Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanaz Maharaj.
Hi Shanaz, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
During my last year of high school, I needed an extra credit so I chose something I thought would be fun: photography. Little did I know my teacher at the time would change the course of my life forever…
I became obsessed with learning and developing film in the dark lab and through her guidance, learned how to control images to show the story I wanted to portray. That year, and because she pushed me, I entered a few images and ended up showing them in a gallery. Whereas I had been on track to major in creative writing when I graduated, I decided then and there that it had to be fine arts. It had to be photography.
Fast forward to my college years, where I gained hands-on experience shadowing my mentor who also pushed me to become not only better, but to believe I could really do this for a living. I became an icon so to speak, and by the time I graduated and *won homecoming queen haha* I was widely recognized by the staff and students as the photo girl. This became something of an alter ego for me and I started calling myself “the photosnipa” which caught on quite quickly!
I entered the corporate workforce seamlessly and for about a decade, became entrenched in the world of marketing. I met many unforgettable mentors and friends who all became a part of my story (and learned how to identify those I could trust versus those who had become corporate zombies).
When the pandemic hit, I had decided this was the time right time to make my move which I’d spent many many nights contemplating. I launched my full time photo business: Captured Moments by Shanaz. It was slow to build during this uncertain time but I had faith that if I kept pushing myself to be better, I would attract the kind of clients I’d always dreamed of working with: real people with good energy to match my own (something desperately missing in the corporate world).
Now, I am currently booked out until the end of the year and am happily looking forward to 2023!!
I’ve covered weddings, proposals, family photos, elopements, many events- even corporate (which is a total trip to work as a contractor now knowing the mental state of the marketing coordinators who reach out to me).
I am completely myself when I work and that is the best blessing I could have ever achieved thanks to those who have seen me, pushed me, and loved me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Many struggles come with launching yourself at the head of your business. I didn’t pick the ideal time to really launch at the beginning of the pandemic but the company I was working with at the time had drained me to the point where I looked in the mirror and did not recognize myself. I am the kind of worker that will give 1,000% because I value the quality of work I produce. This is now something I can happily apply to my business.
Because of the pandemic, however, I worked wearing a mask which forced me to really communicate with body language so I could produce photos that were meaningful. Think about that for a sec, haha: If you’ve hired a photographer and can only see their eyes, isn’t that a bit weird? Every challenge comes with rewards for the other side. It brought me back to my humanity so I could connect on a deeper level with my clients. This is what drives my work now: connections that are meaningful.
Sometimes, I’ll work with clients who don’t necessarily share the same opinions or views as me and whereas, in the real world, where I would probably never have a conversation with these people, I have a unique opportunity to converse and learn more about myself in the process. I choose who I work with not based on preconceived notions then but with those whose energy seems genuine.
On the back end of this all, I’ve had to learn accounting, hr, sales, and all of the in-between to give myself the best chance of being successful. There is no better teacher than hands-on learning and the best advice I can give anyone on the same path is: put yourself out there and give it a real go. The details will follow! There are so many resources available with just a Google search that help you navigate what it means to own your own business.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a photographer that is gifted in capturing real, human moments. I’ve worked with the former director of photography of the White House, capturing a trail of activism events right in Austin, Chandler West. I’ve worked with former tennis WTA pro-now-turned philanthropist, Vania King, in order to help her achieve content that aids children all over the world through tennis and her charity: Serving Up Hope.
I’ve captured many master national tennis events by the USTA and with the ITF and will have photo work published by Wiley in the upcoming book, “The Unapologetically Anti-Racist Educator”.
I never know where my work will take me or who I will meet and that keeps my work fresh, fascinating, and impactful.
Pricing:
- Weddings: $200/Hour
- Events: $100/Hour + $75 Editing Fee
- Portraits: $100/Hour + $150 Editing Fee
- Proposals: $275
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shanazmaharaj.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosnipa
Image Credits
Shanaz Maharaj
