Maria Steppe
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & FILMMAKER
@maryxsteppe
ABOUT
Hi, my name is Maria.
I am the creator and heart behind Wonderveld Pictures.
I did not grow up thinking I would become anything close to photography or creativity. Like many, I chose a path that felt reasonable: reliable, structured, safe. I studied computer science and built a career in project and product management.
And I truly loved it.
But something was always calling me.
THE CALLING
It started when I began to travel. I felt a deep desire to capture what I was seeing - not just with my eyes, but with feeling.
The light of a sunset in the Namibian desert.
The presence of wild animals.
The connection between people I've observed.
And later, a couple who had built their retreat space inside a natural park, whose passion for what they had created was like a fire in their eyes.
My desire to capture their essence completely took over.
In 2019, I got my first camera. And everything changed.
Filming and photography became something I cannot fully explain. It is a feeling of connection. Of seeing beyond the surface. Of being fully present in a moment that will never exist again.
WHEN I FILM
I feel alive.
WHERE WONDERVELD PICTURES WAS BORN
Over the years, I realised something about myself. I connect deeply with people. I listen. I see what matters to them.
My background in management taught me how to think clearly, structure ideas, understand goals and achieve objectives, plan strategically. My creative path taught me how to feel, observe, and translate emotions into visual stories.
This is where Wonderveld Pictures was born.
Today, I create films and content for people and places that carry meaning. To create stories that make people feel something real. To inspire, to connect, and to open new possibilities. Because the businesses and places I film deserve to be seen for exactly what they are — and I am here for that.
STILL AT THE BEGINNING
This is just the beginning of my journey. I am learning, exploring, and creating every day. With curiosity, with honesty, and with heart.
I dream, I explore and analyse. I create stories through the eyes and voice of other people. No matter how unknown it feels in the beginning.
WHAT I BRING
Deep human connection
I listen. I see what matters. I understand before I film.
Strategic creative mind
8+ years of systemic thinking combined with a creative eye.
End-to-end production
Concept, shoot, edit, deliver — all in one.
Curiosity that never stops
26 countries traveled. Lived in 3 countries over last 8 years. Curiosity is my main driver.