Photo by Jory Cordy, Nathaniel Wood
By Raan Parton and Ryan Zoradi
Jory Cordy is an American photographer and director based out of Los Angeles and New York who has worked with celebrities, musicians and brands including Nike, Adidas, BMW and People magazine. However, over the years of building a friendship with Jory, we’ve found these high profile projects only tell a small part of Jory’s story. We were reminded of this fact recently when Jory graciously invited us into his home and field tested our Transit Issue Camera Strap. Below is a bit of Jory's story, but make sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for selections from our shoot in his home and from Jory's portfolio.
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Jory grew up surrounded by the vibrant Cajun culture that makes Louisiana “unlike anywhere in the country.” His father set an example for Jory and his two sisters by always working with his hands, first as a carpenter and then as a custom furniture maker. Whether it was playing music, sewing, or taking photos, Jory decided from a young age that he wanted to work in a creative capacity like his father. After graduating from the University of Louisiana, Jory moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a photographer and quickly became a good friend of Apolis. We have worked with Jory on numerous projects including our shoot with set designer Coryander Friend and our Honduras Trek Preview. When we asked Jory about some of his favorite shots, he described a spontaneous project that arose when he was recently home in Louisiana. While driving through the neighborhood he grew up in, Jory realized that there were more than 30 broken down, dilapidated barns within 2 miles of his home. He had never noticed this before and began snapping photos that he hopes to one day turn into a coffee table style book. Whether he is shooting Snoop Dogg or Louisiana barns, Jory Cordy tries to pull out the subtle details that make each subject unique. To sum up Jory’s talent, his own words are most appropriate: “I really want to pick apart culture, find out why it is special, and let it be special.”
