James Hoeck 📸 | Photographer

TikTok saw it first 📸 Going into the new year, I plan to utilize social media more to share my photography. This is something that I have been meaning to do for a while, so if there is any other content you would like to see from me feel free to let me know! After graduation, I have also worked on adding significant updates to my website and will be continuing to do so as more work is created. If you have not visited my site, please do so at jameshoeckphotography.com For you LinkedIn warriors, I will be posting an update soon on there. You can also find me on TikTok and Threads at @semaj.jpeg as well as on X(formerly Twitter) at @semaj_jpeg #discover #photography #journalist #artist #photographer #instagram

“Blink” and you’d miss how good this show was😉 📸: James Hoeck @semaj.jpeg for #melodicmag

Warmer weather on the Chicago Riverwalk

Graduation season is almost here! 🎓Class of 2026, book your grad photos now through May 24 through the link in my bio🎓 All appointments must be scheduled at least one week in advanced of the session date. Available across campuses within the state of Illinois. Please contact for out of state appointments. For inquiries, dm or email [email protected]

The 2026 Lollapalooza line up just dropped with Tate McRae announced to be returning to headline in Chicago. Here are images from her set in 2024 at the Lollapalooza music festival while on assignment with The Daily Illini. @lollapalooza @tatemcrae

This past weekend, I visited my alma mater for Unofficial weekend. The University of Illinois celebrates unofficial St. Patrick’s Day over the weekend prior to Spring Break. The campus is covered in green through house parties, bars and frat parties with party-goers making their BORGs (Blackout Rage Gallon) to keep the festivities going as they hop from party to party. After my visit, I pulled images from my own coverage of the event back in 2024 which are seen above. [Archive • 2024]

On March 1, the Chicago Chinatown Community Foundation hosted its annual Lunar New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse and the 114th anniversary of Chicago’s Chinatown on a sunny and windy Sunday afternoon. Traditional lion and dragon dancing flowed through South Wentworth Avenue and West Cemark Road alongside marching bands, floats, dancers, and members of local schools and organizations. Thousands of visitors filled both sides of the street, excited for the performances of the parade, as confetti glided through the air during the day. After the parade, lion dancers spread throughout the Chinatown area to bless local businesses with good fortune throughout the new year with many patrons from the day’s event visiting local establishments within the area. February 14 marked the official start of the Lunar New Year and Year of the Fire Horse, occurring for the first time in sixty years. According to the Chinese calendar, we’ve entered the year 4,724. The Lunar calendar rotates between five elements and 12 animal zodiac signs. Find the full photo essay, by James Hoeck, at the link in our bio!

dorm room self-portrait (2021) Been anxious to use my laptop since spilling an energy drink on part of the keyboard — in an effort to continue to share my work outside a localized setting (i.e. the classroom, local outlets, and exhibitions) as well as to continue with my weekly posts that Instagram recognizes me for with a stimulating overview each week, I decided to post a photograph I have access to via my phone’s camera roll. I made this image during my first year of university and first photo class as a part of my final project. The series of images I mage during this session got me into creating self portrait photography, which became a focused medium of my fine art made throughout the following years of university. #photography #fineart #university #selfportrait #dorm

Happy Valentine’s (Post-Valentine’s) Here are some images made for The Daily Illini’s Sex & Dating Guide print cover last year Art Directors 🎨: James Hoeck, @lilliensalas Photographers 📸: James Hoeck, @stepp.photos Image Editor : James Hoeck #photography #editorial #valentines

Candice - Studio Shoot [ARCHIVE] #photography #fashion #fashionweek

Mia Za’s Cafe [Archive • 2025.03.02] @miazas_uiuc staff work their shift preparing food for customers. The Cafe located on Green Street in Champaign, Ill. was voted by the Champaign-Urbana community for Best Italian Food. Photographed on assignment with The Daily Illini’s for “Best of CU” 2025. #photojournalism #photography

Tyla (2024) Congratulations to @tyla for her @grammys recognition and win for best African Music Performance #tyla #grammy #photography