If you're reading this, you've probably pored extensively over the Blue Note portfolio already. So if there is one distinct thing I can say about them, it's that Melisa and Laif are people you want to hang out with. No one really ever tells you how much time you spend with your wedding photographers on one of the biggest days of your lives, but as it turns out, how well you mesh with your photographer/videographer can be pretty important. The moment we met Melisa and Laif through Zoom we knew they were the people we wanted to cover our wedding. Even through the screen, we could tell there was something about the way they communicate and how easy they are to be around. A wife-husband photo-video team seemed too good to be true. We met Melisa in person a few weeks later to do our engagement shoot, and we had a lot of fun with her. My husband is terrible at smiling for the camera, and she did an amazing job coaxing genuine emotion from him. Melisa shot film for us in the dark setting of Muir Woods and came out with spectacular results! As someone who considers herself pretty nit-picky, Melisa spent a good chunk of time talking to me about my preferences for editing, and it was wonderful to realize that Melisa truly wants to align with your vision and make sure we were happy. The wedding itself helped confirm everything we believed to be true from that initial Zoom meeting: Melisa and Laif were the people we were so glad to have by our side throughout the day. The only times my husband and I really got private moments with each other throughout the day were during Melisa and Laif (and their second shooters, who were also both extremely gracious!) stealing us away for more shots, and we couldn't have asked for better company. On top of taking excellent photos and video, their presences added so much to our wedding day. We always felt calm and collected around them, and we appreciated the time we got to spend away from all the buzz. Some of my favorite memories of the day include watching Melisa taking photos of our cat (despite being allergic!) while my sister-in-law made noises in the background so the cat would look at the camera, as well as the time my husband and I were waiting to walk into our reception, and how Laif, who was looking excitedly at his drone footage, couldn't help but show us an inexplicably cool aerial angle he had of us and how the light was casting our shadows in the most perfect way. I also have never seen a team working as hard as Melisa and Laif's on wedding day; I was truly so astonished watching how every second passed with all of them completely on top of their game. For the photos, we did a combination of digital and film (digital to keep the parents happy, film for my own love of film photography) and couldn't have been happier with the results. We'll be eternally grateful for all their hard work and their excessively kind demeanors! read more

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This photography team is by far the best I've ever worked with. Melisa and Laif are true professionals, with great artistic vision and creativity. They are reliable with quick turn around and are fun to work with too! We look forward to working with them again and again! read more

Working with Melisa was an absolute pleasure. She brought such a bright, cheerful, and grounded energy to the day. It truly felt like she was just as excited to be there as we were. Her presence made what could've been a long and tiring day of multiple locations feel joyful, light, and genuinely fun. She showed up early, fully prepared, and ready to dive into a full day dedicated solely to capturing photos. When things didn't go exactly according to plan, like everyone arriving earlier than expected and me feeling a bit unprepared, she was incredibly patient and reassuring. That calm flexibility at the start of the day set the tone and helped me reset and ease into the experience with confidence. What also stood out was her generosity and thoughtfulness. She helped plan the shoot across several locations, ensured the logistics would work, and even drove me from place to place to make it all happen. Every step of the way, she made things feel seamless, stress-free, and meaningful. She's quick on her feet and has an incredible ability to spot and capture the most stunning shots in the moment --making it look effortless. At the same time, she was incredibly intentional, making sure we got every image we had hoped for and more. She also never hesitated to advocate for the shot, gracefully clearing space and navigating crowds so I never had to worry about asking people to move or managing anything myself--I could just enjoy the moment. Even just from the sneak peeks, I was completely blown away. Every photo feels like a scene from a romance movie and some look straight off the cover of a romance novel. There's drama, softness, joy, intimacy, and magic in every frame. She doesn't just capture how things look--she captures how they feel. Melisa is a rare blend of artist, planner, and radiant human being. I can't wait to see the full gallery, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for timeless, cinematic, emotionally rich imagery. read more

Our family has used Melisa four years running for fall mini-portraits, since our daughter was a baby. She is such a kind person and a delight to work with. I believe she might be the only reason my husband agrees to do these every year :) Melisa's photos always turn out fabulous, despite the challenges of taking photos of a little one. Don't hesitate to book! read more

