Maia's earliest memories of photography are rooted in her father’s darkroom, where she watched film strips come to life among the living room curtains. She was just three years old when she picked up her first camera, encouraged by her father’s passion for the craft. From there, a love of visual storytelling grew quietly beside her formal training in civil engineering and architectural design—until it demanded her full attention.

After more than a decade as a lead engineer, Maia left the field to pursue photography full time. “I still work in residential and architectural design sometimes,” she admits, “but photography is where my heart truly belongs.”

For the past ten years, Maia has been based in Calgary, building a career that now spans multiple continents. Her work is infused with her European roots and her love for natural light, pastel tones, and evocative detail. “I don’t just want to give my couples photos,” she says. “I want to give them works of art that reflect who they are—images that will be cherished across generations.”

Her style is driven as much by feeling as by form: combining her fine art sensibility with the spontaneity of real emotion. Clients often describe her as going “above and beyond,” delivering not just a gallery, but an experience. From planning and vendor suggestions to scouting hidden locations, Maia brings a sense of calm, vision, and dedication that resonates deeply with her couples.

Maia photographs around 15 weddings per year, with a focus on intimate outdoor celebrations in Banff, Calgary, Vancouver, and increasingly, Europe. In 2026, she plans to expand her bookings in Italy, Austria, Croatia, and her beloved Slovenia. “If you’re eloping or getting married in Europe,” she says, “I can help make it unforgettable.”

Despite her global reach, Maia is grounded and intentional about the pace and process of her work. Her editing queue rarely piles up—thanks to a well-organized system of completing edits within a month of each wedding. “It keeps me sane during busy season,” she laughs.

And while photography demands both emotional energy and physical stamina, she still finds joy in the midst of exhaustion. “As soon as I pick up my camera and step into a wedding, I forget I’m tired,” she says. “There’s magic in being present for those moments.”

Asked what inspires her, Maia doesn’t hesitate: “Beautiful art. And the way a photograph can hold emotion.” That reverence for beauty—tempered with a practical eye and a heart full of warmth—is exactly what makes her work so special.

Whether she’s standing at the edge of a cliff in the Rockies or beneath a sunlit olive tree in Italy, Maia captures more than what’s visible. She captures the way it felt to be there.

Website: m2sphotography.ca
Instagram: @maiastellaphoto