by mphotoadmin | Jul 8, 2015
Well this blog post is way overdue but I couldn’t help but post these precious moments I got with the Mahoney family. Little Victoria is such a sassafras with her little grey elephant, Baby. She did not want to put that thing down! Their session took place by the salmon falls bridge in this cute area where most people don’t think to stop besides the occasional fishermen. I’m pretty sure those guys were not our biggest fans that day and left with less than the desired amount of fish. We were pretty loud trying to get miss stubborn to break that straight face!!
I don’t normally ask clients to say “CHEESE” because you get a fake cheesey smile that way. Of course I did not ask Victoria to say “Cheese” but I still got this cheesey smile!!
Her mommy and daddy can definately provoke her to giggle and smile!
Oh the many smiles of Victoria!!
The lake made for such a breathtaking background and we finally got some genuine smiles from miss thang!!
I love when I capture sweet moments like these. She loved picking all the flowers!
I have a feeling this girl is going to take many adventures in her life!! Watch out mommy and daddy soon enough this girl will be traveling all across the world breaking hearts!
Love when littles naturally pose their hands just right!!
Miss Sassafras might turn on that attitude but she also definitely knows how to butter you up and turn the sweet on. Such a spirited kid who definitely is too smart for her own good!! Love watching her grow into her own self each year!!
by mphotoadmin | Jun 2, 2015
It was such a delight to catch up with these little gentlemen. This drought has been really tough on California but it has also unveiled some gorgeous foregrown for photographers to take full advantage of. Im channeling my glass half full side! If it was a rainy season all these rocks (that make natural seating) would most likely be under water. With a beautiful bed of rocks, an aging rainbow bridge and a growing Kosciuk Family… in height not numbers (I mean look at those long legs on those boys) it made for a beautiful evening.
Mr B! is it for baseball or Braden? The two do go hand in hand!
Mr. Adam or shall we say Scotty. I’m pretty sure its the cutest thing ever that his mom calls him that and it was pretty much his name by the end of the shoot if it was up to me!
It was such a delight to catch up with these little gentlemen. I had the pleasure of teaching them in preschool as well as many nights of babysitting followed by great conversation with Jen and Ryan after they returned from their date night.
Such a sweet family and wow do they take a great portrait! We still have some green on those trees, and a few spots open in June and July for family portraits sessions! To book call 916-390-6627.
by mphotoadmin | May 19, 2015
We orginally planned this shoot just for little Ella but we took one look at the location and had to incorporate both girls. Such graceful little girls there was no question, both of them had to be a part of it. Ella is such a nautral caregiver to her little mini me she made the experience flawless. Ava was full of smiles for me and definately knew how to work the camera.
After getting a few shots of the girls together and Ava alone it was time for miss Ella’s close up. Her soft and gentleness with her sister flows through every aspect of her personality all the way to her sweet little rabbit.
Mama was looking for the sun kissed flare look and we were definately able to achieve that by the light of the lake and purple flower field. We took a little walk from the purple flowers to this beautiful field of dry grass where Ella got to try out her fairy princess side. She got a kick out of it and I got a kick out of trying to get her to grant a wish to the sky and flowers!
We all had a lovely evening out by the lake soaking up the last of the beautiful spring colors!
by mphotoadmin | Oct 15, 2014
One year old Jett and I recently had a play date at Castle Park in Folsom. A place of many fond memories for his mother and I. Where many after school shenanigans took place and endless hours of laughter. Brittany (Jett’s mom) and I were only acquaintances growing up. Being a year apart in school we had many mutual friends and experiences that tied us together but never really became friends. It wasn’t until years later when Miss Anderson became Mrs. Smith and then Mommy Smith that our friendship has grown and I have been so blessed to watch her children grow up into little people!
So back to Jett and my play date. This play date was not like most of my play dates with my little people I photograph. This time we had a real super cool airplane prop (provided by another one of my clients! I love having awesome clients) I mean rightfully so for a boy named JETT!! Gotta have a theme with that name! And boy does his name fit! I think you might have a future pilot in your hands Brittany because we could not tear that boy away from his airplane. He made sure to put his hands on every last piece of that plane. I think he had found his first love! He was definitely Mr. Popular at the park that day with kids lining up to see the rad airplane and the boy who flew it!