I got married three months and I'm still looking at my pictures Melissa took almost on a daily basis I don't even know where to begin on this review. Melissa knew exactly what she was doing and delivered such stunning pictures. There is not one picture that my husband and I don't like! Aside from her pro photography skills she is so sweet she even drove us to city hall to shoot some more pictures in her car. I can honestly say that the best part of our special day was our photoshoot that Melissa made so special. If I could get married every year I would just to have another fab photoshoot with gorgeous pictures! Now that I found a photographer whose style I love, I plan to use her for future events and special occasions read more

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We are so pleased that we selected Melisa and Laif to photograph our wedding at Cavallo Point. Both photographers did a wonderful job capturing us together as a couple as well as the landscape, the guests and the venue. We had a blast working with them, and we will cherish our collection of wedding and engagement photos forever. We highly recommend Blue Note Weddings. Thank you Melisa and Laif for all your efforts! read more

We had a great experience with family photos taken by Melisa in San Francisco. She managed to get our toddler looking adorable despite him being very active. We are very pleased with the results and plan to book future sessions with them. read more

Blue Note Weddings - Lover's lane family photoshoot - Event Photography Near Me

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Melisa and Laif are the absolute best. They're extremely talented, very flexible and easy going, and wonderfully friendly. Beyond what we expected! This was more than a "transaction" - they brought genuine joy and excitement to our special day. We feel like we made two new friends. More things we loved about Melisa and Laif: - They were very methodical in getting us the best shots - They sacrificed their seating so our families could be comfortable (we were on a boat) - Donated 2x the number of hours than contracted - Exceptionally patient - Melisa did my wife's hair perfectly (for the nice windblown shots) Highly recommended!! read more

Blue Note Weddings - Event Photography Near Me

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Melisa and Laif are the best Wedding photo/video team ever! My husband and I selected Melisa and Laif to capture our Redwoods wedding in September. Both of them are creative, kind, and fun to work with. Our requirements for the photos and video were to capture a fantasy/ natural feeling and both nailed it! Both are well versed on the tricks to make you look your best and feel natural. Melisa and Laif visited our ceremony site and reception multiple times prior to the event to get a feel for the location. Beyond their extensive prep they have the ability to find great spur of the moment ideas for photos. They convinced us to take photos in a creek that came out as magic! Melisa is an expert photographer, which is immediately apparent in her ability to select and edit photos with quick turnaround time. Her time management skills were on point all day. I am amazed how many photos she took despite our wedding party being 30-45 min behind. Laif knows how to elevate video with the right shots, speed, and music. Viewing our video is like watching a movie trailer. The drone footage is quite impressive. You won't find a videographer like him anywhere else. I cannot recommend them enough for capturing your beloved memories! read more

Blue Note Weddings - Event Photography Near Me

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I CAN'T GET OVER THE PHOTOS MELISA CAPTURED FOR US!!!! I have cried, smiled and laughed looking through them and I haven't been able to get any work done since we looked at them! She captured our day PERFECTLY!! I can't even begin to describe how much my husband and I love these memories - THANK YOU, MELISA! We are over the moon! MELISA IS THE BEST!!!!!!! read more

Melisa, Laif, and their team are wonderful to work with! We hired them back in 2020 before the pandemic started, and had to postpone several times. But with each postponement, I knew I wanted to keep Blue Note in our vendor team! They are true artists, so kind and lovely to work with, and extremely responsive. When our wedding day finally arrived in June of 2022, they did an outstanding job. They were quick and efficient and it made the whole day feel calm and fun, rather than chaotic. Melisa has an amazing eye and gave us great direction when we were taking portraits. I can't wait to work with Melisa again for Christmas Card shots, you name it! The album she put together for us is outstanding and something we'll treasure for the rest of our lives. I can't say enough good things about Blue Note. If you're looking for a photography team, do not hesitate, just hire Blue Note and you won't regret it! read more

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Melisa is super professional. With her great service, we could have a successful wedding. She not only cues and ensure every detail in our portraits look perfect but also capture all the spontaneouse interaction we have. she is patient and professional as well. read more

It was a pleasure to work with Melisa. She took amazing pictures for us and was very professional. I highly recommend her!!

