God touches my heart with photography....

Glad sometimes I can do the same with my clients. (*tears) Thank you for sharing Leah =)

Leah sent me this message on my facebook....

Today would've been my Mamaw's 81st birthday. We lost her in December. So, my aunt wrote on my facebook wall that she loves that picture of me and her mom. I wrote her back and said I love it too and I wonder if wedding photographers know how much their work really means. So I decided to pass this on to you!!! I'm so incredibly thankful for all of the pictures I have with her...especially on my wedding day. Your work really means everything...THANK YOU

2008 Favorites!!

I am so blessed to have had a wonderful year in photography! I have met some amazing people and been to some great places. Never could I have imagined that photography would have given me so many oppurtunities. Not only has God given me more than enough clients but He also has given me an abundence of new friends and many chances to experience the love and support of those friends.

2008 was a very hard year for me personally and I know if I didn't have the love from some of you that I wouldn't have made it through. So while I will always look back on this year with sorrow, I will also remember how these trials have made my relationship with Christ stronger, how these trials have made my heart more tender and the place that these trials make me the woman I am today.
So with all the tears and smiles of 2008:
It's going to take a bit to load though.

Makes it all worth while!

I love what I do but I will be the first to tell you that during June-July I struggle. This is such a popular time for senior pictures, weddings and family events that I stay really really busy. I struggle with family time and business time. Every year around this time I ask myself the same question "Can I handle it?" but then you get people who take time to tell you what the work means to them and it makes all my time and love I put into it worth it! Thanks to all my friends/ customers that have left me love here are a few I loved:

Nikki and Eric:
Melissa- you take the best pictures!!! I thank GOD that we found you!...the pictures are terrific!!

Brandi and Bryan:
Awww you make us looks so cute and such a great family!!! When I was little and we would go get our pics done I would look up at the walls and think I wanna be one of those families ~ and look now we are!

Recommended Wedding Vendor

I have a very talented friend who has opened his own pianist business! You can check it out @ OhioWeddingBells.com


Isn't that a great name! I have worked with Stephen on many occasions and I have found him to be very professional and friendly. I'm sure he will be the perfect addition to your special day!
Not only is he a talented pianist but also a web designer, his site is really well put together.
Hmmm I may require his design services in the future....
Great job Steph-O! You are such a kind person, I'm looking forward to watching your business grow!

Raves and Reviews

I've had a couple of requests for references and reviews so I thought I should catch up on posting all the lovely replies my customers have sent. Thanks so much to all of you that have taken your precious time to write such kind letters and comments. Although I do want to say that God is the giver of talent and without Him in my life I wouldn't have these wonderful reviews. So here goes:Hey Melissa! I just wanted to let you know that we have received the album and the cd. They are great! They are everything we had hoped for! It was a pleasure to have you as our photographer, and we will recommend you to everyone that asks for a photographer! Thank you soo much. Keep in touch!

Thanks again!
Amber and Rich
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It was fun doing the at home session, Melissa. I was worried that Jonas wasn't being his happy self, but you definitly used your talent and made it work. The pics are adorable!!
-Ange
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mellissa,
i havent even seen the rest yet but im so excited the slide show is wonderful and thank you for the special tribute it was great im watching the movie right now in fact. cant wait for the rest i know they are absolutely beautiful thank you thank you

MELISSA,
HEY, PICTURES WERE GRRRRREAT! THANK YOU FOR THE NICE PICTURES OF SCOTT AND I. YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB. WHEN SCOTT FINALLY GETS AROUND TO PROPOSING PERHAPS YOU CAN DO YOUR FOURTH WEDDING WITH THIS CRAZY CREW. KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK MY DEAR AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT JUNE.
-GAELYN
P.S. YES YOU'RE AWESOME!
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Hey Melissa,
You are the greatest photographer that I know. You have been so great to us, and we are so very thankful for all the hard work you have done for us. I am speechless on some of these photos, I can not wait to see more. I know that I am going to have a hard time picking out my favorite because they are all awesome. You are such a blessing and a great help in making our wedding magnificent. Love ya girl!!!! Mandi
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Oh my gosh Melissa!! That was beautiful!! I am so thrilled that you were our photographer! I could never thank you enough for the absolutely amazing work you did on our wedding! You are truly talented, the gift that God has given you is amazing. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts! Jason & Caitlin Thomas

Melissa,
Thanks so much for the wonderful photos that will preserve a wonderful day! I was moved to tears to see my beautiful family and friends on such a great day. Thanks again, Vickie Armstrong aka the mom!

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Mellissa,
These are so good!
I can't wait to see
all of them.
Its a blessing to see
someone using the gift
that God has given them.
Gloria
----------------------------------It was a pleasure working with you-I felt so comfortable and we both like you a lot! Once again Thank you
Alissa
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Hi Melissa! How kind of you! You are a wonderful person! I so very much appreciate your graciousness, and your professionalism, with both Jesse and Molly's wedding, and Caitlin and Jason's wedding! What a blessing you have been to our families! Debbie
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I loved the pictures that you took, and I also enjoyed talking with you at the wedding. If anyone ever asks, I would recommend you as a photographer not only for your great work, but for your warm and friendly personality.
Lisa Thomas

It really pays off to just be yourself!

Hello everyone! I just finished filing some emails and I came across
an email from a sweet bride who's wedding is just around the corner
and this one sentence really blessed my heart. It really does give
me strength to continue on by knowing that I can be a blessing to others.
So here is a much deserved THANK YOU to God for keeping me where I need to be. Thank you Caitlin for just being incredibly sweet! I can't wait until your wedding!!!!

Caitlin wrote this in an email on July 28:
Oh, and I just wanted to say, that Im really happy that you are a nice person, if I had to deal with another mean vendor, I was not going to be a happy camper, so, thank you!!