At age 12, with an instamatic camera in hand, Joe became fascinated with photography. That summer he took photography at camp, later working on his high school newspaper and yearbook. As working as an apprentice for his uncle, a professional photographer, it was clear that Joe, too, was destined to become a professional photographer.
After graduating from the School of Communications at Ithaca College, where he majored in photography and cinema studies, Joe began an illustrious 25-year career in photojournalism. First working in Massachusetts on a local newspaper and then as chief photographer at a regional newspaper group in New Jersey, Joe managed an award-winning staff. It was in 1990 with an offer to join The Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, that Joe deepened his passion for photojournalism, photographing and editing local and national news stories, high school, college and professional sports, and as a member of the staff that won a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. It was an amazing 18 years.
In 2009 Joe took a leap of faith, deciding to launch Joe Epstein Photography, an opportunity to expand his trained eye and enormous creativity to expand into other mediums within photography while remaining true to his photojournalism roots. His photographs have appeared in Sports Illustrated and The Inquirer and been used by The Associated Press, as well as on the websites of such prominent publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC ,and USA Today. With a passion to support the local community, he partners with local businesses to provide photography for advertisements, catalogs and internet marketing campaigns, while providing pro bono photography for The Mile Square Theatre, a 120-seat theater in Hoboken, NJ.
His work has also taken him around the globe, traveling to Africa, Brazil, Central America, UK, Haiti, Indonesia and numerous Caribbean Islands to capture the lives of local citizens as well as the beauty of the topography.
His 1000-square foot studio in Union City, NJ is home to his creative expression; he not only takes photographs there, as well, but also does custom printing.
He currently resides in Westfield, NJ with his wife Lynn, their son Cole, 16, and their certified therapy dog, Spencer. In his free time Joe enjoys skiing, biking, doing projects around the house, and spending time at the Jersey shore. Over the years he has volunteered his time with the Special Olympics as a Ski Coach, with the WorldWide Orphans Foundation (WWO), and with refugee families from the Middle East.
Always with a camera by his side, Joe continues to capture special moments through his lens.