We were lucky to catch up with Maya Perez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was creating an art show series called Unplaced Gallery. The concept started from wanting to make art feel accessible and alive outside of traditional gallery spaces. Instead of hosting shows in a formal venue, I hosted one of the first events inside of a laundromat. I wanted people to walk into an unexpected place and suddenly experience creativity, storytelling, and community in a completely different way.

The idea behind Unplaced Gallery was to create art shows in unconventional spaces and bring together all forms of creativity not just paintings or photography, but poetry, music, food & drinks, and interactive experiences. I wanted artists to feel like they had a place to express themselves, even if they didn’t feel accepted by traditional creative spaces.

What made it meaningful to me was seeing people genuinely connect. Watching artists share vulnerable work, seeing kids engage with creativity, hearing conversations sparked between strangers, and seeing people feel inspired reminded me that art can create community and healing in real time.

Alongside the event, I organized a winter clothing drive for people experiencing homelessness. I didn’t want the project to only be visually creative. I wanted it to have real impact and care behind it. Combining art, community, and service made the experience feel much bigger than just hosting an event. It became a reminder that creativity can bring people together, create opportunities, and support communities at the same time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a creative entrepreneur, photographer, and community-focused creative director based in Huntsville. I’m the founder of Azlyn Photo + Media, Azlyn Creative Co, and Unplaced Gallery,. My work centers around storytelling, visual experiences, and creating spaces where people feel seen and inspired.

I originally fell in love with photography in high school while working on creative projects. A teacher encouraged me early on, and over time people around me began trusting me to capture important moments in their lives. What started as a creative outlet slowly turned into a business and eventually expanded into something much bugger than just photography. Over the years, I’ve expanded not only in photography and media production, but also in event planning, branding, creative direction, and experiential concepts.

Through Azlyn Photo + Media, I provide photography, video production, branding content, editorial work, wedding coverage, and media experiences for individuals, businesses, and events. A big part of what I do is helping brands and people visually communicate who they are in a way that feels intentional, elevated, and emotionally connected. I work with everyone from couples and creatives to businesses looking to strengthen their visual identity and online presence.

One thing that sets my work apart is that I approach projects from both an artistic and experiential perspective. I’m not only thinking about how something looks visually, im also thinking about how people feel while experiencing it. Whether it’s a wedding, an art show, a branding session, or a community event, I want the work to create emotion, connection, and memory.

I’m especially proud of building spaces and experiences that make people feel included. A lot of my projects are rooted in community, collaboration, and giving creatives opportunities to express themselves authentically.

What I want people to know most about me and my brand is that everything I create is built with intention. I care deeply about storytelling, atmosphere, and people. I want my work to feel unique, immersive, and memorable, not just content for the sake of content. My goal is always to create experiences and visuals that leave people feeling inspired, connected, and understood.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has been a mix of being community driven, social media, word-of-mouth, and genuine collaboration. A lot of my growth came from consistently showing up, meeting people, taking on new projects, and being active within the creative community.

Early on, I took on some free work and collaborations to build trust, strengthen my portfolio, and create real connections. Those experiences often turned into referrals, repeat clients, and larger opportunities over time.

Social media has also played a huge role because it allows people to connect not just with my work, but with the energy, creativity, and experiences behind my brand. Sharing behind-the-scenes moments, events, and storytelling has helped attract clients who naturally align with my vision.

Overall, the biggest factor has been authenticity, building relationships, collaborating with others, and creating experiences people genuinely remember and want to share.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I try to maintain genuine relationships with clients beyond just completing a project. A big part of that is staying connected through social media by supporting their businesses, reposting their content, engaging with their work, and continuing to celebrate their milestones even after we’ve worked together.

I also try to show up for my clients whenever I can whether that’s attending their events, supporting launches, or simply staying involved in the community. I think people remember when support feels authentic and mutual rather than transactional.

For me, fostering brand loyalty comes from creating real connections and making clients feel valued, seen, and consistently supported over time.

Contact Info:

• Website: azlynphotomedia.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/azlynphoto_media, instagram.com/azlyncreativeco, instagram.com/_mayazlyn
• Other: TikTok: azlyncreativemedia and mayazlyn

Image Credits
Azlyn Photo + Media Azlyn Creative Co