Craig Minielly

Featuring

Craig Minielly started with his first camera at 7, was first published at the age of 13, hired as a press photographer at 15, and feels he’s been living the Light Life ever since.

Now as a member of the International Cinematographers Group 669, he’s fully immersed in the Hollywood world of Film and TV, adding their on-set assignments to long list of commissionable skills. His specialties behind the lens include films stills, corporate, industrial, underwater, architecture, editorial assignments and expedition travel, to name just a few. His corporate client list and editorial features have seen him published globally for the last 35+ years, and you’ve likely seen his images on your TV, at the theatre, in the stores and throughout the magazine world and internet.

A consummate traveller and always with an eye to the next adventure, he’s earned his multiple photography Masters and Photographer of the Year honours in Canada, the US and Internationally. He’s the youngest recipient of the Yousuf Karsh Lifetime Achievement Award in Canada, and as one of the original digital pioneers, has consulted to Adobe, Apple, Epson, Nikon, the Government of Canada, the Dept of National Defence and countless other companies over the years. To this day, many programs and photographers all over the world still make use of his innovations from his early days as a creative and technical leader to the digital realm. His work as a digital creator in business set the foundation for writing the Canadian copyright laws that are still in place today.

In 2024, in the Olympics of the Photographic World, Craig is most proud to be the Gold Medal recipient for Reportage in the World Photographic Cup.

He credits his growth in visual awareness and ongoing camera career, from the support and guidance of those who helped him along in his early days within the press realm. It was their wide ranging skills and utmost dedication to their storytelling craft, that ignited what has become his lifetime pursuit in capturing and sharing the stories of others—be they clients, film productions, or any of the ongoing personal projects he is always pursuing in his spare time. He’s most proud to be one of the founding Ambassadors with Nikon Canada.

Whether for the pages of Vogue, the studios of Hollywood, or from the unexplored corners of the Arctic, Craig has always been impassioned with all opportunities he’s had behind the camera and to be fortunate enough to share those experiences with others. To this day, every published moment is still just as exciting as his very first one, so many years ago.

With a natural comfort in sharing and educating with others, he’s been a much sought after presenter to events, shows and as a juror to exhibitions across the globe.

An avid sailor and passionate diver, Craig has a natural affinity to the water realms and our great outdoors, and is driven to ensure that we can preserve and restore our beautiful world and better educate ourselves to fully appreciate its natural wonders.

Even when without a camera in hand, he can still typically be found “On Assignment”, as he spends his free time on his 40’ sailboat, enjoying the waters of our most beautiful pacific west coast.

I see my time with the camera as an opportunity to dance with the light. The dance may be fast or slow, moody, or wild… I never know, and that’s what makes it all the more exciting. There is beauty everywhere and in everyone, so I’m just happy to be there, watching the light and the dance, perform their magic in front of me.