Color, movement, and intention are Marcus Smith’s hallmarks, and he deploys them with the grace of the basketball player he’s been his entire life. He can step into a real-life scenario and capture iconic imagery on the fly or walk onto a set and direct sparkling, spontaneous moments that feel like real life. He’s thoughtful but swift, confident but open.
Whether he’s shooting an ad campaign, pro athletes like Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, LeBron James, and Sabrina Ionescu, or portraits of everyday change makers, Marcus trains his focus on the human narrative. Even at its most experimental, his work has heart and intention, and the proof can be seen in his portfolio, with Meta, Chase, Google, Netflix, AT&T, Apple, Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Nike, Adidas, Dick's Sporting Goods, Fabletics, Bose, Beats by Dre, AMC, EA Sports, and ESPN The Magazine among the brands attracted to the honesty and beauty of his storytelling. Marcus has been recognized by the International Photo Awards (he won 1st Place in the Sports/Court Sports category for his portrait of Kobe Bryant), Communication Arts, American Photography, and PDN’s 30.
Select press
"Industry Insights: Four photographers on staying proactive in a pandemic," British Journal of Photography
"Marcus Smith on capturing Kobe Bryant for his Nike farewell campaign," AdAge
“Marcus Smith: Chicago’s young star of sports photography scores major-league client with his authentic approach,” Communication Arts
“Marcus Smith continues to rise,” APA National
“Marcus Smith: Imaginary Fear,” Annenberg Space for Photography
An interview with Marcus Smith, The Photographic Journal
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