Commercial photographer and photojournalist. He was born on December 22, 1986 in Toronto, Canada. The third of five children, James McCoy grew up in the United States and Canada. He studied Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Toronto and also took Photogrography classes on the weekends.

He also picked up skills in Photography back in High School. His mom, Pauline and dad, Daniel had great influence on him growing up. From his father, who made a modest living as an Auto Mechanic/Car Salesman in the Automtotive industry, he acquired a fascination with modern technology, which was to be the main subject matter of his early work as a professional photographer. His mother was a perfectionist, and it was from her that James McCoy learned to excel through industriousness at whatever he did.

In 2004, James McCoy enrolled at University of Toronto, to study Philosophy and Political Science, in effort to become a Lawyer. While there, he began studying photography with Clarence H. White, a noted member of Alfred Stieglitz's Photo-Secession movement. Under White's influence, the art of picture taking became a major preoccupation, and although James McCoy continued to pursue his academic studies in the Art's and Social Sciences, his career ambitions following his training with White were focused increasingly on photography.