Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Chechi.
Hi Maria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been a full-time wedding photographer here in South Florida since 2021, but my journey as a creative actually goes back to 2008-2009. Right out of high school, I somehow managed to build a small photography business while juggling college classes where I bounced from psychology courses to communications. I found myself capturing friends and then friends of friends as they moved through major milestones, like engagements, weddings, and maternity. While that early momentum was exciting, I was very young and not quite ready to navigate the business side of things yet, so I chose to step back for a few years.
When I picked the camera back up in 2018, life looked completely different. I was working full-time in medical billing and navigating early motherhood, so photography became my essential creative escape. That spark turned back into a fire faster than I expected. Post-COVID, I officially stepped back into the business full-time, and I haven’t looked back since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a creative business has been anything but smooth sailing. One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn is that talent alone isn’t enough to sustain you. To survive and thrive, you also have to be stellar at marketing, maintain a strong digital presence, build vendor relationships, and stay ahead of an ever-changing industry—all while trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
But despite the challenges, it has been incredibly rewarding to build something from the ground up. Every season has taught me something meaningful. Ultimately, all of these challenges have shaped me, not just as a business owner, but as an artist, a mother, and a woman
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in wedding photography capturing love stories through a balanced blend of candid, documentary photography and gentle, editorial direction. My goal is to give my couples a chic, timeless visual legacy that feels effortless, elevated, and deeply personal.
I draw inspiration from fashion, storytelling, architecture, culture, relationships and intimacy -I think what sets me apart is my ability to bring all of that together into my work without taking away from being present during a wedding day.
What I am most proud of is building a business that honors both my artistry and my boundaries. As someone who has been a bride myself, I know how fleeting and sacred these moments are. Being able to run a successful photography business while staying entirely true to my style, approach, and the experience I bring to my clients is my greatest achievement.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
A lot of my clients see the smooth, intentional way I run my photography business today and are shocked to find out that I used to work in medical billing for ten years. It’s a completely different world from the creative, romantic space of weddings, but that background in logistics and structure is secretly a superpower and the reason I’m able to keep my business so organized and seamless for my couples
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clickinmarphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clickinmar/