You would think that he would have pitched a fit like any one year old would have when it was time to move on to the next thing but no not even-tempered Jett! He was ready for the next adventure of the day! We played for a few minutes on the swings and then it was time for CAKE!!!! Who doesn’t have a custom made delicious cake made for them on their first birthday?! Jett delicately had a few bites of cake and then smashed his hands in and squished around. Talk about some sensory integration!
He enjoyed that cake and then the adults dug in also! Couldn’t let good cake go to waste!
What a walk in the park this session was. I can always count on Jett to deliver the smiles!
Your playmate,
Mel
by mphotoadmin | Jul 7, 2014
I have just recently started to feel like I have come into my own as a photographer. Many have told me that I am an amazing photographer but I have not always believed it myself. I found myself always getting inspiration from other photographers (which in theory is good) but what I really wanted, was to be my own inspiration. Just like any artist, I wanted to look at my work and see my happiness, my struggles, my HEART and myself!! Awww, that word ARTIST. I still feel like it is hard to call myself an artist. But more recently, I have started to see it because, what does “artist” really mean? The dictionary defines it as “a person who creates art: a person who is skilled at drawing, painting, etc.“, but I see it as an exploration of one’s soul manifested into a tangible object. I think anyone can be an artist in their own fashion, mine just so happens to be photography and more specifically, children. To me children are the pieces of my soul that hold me together, the purest form of love lies in a child’s heart and if I can tap into that for a few minutes while hanging out with them, well, then my heart is that much more full and my artwork is that much more meaningful.
I think my struggle with photography was like anyone’s starting something new. Just because your passion is in art you still have to hone that skill and slowly develop it. For the last few years I have wrapped myself up with learning as much as I could about photography and the business of photography. While still trying to be a functioning member of my family, I completely delved into learning all that I could and eventually I got lost in learning what others do and lost focus on what I can do! My heart, soul and spirit were wrapped up in the mechanics of it all and I forgot what it felt like to be passionate about photography. Now you may wonder how I was able to refocus. I hadn’t only lost my passion for photography but also in life. I was depressed and cranky. You try spending all your time editing, invoicing, marketing in a very messy house (because who has time to clean when you are editing until 2am) and still feel happy with the path you’re on. I was not and something had to change.
From all the classes on the mechanics of photography and the business of photography I slowly was able to put a system in place to keep my business organized and restructure what I offered to make myself successful and happy. I know there are a lot of articles out there from prominent photographers speaking about how to structure your pricing in order to be successful by not giving away the farm. These articles helped me quite a bit when I chose to go from a shoot and burn photographer to offering beautiful pieces of artwork to my clients. These articles are great but the ones I read were missing one important aspect for me! I was not only giving away the farm when I was selling a portrait session and DVD for less than minimum wage but I was also giving away a piece of myself. My artwork was not reaching its full potential when it was sitting on a CD somewhere in someone’s drawer. I was taking these great images and saying see you later to them hoping that someday they would go from being little eggs to a full grown chicken (yeah, yeah I am going to far with this giving away the farm analogy I know!) BUT SERIOUSLY!!! I had no control over what was being done with them! I was seriously getting depressed. I found myself designing albums for myself because I was so inspired by the story told in the session that I couldn’t let it go! I wanted these stories written across pages in albums, or splashed across the walls of my clients’ homes or at least printed in a nice image box to be displayed when desired! The other part I was missing was getting to see my client’s reaction when they saw the images for the first time. I find it very important for my clients to be involved in the selection process. Of course I narrow the 300+ images down to about 60-80, but at that time it is important for the client to choose which one tells the story of their family. By going to the client’s home and walking them through the selection process they get a more customized and personal experience and I get to hang out with these people I like so much and cuddle and giggle with my mini mes (I find that every little kid wants to be me after they leave a session. I have had clients send me pictures of their kids playing Miss Mel the photographer!) Spending time with my clients is very important to me, not just as their photographer but because I love people! The more stories I hear about others lives the more fulfilled I am in my own. I am constantly learning about myself by stepping into others lives for a bit. I guess that is just the psychologist in me! Oh did I mention I have a degree in psychology!
I know not everyone agrees with me and that is fine. I hope you can find a photographer that best fits your style but I am here to make my clients’ souls and spirits happy and I have chosen the clients that want to invest in my happiness as well because that is what the human experience is all about: not only making a happy life for yourself but also for the people around you!
Happy Clicking,
Melissa
