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freedom

July 4, 2010

I feel a pull every year on this freedom-driven Holiday; a sense of obligation to honor, love and serve the people who spend (or spent) their lives dedicated to the service of keeping our country the land of American dreams and progress.

This year, I am spending my 4th of July spending time with a best friend I have missed dearly on an Army base in Kentucky. This holiday, while we enjoy sangria, berries and fireworks, her husband is deployed to Afghanistan protecting and defending this country we love in heat we know nothing about with threats we would care not to know about. More than anything I want to spend this holiday celebrating their sacrifice as a couple and the sacrifices of my family over their years of military service so that I can enjoy every day of my freedom as an American citizen.

To soldiers and veterans everywhere, thank you. There are no more words. Thank you.

Happy 4th to my love, my friends and the people I owe every thing to.

i’m yours,
melissa

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featured! eat drink pretty & utterly engaged

June 10, 2010

I’ll admit it; sometimes life isn’t as blissful and picturesque as I might want to think. Sometimes Life just flat-out throws a fist-of-doom at you right square in the stomach just to get your attention and prove a point. (Yup. I just used an analogy of Life being the equivalent of a street fighter. Pretty sure that’s who I’ve been trading sucker punches with the last few weeks.)

In the darkness of some cloudy days came one amazing ray of sunshine. Jenna of Eat Drink Pretty made my week and featured Kimber & Chas’s fabulous Utah engagement session. If you don’t follow the Eat Drink Pretty blog, you are missing out. (I mean that.) Between her panache for making the most gorgeous sweet treats, she also posts about one of my very favorite topics: entertaining.

I also found out that a couple of the photos I took of the JNP Studios Workshop Tablescape were published in Issue 9 of the online magazine Utterly Engaged. The tablescape was all about the manly-man so I’m sure they were – ahem – thrilled with the uber-girly squeal that escaped my lips when I first saw my name.

Even though it hasn’t been the kindest of last 30 days, I know how blessed I am to have my photography recognized by a blog and an online publication that I love. Blows to the stomach included, I realize I am living one hell of a charmed life.

I have so many fun blog posts coming up soon including the details of two spectacularly gorgeous Minnesota weddings. Look for those to hit your Google Reader this month, but first…I must go put Life in a headlock. He deserves it.

i’m yours,
melissa

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Posted in engagements, lifestyle, personal, uncategorized, weddings | 6 Comments »

a year

May 24, 2010

At the beginning of May I had my own little anniversary date; May 3 marked the date of my first official photo session. I won’t lie, I look back on those first photos in my portfolio and I cringe a little (a lot) but I also celebrate because I have come far since those beginning days. I have failed far more than I have succeeded thus far but out of that I have grown in knowledge, in skill and in confidence. And while I still have so far to go, it’s a little piece of joy to look back and be able to say that I am a totally different photographer today than I was back then. 

My hope for next year is that I can look back and cherish where I am right now; WHO I am right now because I think the recognition of how far one has come is important but remembering who you were is just as important. A year ago, I was holding myself back in protection from the fear of the unknown but today I am purposefully running full stride in the direction of fear and uncertainty. I know my failures will be numerous but that’s ok because playing it safe is no longer in my vocabulary.

I am so grateful to the clients and friends I have gained since the beginning of this journey. I have been entrusted with documenting one of the most important events in a couple’s life and I am being honest when I say I am totally honored by their trust. 

Saturday was the first wedding of my second wedding season ever and let me tell you, it set the bar pretty high; can’t wait to share. Until then, Happy Anniversary to me and a heartfelt thank you to my clients, friends and support system for pushing me and believing in me. I would not be here without you.

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i’m yours,
melissa

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Posted in engagements, lifestyle, personal, uncategorized, weddings | 10 Comments »

callie chappell | lifestyle

April 7, 2010

I haven’t said this to many people but I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be a part of the photography community in the Twin Cities. I really do. I constantly find myself in awe of the talent of my friends and colleagues but more so I also find myself in awe of their humility and eagerness to encourage.

There has been a lot of chatter lately about what community in the photography industry means and how to live it. Well, this is me raising my hand in support of the environment that has flourished in the Twin Cities. It is a community that really is about community and being there for each other through good times and bad. We’re a community that takes silly photos of each other just because we can. We’re a community that pushes each other to succeed. There are very few times in life where I can remember feeling so swept up by a community of like minded peeps. (And before I sound too much like a cult member – onto the photos. Oh dear. Just…keep reading.)

One of the best parts of this community is the people and one of my favorites would have to be Callie Chappell. (For reals.) Callie is sweet, gorgeous and hilarious; pretty much the definition of a triple threat. Callie is also a Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer in the Twin Cities and when she emailed me asking if I would be willing to do some quick headshots for her, I literally jumped at the opportunity. And then I turned it into a full-fledge THING and made her go out in the 40 degree weather with her bare arms and legs, but this is what I do. We all know this.

Dear Callie, thanks for making my job easy. I adore you.

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i’m yours,
melissa

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Posted in lifestyle, uncategorized | 22 Comments »

jen & casey | lifestyle

March 28, 2010

I wish I had photographed their wedding.

There, I said it. Nevermind that it was 7 years ago and at that point I was still in college persuing my dreams of psychology architecture interior design undecided communications. Nevermind all that. I still wish I had. You see, Jen & Casey have the type of love that invites people in; the type of love that is equal to a night of board games with your best friends. Comfortable, silly and over-the-top fun.

Jen & Casey, thank you for everything. Thank you for making me laugh (a lot) and THANK YOU for letting me in and see what you guys are all about. I’m so grateful to have met you.

