Documentary Family & Lifestyle Photographer in Los Angeles

Documentary family and lifestyle photographer in Los Angeles and surrounding areas capturing authentic moments through natural, heartfelt photography. Specializing in weddings, birth, families, seniors sessions, branding, and life celebrations.

The most meaningful moments are rarely planned. They unfold in a glance, a laugh, a quiet embrace, or the way light falls across an ordinary afternoon. My work is about noticing those moments before they disappear.

As a mom, photographer and educator, my years of teaching have taught me to observe rather than interrupt. Children, and really, people of all ages don't need to be constantly directed; they need to feel seen, comfortable, and free to be themselves. That perspective shapes the way I approach every family, portrait, and life event I photograph, allowing genuine moments to unfold naturally.

The Beauty of Being Seen

portfolio

The variety of my work

weddings

Engagement + Weddings

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Where you will find your collection

family lifestyle

Family documentary and portraits

booking

Can't wait to hear from you!

Share with me what's in your heart and will reveal how I see it.

LET ME TELL YOUR STORY. Real, unposed and unscripted!

MEET IVONNE MARIA

I have struggled with forgetfulness for as long as I can remember, particularly in recalling moments from a childhood rooted in a place that is no longer home.

Though I left Costa Rica, its warmth has never left me. After moving to the United States, I grew into adulthood, embracing roles as a mother, Spanish teacher, and photographer.

In 2010, I discovered something unexpected. With a camera in my hands, I found a quiet ability to notice and preserve the profound connections between people. In those moments, everything else in my head seemed to disappear.

I found presence, I felt grounded, guided by an intuitive sense for anticipating the fleeting, meaningful moments we all hope to preserve a way of honoring life’s beauty through each image.

Years of teaching have taught me the value of quiet observation. Children and really all people don't need to be constantly directed; they need to feel seen, comfortable, and free to be themselves. It's this perspective that guides my photography, allowing me to document genuine connections and meaningful moments as they naturally unfold.

LEARN MORE

Based in Los Angeles, I create timeless photographs that celebrate the genuine connections and milestones of families throughout Santa Monica, Venice, Mar Vista, Pacific Palisades, Culver City, Manhattan Beach, and surrounding areas of Southern California.

ST LOUIS. MISSOURI

FINE ART PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Welcome to [Your Business Name], where we turn every portrait into a masterpiece. Our sessions are all about capturing your personality and creating images that truly reflect you. From professional headshots to family portraits and artistic editorial shots, we make the experience relaxed, personalized, and uniquely yours.