We recently connected with Maree Miraglia and have shared our conversation below.

Maree, appreciate you joining us today. Covid has brought about so many changes – has your business model changed?

The pandemic is actually what brought me in to the world of shooting adventurous elopements.

I was a thriving wedding photographer, and then the year 2020 hit.

Businesses started shutting down, weddings got rescheduled, and my income started to plummet along with everyone else’s in the photography industry.

I got so sad. I barely wanted to get up some mornings because I had worked so hard to build a thriving business, and it felt like it was getting taken away from me.

One day I woke up, and decided I needed to put myself in my brides shoes. If I had spent years planning my wedding, and all my plans had been burned to the ground within the span of a few weeks, how would I feel? How many tears would I shed?

It got me thinking, how could I help these brides still have the most epic wedding day, and not regret a single moment?

So I decided to team up with some vendors in my area, and put together all inclusive elopement packages. So many brides came from across the county to get married in the southern Utah desert. I was a tour guide, a photographer, and a wedding planner wrapped in to one. It was so worth it to see the smiles on my brides faces as I was able to help them experience the beauty of the red rock cliffs of Zion National park. These brides gave up all the wedding guests to only have the mountains witness their vows, and every single bride said they would have never done it differently.

This launched me in to my passion of photographing adventurous elopement experiences.

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?

I have taken photos as long as I can remember. I started on a small disposable camera going on camping trips to Arches National Park with my dad. I always knew I wanted to be a photographer, but never dreamt I would be able to do it full time.

I specialize in intimate adventure elopements. I am an expert at finding the perfect scenery for my clients, and cultivating experiences. I will help plan your timeline, fluff your dress, and feel comfortable in front of the camera. My husband tags along with me and does video as well, so we are the perfect husband and wife photo video team. We love executing couples dreams for their wedding day. Whether it’s skydiving, hiking up mountain tops, or climbing red rock, we are your people.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Learning that I don’t need to constantly be “hustling” to be successful.

The year after covid his was my busiest year I’ve ever had. I shot 45 weddings, and made the most money I ever had. You would think I would be happy, but my anxiety was the worst it had ever been.

I went in to 2021 with a goal to focus on myself. I upped my pricing so I would shoot less, and be able to focus more on each of my clients. I started going to the gym, hiking, mountain biking, and meditating. I realized all the money in the world isn’t worth it if doesn’t enable me to have freedom and do things I enjoy. Filling my cup enables me to better serve my clients.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

From day one I’ve always strived to let my followers know they are more than just a number to me. That I see the face behind the names that double tap on all my posts.

I have always tried to show the face behind my camera, and really let my followers in on my life. I crack jokes, show silly moments of my husband, and even cute videos of my dogs,

This has enabled me to create connections and lifelong friendships with people all over the world, and grow my audience on social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: Mareemiragliaphotography
• Facebook: Maree Miraglia Photography
• Other: Threads: you can find me at maree miraglia photography

Image Credits
Maree miraglia photography