Above It All: How TPM’s Senior Creative James Manning Always Captures the Shot

Our Senior Creative, James Manning, has taken his camera (and career) to some incredible heights, including filming atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He’s no stranger to high-pressure shoots or unpredictable weather and he always gets the shot. James has brought his creative eye to projects for clients like Prime Video and Tourism Australia and he’s got the stories to match – including why getting fired may have been one of the best things that ever happened to him.

Explain your job as if you’re talking to a 10 year old.

I come up with crazy ideas, then convince someone else to pay for it.

If you could have a superpower to help with work, what would it be and why?

Being able to listen to music while editing videos. If only.

What was your biggest failure/mistake you’ve ever made and how did you turn it into a positive?

Getting fired, can’t recommend it enough. It forced me to completely stop and recalibrate. I reassessed what honestly makes me happy in a role and what, on reflection, was ultimately chasing vanity. 10/10 would get fired again.

What has been your top career highlight?

When a client said, “Love it, no notes!” – there is no greater high. I still dream about it.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I’m partially colour blind. That isn’t that surprising until you think about the ten of thousands of photos and videos I’ve edited in my career and how it has never once been an issue. I guess people like how I see the world?

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Purple Grape Clouds. Dear lord. I can’t explain it, I can’t justify it, but given the chance I’ll eat my body weight.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen. It’s perfect – heavy on enthusiasm, light on precision.

Keep up with the creativity on James’ Instagram feed. As for next week’s guest? That’s a secret we’ll never tell. We’ll see you next Thursday.