MSI Photography

07/06/2007 - "Just wanted to introduce myself..."

I figured since I had a break in weddings this week I would post a blog for my interested brides on WedPlan and tell you a little bit about me...

My name is Melissa and I am a young 28 almost 29 year old woman. Although young for my profession I have had over 10 years of paid photography experience. I say paid experience because I took my first awesome photograph when I was five but I can't put that on a resume! LOL. I photographed for my high school paper, again, not another resume item! I then went into the Marine Corps in 1997 and was formally trained in photojournalism. So my experience officially began in 97. Haha. I was a military photojournalist for 4 years and then I went to work for Dennie Farris. He is one of the older, very experienced wedding photographers in Modesto, CA. I learned a great deal from Dennie, he shot maily Hassablad medium format film cameras and was very traditional with his poses and the way he conducted his business. I am very grateful for being able to learn from a master photographer. I then wanted to expand my porfolio and began working overtime with Lifetouch school photography. I was a school photographer, candid yearbook and sports photographer with them until I was absolutely worked to death and decided I wanted to work for myself. Having my daughter had a lot to do with that! I didnt work for a year so I could be with her. I had my son while I was in the military so I was working through the majority of his "milestones". I certainly didnt want to do that again if I didnt have to.

I started my photography business part time four years ago. I was also doing graphic design and web building for many local clients. I researched many of the valley and bay area photographers and their prices and I was astonished at what some of them were charging. I decided I needed to have less expensive packages and offer more prints and an album for EVERY client. I am very down to earth and have been raised in the valley, so I am very understanding to the financial burden of a big wedding on hard working California lower to middle class families. I wanted to be able to provide professional, priceless photography to families who really deserve it but cant afford to pay $2000 just for the photographer to show up. I didnt want people to have to take a second mortgage just to get all the prints and albums they wanted. I feel blessed with my family, husband, children and the talent to compose great pictures. Weddings are often the happiest day in the couples relationship aside from the births of their children if fortunate enough to experience that. I am always happy to know families will be viewing and sharing images I took to their loved ones for many years, even generations! Oh, Im limited on characters, Id better stop, more later!!! Melissa.