful method and use it themselves to create a home that can transform their life.
To purchase fine art photography prints by James Houston -
https://jameshoustonfineart.com/
