There’s no blueprint for how to become a photographer, but Stacey Firth’s path reads like a highlight reel of hustle, reinvention, and heart. One minute she was running a women's kickboxing gym, the next she was knee-deep in a portrait marathon she invented on a whim. Somewhere between sweaty gym selfies and pandemic baking sessions with her kids, Mad Magic Photography was born.
Now based in Maple Ridge, BC, Stacey’s style is exactly what you’d expect from someone who’s built a career on hype, honesty, and a hell of a lot of personality. Weddings, elopements, boudoir, family sessions—if it’s personal, if it’s got emotion, she’s into it. But more than that, she makes people feel like themselves in front of the camera. And that’s the secret sauce.
From Punches to Portraits
Before she was photographing vows and veils, Stacey was throwing punches—literally. She co-owned a women's kickboxing gym and handled all the content for it. Think trainers mid-air, gloves flying, sweat and grit. Turns out, people love seeing themselves in action. They’d crowd around her iPad during sessions, lighting up at every shot. That reaction stuck with her.
In 2019, she rented a house, invited nine women she knew, and ran a free boudoir/portrait marathon just to see what happened. "It was chaotic and amazing," she laughs. "And I was hooked."
Then COVID hit, shuttering the gym—and the world. Instead of sitting still, Stacey got creative. Every single day, she set up a scene with her family, shot it, edited it, and learned by doing. Whether it was baking with her kids or staging a backyard brunch, it became a ritual. And it sharpened her eye.
The Accidental Wedding Photographer
It was never her plan. One of her gym clients got engaged, and Stacey offered to shoot her engagement session as a favour. Then another client wouldn’t stop asking her to shoot a micro-wedding. "I said no for months," Stacey admits. "Then I gave in. And it turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever done."
She didn’t just survive the chaos of that first wedding—she thrived. From there, the bookings snowballed.
Boudoir Was First—and It Shows
Most photographers dip into boudoir after they’ve built their business. Stacey did it the other way around. Her first love was boudoir, and you can see it in how she works.
"You’re not just taking photos. You’re helping people feel good about themselves," she says. "Especially women who are in a rough place, or rediscovering themselves. It’s vulnerable, and it’s powerful."
She’s had clients coming out of divorces, therapy, and major life shifts. Others are brides gifting photos to their partners. All of them leave feeling different. Better. Seen.
That emotional intelligence carries into her wedding work. It’s not just about posing and Pinterest shots. It’s about noticing the mom crying during the vows. The nervous breath before the aisle walk. The way a groom’s hand trembles when he sees his bride.
Shooting with Intention
Stacey doesn’t do burnout. No triple-header weekends. No bragging about how many weddings she can cram into one season. She caps her bookings at 20. That’s it.
"I want to show up with full energy, every time," she says. "And I don’t want to hate this thing I love."
She brings a second shooter. She shows up early. She stays locked in. And she shoots the way she lives—present, intuitive, and fully herself.
She’s also not shy about her limits. "If you’re booking a photographer who’s editing 30 weddings back-to-back, you’re not getting their best work. Period."
Real Life, Real Balance
Stacey’s not just a photographer. She’s also a franchise sales rep for the gym she once co-owned, a full-time mom of two hockey-playing boys, and someone who knows what it feels like to reinvent yourself at 40.
"I’ve created a clothing brand. I’ve sold out gyms. I’ve been ripped off by shady overseas manufacturers. I’ve dropped everything that didn’t serve me. Photography is the one thing I’ve built for myself that feels real."
She shoots mostly local these days. Maple Ridge, Vancouver, a little Chilliwack or Whistler now and then. Destination weddings? Maybe. If they’re the right fit. But she’s more about meaning than miles.
What's Next
Stacey is leaning into weddings. She still does boudoir—especially during the off-season—but her heart right now is in love stories. Her vibe? Less "stand here and smile" and more "let’s go for a walk and just be you."
And in the background, she’s laying the groundwork to mentor others. Posing guides. Workshops. Content for the new wave of shooters coming up behind her. She wants to make sure they know how to hype, direct, and empower—without burning out.
"I want to help people feel confident faster. And not just clients—other photographers too. There’s too much gatekeeping in this industry. I’m not about that."
If there’s one thread running through everything Stacey touches, it’s this: authenticity over perfection. Whether she’s behind the camera or on the other side of it, she’s all in.
Website: madmagic.co
Instagram: @madmagic.co
