Candid, story-driven photography for family celebrations and corporate events in NYC.

From birthday parties and baby showers, to conferences, galas, and street fairs, I capture sincere moments as they naturally unfold: with care, clarity, and style.

Request Event Photography Coverage in NYC
Women at a networking event conversing, some holding wine glasses, with warm lighting and wooden decor in the background.
Three people, two men and one woman, are on a rooftop terrace at night, engaging in conversation. Tall city office buildings with illuminated windows are visible in the background.
Two women singing karaoke together, smiling and enjoying the moment indoors with a white brick wall and window in the background.
A street vendor cart selling popcorn with a large colorful umbrella on top, with a man standing next to the cart and a girl sitting nearby looking at her phone, on a city street with trees in the background.
Five people sitting on chairs on a stage during a panel discussion, with a large screen displaying the panelists' photos and names behind them.
A man and an older woman sharing a joyful, affectionate moment, with their foreheads touching and eyes closed, indoors in a warmly lit setting.
Three women laughing and smiling at a social gathering, with other people in the background.
A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a black and white striped blouse, holding a glass of white wine, at a social gathering or bar.
Two women are holding hands in a supportive handshake, one wearing a green jacket and the other wearing a blue textured jacket.
An indoor live music event with a performer playing guitar on a stage and an audience seated at tables, some drawing or taking notes.
Crowd of people at a street festival with vendor tents, flags, and green trees lining the street.
An elderly man and woman are smiling while holding hands and looking at each other, appearing joyful and sharing a happy moment.
People attending outdoor wedding ceremony, with couple walking away from the camera, holding hands on a grassy path in a lush green setting.

Trusted by organizations and hosts across NYC, including

Sagard Capital, Portage Invest, Dumbo Business Improvement District (BID), West Village BID, Sunset Park BID, HausControl, Yael Halaas Plastic Surgery, Luna Dental, HGL ART Preschool, Hit the Books, Gotham Pickleball, Anchor Health Home Care, Abode Care, Attentive Care, Strands Fiction, Yohanna Laurus Piano, Ty Peterson Illustrator, Joshua Reynolds, Creatively Wild Art Studio, Sophia Ottley Jewelry, Youth Choir BALSIS, Latvian Folk Dancing Group “Jumalīte”, New York Latvian Summer Camp, The New York Latvian Concert Choir

Bubie’s birthday at the Yale Club, Meg & Ryan’s wedding at “The Garrison” (second shooter with Sarma Ozols & Co), Diana & Marvin’s Central Park elopement, Anna & Allen’s celebration of love, Emily & Daniel’s wedding shower, Zinta & Andris’ wedding morning, Olivia’s holiday party, Vivaan’s 2nd birthday, Inta & Marty’s life growing up, Kalvis and Kaija’s childhood, Judd’s christening, Rita’s family photos, and more!

Request Event Photography Coverage in NYC

I photograph family celebrations and corporate events throughout NYC, including showers, birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, engagement celebrations, conferences, galas, street fairs, and public programming.

I’m all about capturing the real, in-between moments - the ones that happen when no one’s looking but say everything about the energy of your event. I’ll blend right in so you can stay present, but will step up and call the shots if the moment calls for it. And don’t worry about photo limits; if it’s part of your story, I’m getting it.

I’ll catch you mid-laugh, mid-hug, mid-chaos: the good stuff.

What the people are saying (aka, reviews):

  • “We had a wonderful experience working with Mara, she was professional and responsive to all of my inquiries. She was warm, patient, and incredibly attentive to detail, capturing each special moment with care and artistry. Mara has a natural ability to make children feel comfortable in front of the camera, which truly brought out their personalities in every shot. All the photos were beautifully composed and thoughtfully edited, preserving the spirit and joy of the day. We're so grateful for her work and we will have her to capture our future events. I am highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented and kind photographer!”

    May 2025 | 5-star Google review (piano recital)

  • “Needed a photographer in a hurry for a last-minute job and I am absolutely thrilled with Zalimar’s results! As a longtime PR professional, I can recommend Mara's work as being of the highest quality. She understood exactly what I was looking for – compelling action shots of people having fun while playing pickleball. Her results were fantastic; both the venue and the group playing were delighted with her images. She delivered lots of choices, in focus, on time. I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Highly recommend!”

