Daily Inspiration: Meet Marcus Porter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Porter.

Marcus, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
There’s nothing like seeing a vision in your mind that you want to happen so bad. Then finally seeing that vision come true. Also, there’s nothing like going through one of the most depressing times of your life and coming out on the other side still breathing.

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 played tennis in High School which is my favorite sport to this day. I love bowling, shooting at the gun range, 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.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! I reached burnout in my photography career. I was taking every project that came my way! I did every video project and shot whatever I could! I didn’t have any balance in my life and all I was doing was working because I was always told I would be broke and I would never make any money shooting photos and video.

My wife Courtney is a mental health therapist! I know right! She has coached me on how to slow down and take time out for myself. She calls it self-care. Come to find out, I wouldn’t eat all day or drink water or spend time with her because all I would do is work all day and all night. I would edit countless images and videos trying to catch up with the backlog of edits. It was killing me, man!

She told me I needed to find a way to not do everything on my own. You see it’s hard trusting others with your work especially if you’re not used to depending on others or you’ve depended on someone and they’ve let you down. It was time for me to start finding ways to get my time back. I also remember Chip Dizard(my mentor) telling me about outsourcing and how I need to start building a team to help with my workload. I also remember attending The Photo Cookout hosted by Tomayia Colvin and learning about outsourcing.

It took me a while to jump on board! But my advice is to get help and just realize that life is supposed to be fun and you’re supposed to meet new people and take care of your body. You should be traveling and playing video games or doing whatever hobbies you love. Don’t lose yourself in your work. Allow your work to be your outlet and your peace but also spend time with your loved ones and do the things that make you happy. Learn how to say no! And just learn how to let go and try new things.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Lifestyle and Wedding Photographer based out of Memphis, TN. I help brands & 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.

I’m also an educator and mentor. I just launched my online courses for beginners to intermediate photographers and videographers. My online platform is called Marcus D. Porter Education where I teach beginners the skills they need to get going and provide resources to the most asked questions.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Covid-19 has been tough on us all. I was hit a little as my wedding clients had to reschedule all their events and sessions until the following year. I was able to pivot. I have an apparel company called Haybro Apparel and I was selling inspirational tees during that time which only helped a little.

I also was able to still shoot a few gigs which turned out to be new entrepreneurs who needed headshots or branding photos at the time. We still were able to maintain distance given the length of the lens I could use which kept me at a safe distance. Let’s just say I was shooting from the bushes like I was a wildlife photographer.

The most important lesson I learned was to refocus on the important values in my life. I got so caught up building my business I didn’t really have time for other people nor myself. I realized how overworked I was and stressed out I’ve become. I had no social life. I had no boundaries and I was a “YES” man. I made myself too available and I gave away too much of myself when I didn’t have anything left. And nobody forced me to do anything. I chose to do that. The pandemic gave me the opportunity to reflect on my life. I realized that I value 5 things in my life. These 5 values are very important to me. They are: Family – My Health – My Spiritual – Wealth – My Purpose

Covid showed us that life is too short and the next day isn’t promised. It showed me that I’ve sacrificed so much of my time to succeed and build this business that I’ve missed out on memories. My health was in jeopardy and my spiritual life wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I wasn’t taking out time for my mental and self-care. I wasn’t enjoying my life. All I was doing was working, making money, and serving other people.

Meanwhile, my own cup was empty and no one ever knew. During that time in reflection, I knew I could always make money but I could never get back lost time. This crisis has taught me to reflect on the things that I can cherish and start putting my values first. So now, I’m making sure my cup is full before pouring it into someone else’s.

Contact Info:

• Email: marcusdewayneporter@gmail.com
• 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/MarcusDPorterStudios
• Other: https://www.marcusdportereducation.com