Lauren Maye

I was raised in the Bay Area, California by a single mother, and much of who I am today was shaped by an upbringing rooted in creativity, curiosity, and connection. My grandmother introduced me to art museums, wildflower picking in the Almaden Hills, jazz music, books, and eventually one of her old film cameras , this was the beginning of everything for me.

Photography quickly became less about taking pictures and more about preserving feeling. Through years of photographing friends, families, children, landscapes, and life as it unfolded around me, I developed a deep appreciation for honest imagery and the beauty found in ordinary moments.

Outside of photography, I’m a mother, nature lover, home cook, baker, and someone deeply grounded by connection, both to people and to the earth itself. That perspective naturally shapes the way I approach my work: with intention, calm presence, and an appreciation for emotion, atmosphere, and the moments that feel most real.

More than anything, I want the people I photograph to feel comfortable enough to fully be themselves , because that’s where the magic always lives.

A woman taking a photo with a camera, smiling and winking, in a room with a plain wall and large tropical plant leaves.
A bride in a white gown and a woman in pink are sharing a moment in a warmly lit room with wooden floors and white walls. Lauren Maye photographing a lesbian couple at the Arc Light Venue. A wedding sign and floral arrangements are also in the scene.

I don't really fit neatly into one category, and honestly, I hope I never do.

I love a beautifully set table with good wine, tiny bites of caviar, and someone explaining why this particular vintage is life-changing. I also think a basket of nachos and an ice-cold beer can be just as perfect. Give me a black-tie ballroom one weekend and a backyard wedding with everyone barefoot the next, and I'll be equally in my element.

That's kind of how I've always moved through life.

I've been fortunate enough to experience worlds that don't often overlap, and somewhere along the way I realized that people are just...people. Whether you're a CEO, a bartender, a rancher, or a surgeon, everyone wants to laugh, feel seen, love deeply, and have someone tell their story honestly. I think that's why I connect so easily with my couples. I don't care what table you sit at, I just like pulling up a chair.

I'll happily lose my voice cheering on your dance floor, probably drop an occasional four-letter word while fixing your veil (with love), and then quietly disappear when it's time for the emotional moments that deserve to unfold without an audience.

I'm endlessly curious. I can spend hours reading about herbalism, cellular biology, or whatever random rabbit hole has caught my attention that week, and then immediately balance it out with some absolutely questionable reality TV. I love thoughtful conversations, inappropriate humor, bookstores, beautiful meals, live music, and the kind of nights where nobody checks the time.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: I'm a little refined, a little rough around the edges, sentimental without taking myself too seriously, and convinced that life is far more interesting when we stop trying to fit into a single version of ourselves.

So if you're looking for someone who can blend into a luxury wedding, laugh with your uncle at cocktail hour, dance with your friends, cry during your vows, and somehow still notice the quiet moments everyone else missed... I think we'll get along just fine.