Westside Studio Welcomes Maya Fuhr
Westside has officially welcomed photographer and multidisciplinary artist Maya Fuhr to its roster, a move that brings her emotionally rich and highly stylised perspective to a new chapter with the studio.
Known for her intimate portraits, painterly compositions, and soft yet striking use of colour, Maya’s work exists at the intersection of fine art, fashion, and image-making for brands. Her visual style blends vulnerability with strength, and elegance with a touch of surrealism. Over the past decade, she has built a body of work that spans editorial, commercial, documentary, and experimental projects, cultivating a signature aesthetic that is both instinctual and instantly recognisable.
“We’ve long admired Maya’s ability to create images that feel deeply personal and still completely polished,” said Caitlin Jeffery, director of sales at Westside. “There’s a truthfulness in her work that draws you in, and we’re excited to help her bring that sensibility to our clients.”
With a growing client list and international recognition in both the art and fashion worlds, Maya joins Westside at a moment of exciting momentum. She’s collaborated with brands like Chanel, Canada Goose, Sephora, and Coach, bringing her distinct perspective to each project. She’s a natural fit for brands looking to tap into cultural nuance, authenticity, and imagery that resonates on an emotional level.
Whether she’s working with emerging designers, established brands, or developing her own conceptual series, Maya brings a rare combination of intuition, creative precision, and a strong sense of storytelling that runs through all of her work.
Read on for an interview with Maya about her creative process, inspirations, and what this new chapter at Westside means to her.
Q> You’ve just joined Westside Studio for commercial representation. What made this feel like the right fit?
Maya> Westside has a great reputation and has been around for decades. I’m at a pivotal point in my career, where a supportive foundation is imperative for me to thrive and nurture my craft. Their studio spaces are beautiful and the team is dedicated and connected - they have all been working with each other for a long time, so I trust them and their instinct with production and over-seeing visions come to life. As an artist, uncertainty is part of the process and change can be scary and uncomfortable, but I'm not really alive unless I'm a bit uncomfortable and embrace new relationships and change my career’s trajectory. This is exciting!
Q> You’ve had such an interesting path through the industry. How did you first get started in photography?
Maya> I first started in photography as a young kid, overwhelmed by the beauty and chaos of the world. I had a lot of energy, so it was a way to channel it and focus on my surroundings. Sharing myself visually, instead of using words, was always a natural self expression. Since I'm self taught, my path has been very intuitive and healing. I learned about the world, my friends, gender, sexuality, fashion, the world really, all through capturing it on my Pentax K1000. In my early twenties living in Montreal, I was so curious, documenting my life and everything I saw in this new and inspiring city - so different from Victoria. It was a way to not feel alone, it gave me purpose. I started out shooting documentary style series like Garbage Girls for VICE - and using magazine outlets to share people’s stories, subcultures, musicians I loved, etc. I quickly saw that fashion was the perfect conduit to share my strange ideas and create visibility on a bigger scale than just Facebook, Instagram or Tumblr.
Q> Was there a particular moment, project or image that made you realise this was what you wanted to do for a living?
Maya> I have many memories that come up that made me realise I wanted to be a photographer. It’s always been such a gift when people trust me to take their photo, and inspire my vision. In the early days, it sort of felt like being paid to be myself, to share creativity with the world, to meet people that inherently were excited to be in my presence and be photographed. Seeing my subjects happy about how I really captured their authenticity or gave them confidence fulfills me to this day. There was a moment when I was photographing my 95 year old grandma Stella in stilettos, in her living room beside a vacuum cleaner and it was like the world stood still, I couldn’t get enough - I was almost in disbelief of her generosity and trust that I felt euphoric. I must admit, when I started to get paid for shoots like that, it gave me the opportunity to prioritise and finance my addiction to shooting rolls and rolls of film each day - it was thrilling to be validated for my passion. I still get a rush when I receive my developed film from the lab and instantly go through them. The process is incredible, and early on it felt like a win/win, shoot and fund my passion! It’s such a privilege to be able to do what I love as a career.
Q> What’s something people might be surprised to learn about how you work on set?
Maya> The less shot-list and planning in pre-production the better for me. I like to leave room for spontaneity, creativity and collaboration. Magic arises in the moment!
Q> You also work in video, fine art, and other mediums. How do those creative outlets influence your photography?
Maya> No matter what the medium, I'm always there creating - that’s what drives me. Switching up the medium and focusing on different outlets like video or installation, allows me to come back with a new appreciation and longing for photography. I think it’s really healthy to take a pause and revisit projects later. When I direct or have an art exhibition I'm usually consistently taking photographs to document the process. All in all, balancing balance is key- and each medium brings out different experiences and artistic expression! Creating physical art can be so cathartic - and solitary, and then directing video is pretty social, collaborative and immersive. Photography is usually quietly in the background for all of it, it’s second nature.