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i’m yours,
melissa

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Posted in lifestyle, uncategorized | 12 Comments »

jnp workshop | part two

March 24, 2010

Two months ago, I spent a day with a roomful of strangers all with a solitary goal – to grow and invest in their futures in the photography industry. We listened together, laughed together, some of us maybe-might-have cried together. Bottomline, we all experienced this huge leap of growth together; the word powerful doesn’t even begin to touch the surface of the experience.

I can tell you first hand – I didn’t fully realize the value of a workshop until I attended one myself. It’s so much more than the things you learn on a material level; it’s also about the friendships you make and the people who in turn can challenge you, encourage you and mentor you. It’s 100% about getting out of your comfort zone (and for me that meant getting out of my zip code) and giving yourself the time and opportunity to be pushed in ways you don’t normally allow yourself or even in ways can’t do yourself.

I challenge you to invest in yourself that way in 2010; whether it’s Jeffrey’s workshop or someone else’s workshop (I am biased – go to Jeffrey’s!) it honestly has been the best thing I have done for my business this year.

JNP Workshop
Jeffrey Neal

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(The gorgeous couple in the photos is the stunning and talented Amy Tan and her beau JC. And neither is a model. Yeah, I didn’t believe them either.)

i’m yours,
melissa

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Posted in lifestyle, personal, uncategorized | 3 Comments »

for the love of california

March 23, 2010

It took one missed flight, an intense argument with a Delta agent, three “talk me off the ledge” conversations with 3 different people and nine ridiculously long hours in the Minneapolis airport but I swear to you the flight into Newport Beach was like my own version of the dream where everything is has a pink romantic hue to it and fog machines blow out puffy white clouds and you’re not quite sure if people actually have feet or if they are floating.

We chased the setting sun from MSP to SNA as it set into a rainbow of colors and at one point, I’m pretty sure that Jonathan Taylor Thomas tossed me a bag of gold-covered peanuts as he winked at me and blew air kisses. It was THAT good.

I am not ashamed to say that I fell head-over-heels in love with Orange County the moment my feet hit the sand. I conceptually and whole-heartedly understood why a disproportionate amount of my friends had thrown their hands in the air and moved to Southern California with zero forethought; only dreams of sunny beaches and 70 degree weather. Had there been time to spend a day at Disneyland, I might have done the exact same.

Dear Southern California, can we be besties for life?

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i’m yours,
melissa

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featured!

February 15, 2010

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“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

When I first started my photography journey, a very wise and wonderful friend gave me this advice: Dream BIG. There’s no point in dreaming if you don’t dream big. So I did. Some may look at my 5-and-10 year plans and laugh (There’s likely an entry for “Portraits of Justin Timberlake” in my ten year plan. No big deal.) but I am crazy passionate about making these things happen for myself. Yes, a lot of the things on my list are out of reach right now but what fun is there in aiming low?

In the past couple weeks I have been so humbled and honored to have some of my work featured on the blogs of women & publications that I respect and adore. With a huge thanks to these very fabulous women, I have been able to cross off one 2010 goal far (far!) earlier than I originally had hoped.

Minnesota Bride Blog:

MNBride
First Blush Bride Event Planning:

FirstBlushBride
Live the Fancy Life:

livethefancylife
Justin Timberlake, here I come.

i’m yours,
melissa

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Posted in engagements, lifestyle, personal, uncategorized, weddings | 14 Comments »

st. valentine

February 14, 2010

I know there are various opinions on the non-holiday that Valentine’s Day is but I venture to say that any day we set aside to celebrate the love that is in our lives is more than reason to celebrate.

To my own sweet, sweet Valentine. Life isn’t worth anything without you. Thank you for showing me God’s Love every.single.day.

Love deeply.

VDay2010_0001i’m yours,
melissa

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lizzie & matt | lifestyle – part 2

January 23, 2010

I’m a BIG Christmas fan. Always have been. Up until the year Matt and I married, I spent most Christmas mornings from 2:00am to 5:00am tossing and turning having internal fights with myself about the merits of staying in bed versus getting up to snoop ONE MORE TIME. I was an expert level tape unsticker and had mastered the art of rewrapping a gift to perfection; if there were an award given, I would win it. Hands down.

At some point during the years where my little brother was old enough to understand the Santa concept, I took my sneakiness a step further. At 6:00am every Christmas morning I would sneak into my little brother’s room and wake him up, whispering that Santa had come and eaten the cookies we left out (yes, this makes me a manipulator). He would run from his room to my parents room, inevitably screaming that SANTA HAD COME, SANTA HAD COME. People, I did this almost every year for 10 years. TEN YEARS.

My parents could never figure out how my little brother – who has always been fan number one of the concept of sleep – would miraculously wake up at 6:00am every Christmas morning. I should be hanging my head in shame. Should be. But I don’t because, secretly, one of my favorite memories of Christmas was the look of pure joy that my little brother’s face contained when I would wake him up.

I’ve never told him that but it’s one of those special moments that he and I would share every Christmas morning and this Christmas, as I knocked on his door to wake him up (at a very humane 9:00am, thankyouverymuch), I was vividly reminded of those looks of his.

You may be wondering what this has to do with Matt & Lizzie. I promise there is a point to this long story.

If you’re new to the ol’ blog; Matt is my little brother (not to be confused with husband Matt; we’re totally a nickname family) and Lizzie is his beeeeeautiful girlfriend Lizzie (whom I adore). That look of pure joy that I was referring to earlier? I see it all the time when they are together. And to this sister who is her little brother’s biggest fan? That look means more than I can say.

While I was home for Christmas, we headed into the Big Apple for some Central Park goodness.

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melissa

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