We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maria Peña. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maria below.
Maria, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
I believe my parents did many things right when raising me and my siblings. They always told us to not settle where we are, keep pushing for more. I think out of everything they thought us that stuck with me the most. Through my life weather it was school or work I always did more to stand out and be more. When it came to my photography journey and I decided I will put my all to this, I made up my mind that I would be photographing celebrities and I knew what I wanted, I wasn’t gonna stop until I got there. And even then, I am not done pushing myself to my limit I know I can still do more.
Maria, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I began taking pictures since I was very young and it was just your regular sunset and flower pictures, but when I went to high school my older sister got me a camera for Christmas and I remember being so happy ! I felt “official” I started by taking pictures of my friends and i realized I truly loved that. After joining the military I realized I wasn’t ready to let that go, so I got better at what I did and within a year I started working with influencers in Hawaii. Girl I was OVER THE MOON, working with Princess Mae was one of the first times I actually was doing what i wanted and as I kept on working with her she opened and helped me get many things and Photos that I’ve always wanted , I knew it was the beginning to what I wanted. I kept pushing myself and getting better, discovering the fact that I was better at some styles than others and began my love for editorial content. Writhing 2 years I got the most amazing opportunity to work with MTV for one of their shows as a photographer. I was so happy I was able to do that to this day I don’t think I’m over it, I am beyond grateful of where life has taken me. Coming from a Hispanic household maybe an Art career is not as pursued as you would like, but when I made the decision to make it my full time job and attend college for it, my parents were very supportive and reminded me to always do what I love but give my 100% to it. What really sets me a part or so I’ve been told is the way I interact with my clients, I’ve always been honest with everyone and I love getting to know them to be able to photograph their love or their personality to their sessions. I’m still friends with my very first clients ! I always talk to everyone and make sure they feel the love for their images as I do to creating art with them.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
When I first jumped in to being a photographer and met other creatives a lot of them always told me. “Don’t photograph for free, that’s your art and you have to charge” Although I agree with charging for your art, I completely disagree with not doing collabs or doing Photoshoots for free. This was the hardest thing to unlearn because that’s all I knew ! And I started to realize, you don’t know what that collab will bring you. My first time doing a collab with someone was with Princess Mae, I reached out to her because I loved who she was as what I could see of her in the internet and I did what everyone does. Shoot their shot. I didn’t know that collab was going to open so many doors for me, although I wasn’t expecting much in return aside from being able to photograph who she was ! I became such close friend with her that to this day I photograph many things for her. She gave me the chance to show a bigger audience my art and what I was capable off. So many great things came from that ! Like working for MTV! I will never ever pass up a chance to work with someone ! I am here to tell you, it’s okay! Do it for the love to your art and not for the money.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
This is a hard one, there are many rewarding things I don’t think I could choose just one. Giving your clients images where when they look at them they feel the prettiest and like it expresses who they are will be on my top one. Many times I’ve gotten the chance to photograph families before one of their loved ones passed from an illness and that is something they will hold on to forever. Being able to share what I love and what I create with everyone and seeing that so many people identify with the feeling of the image or just love it so much it makes me feel amazing !! Who would’ve thought little me would be doing this and sharing all this with thousands of people who feel and see this just like me !
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Mfpena_