Meet Mayra Mayo | Photographer

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

Hi Mayra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Like many others, I was furloughed from my 8am-5pm job right when the COVID pandemic hit and even though it allowed me to spend more time with my family, we weren’t in a financial position where I could be a stay at home mom. Fortunately, my husband was blessed with a promotion at his job and I found myself in a position in which I could be and loved every second of it. However, as much as I loved being at home and watching my daughters grow, I wanted to contribute financially and have something of my of my own. I wanted something in which I could be my own boss, make people happy, make some money, and still be able to be present for my daughters, so I combined my love for photography and my creativity and made into the business that it is today.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When the idea of this business came to me, I was absolutely terrified of failing but I put on my big girl pants and I took photography classes and photography business classes to prepare and although there was a lot of trial and error, specially when it came to kick starting the business online and pricing out my packages correctly, I didn’t give up. It took about a year into the business to really feel comfortable with my packages and pricing but then, the biggest challenge of my career showed up, my self-doubt. I could not settle for an editing style. To me, this was my biggest challenge.

I would change my editing style constantly because I kept comparing myself to other photographers. It was a constant battle in my head about feeling insecure and at the same time, not wanting to be like everyone else. I also just loved different editing styles and I just couldn’t decide on what to stick with so I gave myself a rule. I would stick to one eating style for a year, and change it the next year and keep it that way until the following year. This has worked for me in terms of trying different things and not feeling stuck to just one style. I’ve enjoyed doing this because it helps me stay creative and it has helped me draw different clientele each year.

Although having this business has had its downs, being a photographer has rewarded me in more ways than one. Not only has this business helped my family and I financially, but it has also made me a more extroverted and secure person who enjoys and is thankful for every aspect of this life I get to live. Through my photography, I have come to enjoy life a little more by meeting wonderful families, couples that have been together for decades, babies that have only been in this world for a couple of days, graduates who will be starting their adult life, single parents who are giving their all to their kiddos, beautiful women who are proud of who they are and where they are in life, the list goes on. Overall, I am proud of my business and the person that I am because of it and I am so thankful to all the people that I have met along the way.

To anyone out there that is thinking about starting a business in photography or something else, I say, just go for it. Starting a business is so scary because there is a constant fear of failing but you just have to go in head first, take a chance and be fearless.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston is filled with so much culture and there are so many places I would take friends and family visiting from out of town but I would absolutely start with the Houston Downtown Aquarium because not only is it dear to my heart because that’s where my husband and I met, but it’s also just a very fun place for adults and kids- specially in the summer when they have salsa nights! During baseball season, I would take them to a baseball game to support the Astros. For some delicious tacos during the weekends, I would take them to El Patio Tacos Y Tostadas. For some fancy brunch, dinner or drinks, I would take them to The Annie Cafe & Bar. For a relaxing outdoor day or picnic, I would take them to Memorial Park Conservancy. The beauty about Houston is that there’s always something for everyone and a new experience can be lived here every day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My biggest support system are my husband and my parents. They have supported me from the very beginning by giving me advice, taking care of my daughters, helping me setup my equipment, sharing my business with their friends and coworkers, but mostly, by encouraging me to keep going when I felt like giving up. They are the best support system I could ask for and I owe the growth of my business to them as well. Oh, and Taylor Swift for keeping me sane with her music during Houston traffic from session to session.

Website: https://fearlessphotographymm.mypixieset.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearlessphotographyllc?igsh=MWRwMGt0Z3Zmcmh2cw==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095682962088&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits
My personal photo was taken by Kanis Photography, LLC