You may know her as the family friend of the Jonas Brothers, but Maya is all grown up now, living in Japan and following her dream. I was lucky enough to interview her, so enjoy!
Q: I can tell that you love photography. Was it something that you’ve always wanted to do or did you only fall in love with it recently?
M: I fell in love with photography when I was around 13. I was traveling to so many places, going to amazing events & concerts and meeting some incredible people but realized I had no photos of those wonderful memories. That’s why I started taking photos, as a visual diary of sort.
Q: You grew up with the Jonas family, was it hard moving to Tokyo and starting a new life there?
M: Yes. It was definitely a new & very raw chapter of life. Moving to a city where I didn’t know anyone (excluding my family, they all live here) and leaving my other family & friends was very difficult..but thank god for technology!!!
Q: What was it like waking up in a different country/city when you toured with the Jonas Brothers?
M: Astounding. I look back on it now and am still in awe/gratitude/delight that I got to go on tour. Everyone on the bus became a family. After the show we’d get on the bus eat our (midnight) dinner, talk, laugh, watch movies (sometimes Big Rob & I threw dance parties hehe) then sleep for a bit. Wake up grab our cereal & head into the hotel in some other new amazing location.
Q: What’s the one thing you fell in love about being a photographer?
M: Making an amazing one second in time last forever. As I said, my love for photography started by my “visual diary”and that’s entirely because you actually can make those incredible moments in life last forever, simply with a photo.
Q: Is there any particular country that you’d love to visit and take photos of?
M: That’s REALLY tough, but I’d have to say India. It’s so different from any place I’ve ever been. It’s very exotic and beautiful in so many ways.
Q: What are the pro’s and con’s about being a photographer?
M: Pros: the people you meet, the memories you can savor with the photos, doing something you love, going to all sorts of crazy places. Cons: VERY hard to make a living/get a steady photography job, (if you’re like me) you end up bruised all over from climbing things/pushing through people to shoot (haha)
Q: What’s one thing you love about Japan?
M: Tokyo, in general. The fashion/shopping!!!, food, people, parties. There’s never anything “normal” here.
Q: Is there anything you miss about America?
M: MY FRIENDS!!! well, and all the fast food and driving. I love road trips.
Q: When you were younger, what career did you want to follow, if it wasn’t being a photographer? Did you consider anything else?
M: From the time I was 4-12 years old I did commercials, modeling and was a regular in Seasame Street so I thought I wanted to be an actress, but quickly realized I didn’t. Around 12 years old I fell in love with psychology, I still am very interested in it. Then came photography. Although I’d love one day to go to Columbia University to study Philosophy. I am one of those people that wants to conquer every career! haha
Q: Describe yourself in three words.
M: Crazy. Weird. Cuddly.