Melisa and Laif truly went above and beyond to make our wedding day spectacular (8/24/2019)! Melisa captured every moment with her extraordinary photography skills and Laif created the most perfect video of our special day. We had our ceremony at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden (Redwood Grove) and our reception at the Fairmont Hotel in Berkeley, California. Melisa and Laif made sure to capture all the "stunning" shots by having us travel the world of the Botanical Gardens and included incredible photos of the glorious Redwood grove. We then headed to the Fairmont where we posed with family and had some fun shots taken of the Rolls Royce before going to the reception. Even during the reception, Melisa and Laif grabbed us so we can include some golden hour shots in front of the hotel (mind you they were both there when we were getting ready at the hotel that morning!) We greatly appreciate the videos sent by Laif of all the speeches and have replayed them several times all ready. Additionally, Melisa came back the following day to continue taking outstanding shots of our Persian ceremony! Melisa and Laif make an excellent team! We are extremely happy our wedding planner (Mandy Scott) recommended them and hope you'd consider them too! Thanks again to you both! You are exceptionally talented and fun/easy to work with- we will be reaching out soon for more occasions to come! read more

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My fiance and I hired Melisa and Laif to shoot our engagement photos in San Francisco and we're completely blown away! First off they are super friendly and professional; they accommodated our date request WAY in advance and made it easy to meet them on location. They were extremely helpful making sure we got the shots we wanted and even came up with good off-the-cuff ideas. Melisa is extremely creative and shared ideas for shots before we met up. She also made it super easy to get the photos with and easy download link. These guys have the eye and attention to detail that you're looking for to make your special day exactly what it should be. We will also be using them for our wedding next year! read more

Blue Note Weddings - Event Photography Near Me

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Melisa and Laif. They are very professional, accommodating, organized and did a beautiful job on photography for our SF City Hall wedding and our dinner reception. As an icing on top of the cake, they had our photos ready to review in a week! Melisa also did my hair and make-up as well and I couldn't be more pleased! read more

Blue Note Weddings - Blue Note Weddings was amazing to work with and took this breathtaking photo after our May ceremony inside San Francisco City Hall. - Event Photography Near Me

Absolutely amazing!!! I cannot say enough good things about . A review of how amazing and talented she is requires a bit of background so bear with me: My now husband and I got engaged during the pandemic when there was still a lot of uncertainty so we delayed planning our wedding. We eventually decided to elope. We reached out to Melisa and from the jump, I knew that we just had to work with her. She was professional, responsive and eager to work with us. She listened to our ideas, gave us her input, and even recommended other vendors (and this was all just within our first phone call). As our wedding day approached, Melisa remained available and responsive, answering all of my emails and questions on a timely basis. Then, less than two weeks before our planned wedding day, our indoor ceremony was no longer a possibility. We immediately reached out to Melisa and she immediately helped us think of a plan B and even helped us with planning it. Plan B required moving around the time of our ceremony and Melisa was incredibly accommodating and flexible with us. So now on to the wedding day. My husband and I spent basically all day with Melisa as we drove us around San Francisco to get all of the shots we had envisioned. She was incredibly fun, down to earth, and high energy. She made us feel comfortable and natural while taking photos. On top of all of that, Melisa is incredibly talented. I would have given her a five-star review just based on our in-person experience alone. But when I saw our previews (which by the way she sent just a few hours after shooting) and then our pictures, I was stunned!!!! I could not believe that photos of my husband and I just being ourselves could look so amazing. She has an incredibly artistic eye. We are absolutely obsessed with Melisa's work and with her, period. I would highly recommend hiring her to photograph your wedding, elopement, engagement, anything and everything. She is amazing and so so so talented. I am so thankful that we were able to work with her. read more

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I was so disappointed with this service. Melissa and Laif are con artists and they like to scam people. They overcharge and offer very poor and low quality videos and photos in return. read more

Melisa and Laif are quite literally a DREAM TEAM!!! From our initial consult through the wedding planning process (with quite a bit of changes due to covid), they remained calm and flexible. Melisa checked in with us often and even took the time to help us with our day-of timeline. The two of them work together with an ease that is without a doubt nothing short of perfection and their photos clearly show that. We could not have been happier with the end result!! This duo is LITERALLY A MUST for your wedding photography and videography (or for any event). I hope our paths cross again for future photo sessions! read more

