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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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.

i’m yours,
melissa

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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.

i’m yours,
melissa

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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.

i’m yours,
melissa

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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:

First Blush Bride Event Planning:

Live the Fancy Life:

Justin Timberlake, here I come.

i’m yours,
melissa

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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.

i’m yours,
melissa

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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.

i’m yours,
melissa

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I almost emailed her back and told her I could do it. Almost. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, or I didn’t care enough about Cinnamon, Steve and Cece to want to do this for them; the opposite in fact. I didn’t know if I could do this. I love to invest in my clients; I love to get to know them and connect with them and on that level, I didn’t know if I could be strong enough to do this for them without turning into a puddly mess of tears. But I realized my fears of being connected were the exact opposite of what I have based my business on. I knew that if the tables were turned, Cinnamon would go out of her way to help me and I knew I wanted nothing more than to do the same for her.

We met the weekend before Christmas and this family blew me out of the water with their laughter and kindness. I showed up expecting nothing and they gave me such a beautiful example of the love of a family.

i’m yours,
melissa

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i’m yours,
melissa

my portfolio | email me

follow me on twitter

I’m usually not big on black & whites for my photos but there was just something about this image that made me love a little b&w action.

So, there’s a story. While brainstorming shots Ben asked if I would be willing to photograph Rowan in front of the house with the family cars and, of course, I was all about it. He set the little guy up in his ‘hood outfit and Rowan gave me his best tough moves. Pure awesomeness.

i’m yours,
melissa

my portfolio | email me