We were lucky to catch up with Maggie Eckburg recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maggie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

When I think back to the kindest things someone has done for me, I go back to a series of memories that all revolve around a common theme – being seen. Life is so busy that even the most well meaning people can miss out on the opportunity to love others because of everything else going through their heads – I know because I’ve been guilty of this on multiple occasions.

The times when someone has gone out of their way to spend time together and engage in quality conversation or simply partake in a random act of kindness stand out to me as the times I have felt the most loved. These experiences have led me to navigate my life and my business in much the same way – wanting to spread kindness and joy to those I encounter and to capture it.

I will never forget the fellow patient who came up and talked to me on the first day of my chemo treatment to tell me what to expect, the anesthesiologist who took the time to bring me a box of kleenex and comfort me as I was crying before the surgery to remove my cancer, or the sweet NICU nurse who sat with me as we shared our stories next to my son hooked up to a feeding tube and oxygen. Then… there was that time when my seventh grade students danced around the classroom with me to “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child after announcing my chemo treatment was complete – that was pretty epic.

Seeing people for who they are, focusing on the uniqueness of their stories, and what makes them special is the primary focus of what I bring into my business. Because of the kindness others have shown me, I desire to do the same for my clients – to give them my undivided attention, listen to their stories, and capture them authentically. I want them to know that I care and that I am not just checking a box or going from one session to another in the name of productivity and efficiency. I want people to leave with the feeling that something about our session was different – the difference being – I “saw” them.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For as long as I can remember, I have had a love for photographing beauty and helping others feel seen, known, and loved. That served me well as I spent 14 years teaching in a formal inner city classroom full of teenagers who needed just that, but there was still something missing that I could no longer deny once my oncologist thought that my cancer had returned and another PET scan was in order. That cancer scare shook me to my core. I had beaten cancer once before but that was prior to marriage and babies. The thought of needing to go through it again had me walking in so much fear and doubt in my faith, that it was as though I became a walking zombie.

When the test results came back and revealed that my cancer had not in fact returned, I knew I would never be the same. It was there that I surrendered everything and begged the Lord to help me pursue the deepest desires of my heart, the things I would regret if I were to die tomorrow (never having opened a photography business being one of them).

From that moment on, I became relentless in my pursuit to understand who God is and what it means to live a life fully alive. I became unstoppable in pursuing answers and learning the ins and outs of photography and running a business.

It didn’t take long for me to see that this cancer scare ended up being one of the biggest graces in my life. I LOVE being comfortable (as most of us do) and I never would have pursued the deepest desires of my heart had I not believed I was possibly facing death had my cancer returned. This is what ultimately led me to open up my business under the title “Everything is Grace.” This business was and still is more about revealing truths than remembering moments – showing others their beauty, strength, dignity, and worth. It’s about increasing joy and reigniting love of self and others.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Perfectionism – the idea that if I just think through everything hard enough before I start, I can avoid making a mistake. I think this all started back in childhood when I would occasionally get called on in class, not know an answer, and then feel like an epic failure. There was a time in primary school when I couldn’t even remember my birthday when I was called on to share it. This led to me hyper preparing for things and never wanting to participate in activities I couldn’t plan ahead. This cycle of thinking had kept me stuck for so long. It kept me afraid to make bold moves in my business, let alone open it in the first place, and it was the number one thing keeping me from growing for the longest time.

Working through my perfectionistic tendencies has uncovered the beauty of taking action and being open to making mistakes. The more I began to embrace this mindset, the quicker things moved along in my business. Action breeds clarity 100% of the time. Thinking through everything in your head and trying to have it all perfectly in order prior to taking action, doesn’t. Running a business is way more fun when you’re open to surprises and the lessons you will learn along the way. Even better, you’ll reach your goals quicker!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The mission behind my creative journey is to serve the hearts of my clients through bringing about greater love. I want to be a conduit for increased joy and intimacy within my clients’ lives. I desire my work to reveal truths – to draw my clients’ gaze toward the greatness and beauty that is within them and the love that envelopes them. I want to play my part in shining a light on the goodness that is everywhere, even when it may be hard to see.

One of the unique ways I desire to bring my mission to life, outside of photographing families and couples, is through capturing stories of transformation. I desire to walk with cancer patients along their journey or as they ring the bell after the final treatment. I want them to have documentation of their strength and resilience – it’s something I wish I had from that time. Pretending these heavier parts of our stories haven’t happened doesn’t make us stronger – it’s owning these chapters and weaving them into our stories that shapes us anew – building a more resilient life – one worth telling stories about for generations to come.

Another way I am serving the hearts of my clients is by addressing the deep desire so many have shared with me for increased joy in their lives. I do this through hosting a local moms’ group that focuses on the practical and the spiritual, and, most recently, through the creation of a study centered around living an “Everything is Grace Life.” In this study I share the five key pillars that took me from being a walking zombie awaiting my cancer results to someone who has put fear in its place and rediscovered joy-filled living and a life-changing friendship with Jesus – all of which led to the opening of this photography business. It’s full of practical tips, stories, and examples to help others walk in freedom, joy, and intimacy with the Lord, knowing all things are working for their good. It’s what I lovingly call, “Living an EG life.” My heart has poured into this new extension of my business and I cannot wait to release it this summer. Stay tuned by following me on IG and joining my email list. It’s always been way more than just photography for me. There is so much depth to the experience of the human heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://everythingisgracephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingisgrace_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggie.eckburg
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/everything-is-grace

Image Credits
All images taken by Everything Is Grace Photography LLC