hey there :))
I'm Maliya!
Your love story matters to me and my biggest goal in working with you on your wedding day is to tell the story of your love honestly and beautifully. I certainly care about documenting what happens on your wedding day, the biggest things and the smallest things, but I especially care about documenting the "why". I will deliver a gallery that captures the essence of the day, communicating not only the events that happened, but the feelings that came with them.
"The photos are stunning. Not only did Maliya the capture the “what” that happened, she also managed to, somehow, capture the “how” and, yes, even the “why.” I couldn’t imagine more perfect photos from our wedding! It was a delight to work with Maliya and have her there. Her presence enhanced the day that much more, whether it was finding all the best photo locations, graciously rolling with various delays, or working to get grass stains out of my dress. We are so grateful for Maliya and the work she did." - Grace
Meet Me!
I am currently living in downtown Chicago, exploring and adventuring at every opportunity. My recent interest has been learning how to swing dance, but I'm a big fan of roller skating down Lake Shore Drive, jumping in the lake (even when it's less than 20 degrees outside), picnics, and museums too!
I'm an extrovert, so I don't ever get tired of being with my friends, whether we're doing something crazy or just hanging out together.
I got my first camera in first grade and put it to use for the first time when I went on a trip to Japan in second grade... I guess from the beginning it was clear that I'd become a travel photographer.
For most of elementary and middle school, I took photos of anything I thought looked interesting... flowers, trash in the street, mud puddles, Christmas lights... you name it.
In high school I began taking photos of people and realized they will always be the most interesting, unique, and beautiful subject I could photograph.
I started shooting for work early in high school, and since then I've had the honor of photographing elopements and weddings, births, special events, portraits, album covers, and more.
In all this, I've realized that whether I'm shooting the most important event of your life, or a regular-old-normal day of your life, there is beauty in it all and I want to help you see and document what's beautiful. While I aim to shoot with tact and poise, there is something to be said about the timelessness of beautiful things, and that exists independently, it's just my job to find it, to capture it, and to help you see it too.
How did it start?
p.s.
... red bull is my favorite beverage.
....swing sets are one of my favorite inventions.
... i don't like getting my fingers dirty so i eat popcorn with a spoon.
Jordan's Birth
Quarantine on Film
Beauty can be found all over. As your photographer, it's my job to see it and capture it for you. Below are a few examples of events and days that are not as glamorous as a typical wedding day. The first is a birth and the second is quarantine... typically not things people choose to document. However, amidst the chaos or the bore or the normalcy of some of these things, there is still beauty to be seen and captured, and as you look at these galleries, I hope you see the beauty in the authenticity of it.
