Meet Seven Meraz of Photos By Seven

Today we’d like to introduce you to Seven Meraz.

Hi Seven, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Honestly, I never saw myself becoming a creative person.

I was never the guy who said, “One day I’m going to be a photographer or videographer.” I was more of a regular dude-dude — sports, gym, work, and keeping it moving. The creative world was not something I thought I belonged in. I respected it, but I never imagined myself being the person behind the camera.

That changed in March 2025 when my wife and I traveled to Tokyo, Japan, to celebrate her birthday.

My wife is a creator and influencer, so she was already familiar with cameras, content, and the creative space. But for this trip, she really wanted to enjoy the moment and experience Tokyo without feeling like she had to document everything herself. So I thought, “You know what? Let me grab one of her cameras and make sure we have some memories from this trip.”

That one decision changed everything.

The moment I picked up the camera and started taking pictures, I saw the images coming out and thought, “Wait a minute… these actually look good.” Then came the dangerous thought every beginner has when they accidentally take a decent photo: “This ain’t that hard.”

Of course, I had no idea what I was doing yet, but that trip sparked something in me.

When we got back, I wanted to keep testing it out. I asked my wife if we could do a small photoshoot just to see what I could really create. We booked a studio, and I walked in with confidence but very little actual knowledge. I didn’t really understand lighting. I didn’t really know camera settings. I was mostly guessing and hoping the camera would agree with me.

But when I saw the final pictures, I thought, “Hold on… these aren’t bad.”

Around that same time, Cam Kirk Studios was hosting a free night school session with photographer Mecca Clarke. That was special to me because Mecca was actually the photographer who took the first professional pictures of me and my wife when we were boyfriend and girlfriend, and she also shot our engagement pictures.

So I went to the class.

Mecca taught a lot of beginner knowledge about camera settings, studio lighting, and how to approach a shoot. After she finished teaching, she let us practice. When my turn came, she gave me the camera settings and the light settings. I stepped up, took the shot, looked at the final image, and in that exact moment I said to myself:

“I can do this. And I can become one of the best in the city.”

That was the moment the fire was born.

After that, everything changed. I became obsessed with learning. Camera settings, lighting, posing, editing, composition, marketing, branding — I was absorbing everything at a speed that honestly didn’t even feel normal. I created my logo, built the name Photos By Seven, and started taking this seriously.

Now, I’m one of the fast-rising photographers in Atlanta. I’m booked every week, and sometimes people can’t believe I just started last year. Honestly, sometimes I can’t believe it either. The growth has been so fast that even I have moments where I sit back like, “How did this even happen?”

But every time I ask myself that question, I always come back to the same answer: my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I truly believe Jesus blessed me with wisdom, speed, strategy, and the ability to absorb knowledge quickly. So while I’m proud of the work I’ve put in, I give all the glory to God. He opened the door, gave me the vision, and helped me move with a level of confidence I didn’t even know I had.

What started as me just trying to capture memories for my wife in Tokyo turned into a whole new purpose. Photography and videography became more than just taking pictures or filming moments. It became a way to tell stories, create experiences, build a brand, and help people see themselves in a powerful way.

And the craziest part is, I’m really just getting started.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, it has not been a completely smooth road, but I also can’t sit here and say it has been extremely hard either.

I’ve heard a lot of photographers talk about the struggles they faced early in their journey, and for me, a lot of those same issues just didn’t happen the same way. I truly believe Jesus continued to bless my journey and open doors for me. Clients started coming to me very early and actually wanted their pictures taken by me almost immediately.

In the beginning, I only did maybe three or four free shoots to build my portfolio. After that, I quickly started to see my own skill, value, and worth, so I began charging for my work. What’s crazy is that even with a small portfolio, people were still willing to trust me and pay me to take their photos. That alone showed me that God was really moving in my business.

But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been lessons.

One of the biggest things I had to learn is that people don’t just want to see the photos. They also want to know the person behind the brand. At first, I was so focused on being behind the camera that I didn’t realize how important it was to also step in front of the camera. I had to learn that building a brand isn’t only about showing the work — it’s also about showing who I am, what I stand for, and why people should connect with me.

So the road has had challenges, but I see them more as lessons than setbacks. God has blessed the journey, but He’s also been teaching me how to grow as a creative, a business owner, and a person.

As you know, we’re big fans of Photos By Seven. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Photos By Seven is a photography and videography brand based in Atlanta, and at the heart of it, we help people and brands look like the best version of themselves.

I specialize in branding photography, portraits, and event photography, and I also offer video services for clients who want to bring their story to life in motion. Whether it’s a business owner needing professional branding images, someone celebrating a personal milestone, a couple hosting an event, or a brand that needs photo and video content, my goal is always to create visuals that feel clean, intentional, and memorable.

What I believe sets Photos By Seven apart is the experience. I don’t want people to just show up, take pictures, and leave. I want them to feel confident, comfortable, and seen. A lot of people come into shoots saying, “I’m not photogenic,” or “I don’t know how to pose,” and my job is to guide them through that. I help with posing, direction, energy, and making the whole process feel natural. By the end, they usually realize they had it in them the whole time — they just needed the right person behind the camera.

I’m also very intentional about making every shoot feel personal. I don’t want my work to look copy-and-paste. I want every client’s photos to match their personality, brand, story, or moment. If it’s a branding shoot, I want the images to help people take your business seriously. If it’s portraits, I want you to see yourself in a way that makes you feel confident. If it’s an event, I want you to be able to look back and actually feel the energy of that day.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of how quickly Photos By Seven has grown and how much trust people have placed in me. Sometimes people find me with just a small sample of my work and still decide, “I want him to shoot this for me.” That means a lot because it shows me that the brand is already speaking for itself. I’m proud that people see quality, creativity, and professionalism when they see Photos By Seven.

What I want readers to know is that Photos By Seven is not just about taking pictures. It’s about storytelling, confidence, and creating visuals that help people remember who they are and what they’re building. Whether you need photography, videography, branding content, portraits, or event coverage, the goal is always the same: to create something you’re proud to show the world.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can support me by following Photos By Seven on Instagram and TikTok at @Photosby.Seven.

Liking, reposting, sharing my work, and even recommending me to someone who needs photography or video services helps the brand grow more than people realize. Every share, every comment, and every referral makes a difference.

For anyone who wants to work with me or collaborate, they can reach out through DM, email, or my website: www.photosbyseven.org.

Whether it’s branding photography, portraits, event photography, video services, or a creative collaboration, I’m always open to connecting with people who want to create something intentional, professional, and memorable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.photosbyseven.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosby.seven/