Today we’d like to introduce you to Mayra Bojorquez.
Hi Mayra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
At 16 years old, I found out I was pregnant.
While most teenagers were planning dances, sports, and college applications, I was preparing to become a mother. By 17, I was raising a baby while still trying to finish high school. It wasn’t the path I had imagined for myself, and if I’m honest, there were many moments when the future felt uncertain.
But becoming a mother didn’t break me—it gave me purpose.
As a young mom, I quickly learned what it meant to work hard, sacrifice, and keep moving forward even when life felt overwhelming. By the age of 21, I was a single mother raising two children and doing everything I could to provide a stable life for them. There were no shortcuts, no guarantees, and no safety net. There was simply a determination to build a better future for my family.
Over the years, that determination became the foundation for everything I would create.
Photography began as a passion and eventually became my way of preserving the moments I knew passed too quickly. As a mother, I understood how fast babies grow, how fleeting childhood can be, and how valuable photographs become as the years go by. What started as a dream slowly grew into a business.
In the beginning, I photographed families from my own home. My “studio” was whatever space I could create with the resources I had. There was no large investment, no fancy storefront, and no blueprint for success. There was only hard work, countless late nights, and a belief that if I served people well, they would trust me with their memories.
One client became two. Two became ten. Ten became hundreds.
Today, I am the owner of MB Photography and MB Studios, a thriving business that serves families throughout the Central Coast and beyond. What started in my kitchen has grown into a nearly 3,000-square-foot studio and community space in the heart of San Juan Bautista. The studio has become so much more than a place to take photographs—it is a place where families gather, children play, memories are created, and community is celebrated.
Along the way, I’ve been honored to receive recognition including the Empowering Women Award and Phenomenal Woman of the Year. My work has been featured in national media, and my photography has earned multiple awards. But the accomplishments I am most proud of can’t be displayed on a wall.
I’m most proud of the relationships built over the years.
I’ve photographed newborns who are now teenagers. I’ve watched families grow from maternity sessions to first birthdays, graduations, and everything in between. Clients have become friends, and many have become like family. Those connections are the true measure of success.
Today, I am a mother of five and a grandmother. Every chapter of my journey has taught me something valuable about perseverance, compassion, and the importance of creating spaces where people feel seen, welcomed, and valued.
As a first-generation American raised by a hardworking single mother who immigrated to the United States, I understand the power of opportunity and the importance of giving back. Through annual toy drives, community events, and local outreach, I strive to use my business as a force for good and a reminder that success means little unless you bring others with you.
If there is one thing I hope people take away from my story, it’s this:
Your starting point does not determine your destination.
The challenges you face today do not define the life you are capable of building tomorrow.
A teenage mother can become an entrepreneur.
A dream that starts in a kitchen can become a thriving business.
And the obstacles that once seemed impossible can become the very things that shape your greatest purpose.
My story has never been about photography alone.
It’s about resilience.
It’s about motherhood.
It’s about believing in yourself when nobody else does.
And it’s proof that with enough determination, heart, and hard work, extraordinary things can grow from the most unexpected beginnings.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not.
Building a business from scratch has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, but it has also been one of the hardest.
When people see the studio today, they see the finished product. What they don’t always see are the years of sacrifice, uncertainty, and hard decisions that happened behind the scenes to get here. There was no investor, no large loan, and no blueprint handed to me. Every step of this journey was built through hard work, determination, and reinvesting my own savings back into the business.
One of the greatest challenges wasn’t just building the business itself—it was learning how to build a business while being present for my children.
As a mother of five, I have always wanted to be there for the school events, the sporting events, the bedtime stories, the milestones, and all of the little moments in between. Entrepreneurship often requires long hours, late nights, and constant problem-solving, and there were many times when I felt pulled in two directions. I was trying to grow something bigger than myself while also making sure my children knew they came first.
