Jay Watson
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jaywatsonphoto.bsky.social
Jay Watson
@jaywatsonphoto.bsky.social
San Francisco based photographer inspired by California culture. Available for lifestyle, sports, and automotive work for advertising and editorial clients. www.jaywatson.com
Pinned
"..a saint in disguise, can't remember his name, a masquerading super duper witch doctor with good intentions, actually can’t think of his name, Neal knows his name ..."
Archive of Kerouac audio archive.org/details/KMUD...
A fun chat. From my backstory, magazine inspirations, and the worst thing you could say to a photographer on set. Podcast host Perrin Adams got me to spill it all on the Great Big Photography World Podcast. Give a listen. 🎧
greatbigphotographyworld.com/jay-watson/
December 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Died on Halloween
: 1926 Harry Houdini Hungarian-born magician (b. 1874), 1993 Federico Fellini Italian director (b. 1920)
October 31, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Born on Halloween
: 1920 – Helmut Newton 
1922, Illinois Jacquet American saxophonist, 1950 John Candy Canadian comedian, 1963 Johnny Marr English guitarist and songwriter (The Smiths, Modest Mouse),
1966 Adam Horovitz American rapper, 1967 Vanilla Ice American rapper.
October 31, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Hey Photographers. It’s not acceptable to wait on payment for months. In CA and NY it’s the law to pay freelancers within 30 days. (CA Freelancer Protection Act SB 988). State due dates on payment before the shoot. Taking care of yourself is also taking care of your clients. 🤜 💵 🤛
October 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Outtake and tearsheets from an editorial shoot of president and CEO of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce (and cyclist) Leah Toeniskoetter. Shot for Silicon Valley Business Journal.
#bayareaphotographer
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Portraits of the Harder Cycling shot for Modern Adventure. Duotone created in @lightroom.adobe.com The riders are in b&w, but the backgrounds have a slight tint of blue. They look like metallic magic full screen in high res. Roughly 8-12 layer masks for each image. #bayareaphotographer
September 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Today’s whip
July 18, 2025 at 11:50 PM
The Bradly Beal buyout is incredible:

"After a buyout w/ the Phoenix Suns, Bradley Beal will still be owed $97 million over the next 2 years, but this amount will likely be stretched over 5 years by the Suns through 2029-30. Beal is giving back $13.9M of the $110.8M owed."
July 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Photographers and artists. Do it! Use this easy link.
U.S. leadership in global creativity stems from established and strong #copyright law, which can and should remain strong as #AI tech grows. Sign onto our letters to elected officials to keep creators, their works, and their livelihoods protected! copyrightalliance.org/get-involved...
June 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This 1968 Camero was shot in a gravel parking lot at 10pm by painting with light using a single 4ft softbox while stumbling around in the dark with flashlights and patience. No studio. No CGI. No Ai. The final composite is from 15 captures, 2GB file, and it’s tack-freaking-SHARP!
June 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Top 45 San Francisco Photography Blogs. Thank you Feedspot. www.feedspot.com/fs/tk/GEbRwJ...
June 9, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Even Ai has a sense of humor. Photoshop's Generative Ai prompted with "reduce shirt wrinkles"
June 5, 2025 at 10:32 PM
More favs from the shoot for Roll-Royce. The Dusty Coral Spectre at dusk in Big Sur, CA.
#automotivephotographer #bayareaphotographer
April 2, 2025 at 10:23 PM
For commercial work the photo industry still asks photogs to define their subject categories and specialties. I get it but sometimes it's overkill. The same is not required for cinematographers, camera operators, and filmmakers. #photographersofbluesky
February 25, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Which song is worse and were they written by the same person? “1-2-3” by Gloria Estefan, or “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure?
February 15, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Hey freelancers, artists, photographers? Do the LA fires make you think about your backup and archive strategy? It's on my mind. Time to improve. #photographersofbsky
January 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
To the #photographers saying they would never give their RAW files to a client. I get the point. But when clients ask for RAWs - what is the alternative? Do unneeded post work for free? I hardly ever deliver RAWs but some production companies have in-house retouchers. Context is everything.
January 10, 2025 at 9:17 PM
From a shoot I did for Rolls-Royce in Big Sur, CA covering the Phantom, Cullinan, and Spectre models.
#bayareaphotographer #automotivephotographer
www.jaywatson.com/web-stories/...
Photo Shoot for Rolls-Royce in Big Sur, CA
Photo shoot for Rolls-Royce in Big Sur, CA. SF Bay Area automotive and lifestyle photographer Jay Watson.
www.jaywatson.com
January 8, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Anybody else scroll IG with the sound off?
December 20, 2024 at 5:57 PM
"..a saint in disguise, can't remember his name, a masquerading super duper witch doctor with good intentions, actually can’t think of his name, Neal knows his name ..."
Archive of Kerouac audio archive.org/details/KMUD...
December 17, 2024 at 8:35 PM
Rolls-Royce Cullinan in "Desert Dawn" color in Big Sur, CA. Shot for Rolls-Royce (North America). #bayareaphotographer
December 14, 2024 at 3:14 AM
Just used @photoshelter.bsky.social new Photo Uploader to deliver 1485 high res images. Only took 45 minutes vs 8 hours with a web browser upload. Like a champ!
December 4, 2024 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Jay Watson
People in San Francisco are more likely to have a costume box than an earthquake kit.
December 3, 2024 at 4:03 PM
Joe Fong 🙏 a SF OG and legend in the skateboarding community. I shot this portrait of Joe a few years back but I don't think he ever saw it. It's a rare photo of him NOT throwing a shaka! He was proud of his family and would give the shirt of his back to any friend. 🤙
December 2, 2024 at 11:29 PM
The Bohemian Red Phantom among the redwoods in Monterey, CA. Shot for Rolls Royce North America. @rollsroycecars.bsky.social #bayareaphotographer
November 26, 2024 at 9:44 PM