Jim Kersley

Jim Kersley is an amateur photographer and the founder of Lemur Strap, a Colorado-based company that makes a patented quick-release camera carrying system.

He got his first camera at age 12 from his father, a movie producer, and carried it seriously as a hobby for decades. The frustration hit when hiking and biking with a heavy SLR that kept bouncing and swinging. Every strap on the market handled the weight the same way. He started experimenting with aluminum parts and pieces in his workshop, trying to find a different way to carry the camera.

The breakthrough came when he realized hanging the camera lens-down kept the screen safe and eliminated the swing. A quick-release pin let him detach it in under a second when he needed to shoot. Lemur moms carry their babies on their backs with paws free. The name stuck.

Lemur Strap launched on Kickstarter in August 2024 and raised over $112,000 from 1,150 backers in two months. Direct-to-consumer sales began in November 2024. By the end of 2025, the company had sold over 4,000 straps. B&H Photo reached out and started carrying the product. A dual-camera accessory is in development.