Heyyy y'all, soy Maria!
 
the eye behind the lens & the heart in the work
 
My STORY
I’ve been in love with the arts my whole life. I grew up playing the saxophone, poured my energy into cheer and poms, and danced competitively long after high school. Creativity has never left me. It shows up in the jewelry I make, the clothes I sew, the way I move through the world. But photography is what truly changed me. For over a decade, it’s been my fire and my anchor. It's how I see people, how I show them their beauty, and how I make sense of the world.
Life hasn’t always been kind. Losing my mom and oldest brother just eight months apart nearly broke me. The grief was unbearable so I put my camera down for a long time. I didn't feel like myself. But that same grief carved out space for deeper feeling, and slowly, through tears, self-work, and time... I found my way back. Photography became the place where I could pour both my vulnerability and my strength, and that’s why my work carries so much heart.
Now, I'm here with a renewed fire (and even sharper eye), bringing all that depth and emotion into every session I shoot. I’ve shot quiet love stories and wild downtown weddings, freelanced with studios, and been published in indie magazines where I styled, shot, and glammed it all myself. For me, photos aren’t just about social media- they’re about your future self, your family, your legacy.
Outside of the lens, I’m usually at a concert (25, plus 2 festivals in 1 year is my record). Music has been the undercurrent of my life, the way my mom filled every room, and the way I still do now. It's what inspires me, and gets me through each day. I'm an alternative/metal head at heart, but somewhere along the way grief softened me; I embarrassingly cry at almost anything touching now, and I think that tenderness now finds its way into my work. I love digging through crates to build my vinyl collection, thrifting treasures, or sipping a hazy IPA or toasty stout at a local brewery. At home, I’m bossed around by my two cats: Suki, my tortie queen, and Aiko, our mischievous new gray kitten.
At the end of the day, I’m here to create art that breathes. Photos that are soulful, magnetic, and a little wild, just like life. So if you're ready for images that feel like poetry with an edge (and proof you were always the main character), book me so we can make something that means something!
"I shoot like I live; full of fire, detail, and a little bit of edge."
-Maria Espinoza
 
 
@MARIAONYXFOTO
 
 
Let’s work together