Meet Marcus Carter | USN Sailor | Photographer | Drug & Alcohol Counselor Intern

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marcus Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcus, what is the most important factor behind your success?
As I read this question, there’s one word that comes to mind, “Passion”. After spending most of my life as a full time people pleaser and serving in the US Navy for almost 15 years, I did many things just for the sake of following orders and to put a smile on others faces. At this stage in my life, I decided I don’t want to keep doing things just for the sake of doing them. I wanted to invest into myself for a change. Everything I do, I want it to be filled with love and passion. Not just something to pass the time. With each snap of my camera those two entities are there.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
For as long as I can remember, the camera and I have had a unique relationship. Whether I was posing in front of the lens or looking through it. There was just something about “The shot” that made me want more of them. Through the military, I’ve been able to travel the world and there have been so many beautiful and painful moments that my eyes have seen. It’s like my eye lids were the shutter on my camera and with every blink, a new moment was captured. A new story that could be told. As time went on, the camera and I became distant cousins. Work was demanding, self-care was almost non-existent, and I somehow lost the drive to keep my passion for photography alive. If I’m being honest, I was crippled by fear and irrational beliefs. The fear of failure and the “what if’s”. What if this doesn’t work out? What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? I had to challenge those irrational beliefs with faith, action, and continuous work. It was not easy at all! It’s still not. However, with each new day, there’s a new breath, and a new chance to create something. When I see “the look” on my client’s faces when they see one of their photos for the first time. When tears begin to swell in their eyes for a moment that they’ll forever have and cherish. To have the opportunity to bring their dream to life…it makes it all worth it. Through my client’s gratitude, I feel reassured, blessed, and grateful to be able to experience those moments with them. If there’s a few words that I can leave as a legacy, it would be “Live now.” Don’t wait until tomorrow comes to start living and be happy. Don’t wait until you’re 90 years old to look back and say that you’ve lived a good life. Start now. Grab ahold of what fulfills you and brings you joy and use that as the foundation of whatever it is you desire in this life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would say hold on tight, because my best friend knows that I love spontaneity, the outdoors, and I love to try new restaurants. So we would have to go to Disneyland/California Adventures, Universal Studios, Los Angeles/West Hollywood, Liberty Station, Balboa Park, Blacks Beach, Little Italy, the USS Midway, visit the harbor, and Old town. I would take him to some of my favorite restaurants. Which include; Inside out (North Park), Solunto (Little Italy), Surf and Soul Spot, Cannon Ball (mission beach), Dukes La Jolla, Handels Homemade Ice cream for their banana split, Barrio Dog, Crab Hut, and whatever/wherever else the spirit of adventure would take us.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I just would like to shout out my entire support system! My family, friends, supervisors, my partner, and ultimately myself for holding me accountable and getting out of my own way. I couldn’t feel more grateful.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcusa.carter/?hl=en

Image Credits
All photographs were taken by myself, with the exception of the photograph holding my camera. The credit goes to my partner Andrew Hurley.