Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Maida.
Hi Sara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I always tell people that I started my photography business on accident. So let me share my story with you….
When we adopted my oldest son, who is now 15(!), my father bought a non-traditional baby gift of a Nikon DSLR. He didn’t ask what we wanted, just showed up what turned out to be the gift that truly kept on giving. When our son was born, I put that Nikon in manual and began what turned out to be a 365 project. At the time, I had no idea that is what it was called, but I just knew that I wanted to document this amazing baby that we had been blessed with and thought would be our only child at the time!
I posted photos on Facebook and shared our story with family & friends. I fell in LOVE with telling our story through the photos. I took some photography classes at our local high schools so I could learn what all the buttons and knobs did. I learned and continued to document our family. People started asking me to take their holiday card photos and from there a business was born.
When my second son was born and we adopted him, the business was in full swing and I had two Nikon cameras, a full roster of clients and business plan! Sara Maida Photography was born from a non-traditional baby gift, a love of documenting my own family and sharing our adoption story!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business “by accident” comes with challenges especially when you truly didn’t intend to start a business. I had no idea what opening a business entailed. I thought I could just open a bank account and voila, a business. But being a solopreneur is SOOOOO much more especially while also having two young sons and being the default parent to a husband whose career was taking off.
I realized I needed help and as someone who struggled asking I had trouble with that. But I had family come help watch my kids. used services for things that I could including grocery delivery or a house cleaner. I was blessed to be able to have both. Everything takes time — being the photographer actually is a small part of my job. Editing, marketing, banking, tax prep, styling, client communication, and so much more. The many hats I wear daily.
But I also made the conscious decision to be part-time. I knew that I wanted to be able to spend time with my family. It was a decision that often came with self doubt and second guessing as I watched other local photographers careers take off.
Overall, I think being able to recognize that being a photographer is an amazing job, one that comes with many perks but also one that challenges you to think beyond simply clicking a camera!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Hi, I’m Sara a Boston, MA family & senior photographer focusing on connection and carefree moments. I create a fun and relaxed environment so your photos show you having silly moments, smiles and the love of your family!
If the only family images you have are on your iPhone — and you’re in none of them — you need to know this:
This moment in time is fleeting. Your toddler will only be this small once. Your high school senior will only graduate once.
Not only do you deserve to have your family memories captured as they authentically are in this moment, but you deserve to be in the frame, too.
I also love to create sports photos where the athlete is in their own environment showcasing the power of their sport. None of the fancy smoke, just the athlete, their sports and their passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saramaida.com
- Instagram: www,instagram.com/sara.maida
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saramaidaphotography