Working with Melisa for our November wedding was a dream. She's got a great eye for detail, and even took the time to get some additional shots while I was getting ready. We had an unusual setup, as we were hosting a dinner reception only. Melisa went above and beyond, ensuring we had everything we wanted (and MORE!). We were so pleased that we chose her to capture our special day. Our friends and family raved about our photos, and I can't wait to compile them in an album. Melisa was prompt with communication, so warm and friendly, and totally put us at ease which allowed us to focus on our friends and family the night of the event. I highly recommend her!! read more

Blue Note Weddings - SF wedding dinner reception - Event Photography Near Me

I can't recommend Blue Note Weddings enough! Melisa was so professional, easy to work with, and produced unbelievable photos. Melisa did my hair and make-up and then did our family photo shoot at sunset on location. She took the time to check out the location prior to our shoot so she knew the terrain and lighting. She worked beautifully with our 11 month old baby giving us 80% photos with him looking right at the camera or smiling/giggling. She helped us style our outfits so they really popped on film and gave us great ideas of photos that were natural and looked effortless. Everyone has raved about how stunning our family photos are all thanks to Blue Note Weddings. I will definitely be going to Melisa for our future family portraits! read more

We spent a bit of time hunting around for a photographer to take our family photos, Melisa and Laif came highly recommended by friends of ours so we gave them a shot. As it turned out we got way more than we expected and were beyond pleased with the experience. When we recieved our prints we were blown away and so happy with our choice. Not only were the pictures outstanding thanks to the excellent location Melisa selected, but the way she directed us through the shoot was fantastic. The shoot was so much more fun because of how much Melisa and Laif enjoyed what they were doing. Our 2 year old daughter was captivated the entire time which made things that much better. I encourage anyone shopping for Family Photographers to definitely give Blue Note a call. We look forward to seeing them again next year for our next shoot. read more

This review is beyond overdue and well deserved!! We worked with Melisa and Laif for our engagement photos first. The dynamic between the two of them both working behind the lens was amazing to watch. They both have a unique and creative eye unlike any other and were extremely comfortable to work with. The photos they took that day captured my fiancé and I perfectly. They offered to do a second location shoot for the engagement photos as well but unfortunately, the weather wouldn't permit for it. We decided that we loved working with them so much that we just HAD to hire them for our wedding this last June. Omigosh...There truly aren't enough words in the English language to express how amazing their work is. This time Laif was our videographer and Melisa shot the photos with a second shooter to make sure EVERYTHING would be captured. When we looked at our photos recently, we were amazed at how much they captured and yet we don't recall seeing them much or ever being in the way. They blended in so well without breaking the flow. The caliber of the detail they put into their work goes above and beyond anything I could have hoped, dreamed or expected. The compliments we received on the photos (so many people said the photos look like they came straight from a bridal magazine!) in addition to other brides contacting me so they could hire them as well, speaks volumes about the quality of their work. It was a real honor to work with this dynamic duo. When we received the video's from Laif, we were taken aback by how well he captured the whole day in a 3-5 minutes video. We can't stop watching it and it brings tears to my eyes every time we do. Melisa was the main point person for the two of them and she is very detailed and professional. She goes over everything well in advance of your wedding and is realistic with her brides about timelines and meeting expectations. Needless to say, you feel very confident and at ease come the day of your wedding that everything is in the right hands. If I had to sum it all up into two words, I would say "HIRE THEM!" They are well worth the investment for the most important day of your life and you will truly enjoy working with them. read more

My partner, Megan, and I cannot speak highly enough of Melisa and Blue Note Weddings. Megan and I had the privilege of doing an engagement photoshoot with Melisa in July at the Palace of Fine Arts, and we are beyond thrilled with the final product. Her sense of innovation and stylistic composition is fiercely on point, and her intuitive choreography of unique shots is remarkable. She made us both feel immediately comfortable and at ease, which yielded photographs that capture the essence of who we are both as individuals and as a couple. Melisa is a true professional--she is savvy behind the lens, attuned to others' needs, organized and punctual, and someone who consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty in the name of high art. Highly recommend! read more

