We recently connected with Marcus Porter and have shared our conversation below.

Marcus, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Being an artist and creative are both important to me and my journey! I can’t live with one or the other as I take everything and don’t close myself off into being the best version of myself. I personally am very creative but in order for me to express myself I have to learn skills and techniques. Once I perfect those skills and techniques I then will have the knowledge to artistically change my camera settings for expression. Artistry gives me the ability to cultivate my skills and talents to create images and film that spark emotion. Creativity helps me think outside the box and create compelling stories to tell for my media. I am happier when I’m allowed to take a vision or idea and use artistry and creativity to create a masterpiece my client’s will enjoy. More-so, I want to express myself freely without restrictions so I can speak from the heart. When you allow an artist to paint, you don’t micro manage, you allow them to be free and create because you want a one of a kind piece. Over the years, business has pick up so well that things became more of a service where you had to deliver a product to the client. A Long shot list of expectations and demands can make my line of work unpleasant. This is where you can accept money from anyone for anything. But all money isn’t good money. I had to be true to myself over the years and find out what type of artist and creative did I want to be. I wanted people to not just book me because of my services. I wanted people to book me because when they see my work, it sparks an emotion. They feel something. The resonate with it and can see themselves in it. Almost how we feel when we watch movies or tv shows. We take on the character and the emotion because the producers all the way to the media team and cast was able to pull that emotion from us. Things got boring in business for a while and I lost that ability and drive to create. It became a business transaction and even though my clients were extremely pleased, I wasn’t. I wanted more for myself. I wanted to be free and create from the heart. I still wanted to hear the expectation of my clients but my ideal client is booking me because they want me to do me. That’s funny because some of my best work is when a client comes in and they tell me what they need. They’ve also research my work and follow me on social media. When they come in the studio, they know who I am my family and dog’s name. They’ve built this relationship with me through social media so when they come in they feel comfortable. They know my process. And they usually say, “I just want to be your masterpiece. I just want you to do what you do best!” And they leave it at that. That’s what makes me happy!

I do think about having a regular job at certain company’s but I get a little depressed because I also think about the restrictions I’m faced with. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone just like working a 9-5 job. I want to work in a place where I’m free to create and innovate. The ability to create my own schedule and take off when needed. The freedom to no limit my potential nor place a cap on how much money I can make. When things get tough, I think about it. But I also think about the benefits of where I am today as an entrepreneur and how I’m much happier doing what I’m so passionate about. Operating in my gift and using my talents to help others solve problems in the world. The only times I’ve really thought about it was when I rushed my wife to the hospital due to bad headaches she was having. It was one of the most traumatic experiences in my life hearing from the doctor that my wife had a brain aneurysm and blood leakage in the brain from a ruptured vessel. I didn’t know what to do at the point. I took her to one hospital and they had to rush her to another. It was tough. Seeing her go through the surgery and recovering hurt my spirit. I couldn’t work in my business, I dropped everything to take care of her for 3 months! I thought about how our finances would take a hit and how the medial bills will pile in afterwards. I still had to show up for people who booked me and some had no clue what I was dealing with or how hard it was to shoot their sessions or events. I thought about working a 9-5 or even thought about maybe I would of had medical benefits then what we thought we had. But money isn’t everything and the most valuable thing I did was be there for my wife and present in her life through one the most traumatic experiences ever. My wife made it through! The doctors said it was a miracle for her to recover so well. She just helped me shoot an event the other day and she’s back driving and working. She still has fears that she won’t wake up or it happening again. Our lives have changed! Our marriage was tested and we are still on the road to recovery. I can’t express the depression and the wanting to give up on everything! But there were clients, friends, family, and strangers that poured into us by donating funds to support, cooking and donating funds for meals and bills, praying, calling, and texting us! We’ve have some family and friends visit us! All these things help us pull through and helped us realize that we are on the right path. So no matter how hard it got, I still showed up and I’m still here as an entrepreneur. It may not be where it needs to be but I have no intentions on working a 9-5 right now. That’s not to say I’m closed off to it but one thing I’ve learned is to never say never. You never know what life can throw your way! Always be open and never closed off. If I had to go back to a 9-5 job, I would still do everything in my power to still be an entrepreneur.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Let me introduce myself. My name is Marcus D. Porter. I’m a Lifestyle and Wedding Photographer based out of Memphis, TN. I help brands and business owners create content through imagery and video that sell and elevate brand awareness. I also document timeless stories for couples from romantic engagements to artistic weddings.

Born in Texas raised in Alabama, I’m a southern boy at heart who loves soul food, hot wings, fried okra, and Caribbean Foods. I’ve been experimenting with vegan options lately and I love it. I played tennis in High School which is my favorite sport to this day. I love bowling, shooting at the gun range, kayaking, camping, electric skateboarding, woodworking, and playing video games. One of my favorite things to do is to travel with my wife because I love exploring all the beautiful landscapes and cultures the world has to offer. It truly gives me peace. I’m a hard worker who likes to be punctual. I’m a very high-energy and goal-driven person who loves to smile and laugh! You can always find me cracking a joke or two.

