After moving to New York in 1996 he began photographing close friends and acquaintances in an intimate and spontaneous style. McGinley is continually traveling throughout the United States creating bodies of work using the American landscape while photographing nude models. In 2003, at the age of 25, he became one of the youngest artist to have a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The same year he was named 'Photographer of the Year' by American Photo Magazine. In 2007 he was awarded the Young Photographer Infinity Award by the International Center of Photography. McGinleys work has appeared in numerous galleries and museums worldwide, as well as in fashion magazines and album artwork.