After we had posted our wedding photos on social media, this was the common comment "I think these may be the best wedding pictures ever" and we could not agree more. Not only does Melisa from Blue Note Weddings take amazing photos, she and her partner Laif are absolutely wonderful to work with! They made us feel extremely comfortable and took the most beautiful and intimate photos. We received the images two weeks after our ceremony and a flood of emotions came back and reminded us of what an incredible day it was. We got married at San Francisco City Hall, and there was some issue with the license, so we were delayed. However, Melisa being the ultimate professional was setting up shots and was very patient. She was easily accessible, had great ideas, and made the entire shoot very fun! Her photographs are incredibly beautiful, and we couldn't have been happier! We highly recommend hiring Blue Note Weddings. It was the second best decision I made that day. read more

I remember my sister saying she read somewhere the one thing people regretted not hiring was a videographer on their wedding day, and I thought to myself why do i need one?So, I was putting off finding a videographer for our intimate wedding, because well.. I didn't think we needed it. But, I was totally wrong! I'm so glad we hired Blue Note Weddings because they were just so amazing to work with. Laif was so accommodating, professional, and fun to be around. I was super super happy when we received our short teaser video for Instagram within days of our wedding! Cause you gotta stay relevant on IG. lol. Anyways, my family and friends all enjoyed the video. I literally cannot stop watching it, and I hear my husband watching it a few times a day (HAHA). But, I am soooo picky with how I want my videos and pictures. I like them to be a certain way. The quality, the sound, the music...everything was just so perfect. I get tears every time I watch that mini video. I can't imagine when we see the full video. Thank you Blue Note Weddings! In short, I would recommend them to everyone who is looking for videographer or photographers (even though I did not get to work with Melisa, her work looks sooo beautiful! I wish I did). I did not regret this decision at all to hire them. read more

I couldn't have asked for more amazing photographers to take our engagement and elopement photos. As someone that doesn't love being in front of a camera, Melisa and Laif make the process comfortable, fun, and seamless. Their passion and incredible talent shine though in their work and I am forever grateful to have hired them to capture our special day. Upon receiving our photos I was instantly brought to tears of happiness. Look no further than these two for your wedding! I will cherish these photos forever. read more

Melisa and her partner Laif came to our home in Marin to take family portraits with our three month old son. From the moment they arrived for our photo shoot, we were at ease. Schedules are unpredictable with a three month old infant, but Melisa and Laif were relaxed and professional, going with the flow of baby, with new parents. Far from stressful, the whole shoot was an opportunity to revel in how lucky we felt to be a family together. Melisa even managed to fit in time to do some head shots for myself and my husband as part of the shoot. As enjoyable as we found the shoot to be, the pictures were an even greater joy to sort through. After some editing on her part, she sent us a link so that we could download the files for all the pictures we wanted. Couldn't have been easier. We heartily recommend Melisa's work and professionalism! read more

When you are looking for a photographer to capture such a special moment, you take time and really do your research. I as a bride had VERY high expectations and wanted pictures that would make me fall in love over and over again with my husband. I was apart of a wedding about 2 years ago that Blue Note photographed, and every time I look at the photos of my daughter and the wedding I fall in love with them over and over again... It was not a doubt in my mind that I wanted Melisa and Laif to be the photographers for not just our wedding but also our engagement photos and one day soon new FAMILY photos. The photos I have already received capture each moment I dreamed of for this BIG day of ours. I am in such awe when I look at our engagement photos and even more so now that I look at all that was captured for our wedding. Melisa, truly takes the time to research and scope out the venue, and prepare a day that fits your dreams. There was not one thing I would change about the experiences I have had with Blue Note. I would recommend them to anyone who asks, and they will be our forever photographers whenever we need someone. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. And I am not just saying this to sound good I genuinely love their work, the love put into the work, and EVERY interaction we have had with them. read more

Melisa did my hair, makeup and elopement photos at city hall and she did better then I could have ever imagined! She's got an amazing eye and when she pulled out her film camera I knew it was meant to be. She even helped me find an amazing florist. I seriously cried when she sent me our photos. Highly recommend Blue Note Weddings!! read more