    April 2025 | 5-star Google review (pickleball)

  • "Your photos from the event [Sunset Park September Street Fair] are lovely. I really like the way you captured the spirit of the day."

    September 2025 (Executive Director of the Sunset Park BID in Brooklyn, NY)

  • “I used Mara for my bridal shower and wow- she was incredible! Super easy to work with, personable, reliable, and captured the day beautifully through her photos. She documented every detail perfectly including awesome candid shots of my guests and myself, detail shots, and group photos. She made sure I got any photo I wanted. She delivered the photos to me digitally just two days later which was so appreciated. I highly recommend Mara for your future photography needs!”

    May 2025 | 5-star Google review (bridal shower)

  • "It was wonderful having you and I really felt like you were just so attentive and thoughtful in your sort of way of moving around the room and asking who should be photographed with who and putting it all together and just being patient."

    October 2025 | Family Birthday

  • “Mara is insanely talented. I wanted to create a headshot that felt fun, and relaxed. With just one inspo photo, Mara came to my apartment with suggestions, full layouts, kindly adjusting set up to make sure we reached a photo that felt fun for my business. We started with a chill exercise and she started the whole process with saying "we can take as many as you need." It made me feel immediately at ease. I am 100% working with her in the future and highly recommend! Life saver.”

    March 2025 | 5-star Google review (headshots)

  • Mara was amazing to work with! Professional, punctual, and very talented. The photos came out beautifully and captured every detail perfectly. Highly recommend!”

    August 2025 | 5-star Google review (corporate event)

  • "Mara did an amazing job at our company event, capturing key moments and the liveliness of the crowd. We are really happy with her work and so are our attendees who happily shared the photos on their socials."

    October 2025 | 5-star Google review (2-day, 100-person corporate happy hour and international conference)

  • "Love love love the pics. You nailed it, especially with getting the best and most pics of my mom. She had the best time! Thank you sooooo much. "

    October 2025 | Family Birthday Celebration

Young girl dancing and jumping with arms raised at a lively indoor party or dance event, surrounded by other children, colorful lights, and graffiti on the wall.
An elderly woman with short, curly white hair and red glasses, wearing a blue top with a decorative brooch, appears surprised or intrigued, standing indoors with framed artwork in the background.
Family celebrating a birthday with a cake and sparklers, with two children and an older man, in a decorated room.
An elderly woman with gray hair touching a smiling young woman with dark hair on her face, both in a warm moment at a celebration, with a welcome sign and floral decorations in the background.
Three women gathered in a bright room, two with their backs visible looking at their phones, while the third woman in the background is talking and touching her chin.
Young girl smiling and playing with water outdoors, splashing water over her face, wearing a sleeveless dress with a floral pattern, holding a green bucket.
Children at a party, some dancing and some sitting on the floor, with colorful lights and a graffiti wall in the background.
A young girl with curly hair wearing a tiara and a gray shirt, smiling while painting with pink and purple colors on paper at a table covered with orange and red cloth. In the background, other children and art supplies are visible in an art classroo
Children playing outside, reaching for bubbles with sticks, in a grassy yard surrounded by trees.
A bridal shower table setup with a white pearl decorated clutch, several printed game and menu cards, and a pink cupcake in a black paper cup.
A young girl with red hair and blue eyes sitting outdoors in a forest, wearing a shiny, purple dress.
An older man and a young girl walk on a dirt path surrounded by lush green trees in a park.
A man holding a smiling baby outdoors with a blurry green background.
A smiling elderly man with glasses and white hair, dressed in a tuxedo with a white bow tie, standing indoors.
Two young children with bright blue eyes dressed in winter jackets and hats sitting in a stroller outdoors, smiling and playing.
A woman with black hair wearing a white blazer playing the piano viewed through a mirror.
A woman sitting on a beige armchair near a window with sunlight shining in, next to a white dresser with a bouquet of flowers and a copper-colored lamp on top.
Close-up of two people holding hands, with a group of people blurred in the background in an outdoor green setting.
Women sitting at a table, signing cards, with plates, glasses of water, and utensils in front of them, during a gathering or celebration.
Two women sitting at a table laughing and talking, with colorful background and flowers.
Group of four people standing outside on a lawn, smiling and holding drinks, viewed through a window with orange frame, with bushes and flowering plants in the background.