There were some moments in my life when things weren’t all that great. My story is interesting when it comes to how I started in photography. Byron Phillips was my martial arts instructor for almost 7 years and in that time I would observe him shooting photography for Oakwood University and other engagements in the Huntsville area. At times, I would shoot with him taking great shots and He would always question my reasoning behind my shooting. This, I couldn’t explain but He was able to explain the terminology. And this is how I learned the art and connected the dots to what I was doing. My first camera was a Nikon F4 film camera. It was so interesting watching him pose clients and look for the light. He was a true master of his craft and I was his student. Shooting film was challenging because I wasn’t able to see the photos until the film was completed so I had to understand light!

I remember the love I had for shooting but some of my peers told me that I wouldn’t make money doing photography as a career and that I needed to finish my Elementary Education degree. So I did just that and sold all my gear. I was depressed. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I remember sitting in my driveway at school cutting my arms with a knife ready to commit suicide because bills were piling up and I just didn’t know what my purpose was. I didn’t know what I wanted out of life. Luckily, I had a best friend that saved me that night. That night, where I thought it all was going to end is really where it all started.

In 2014, my wife and I moved to Memphis, TN because she landed a Social Work job. I remember wanting to be a barber, auto mechanic, police officer, and chef. I was all over the place. I remember linking up with Overton Park SDA Church where I met who I call my Uncle Gifford where he was my business coach and the guy who helped me get a job at FedEx through Kelly services. I remember that year I would use my iPhone to take videos of church projects. Pastor Kymone Hinds would play them in Church and share them on Youtube.

A guy from Baltimore, Chip Dizard saw these videos and asked his good friend Kymone who was shooting videos at his church. The pastor was like, ” It’s this guy, Marcus who just moved here. “He uses his iPhone to shoot videos for our church. I know it’s nothing serious but he does great work and it’s a big deal to us!” Chip told my pastor, that I had an eye and if he helped me get a couple of gigs so I could get some equipment, He’ll mentor me. Also, it would help my pastor because it will be good videos and marketing for the church.

I got the equipment I needed which was a Canon T3i with a 50mm 1.8 lens. Chip mentored me ever since I moved to Memphis. I remember quitting my job with no plan to pursue what I loved but the household got a little rocky. After talks with my wife, I went back to work at a temp agency to get back in with FedEx. I eventually got hired full-time with the company and I was proud. I actually loved FedEx because I used to fix printers, servers, computers, and hand scanners. When I got back to working a 9-5 job that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue it full time but I just didn’t know-how. I started to fall back into depression. I gained over 40 pounds in 6 months all while working overtime at my full-time job and still shooting videos and photography part-time.

I remember talking to Chip and him encouraging me. Chip spent years pouring into me. I have never seen such dedication from someone wanting to see somebody else win in life. Chip flew me to Baltimore in August of 2017. I remember getting off the plane and the Lyft talking me right to a gig pulling out my cameras shooting. If some of you don’t know Chip and I are a lot alike. We both are motivators a.k.a Hype Men. We will hype you up… and secondly, it doesn’t take much to get us hyped. I also met my other mentor and sister, Trene Forbes. I was able to shoot weddings with them all weekend. I gain so many tips and so much feedback. I remember when they both dropped me off at the airport, I was inspired. I was hyped.

I really felt like this was meant for me and I could do this full-time! I just needed a plan! At the airport, they both had a surprise for me. They went to the trunk and told me that I had so much potential. They told me that I’m going to do great things. They pulled out a 24-105mm lens and gifted it to me. It was like they invested in me. They believed in me! It was no strings attached. It was love. And I remember my eyes watering up on the airplane headed back to Memphis. How could someone see so much potential in me than I see in myself to show so much love? To give so much knowledge. To not hold anything back. And the one thing I remember on that airplane ride home is Chip and Trene telling me, “Never Give Up! Don’t Quit!”

I went home and I snapped. There was a hunger that was ignited within my soul. For the next month, I wrote out a plan on how I was going to reach my goals without a 9-5 job. You see Habakkuk 2:2 is the go-to verse when it comes to writing out a vision. “Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.”

You see a lot of people focus on the Write the vision make it plain part. But what really struck me is why I had to make it plain on the tablet’s part. You see, you can easily just say it. I mean you could just speak it out and be done with it. I mean you could just right it down and put it in a safe secure spot. But in this message He wanted him to not only write the vision out and make sure it is plain but also inscribe it on a tablet so that it may remain permanently on record so that when it comes to pass, people may believe in the prophet’s inspiration. You see there were certain tablets placed in public places so that all might see and read them that’s why the verse says to make plain.

This was to be “made plain,” written large and clear. So I wrote that vision out on my vision board. I saved it in my iPhone notes. I did a Facebook post about it. I Pushed it out in my Instagram Stories and made it public. At the end of September of 2017, I put my two-week notice in and I was gone. I walked out and remember taking that breath of fresh air because I knew in my heart I wasn’t coming back. And I struggled for 3 months trying to fight…trying to grind…trying to push myself through. But I’ve completed 4 years full-time and I’m still going strong.

