BEHIND THE CAMERA

Hi, I'm Kristal, the photographer behind Maia Stone Photography. I am passionate about capturing people in beautiful lighting, with flattering poses and authentic expressions. My artistic process blends creative direction, a trained eye for detail, and collaboration with my clients. Whether working with camera-shy adults, energetic toddlers, or large business groups, I have techniques and tricks to guide the process. With over 20 years in the arts and 12 years as a professional photographer, I’ve refined my craft for telling stories, preserving personal moments, and creating images that feel timeless and artistic.

In 2016, I created Studio Northwest, a fully equipped rental studio designed to support photographers and videographers. It quickly became a thriving rental space for Portland’s photo community, providing an affordable and professional studio for creative productions. In 2023, I sold the studio to new ownership, proud that its legacy continues.

I feel grateful to call Sedona, Arizona home, a place rich with beauty, inspiration, and creative energy.

I hold a B.A. in Fine Art Photography and Anthropology from U.C. Santa Cruz and have further developed my expertise in studio lighting, advanced Lightroom, and Photoshop retouching at the NewSpace Center for Photography in Portland, Oregon.

A little more her-story...

From early childhood through my teens, I spent countless hours drawing, painting, and exploring photography. I have always been captivated by picture-making, storytelling, and capturing the human experience. Observing people’s gestures, facial expressions, and the intricate details of a place is second nature to me, it’s how I connect with the world.

I geek out over the science of light, fascinated by the way it moves, reflects, illuminates, and casts color. My parents nurtured my artistic passion, exposing me to a diverse range of art genres. While living in Europe, I was profoundly influenced by European sculpture and painting, deepening my appreciation for the human form, technical mastery, and the creative rendering of light.

At my core, I have always felt an overwhelming sense of wonder at the beauty in the world. Every person I meet is uniquely beautiful and precious, and through my art, I seek to celebrate that uniqueness.

MY APPROACH

I am "hands on."

With consent, I touch people's hair, adjust clothing and give feedback to help guide our process. I show photos on my camera so that clients feel at ease about what we are capturing and get the opportunity to make changes.

I am detail-centric.

My eyes track EVERYTHING: Light casts, foreground, background, hair wisps, positions of hands, tensions in the body, feelings expressed on the face- seeing all the details is my super-power, helping me to serve my clients with beautifully, crafted photos.

I am here to serve you.

This is not about my ideas of beauty or how I think you should look. Your comfort, style and expectations are my priority. Asking my key questions is important to making sure poses look natural and expressions are authentic.

I love what I do

What People Say About Working With Me

"Kristal came to our office to take headshots for our website. She did a fantastic job from start to finish. On the communications front, Kristal was always very responsive and arrangements were easy to organize. During the shoot she made everyone feel at ease and provided great direction. Post-shoot she turned the photos around quickly and did a beautiful job on touch-ups. I would definitely recommend Kristal and would use her services again." - Imelda K.

"I have worked with Kristal for 4 years, and she is quite the professional (dedicated, organized, great follow-through), a great personality (warm, gentle, upbeat), and such a talented artist. I think her website speaks for itself. Absolutely gorgeous. Some of her work has really touched and moved me. It has been such a pleasure to work with Kristal, and I hope to continue working with her for years to come." - Tira R.

"Kristal is an amazing photographer. She is professional and truly has an eye for beauty. She is also delightful to work with. I was a bit nervous about having my head shots done but she has such an incredible presence and ease; she makes it light and fun and has excellent timing to find the best shot. I love all of her work." - Christine C.