My name might throw you off at first. I'm pretty sure you have already said or thought, "how the heck do you say her name?" ;) Welcome to the story of my life. Ha. I have had so many different pronunciations and nicknames because of it, but ya know what, I love my name!! My parents were set on the name Maya several months before I was born, but last minute it was actually my Dad who saw it spelled differently and couldn't imagine it any other way.  So Maija it is!  It's the Scandinavian spelling, which is fitting since I am Norwegian. And it means Of the Sea or Bitter. That part makes me laugh because I'm really neither of those.  I love the sea yes, but I was not born around it nor do I love swimming in it - I like to sit next to it or be in a sail boat floating on top of it sipping on yummy drinks! And bitter, well, I am definitely not that. Happiness and thankfulness are two things on the top of my "ways of living life list"! Plus I really like to use exclamation points and use words like definitely, totally, and completely!! My name should really mean - "one who likes to have fun and enjoy the moment!"  

real weddings

When it's all said and done I hope we end up friends!  My goal is to be much more than a presser of the shutter button, I want that to be the icing on the cake.  Yes, you need to connect with my style, but WAY more than that you need to connect with me and hopefully feel my heart and passion for what I do!!

I know I'm the lucky one. I'm the one who gets to peek into the windows of a couple's life and then get invited right in the front door to experience one of the biggest events in their journey together!  I get to cry behind my camera while I watch a father dance with his daughter (and I totally do this!), giving her away and yet welcoming in a new member to their family. I get to capture the raw emotion, the extended warm hugs, the exuberant dancing in celebration with friends and family who come together to lift up the new happy couple.  

And one last note before you continue scrolling....My Style! It would best be described as "directed photojournalism" - it's pure raw emotion meets cover-of-Vogue amazing! I believe in beautiful natural lighting (it's the ideal paintbrush), incredible backgrounds, and choosing locations very carefully. I never pose a situation that is already magical, yet understand that direction is a powerful tool for designing a gorgeous end result. 

The results are in! Thanks to all my AMAZING couples Maija Karin Photography has been given the Couples' Choice Award for 6 years in a row and is the 2018 pick for The Knot best of weddings!!

| Boise based but washington grown |

**Central Washington is my home away from home. My travel fees do not apply to the Wenatchee/Leavenworth valley** 

"Her pictures are fully conceived creations without ever looking contrived or cliche.  Hire her, you will be thrilled!" 

**reach out for your customized package and more details**

I provide mock-up timelines for your wedding day to get the most out of your wedding photography with the least amount of stress.

 It's your big day! You should have it run joyously & smoothly!!

 If you are blurry eyed from all the gazillion wedding photos that you have looked at, you are 1000% normal and are probably feeling a little overwhelmed.  There's a lot of us photogs out there!  I admire many of them.  So here is my advice, REACH OUT IF: you feel like you can find yourself in the images you see, you connected with one or more of the ravs written from past couples, or you thought I said something that made you go, yep I think this girl might get me! :) Because, truth is, it's SO much more than pretty pictures. The relationship between you and your photographer is what creates the magic in your images and allows you to truly be 'YOU' in front of the camera.