Today we’d like to introduce you to Mayra Martinez.
Hi Mayra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My first camera was gifted to me in junior high, and from that moment on, I became obsessed with documenting everyone and everything around me. I loved capturing the little moments, the people I cared about, and the memories that I knew I would want to look back on.
That passion continued throughout high school, where I became a photographer for my yearbook. In college, I continued pursuing photography as a photographer for my college newspaper. With every experience, I became more confident in my ability and more certain that photography was something I wanted to pursue.
After college, I had the opportunity to work alongside two incredibly talented photographers. Both of them encouraged me to believe in myself and pursue photography on my own. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to take that next step.
In 2013, I officially established and launched my business. What started with a camera I received as a young girl eventually became a career, a business, and a way to support my family. Looking back, it feels like photography has been a part of my story all along.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There has definitely been a lot of trial and error along the way. I didn’t have a roadmap when I started my business, so much of what I’ve learned has come from simply figuring things out as I went. I’ve made mistakes, learned from them, adapted, and continued moving forward.
Owning a business has challenged me in ways I never expected. I’ve had to learn not only how to be a photographer, but also how to run a business, manage clients, navigate the financial side of entrepreneurship, and balance it all with being a wife and a mom.
After so many years, I’m really proud to say that I’m finally starting to feel established. At the same time, I’ve learned that being established doesn’t mean you stop growing. I’m constantly learning, evolving, and finding ways to become better at what I do. That is something I’ve come to really appreciate about being an entrepreneur. There is always something new to learn, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My name is Mayra Martinez, and I started my business in 2013 with a dream, a lot of determination, and no idea where to begin. Over the years, I’ve had the incredible honor of being named Best Photographer of Santa Barbara three times. Last year, I expanded my services to include wedding officiating, allowing me to connect with couples in an even more meaningful way.
I’m a proud local to Santa Barbara, and the majority of my business has grown through word of mouth. I believe that speaks to the relationships I’ve built with my clients and the trust they’ve placed in me to be part of some of the most important moments of their lives.
What sets me apart is that I’m a Latina, a local business owner, and a mom who truly built this business from the ground up. When I started, I didn’t know the first thing about running a business. I simply knew that I wanted to create something of my own and build a life that would support my family. Through years of hard work, and with the incredible support of my family, friends, and loyal clients, I’ve been able to do just that.
I’m also a proud mom of three beautiful girls, all under the age of five. Motherhood is one of my greatest accomplishments, and it has shaped so much of who I am, both personally and professionally.
At the heart of everything I do is authenticity, love, and connection. The name De Colores represents love, diversity, and inclusion, values that are deeply important to me and reflected in the way I serve every couple. I truly do this work from the heart.
No two weddings are ever the same, and that is one of the things I love most about what I do. Every couple has their own story, their own personalities, traditions, and vision. I feel incredibly lucky to be invited into those moments and to help make them meaningful and personal.
I’m constantly learning, growing, and finding new ways to serve my clients. After all these years, I still have the same love for what I do, and I think that genuine passion is what makes De Colores feel different.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
When I think about who deserves credit for the business I’ve built, I can’t name just one person. My mother, my siblings, my husband, and my children have all played such an important role in helping me get here.
In 2019, I took a leap of faith and decided to leave my full time job and pursue my business full time. I was terrified. Walking away from the security of a steady job was one of the scariest decisions I had ever made, but my mom and siblings stood behind me completely. They believed in me from the very beginning and supported my decision even when I was unsure of myself.
My husband has also been an incredible source of support throughout this journey. In the ten years we’ve been together, he has watched me build and manage my business, become a mom, and learn how to balance being a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. He has seen all of the hard work, the long days, the challenges, and the growth that have come with this journey. Through it all, he has believed in me, encouraged me to keep growing, and supported me in all the ways a great partner should.
And then there are my children. Becoming a mom has changed me in so many ways. My three daughters are my biggest motivation and one of the greatest things I am proud of. Building a business that helps support our family while also being present for my children is something I never take for granted.
I may be the face of De Colores, but I know I did not build it alone. The love, encouragement, sacrifices, and belief that my family has given me are a huge part of this story. Every time I look at what I’ve created, I see not only the years of hard work, but also the people who believed in me enough to take that leap with me.
Pricing:
- $495 hourly portrait session
- weddings begin at $1800
- officitaing begins at $750
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.decoloresphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decolores.photo/
Image Credits
de colores photography
sarah vendramini photography
