Hi! I’m happy that you are here.

A smiling woman with long wavy hair, wearing a blue top, holding a lemon above her head against a peach background.

Welcome! My name is María Rivera, I am a Guatemala-born photographer based in Chicago.

I create editorial-documentary photography for intimate weddings, portraits, and meaningful seasons of life.

Photography is an art form I deeply enjoy, it reminds me to slow down and celebrate the beauty of being human.

My gift is creating a space where people can feel at ease and enjoy the experience of being seen. I love continuing to grow as an artist while sharing this form of expression with others.

A woman with long dark hair and hoop earrings taking a selfie at night. She is wearing a sleeveless top with a decorative sun necklace on her shoulder. Behind her, colorful papel picado banners hang from trees, and red chairs are visible in an outdoo
A group photo of four people, including a man with sunglasses and a beard, a woman with dark hair, a small child with a big smile, and a woman with long dark hair wearing a white dress, all smiling and posing together in front of an orange decorative
Group of six people taking a selfie at a social event or bar, smiling, with a bookshelf and other people in the background.
Close-up of a cat's ear and part of its head, with a blurred background of furniture and a laptop screen.

For the ones who like the long-story short:

I was raised surrounded by warmth, color, and a deep appreciation for family and community. At twenty-one, I left Guatemala to work with a nonprofit, I graduated as an elementary teacher and supported low income schools and refugee communities around the world. This work allowed me to live in countries like Jordan, Mexico, and India reshaping the way I see life, beauty, and the sacredness of everyday moments.

My journey with photography began in 2017, when my son was born in Richmond, Virginia. He became my first muse and the reason I began documenting the fleeting, honest moments of life.

Since then, photography has become a way of expressing what I see and care about. Through documentary and storytelling photography, I explore connection, emotion, and the quiet beauty found in human experiences.

Now based in Chicago, I continue to deepen my craft through intimate weddings, meaningful celebrations, and personal artistic exploration, creating images that feel timeless, soulful, and real.