Anthony J. Rickert-Epstein (A.J.) was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been making films since he was eight years old. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, graduating at age twenty with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Film Studies. He often returns to his alma mater to teach and mentor students. During his time attending class at Miami, A.J. created the first active filmmaking organization called the Miami Association of Filmmakers and Independent Actors (M.A.F.I.A.). It is a still-flourishing group committed to the ins and outs of filmmaking and staying up to date with the latest technology.

A.J. also attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts in Manhattan in 2003, where he learned to work with traditional film stocks, shooting five short films and editing them using razor blades and tape on a Steenbeck editing table. He has subsequently been the main editor for several feature films, some of which have been uncredited.

Today, A.J. is an IATSE 600 cinematographer as well as a seasoned visual effects supervisor and editor. His work can be seen in numerous feature-length films, television shows, music videos, and web series. Most recently he lensed and VFX supervised the smash hit biopic "Salt-N-Pepa", (directed by Mario Van Peebles) in addition to lensing, VFX supervising, and editing the period piece "Songs of Solomon", which was the official 2020 Academy Awards submission by the country of Armenia for best international feature film, best cinematography, and best editing. Songs of Solomon will be released theatrically worldwide in 2021.

A.J. is married to photographer Christina Napier. They have three children.