We recently connected with Marques Jackson and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Marques thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
I relocated to New York City in 2010, and during the transition period, I was inspired by all the activity in the city. I spent after-work hours walking the streets of Manhattan, taking photos to document my experiences for family and friends.
My initial photography gig was taking photos for my friend, Marnie Kunz, for her Runstreet website. At that time, she was building the site and needed photos of Central Park for an article about NYC running. Since I often went jogging in the park, I volunteered to take photos of the various running paths and trails for her article. Following Marnie’s relocation to New York, I photographed her running around the city, providing me with a crash course in capturing movement in myriad ways against a variety of backdrops. The photos helped to build her brand and garnered her a large following on social media when Instagram was in its infancy.
Another pivotal moment occurred in September of 2012 when I ventured over to Lincoln Center to photograph New York Fashion Week attendees. The outfits of the attendees were so outrageous and creative that I felt the photos I was taking would resonate with an audience. Consequently, I launched a personal blog on Squarespace and posted the photos there with whimsical blurbs about my experience. One of my photos was picked up by Buzzfeed and featured in a story on NYFW. However, an even bigger break came when a friend perused my blog and recommended me to an upstart magazine publisher in search of a New York-based fashion correspondent.
In 2014, Toronto-based Dauphine Magazine contracted me to cover New York Fashion Week and Bridal Fashion Week shows for their quarterly print publication, photographing designer collections, runway shows, and events. I also interviewed fashion designers who were visiting NYC.
The exposure from the magazine greatly expanded my network and prompted me to start my own photography business. I believed that my business would be successful because I was thrust into an intense and competitive world, enabling me to make steady progress and valuable professional connections. In two years, I transitioned from wishing I were inside NYFW photographing runway shows to actually photographing them and engaging with various figures in the fashion world.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a native Atlantan with a background in Sociology and Psychology. I was raised in a home where being well-rounded was valued, so I embraced everything from books, writing, and sports to photography, dance, and music. I used my parents’ Minolta X-370 film camera to capture everything from family vacations to the action in our neighborhood, and that’s where I really fell in love with photography. Outside of taking a few minor photography courses, I’m self-taught.
My photography services specialize in portraiture, event photography, and personal and commercial social media branding photography. I’ve served clients ranging from leading manufacturers and small businesses to internationally renowned fitness influencers and fashion models. Additionally, I offer photography sessions to select travelers looking to capture their stay in New York in unique photographs. I also provide quarterly, limited edition archival prints of architectural and street photography captured throughout my travels across the globe.
During my time in the photography world, I’ve had to work in a myriad of less than ideal conditions. One of my most challenging clients was ConBody, a popular gym on Manhattan’s Lower East Side known for its welcoming staff and notoriously difficult workouts in pitch-black fitness studios. Being able to capture intense movements at ConBody and produce thousands of quality photographs taught me a great deal about my ability to adapt to meet a client’s needs.
One of my proudest moments came from a photoshoot I had done for Runstreet. At that point, the company had grown to become one of the top tours in NYC, offering street art tours and one-of-a-kind events to travelers and locals who wanted to see the city’s best street art during their 5K run. In addition to capturing their events across the U.S., I also produced a great deal of promotional photographs for various leading brands such as Kotex, Athleta, and Clif Bar and Co. However, the moment that really stood out was when a New York-based Italian photographer texted me during a return trip to her native Rome. She sent me a photo from the DOVE Viaggi New York travel guide, which had a full-page print of one of my photos. I had been contacted about the photo and signed off on the release, but I had completely forgotten about it. To see my work featured in a publication on the other side of the world filled me with so much pride. Additionally, another friend based in Rome messaged me later that week to show me the photo and to tell me how monumental that accomplishment was, as DOVE is the premier travel publication in Italy.
In a city where photographers are a dime a dozen, it’s difficult to stand out. However, I’ve carved out a loyal client base for my ability to create high-quality images in any circumstance, my dependability, and quick turnaround time. I also strive to make colors pop in photos. New York is known for its towering skyscrapers, gritty streets and concrete environs, so most photos taken here have a darker edge to them. I decided to emphasize colors to highlight the vitality and vibrancy. Therefore, my photos always have a dash of color to liven up the mundane. The importance of color was influenced by films by directors like Spike Lee, Edward Yang, and Jacques Demy, as well as by Gordon Parks’s photographs.
I’ve learned that good photography skills, an open personality that sets subjects at ease, and a winning smile go a long way in furthering your business. More than anything, people will remember how you made them feel when they work with you. I genuinely strive to bring out the best in a person. If the client feels their best and confident, it makes the session a lot smoother and produces incredible results.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
New York has a dizzying number of resources for creatives. I wish I had known about all the free resources offered by various institutions around the city. In Brooklyn, for example, there are two extraordinary options for creatives to further their craft. The first is BRIC, a creative arts institution in Downtown Brooklyn that offers everything from media training, a community TV channel, and performance spaces to filmmaking and photography courses, along with acclaimed programming. Most of BRIC’s offerings are either free or low cost.
Another noteworthy option is the Brooklyn Public Library, a venerable institution that provides a fully equipped recording studio, cultural programming including photography exhibitions and artist talks with luminaries from various disciplines, and tech studios offering iMacs with the latest Adobe software—ideal for beginning photographers on a tight budget. Taking advantage of these vital resources requires nothing more than a BPL library card.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal is to make people feel their best when they see themselves through my lens. Society has a way of making individuals feel like they aren’t tall enough, the right color, shape, or height. However, when I work with someone, I strive to build their confidence and make them feel like they are enough. Their imperfections are what make them unique and visually appealing in ways they’ve never imagined. If I can instill this feeling, however briefly, I consider it a job well done.
Contact Info:
- Website: marquesj.com
- Instagram: @marquesjphoto
Image Credits
All photographs by Marques Jackson