Rising Stars: Meet Maria Dewing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Dewing.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
Growing up in Manhattan, I always knew how lucky I was to live in this diverse, expansive, and the beautifully insane city I call home. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything, and in a way, the city itself shaped and molded me. Every neighborhood in New York is a microcosm of architecture, art, culture, and cuisine just waiting to be explored. And explore it I did, fueling my wanderlust and curiosity.

Then, the Twin Towers fell, and the world was never the same. Neither was any New Yorker who remembers it, which led me to pursue a career in security consulting, designing solutions that protect buildings and people. Even though my work is demanding, I travel extensively in my free time, roaming other cities, towns, and the countryside in search of their essence and soul. I always loved the visual arts, but my passion for making art was unfulfilled. One day, during a brutal NYC rush hour commute, I started editing some photos of cityscapes I took in Prague to distract myself from the horrors of the subway. The process was soothing, and I liked the result, so I started sharing on Instagram.

My photography centers on my travels, architecture, and hidden gems in NYC and worldwide; I love showing folks the legit local spots that tourists don’t frequent and places off the beaten path.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
Oh, are there ever! Instagram has gone through so many changes at the creators’ expense. The algorithm affecting engagement, the oversaturation of sponsored content, the fact that it now positions itself as a video app, and the list goes on. I’m working on mastering reels and deciding how much I want to focus on making those. And of course, this being a social media platform, you run into the authenticity problem. This is why I do not work with brands that do not align with my values. Also, why do I never post about a product or experience that I didn’t genuinely enjoy? If I can’t recommend something to a friend in real life, then I’m not recommending it online.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In those early days, before the algorithm and reels and ads, creativity on Instagram was thriving, and influencer marketing was nascent. But as time went by and my followership grew, so did the number of partnership requests from various brands. I harnessed some of the experience I picked up as a social media intern at the United Nations and decided to try my hand at content creation.

I got to work with companies such as JW Marriott, Ricard, StreetEasy, and many others. I consulted a non-profit on their social media outreach and marketing strategy; I managed social media for a beloved local restaurant Vesta in my current neighborhood of Astoria; I forged some incredible friendships along the way. I love that I get to share my vision and adventures with people. Nothing is more gratifying than being told, “our trip to NYC was amazing thanks to your photos.”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/werdenwirhelden/