Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Holloway.
Hi Marcus, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began shooting photography fairly young. I remember my parents having disposable cameras every once in a while, and I’d occasionally shoot a roll of film, then we’d go to Walmart when we had the time to drop off the camera and wait for them to be developed.
When I started making my own money, I’d buy disposable cameras myself and bring them to school, just taking pictures of my friends. I didn’t take it seriously at all, it was just something fun to do.
While I was in the military, I bought a point and shoot and started bringing it with me on adventures and to parties, capturing moments so we could remember those funny memories later. Years later, in 2011, while I was stationed in Japan, I bought my first DSLR. I took it with me as much as i could, but i still didn’t take it seriously. I didn’t know how to use any of the functions on the camera and only shot in auto. I tried to learn editing, but i didnt a passion for editing at the time. I’d pick the camera up for a month, then put it down for months, sometimes a year or two, before touching it again.
In 2017, I moved to Oregon and started writing poetry. I didn’t know anybody and that created space to focus on things i hadn’t given attention to before. After about a year of going to open mics, poetry slams, and sharing my writings, I turned my poems into music and started a music career. It was a great experience. I played small and big stages, collaborated with some really talented musicians, and created albums I’m extremely proud of. About 5 years on that grind under the artist name: m5 vibe, I realized it wasn’t for me. I still write and record but the stress and the drama that came from it all was not worth my mental health nor did it sit right with my soul anymore, so I stepped away from performing.
About half a year later after stepping away from performing, in 2023, i found myself in a meeting with the Springfield History Museum and Library members, along side other Black community members, to talk about the Illumination Project – a project to document and archive non-white communities (in this case, the Black Community’s) stories, because of the lack of representation. They were looking for people from the community to help document, and there was a spot for a photographer.
I wasnt a professional in any sense at the time. I hadn’t even touched my camera in a while, but I threw my name in, and they were open to me taking on the role.
That project lasted about 6 months. And during those 6 months, I spent hours on YouTube learning how to use the functions on my camera and tutorials for Lightroom and Photoshop. Learning, practicing, correcting, and repeating, over and over again.
By the end of the project, I was proud, not just of what I contributed, but of how much I had learned, grown, and how I was able to serve my community through that work. I felt like I had found a calling…or rather, I recognized one that had always been there.
I used the money from that project to invest in a new camera. I spent hours learning every function, started an IG to share the kind of art I wanted to create, built a business around event photography, and began moving intentionally through the world documenting stories, capturing moments that matter to me, and capturing images that spoke to me.
Since then, I’ve photographed businesses, festivals, boycotts, protests, many events in and outside of Eugene, worked with universities, built a street photography portfolio, both nationally and internationally, and even placed in international photography competitions.
My dream is to travel, inside and outside the country, connecting with people and sharing their stories with my audience. Stories that might inspire someone or open someone’s mind to some new.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been a lot of struggles along the way. A lot of uncertainty, times where I genuinely didn’t know if any of this would work out. Bouts of imposter syndrome I had to battle through, and still battle through sometimes. I’ve made plenty of mistakes with stepping in to a business that was completely foreign to me. Ive missed opportunities, got taken advantage of, dealt with equipment malfunctioning or breaking at the worst times. Dealt with slow seasons in business that made me question if should just keep this a hobby. Having to sacrifice time with my friends, family, and relationships to chase this dream is probably the hardest to grapple with. All valuable learning lessons, but I’m trusting the vision I see and the passion I feel in my heart. It’s keeping me alive!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in event photography (documentary style). I love real moments. I love that a meaningful moment can exist for just a second, and then it’s gone forever. If I catch that moment at the right time, it means everything to me. Being in the right place, at the right time, in a present state of mind is a real thing and will never get old to me.
My business is M5N5D Photography and my focus is on events, even though I can shoot across different categories. What really drives me is telling the story of an event through images and being able to document something as it unfolds, then share that story with the world. I honestly don’t know what sets me apart, other than just being my authentic self, competing with myself to do better, and capturing what speaks to me.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was very introverted. I played A TON of video games. I was competitive and always pushed myself to become better at anything I was passionate about. I stayed to myself a lot and for that reason I believe I formed a big imagination. I always dreamed about the world and what was out there. I always wanted to travel far from my small town in Georgia and touch, smell, taste, hear, and see the world. I didn’t know how I was going to do it at the time, but I followed my heart and the opportunities that opened up for me. As soon as I graduated high school, I was gone. I’m still pursing that dream as we speak. People always thought I was brave for going through what I’ve gone through, but I’ve always experienced fear in everything that I’ve done that was outside my norm. But to me, the most fearful thing I could imagine was letting the fear keep me from at least attempting to try.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.m5n5d.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m5n5d/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/m5n5d
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@m5vibe
