Hidden Gems: Meet Meredith Maag

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Maag.

Hi Meredith, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories involve using all of my grandpa’s Polaroid film before the days of dropping off a disposable camera and waiting not-so-patiently to pick up the pictures at our local CVS. I purchased my first “fancy” camera in 2013, and my love for photography and teaching collided as I spent five years teaching high school English and advising the school’s yearbook staff while earning my master’s degree in scholastic journalism.

During this time, I had numerous people encourage me to professionally pursue photography, but the timing never felt right. It wasn’t until the birth of our daughter, Hattie, in 2019 that I truly became obsessed with freezing time. Hattie quickly reminded me just how fleeting our moments together were, and for the first time in my life, I wanted time to stand still, and photography allowed me to do just that.

Another significant part of my story is the love and loss of my own mom to breast cancer when I was a junior in high school. Hattie’s birth exposed a completely different facet of my grief, and I’ve never longed for my mom as much as I have in the past two years. While I hate that I have to share my mom with my daughter through pictures, I am so very grateful that I have those pictures to share.

When I finally decided to take a leap of faith and pursue Meredith Maag Photography, I immediately knew my focus: motherhood. As a motherhood photographer, my ultimate priority is to be a blessing to every single mama that walks through my door by capturing the moments they will cherish forever.

I truly believe the art of photography is a gift, and it is one that I hope to share with other mamas to tell their stories and preserve their legacy through printed heirlooms for generations to come.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I decided in January 2021 that the timing was finally right to pursue my photography business. Because of Covid, I didn’t expect to launch Meredith Maag Photography until 2022. My natural light studio is located in our home, and the safety of my clients and my family is of utmost priority to me. However, thanks to the Covid vaccine, I was able to open my studio in May, and I feel extremely fortunate I was able to launch an entire year before I expected.

Because of my early launch, there was a lot to get done in a short amount of time. My husband and I moved to Kansas City from Austin, Texas last August, so we are still new(ish) to the city and our family and friends are back in Ohio where we are from. I often joked that it would be much easier to launch my business with them near for both support and portfolio shots, but I was determined and driven to launch on Mother’s Day 2021, and I made it happen!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My entire business focuses on serving the person who is always busy serving everyone else– mom. At my studio, there is no stress in deciding what to wear, unrealistic expectations for children to behave and smile perfectly, or figuring out where to print images. I am dedicated to giving my clients an exceptional and stress-free experience from beginning to end every single time.

In her book, “Everything is Figureoutable,” Marie Forleo states, “whatever you long for, give to others,” and that is exactly how I built my business. I created an experience I wish I had. This concept actually came from my own newborn session which was a complete disaster– and not because of our photographer!

As a first-time mom, I had no idea what to expect postpartum. I scheduled our newborn session when Hattie was 16 days old hoping my body would be back to normal-ish by then. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t! So, I was running around town in between nursing sessions the day before our photos trying to find something to wear while also trying to choose a coordinating outfit for my husband– that was actually the easy part! On the day of our session, Hattie was entering a growth spurt and all out of sorts (likely because I was), and I dropped my brand new diamond earring down the drain 10 minutes before our photographer was set to arrive. You would never know from our stunning images, but I, personally, was a disaster, and that’s what I remember when I look at those photos.

I don’t want this experience for my clients. I want them to look at their photos and feel loved, beautiful and honored, so I have thought through every detail to create an experience that eliminates the stress that comes with family photos.

As soon as a client books a session with me, I deliver a package with local goodies and a detailed session guide to their doorstep. We then schedule a pre-session style consultation which includes full access to my studio wardrobe for mamas and babes. During the consultation, every single detail is discussed and planned so everyone is on the same page on the day of the session. Blocked scheduling allows for a stress-free start time on the day of the session, and my studio is stocked with everything a novice or veteran mama might need.

My favorite part of my experience is my client’s ordering appointment which takes place approximately two weeks after the session. Unlike a lot of photographers who charge a flat rate for a certain amount of digital images, I have my clients come back into the studio to look at their photos for the first time. All of my clients receive a set of 25+ prints presented in a beautiful, handcrafted brass and glass photo box then we sit down together to design custom artwork or beautiful heirloom albums. While my clients can choose to only buy digital photos, many choose me because they want to actually do something with their photos, and I am adamant photos deserve to be printed and not posted on social media for a few likes only to be forgotten.

My goal is to take all of the planning and guesswork out of the portrait experience making it fun and memorable. Moms are so busy, and their time is valuable. I know that soaking in those long-awaited newborn snuggles or making memories with loved ones is way more important than coordinating their family’s wardrobe while planning their portrait session. I know because I’ve been there, too, and I want to take care of the details so my clients can spend their time where it matters most.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I am also passionate about connecting people and helping others, so all of my clients have access to my exclusive community Maag and Co.

Being a mama is my absolute favorite thing in the entire world, but sometimes it is also hard and messy and complicated and, at times, lonely, and no one really talks about that. The mental load of motherhood is no joke, BUT the unspoken bond we have as mamas is so powerful.

The one thing I have discovered is the desire moms have for community, support, friendship, and kindness. This is especially true for those of us raising our little humans away from our family and friends.

My very beloved lactation consultant once said to me, “It takes a village to raise a mother,” and I hope Maag and Co. provides just that by connecting moms to one another through an online community and monthly outings.

Pricing:

• $550 – signature session
• $450 – petite session
• $900 – collective membership

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@meredithmaagphotography.com
• Website: www.meredithmaagphotography.com
• Instagram: @MeredithMaagPhotography

Image Credits
All Meredith Maag Photography