I have had a lifelong and very passionate love affair with paper. When it came to time choose the paper for my own wedding, I had to resist the urge to lay down in the middle of the store and roll around amongst the linen paper. (Blissful people do strange things, ok?)

I’ve been thinking about my business cards for longer than I care to admit. In my head the perfect business card was letterpress. And just a teensy bit quirky but still simple and clean. In short, it needed to epitomize who I am and the brand of pictures I take. Not exactly a easy task.

Enter Jenni at Lunalux. I had a dream and she was all about making that a reality. Jenni was wonderful from start to end; and even when I did a complete 180 in the look I was going for, she was right there by my side making that happen.

In the end? I have business cards that scream my name (in a very classy, letterpress way – of course) and that I LOVE. In all capitals.

I must also say a huge thank you to my friend Sarah at Jeune Marie who pulled together the personality of the card and essentially handed it to me on a silver platter. She is a creative genius, no lie.

If you are in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area – go visit the Lunalux shop. In addition to doing custom work, they also have an amazing collection of hilarious (and sweet) greeting cards. You will be a punch card carrying member in no time!

I have a confession.

I am totally addicted to Tori & Dean on the Oxygen Network. I realize this ranks as classy as my love for Hannah Montana and my collection of summer sandals from the Gap but I just can’t help it.

What’s even more depressing? I actually think they make fairly good parents.

It’s ok. You can judge.

Because posts are always better with a picture, take a gander at my handsome husband.

my dad taught me to laugh at myself
my dad taught me how to serve
my dad taught me how to be myself
my dad taught me algebra (many, many times)
my dad taught me that I could do anything
my dad taught me to love Star Trek (The Next Generation)
my dad taught me to love God
my dad taught how to keep my elbows in when shooting a free throw
my dad taught me to put others before myself
my dad taught me to adore anything grilled
my dad taught me how to live

Happy Father’s Day daddy. I love you.

(Not my daddy; this handsome guy is Whitney’s daddy.)

i’m yours,
melissa

Now that the ink is dry on the contract I am ecstatic to share some amazing (UH-mazing) news!

For the longest time, (I am little embarrassed to admit how long) I was convinced that there was not one photographer in the Twin City area that I could get behind. Not a single photographer who’s photographic style I could L-O-V-E.

Almost 2 months ago to the day, after a conversation about getting into the wedding photography industry with Whitney, I happened upon Photogen Inc. and Eliesa Johnson. (This blog post will now be changed to “the day my life changed” for dramatic purposes.) Mustering my big-girl mindset, I shot off a rambling, barely coherent email to her in hopes that she would take pity on my obvious insanity and choose to love me. In truth, I didn’t expect to get an email back from her; not that she seemed like THAT photographer but I think when you email someone whose work you admire, you hardly expect for them to even read their OWN email let alone take time out of their busy schedules to email you back.

Well, she didn’t take me up on my offer to be her bag-carrier-lens-holder-extraordinaire (shocking since I referred to my own craziness not once – not twice – but THREE TIMES in my initial email) but she did do the unthinkable…she invited me down to her studio to talk shop. (Perhaps after the email she should have picked a crowded public spot? Stranger danger.) The day came and I had prepared a list of questions in my mind and I arrived with my camera bag; you know, in case she spontaneously asked me to accompany her to a photo shoot…for reals.

Oh, I can laugh at it now but you don’t know the kinds of crazy, hopeful things I was thinking in my head.

One thing did happen. Eliesa and I hit it off like old friends. We talked about business, we talked about the struggles associated; we talked about travel and hometowns and websites and other photographers (don’t you want to know). I left feeling inspired and ready to get down to some serious business. I also felt like I could take on the world and Eliesa would be right there cheering me on.

A few days post meeting, while chanting my don’t-forget-to-send-a-thank-you-card-like-you-usually-do mantra, I got an email from her asking if I would be interested in a potential opportunity and would I be willing to come in and talk with her about it.

Ummmm, YES AND YES and ps, is this what Heaven is like?

Starting in August, I will officially be an Assistant Photographer with the amazing crew at Photogen Inc. (happydancehappydancehappydance) Look for more on this later in the year.

See that fancy picture? My fabulous new friend Melissa Johnson of Melissa Louise Photography did head shots for me back at the beginning of May and I can vouch for the fact that she truly is wonderful.

Every once in a while she does studio mini sessions and they are the perfect amount of direction and candid.

If you are in the area – do it! Even if just for fun.

So.

I’m watching So You Think You Can Dance and they just showed a montage of dancers who have been told they made it through to the Las Vegas portion of the competition and as they are jumping around and celebrating I feel myself getting emotional.

Woah. Hold on. Really?! REALLY OHOLENDT?

But, here’s the thing. I know what those contestants are feeling. That complete and total elation when you realize that your dream is literally in your hands.

My camera is my Vegas ticket.

And since this is a photography blog after all – here’s a sneak peak from Whitney & John’s amazing wedding last weekend.

Big things are happening.

i’m yours,

melissa

This made my day.

(Though I read that Google has what they call little “spiders” that “crawl the web” and um…I REALLY THINK THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE METAPHOR TO SOMETHING LESS CREEPY. )
i’m yours,
melissa

You know that part in the movie Notting Hill where Hugh Grant’s character is saying goodbye to Julia Robert’s character after their somewhat messy introduction to each other? I will never forget what he says to her.

“It was nice to meet you; surreal, but nice.”

If I could sum up my young life in photography the tag line would read, “surreal, but nice”. I feel like I’ve spent the last few months floating along in this dreamlike state and in truth, I don’t ever want it to end.

I am exactly where I am supposed to be, of that I have never been more sure.

Surreal, but nice indeed.

i’m yours,
melissa