Bruce Caines

Bruce Caines is a director and still photographer based in New York City. A native of New York, he studied illustration and photography at the High School of Art and Design, and earned a degree in fine arts at New York's highly regarded School of Visual Arts. Prior to his career behind the camera, Bruce pursued a career in music, singing and playing lead guitar with several bands in New York City. He worked as a freelance DJ, spinning at underground and private parties with younger brother Vance Caines. Caines started his photographic ventures shooting fashion, but found his greatest success and enjoyment creating editorial and advertising portraiture. As a photographer his client list ranged from Sony Music,MCA Records, and Spin Magazine to CTFA Foundation, Revlon, and Merril Lynch. In 1994 he published a photo essay, "Our Common Ground - Portraits of Blacks Changing the Face of America" (Crown Publishers) which he wrote and photographed. The five year self-assigned, self-financed project features stories and portraits of young blacks who strive to make a difference. Ordinary people living extraordinary lives. Bruce Caines' photographs have been exhibited nationally. He has lectured at the Art Institute of Chicago, numerous universities, museums, libraries and schools throughout the United States. Caines began his cinematic career directing music videos. After shooting a no-budget music video for an unsigned New York band, he was tapped to direct the title track music video "Music Evolution" for Buckshot LeFonque, the R&B/jazz/hip-hop alter-ego band of Branford Marsalis He was eventually hired as a regular director for Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues (1995). Caines was divorced in 2006 after 13 years for marriage. He has two daughters. While film direction is his focus, Bruce continues to take assignments as an editorial and advertising still photographer.