So I often think of myself as, still, a 16 year-old insecure teenager, not always but often. Well, when I did this boudoir photo shoot for my husband I felt nothing like that. I felt strong, powerful, filled with presence and womanly sexiness. I was nervous at first but Melisa made me feel calm, confident and worthy of the beautiful images that were being created.  By the end I was posing in ways I never would have tried prior. All of this was done with such class and respect. The images captured the many facets of my personality. Also, my own style and creativity were listened to, respected and incorporated into the finished product. I have never felt so beautiful before in my life. Thank you to all the time and attention to detail that was put into my photo shoot and the eventual finished product. My husband has a beautiful reminder of all that is me and why he loves me. read more

Melisa and Laif are awesome! They recently did a style shoot aboard my sailboat and although we were dealing with wind, waves and a rapidly setting sun, they managed to get the most amazing, unique and beautiful photos! I highly recommend them to anyone that cares about having spectacular photos of that once in a lifetime event. A VERY professional and talented pair. read more

Melisa just has a way with kids. I was very impressed with her sense of creativity and adventure. She kept the energy going and caught pure magic behind her camera lens. I would absolutely recommend her for any of your special occasions! read more

Melisa was my photographer for my wedding on October 5th. Amazing, talented, spectacular are just some of the adjectives I would use to describe Melisa's work. She is a true artist and has an eye that only someone in her profession can have. I didn't have to tell her what i wanted captured, she just knew. From the beautiful details of the decor, to the portraits, to the in the moment captures, she absolutely nailed it. Not only is she talented, but she has such a lovely personality. So sweet, she kept me calm and at ease when I was a bundle of nerves before walking down the aisle. Thank you Melisa (Blue Note Weddings) for capturing our special day so perfectly! read more

Melisa is a talented photographer, and my fiance and I both really enjoyed working with her for our engagement photos. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and it is obvious she loves her work. She made both of us feel very comfortable in front of the camera, and her upbeat personality made it a lot of fun. I don't think guys typically enjoy engagement shoots, but this experience was as positive for my fiance as it was for me. She is open to ideas but has a lot of great ideas of her own, and she gives great direction. Her guidance will make any novice look like a pro in front of the camera. I am so happy with my engagement photo experience and highly recommend her! read more

If you want the best, then you have to go with Blue Note Weddings. I found Melisa and Laif and I could not be any more grateful to have had them take video and photos of us on our wedding day. They make you feel at ease in front of the camera and really understand the importance of your wedding day. Melisa wanted to photograph all the little details in the most creative way possible while giving all photos a romantic look and feel. Both Melisa and Laif are extremely professional, easy to contact and talk to. This amazing couple will not only inspire you but make your day one you will never forget. read more

We were referred to Melisa by a friend for a mini holiday session and were so happy with the entire experience, and of course with the beautiful photos that she captured of our family. We have a 10 month old son, and Melisa was very patient and sweet with him. Additionally, we were on a time crunch to get out our holiday cards and Melisa promised to expedite the turnaround time without any additional charge. I assumed this meant a few days time, but to our surprise, we received the pictures that same evening!! The pictures are stunning, exactly what we were hoping for, and we would love to work with Melisa again! read more

Melisa and Laif shot my daughters wedding this past weekend and they were such a pleasure to work with. Things got a little tense when we fell behind the timeline while getting ready but Melisa and Laif made sure everything was covered and that the photos we wanted were all checked off the list. These two have such a calming and professional way of dealing with clients. They really do more than what is expected. I would recommend them in a heartbeat to anyone getting married! Thank you from our family! read more

I loved working with Melisa! I do not like getting my photo taken, but she made me feel comfortable and at ease. I was doing some pregnancy photos and had my other two kids with me. She included the other kids in the shoot and we got some fantastic family photos. The kids never even realized they were being photographed. She was responsive to all of my questions and she had the final photos done in a matter of days. I could not have been happier with how they turned out. She has a real talent! Thanks again, Melisa. read more

Melisa came out to do a mini session family photo shoot for us in the city and it was exactly what we wanted. Short, sweet and we got lots of options for not only our holiday card, also for our home. We were with both our 2yo and our dog and she got fabulous pics of both of them (not easy to do). I think her photos will forever be cherished as part of our family history. Thanks, Melisa! read more