Meet Maya Yahfouf | Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maya Yahfouf and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maya, what do you attribute your success to?

Word of mouth and my family friendly, home-based studio. My clients walk in as strangers and leave as friends.

I have a strong base of friends and clients who spread the word about my business, consistently recommend me on social media, and showcase my work on their personal pages. I owe them the success of my business!

I am always improving my skills, both technically and from a design standpoint. I avoid trends that do not fit my brand, which can be challenging when potential clients see so much online that they want to replicate. My mission is to create timeless portraits that are delightful and whimsical. I want my clients to feel happy and loved every time they look at their photographs.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am the owner, photographer and creative mind behind Coppell, TX based Picture Legacy Photography. I specialize in family, senior, maternity and newborn portraiture.

I am unique in that I offer a wide variety of services tailored to each client. I have a studio filled with fun props and backdrops for newborn, maternity, first birthday cake smashes, seasonal sessions and headshots. I scout warm and bright locations for family and senior shoots, as well as lifestyle headshots.

I am most excited about working with my repeat clients! The images get better each time because I am familiar with what they want, they are comfortable with me and I know what I need to pay attention to when styling the shoot. I make sure they are seen in best light.

On Jan 19, 2022, Picture Legacy celebrated its 10^th anniversary! However, I have been a photographer my entire life. I opened my first studio back in Beirut, Lebanon in 2000 when we actually used film!

This journey has not been easy, I’ve had amazing clients for the most part, but I’ve also had a few people criticize my work in a very hurtful way. I’ve had generous accounts and some that tried to negotiate every dollar! What has kept me going through it all are my kind and supportive clients, and the fact that I truly love my job! It brings me such joy to create beautiful portraits! With every photo shoot, it’s like falling in love all over again.

I ask that people be kind to small businesses! It can be difficult starting out and one negative review can make or break a business. For those who are starting a small business, my advice is: “If you love it enough, put in the work and you will succeed.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love downtown Dallas!  It’s a favorite spot for senior and modern family portraits. It’s such a fun place to explore with so much variety! I can walk for hours within a 2 mile radius and capture so many unique shots! If it was a week trip I would spend it as follows:
Downtown Dallas – vibrant streets, parks and museums
Dallas Zoo – it’s a fun place for all ages and so spacious
Fort Worth Stockyards and botanical gardens
Dallas Arboretum is my mom’s favorite place when she visits, especially in spring
Dallas Aquarium
Grapevine Lake, Marina and Gaylord Texan

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

As Isaac Newton once said “Standing on the shoulders of giants.” I owe so much of my success to my mother, who never complained of hardship bringing us up (and it was tough) and her constant pride and encouragement of my artistic journey!

I owe my learning to all the giant portrait photographers that elevated the industry and shared their struggles, experience and learnings of a lifetime through classes, coaching, and webinars.

My sweet family for always being supportive, and my kiddos (my most favorite models and the reason behind my why).

Website: www.picturelegacy.com

Instagram: picture.legacy

Facebook: www.facebook.com/picturelegacy

Image Credits
My images