People will tell you that you ain’t good enough. People will inbox you and say you’re crazy! People will call you and tell you that you can’t make any money! That you won’t survive. But if you don’t hear anything I’ve said today hear this. Listen to me! If you missed every tip every life lesson every nugget that I’ve said here today don’t you ever forget this one! Never Give Up! Don’t Quit. Clients are nowhere to be found… Never Give Up! Don’t Quit. You don’t have the money to get your LLC Never Give Up! Don’t Quit. Feels like every Photographer doesn’t wanna share their secrets Never Give Up! Don’t Quit. Bills are piling up! Your spouse doesn’t believe in your vision. Your momma doesn’t believe in your vision.

Stop worrying about the people in your life that God didn’t even give your vision to. He didn’t give the vision to them. He gave it to you! It’s not for you to explain to them. It’s for you! Embrace it. Walking into you Greatness. Be patient and trust the process. Don’t rush it. You can’t squeeze 10 years of hard work and success into 6 months. Give it time to brew. Sow your seeds and take care of your garden and watch it grow. Through it all don’t you ever forget who you are and don’t you ever forget these words. Never Give Up! Don’t Quit.

I was that kid who was always bullied and picked last but it never stop me from being the funniest guy in school. At one point in my life, I gave up on myself and almost took my own life because I didn’t know what I was destined to do. Even though life was hard, I was able to find my passion through great mentors and positive men in my life. I’ve been shooting for over 12 years but I left my job and I’ve been full time for 4 years now doing what I love and what people told me was impossible to do.

I’m proud of not giving up on me. Giving me a chance to grow! I’m proud of listening to mentors and not rushing the process. I can get easily distracted on wanting everything so quickly but I’m learning to feel the highs and lows in business. I’m enjoying the process and not panic or jump ship when things gets tough. I feel what I feel. I express it and let it out and I allow myself to do this and not be ashamed of it or it be a sign of weakness. I want people to know that I’m a giver who loves to serve others. A person who isn’t perfect but strives to create healthy boundaries for my own mental health. I practice self-care so my life can be well balanced and refreshed. I play just as hard as I work. Other’s can perceive my life to be rich or better than! Some may see me on social media like I’m a celebrity or I get a lot of business. And even though some things may be true just know I am human just like anyone else. I too know what it feels like to build and envy what other people have. I know what it feels like to be homeless sleeping in my car, or being suicidal in my college days. I know how it feels to be picked on and bullied. I was molested as a child and had things stolen from me throughout life. We all have a story. And it may sound crazy but we all have something that not many people know about us yet we still show up for our families, our jobs, and our friends. And to the people who want to be popular or wants success, with great power comes responsibility! More money, more problems. Everything that glitters aint gold. Be content with what you have. Be discipline with your lifestyle so when you get more you will know how to handle more. Fame and Money can destroy a person who isn’t solid in who they are as a person. Don’t be quick to judge and understand, you get what you pay for.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I’ve built my audiences through word of mouth here in my city. Even though I’m not from Memphis, moving here has given me the ability to connect with people and do gig for free to show my worth. Once I turned over a good product and they understood my process then if my personality checked out then they would spread the word. I would get business because someone heard about me or told them about me. You have to make sure that when people talk, oh and they will talk about you, make sure they have something good to say! This would translate to social media with them posting my work and tagging me or giving me a shoutout. That would draw followers to my page and people asking questions about my services.

I also use my Instagram stories to show people who I am as a person. I’m not business strict there. I connect to my audience by me just being me. You be amazed how people act when they come in the studio and I’m trying to be all professional. I say that because I’m such a funny person on social media that when they meet me in person, they be waiting a me to do something fun. It’s so weird and funny at the same time. It’s so cool how social media can create a bond with someone you don’t even know but they know you so well. Video is king! I would find ways to create content to connect with your audience by showing people who you are as a person. People tend to connect to that first and buy into what you are doing afterwards. It’s not always the case but it’s a big one.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

They main resources for me would be someone teaching you how to build wealth. Passive income! You don’t have people teaching those things in our families or circles growing up! In my community it’s not spoken of. I really wish someone was there to teach us how to make money work for us and not trade time for money. How to invest in passive streams and be owners and investors instead of entrepreneurs and 9-5 workers. Everyone has their bread and butter, but I would have like if someone was there to teach us how to save money and protect your earnings. How to deal with taxes in business and work arounds. Tax right off and understanding the difference between sales taxes, franchise tax, business tax, and income quarterly taxes. I do feel like making money is easy, it’s the saving and investing part that I wish I had more resources for when starting out.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marcusdporter.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcusdporterstudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarcusDPorterStudios
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MarcusDPorter_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/MarcusDPorter
• Other: https://www.marcusdportereducation.com/

Image Credits
All photos have been taken by me, the Photographer and Creator Marcus D. Porter Studios