Maya Glaser is a Queens Park mum of two boisterous boys (age 4 and 6), who specialises in informal, natural, reportage style photography sessions for families, kids and babies. She will come to your home or shoot in a local park, whatever suits best. She only use natural, existing light and a hand held camera, so it’s flexible, fun, totally unobtrusive and stress-free for everyone involved. Maya has been in the photography business for more than 20 years, originally from Scandinavia, her professional background is in music, portrait, documentary and art photography. She has also worked as a picture researcher/editor in consumer magazines and photo agencies here in London and holds BA (hons) in Photography.
How long have you been a photographer?
At 15, I did a week of work experience at a local news paper in my home town in Norway, they gave me a camera, showed me the basics and sent me out to photograph. I absolutely loved it, and decided there and then that I wanted to be a photographer!
Which photographer do you look up to and why?
There are so many different styles of photography, and each of them have some amazing, groundbreaking artists that have shaped the history of photography and inspired me. So I don’t have any single photographer I look up to, but great photographers like Bill Brandt, Josef Koudelka and Diane Arbus definitely had a great influence on me when I started out.
What do you prefer – film or digital?
Digital photography has totally revolutionised and simplified the logistics of picture taking in less than 10 years, and is the sole reason I could so easily set up this business, and offer the service at such affordable prices. But having learnt most of my trade in the darkroom, I have a very nostalgic relationship to film and the whole darkroom process, it just seemed to make pictures a little bit more precious. Quality wise I think you’d have to be a specialist to see the difference.
What should your customers expect during a session?
My costumers can expect a 1-2 hours laid back, informal, stress-free and fun photo session, I think it’s crucial to connect with the children/families I photograph, so I spend a lot of time just following the kids around (depending on their age, of course) chatting to them and letting them take the lead whilst I photograph. I go to my client’s home or local park, it’s flexible and custom made to fit around whoever is being photographed. I only use the existing, natural light and a hand held camera, so there are no setting up of lights, tripods and backdrops.
Do you have any tips for capturing the perfect picture?
My tip for capturing a great, indoor portrait is to try to turn off the flash (most cameras will have a ‘flash off’ option) and use the natural light!
For more information on Maya, please visit:
www.qpkids.com | 07884 617983
