Feb 7, 2013 6:30 PM PST    Text size: 

LOS ANGELES — Acclaimed adult industry photographer and videographer J. Stephen Hicks passed away yesterday.

Hicks’ career spanned more than three decades. His work appeared in nearly every adult magazine including Penthouse, Hustler, Club, High Society, Gallery and more.

Business partner and friend Jay Allan reported Hicks' passing. He said, “Yesterday I lost my mentor, my friend, and my business partner, J. Stephen Hicks. He was a true pioneer in the adult industry. At a time when there were only about a dozen photographers worldwide shooting for the adult magazine market J. Stephen Hicks' work stood out as exceptional. It still does today. “

Hicks' work was immediately distinguishable by its natural light and calculated composition.

Allan said Hicks taught his team to always put 100 percent of their creative energy into every image and video and try to make everything as artistic and beautiful as possible. “As a photographer he had no equal and took every step to artistically and creatively make every girl we shot look her absolute best. I am very lucky to have known and learned from the best and I am at least comforted by knowing that his legacy will live on and his amazing body of work will always be here for us to enjoy.”

Hicks’ website —DigitalDesire.com — will continue to carry on his legacy.

“I was lucky to have worked with him over the past 20 years. I will miss him dearly,” Allan said.

This reporter, who worked with Hicks numerous times as the editor of High Society magazine in the ‘90’s recalls that his work was always erotic, while very classy. He ranked right up there with Suze Randall, John Copeland, Earl Miller and others as the top shooters in the business.