Rising Stars: Meet Andria Meixner of East Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andria Meixner.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey into photography began in a junior high science class darkroom, where I first fell in love with the magic of watching an image appear on paper. That spark reignited years later when I became a mom. After my first child was born in 2007, I took more than a thousand photos of him in his first month alone—on a little point-and-shoot camera. By the time my second child arrived in 2008, I had purchased my first DSLR and began learning everything I could. In 2009, I photographed my very first session, and Andria May Photography was officially born.
Over the past 15+ years, I’ve photographed families, seniors, newborns, weddings, and more, working in what I call a “hybrid” model of digitals and prints. My clients loved their images, but I often noticed those portraits ended up hidden away on a computer instead of being lived with and loved in their homes. As both a mom and a photographer, that never sat right with me.
This spring, I made a change. I went all-in on offering a boutique, full-service photography experience for Gilbert and East Valley families and seniors. Today, I guide clients through every step—from wardrobe styling and session planning to designing heirloom albums and wall portraits. My passion is helping families see their kids as wall-worthy and making sure those fleeting moments don’t just get documented, but displayed, remembered, and passed down.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Running a photography business while raising four children hasn’t been easy. Seven years ago, after my fourth child was born, I almost put my camera down for good. Life felt overwhelming, and balancing motherhood with a business seemed impossible.

But my camera kept calling me back. Deep down, I knew I was made to do this. That season taught me resilience and clarity—it forced me to reexamine why I was doing this work and how I could serve both my family and my clients in a sustainable way.

Choosing to keep going wasn’t easy, but it became the turning point that shaped who I am as a photographer. And this year, I decided I wasn’t going to play it small anymore. I know I have something amazing to offer, and I’m ready to share it with the world.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Here’s your About My Work with boutique terms swapped in:
I specialize in boutique, full-service portrait photography for families and high school seniors in Gilbert and the East Valley. My work is about more than just creating portraits—I guide clients through the entire process, from wardrobe styling and location planning to the finished artwork that hangs in their homes.

My process is simple but personal:
Discovery Call — We connect to see if we’re the right fit and talk through the details.
In-Home Consultation — I design a custom portrait session and learn more about who I’m photographing, as well as how you’d love to display your portraits—whether through heirloom albums or wall art.
The Session — With a clear vision in place, your portrait session feels effortless and authentic.
Design & Ordering Appointment — We come back together to select your portraits, and I guide you step by step on how they’ll be displayed as custom artwork.

I’m most proud of creating an experience that feels effortless for families and seniors while producing portraits that truly capture who they are. Many photographers stop at sending digital files, but I believe your story deserves more. I walk with you through every step of the process so your portraits don’t stay hidden on a computer—they become heirlooms displayed in your home and artwork passed down for generations.

What are your plans for the future?
This year was about going all in on boutique, full-service photography—and I’m excited to keep building on that. My focus for the future is to continue serving Gilbert and East Valley families and seniors with an elevated, full-service experience that makes their portraits effortless and meaningful.
I’m looking forward to telling more stories through custom portrait sessions, expanding the ways I help clients enjoy their portraits as heirloom artwork, and connecting more with the community. I also plan to grow my blog and educational content so families can feel even more supported in preparing for their sessions.
Looking ahead, my goal is simple: to keep creating portraits that go beyond digital files and become a legacy for the families I serve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.andriamayphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imandriamay/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndriaMayPhoto
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andriamayphoto/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/andria-may-photography-gilbert
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@imandriamay

Image Credits
All images are by: Andria May Photography. My headshot is by: Whimsical Light Photography