What's good, y'all? I'm Marquise Eppinger, but most folks just call me Epps. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia—Wesley Chapel, to be exact—my photography journey? Man, it's been a ride. It all started back in high school when I tore my ACL during my senior year. That injury had me sitting still, reevaluating everything, and figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. Creativity has always been a part of me. Growing up, music was constantly in my ear—something I picked up from my mom. My love for music and visuals was always there, but I would've laughed if you'd told me back then that I'd make a career out of it—let alone as a creative entrepreneur. But then I took this audio-visual tech class, which flipped the script. That class opened my eyes to the possibility of using my creativity to build something and own it, and that's when I started dreaming about a career in photography and cinematography. I never could've imagined God would take that and turn it into my gift to help bring other people's visions to life. Now, I'm out here telling stories through my lens, blending nostalgia, intimacy, edge, and a modern vibe. I'm all about challenging the norms—exploring masculinity, femininity, and everything in between—and capturing people in ways that highlight what makes them one of a kind. Whether I'm working with brands, influencers, public figures, or that everyday person trying to get their venture off the ground, my goal is always the same: to help them tap into that side of themselves that often stays hidden—their vulnerability, their uniqueness. That's where my style emerges from.

I'm passionate about what I do because my lens allows me to connect people with their authentic selves. In a way, I serve as a bridge between the person they aspire to be and the person they are today. While the person they want to be may embody an ideal, the person they are now holds depth and layers that tell the story of that future self. My role is to magnify and celebrate those layers, helping them see and appreciate the beauty of their journey.

I've been a storyteller, technically, since the moment I came into this world, though I didn't truly discover it until 2015. Storytelling didn't come naturally to me—I had to learn how to piece things together, and that process took time. Even now, I'm continually learning new ways to bring the ideas and stories in my head to life. 2025 is a year of rediscovery and discipline, and I'm excited to see what stories will inspire me to create through my lens and eye.

My favorite part about what I do comes down to two things. First, it's the love and admiration people express when they receive their images. While not everyone may be a fan, most people truly appreciate my work, and I'm grateful for their acknowledgment of the effort I put into bringing my portraits to life. Secondly, it's the creative process of choosing the colors for each image. I'm very intentional about color in my work, striving to make my subjects look and feel natural and authentic. There's something magical about watching your vision come to life right before your eyes—even when motivation feels low. That process reminds me of my purpose and drives me to keep doing what I DO BEST!

I have curated with @themonicarobinson, @jordanviision, and #JohnMicKal. A few people I would love to curate within the present are #SkylarMarshal, @brandonblackwoodnyc, @josefadamu, and Amanda, also known as #Londongirlinnyc 📸