Meet Maggie Yurachek | Wedding, Portrait, & Event Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maggie Yurachek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maggie, what do you attribute your success to?
I think it’s my curiosity and care for people. I do my best to understand their photographic wants and desires while identifying on a personal level. Clients express feeling almost immediately at ease with me and we have fun together. In many cases we walk away as friends.

I thoroughly enjoy getting to know my clients so that I may better and more honestly represent them in my photography. This applies to all of my photography; however, is especially valuable in my wedding and portrait photography. I think that my attention to the client allows me to capture emotion in a very authentic way which in turn yields a high rate of return business. This is the best compliment to me as a photographer.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My interest in art began at an early age. I had a wonderful art teacher at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, NJ. I remember learning about pointillism (Seurat rhymes with dot) in 1st grade. For years I spent my time drawing and painting. I studied drawing in Paris one summer where I was brought down to right size by a critical French life drawing teacher.

Photography was limited to documenting our family travels. It wasn’t until high school that I really started to explore photography and learned how to work in the dark room. The dark room was a source of relaxation, awe, and I could spend hours on end there.

Seeing light and interest in the story behind each person came easily. The business acumen did not. I had a lot of fear around starting my photography business (2011). I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I didn’t want to fail. Perhaps a more conventional 9-5 job using my degree in English from Colorado College would be safer? My family had invested in me and the expectation to achieve and be self supporting was high.

That being said, I’m highly motivated, hardworking, and have amazing friends and family that hired me, referred me, and helped give me the courage to grow my passion into a profession.

As I watched my business grow each year, my hope was bolstered, and I just kept going. I made smart financial choices, listened to and learned from talented photographers and businesspeople, and perhaps most importantly, began to appreciate my value and worth in the service(s) that I provide.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, the part of New Jersey that I live in is the best kept secret. It’s about an hour away from New York City, but rather rural in comparison to other parts of New Jersey. I’ve lived in many beautiful places (Colorado, New Mexico, England, Paris, Massachusetts), but we have it all here (please don’t tell).

My best friend would stay with me at my home, which I’ve curated with items from my travels, family heirlooms, the art of friends, lots of color and of course some animal print. (Sidenote: the way I dress is the way I decorate, or perhaps the other way around…anyway, the house and I match.)

We would begin with coffee and breakfast, but most importantly, coffee at a local place such as Pricilla’s or Cocoluxe. We would then walk or hike at one of my many local favorite places (Natirar, the Cross Estates, Jockey Hollow, Loantaka…), which also double as my photography locations of choice.

A couple mandatory shopping stops and visits with local shop owners/friends at F. Gerald New Jewelers (Morristown), Branch Home (Far Hills), and Windswept Boutique (Mendham) would be on the list of attractions.

As for early evening entertainment, a stop at Burnt Mills Cider Company (Bedminster) for live bluegrass music would be on the docket. I can’t get enough bluegrass and folk music, so that’s a must for me.

I’m fortunate to have a very close and special friend group, so a gathering would of course be worked into the mix. I love to entertain as in decorate, set a table, etc…but cooking is not in my repertoire, so I’m guessing it would be a pot luck of sorts.

A trip to NYC for music, a museum, great food, or even a trapeze lesson would make for a nice day trip. I’m up for just about any new experience and adventure. I do love to get my adrenaline pumping!

Other nearby towns not to be missed include Summit and Montclair.

I tend to over-schedule, so I think I will just leave it at that.

Oh, and lots of talking…if you know me, that goes without saying. But I will say it!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, that’s a big question. There are so many people who have helped and encouraged me along the way.

I suppose my mother for not only paying for but tolerating the exposure of 15-20+ rolls of film per trip that she took us on as children. This was not only expensive, but an exercise in absolute patience as I composed the perfect shot(s) of a street performer in Rome at age 11.

She’s a scientist, not an artist. But she, like her father, exposed me to education through travel-to people all over the world, and encouraged my interest in art and art history through experience.

The travel (which we still do annually) piqued my curiosity, as mentioned in the previous segment, and I believe and hope, gave me a respect and interest in all people, cultures, and traditions.

Website: maggieyurachek.com

Instagram: @maggieyurachekphotography

Linkedin: Maggie Yurachek

Twitter: @MLYPhotography

Facebook: Maggie Yurachek Photography

Image Credits
Maggie Yurachek Photography, LLC