There were plenty of moments where I questioned whether I was doing enough in either role. When I was working, I worried about missing time with my family. When I was with my family, my mind was often on the next challenge waiting for me at the studio. Finding balance has been an ongoing journey, and if I’m being honest, I don’t know that any business owner ever fully masters it.
There have also been challenges that come with being a woman and a mother in business. Sometimes people underestimate you. Sometimes they don’t see the years of experience, sacrifice, and expertise behind what you do. I’ve had to learn how to advocate for myself, set boundaries, and stand firm in my value even when it’s uncomfortable.
I’ve faced financial risks, unexpected setbacks, difficult decisions, and moments where giving up would have been the easier option. There have been projects that didn’t work out, opportunities that fell through, and countless obstacles I never could have anticipated. But every challenge taught me something and helped shape the business into what it is today.
Looking back, I don’t think success comes from avoiding challenges. It comes from continuing forward despite them.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but I wouldn’t change it. Every struggle, setback, and lesson has helped me become a stronger business owner, a stronger mother, and a stronger person. And because of that, I appreciate what I’ve built even more.
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 the owner and photographer behind MB Photography, an award-winning photography studio specializing in maternity, newborn, baby milestone, cake smash, and family photography. For over 15 years, I have had the privilege of documenting some of life’s most meaningful moments for hundreds of families throughout California.
While photography is what brought people through my doors, what I truly do is preserve memories. I help families freeze moments that pass far too quickly—the tiny newborn details, growing baby milestones, the anticipation of motherhood, and the connections that make a family unique.
I am especially known for my newborn photography. Newborn safety has always been my highest priority, and I have spent years perfecting my craft, education, and posing techniques to ensure babies are photographed safely while creating timeless, artistic images that families will cherish forever. Many families book me while they are still pregnant and continue returning year after year as their children grow. Some of the babies I photographed when I first started are now teenagers, which is something I never take for granted.
What I’m most proud of isn’t an award, publication, or recognition—it’s the trust families place in me and the relationships that have been built over the years. I have clients who started coming to me when I was photographing out of my home and who have continued to support my business through every stage of growth. Watching those families grow and knowing I’ve documented their stories for over a decade is incredibly humbling.
I’m also proud of what MB Studios has become. What started as a small dream has grown into a nearly 3,000-square-foot studio and community space in the heart of San Juan Bautista. Beyond photography, the studio has become a place where families gather, children play, local businesses collaborate, and community events bring people together. Creating a space where people feel welcomed, valued, and connected is something that means a great deal to me.
What sets me apart is that I approach every client experience through the lens of motherhood. As a mother of five and a grandmother, I understand firsthand how quickly time passes and how important these memories become. I know the exhaustion of the newborn stage, the excitement of expecting a baby, and the desire to hold onto every fleeting moment. That perspective allows me to connect with my clients on a deeper level and create an experience that is both personal and meaningful.
I also believe that exceptional customer service matters just as much as beautiful photographs. I strive to make every family feel comfortable, supported, and cared for from their first inquiry to the delivery of their final images. My goal has always been for clients to leave feeling like more than just customers.
At the end of the day, I don’t believe my business is really about photography. It’s about people. It’s about celebrating life’s milestones, preserving family legacies, and creating a space where memories can be made and treasured for generations to come. That is what I am most proud of, and it is what continues to inspire me every day.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I see my business continuing to evolve beyond photography and becoming an even greater resource for families and our community. While photography will always be at the heart of what I do, I am passionate about creating experiences that bring people together and help strengthen the small-town community that has supported me throughout my journey.
One of my biggest goals is to continue expanding the community events, family activities, and charitable initiatives hosted through my studio. As the business grows, I hope to be able to give back on an even larger scale—beyond my annual toy drives—and create more opportunities for local families, children, and small businesses to connect, support one another, and make lasting memories together. To me, success isn’t just measured by business growth; it’s measured by the positive impact we can make in the community around us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mbphotography.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mbphotography.bayarea
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mbphotographybayarea
