Melissa is simply the best. Her attitude, photography skills and ability to make everyone feel at ease during the wedding day is ON POINT! She photographed my best friends wedding recently and it was not an easy day at all. Nothing went as scheduled, things were crazy, bridal party members were missing - yet she rolled with it, adapted to what was going on and somehow made sure to fit in all the key photos that were needed and they were FANTASTIC and made it appear that the day went flawlessly. She rocked the day! Had an inexperienced photographer been there, I can't even imagine what photos would be missing. Hire Melissa! You will be happy! read more

Where do I start. Melissa was a friend of my wife, Amanda, when we lived in San Diego, so we had her fly out to CO last August to do our wedding. After looking at her portfolio, we were stoked to have her do our wedding! The venue was beautiful, the ceremony was spectacular, and the lighting was perfect. Could not have asked for a better day! Then we got our album in October. Wow. Cannot imagine what went wrong. I am not a professional photographer, but all I can say is that over 75% of the images we received were either blurry/out-of-focus, washed out, or cropped in so closely that parts of people were cut out of the frame. Try printing an image with that was cropped way too tightly...you really can't, it cuts people in half and won't fit in a frame properly. The real problem with Melissa was not just the lack of quality of the images, which to us was not typical of her work, especially if you do go and look through her portfolio. I think the worst part was the attitude she had when we brought it up to her and the subsequent dishonesty about it. Sometime before our wedding, Amanda and Melissa had dinner in San Diego, and Melissa divulged to her that she was having problems lately with her camera. Amanda was worried at first, but figured that she would have that under control by the time she flew out for our wedding. Well, the wedding images we got were unacceptable. So when we addressed her about the poor quality of the images, she defended herself with a very snarky attitude and remarked "I'm sorry you don't like them, because I do". She then went on to explain about the quality that "it was her style" for images to look that way, even though if you look through her portfolio, all of her images are tack sharp and in focus, so another lie. She also asked us if she could bring an assistant with her that had been shadowing her, and we felt uncomfortable about it and declined. She then assured us that this person would only be assisting her, and would not be shooting as a second photographer, and would not distract her with questions or get in the way. So we said OK, if she's just assisting Melissa, it might help her make a more efficient use of her time. Wellp. Come wedding time, she was absolutely shooting as a second photographer. Not just that, many of the images we received from the album were from her 2nd shooter, which were unimpressive as well. Another lie. My wife went through the RAW files we received as well to try and salvage what we could, and found that most, if not all of the images, were shot in an inappropriate setting for the type of shot in terms of speed, aperture, and/or ISO. Again, I am not a photographer, but it does not take a photographer to realize an image is out of focus, too dark, not centered/cropped properly etc. It's truly sad how unprofessional she was and how she treated someone she considered, or at least acted like, a friend. We have proof of all of this in the forms of email correspondence and the images we received to corroborate this if there is any question or claims made by Melissa that this is in any way a false or misleading allegation. Be careful if you do choose Melissa to do your wedding photos; her ego definitely got in the way of rectifying an already unfortunate situation. Hopefully she learns from this experience not to brush off a client's concerns and redirect the blame at them for an obvious mistake on her part, and moving forward no one else has to endure the disappointment and pain that we experienced... you only get one chance to immortalize your wedding day. Now we have been denied the opportunity to reminisce and look back on our images in the future and smile due to Melissa's blatant lack of professionalism. read more

Melissa i the ONLY photographer to consider, regardless of what type of shoot you're looking for. She has done my engagement pictures, maternity pictures and newborn pictures - and I've seen her astonishing finished product for wedding pictures. For moments these precious, you don't want to take the chance of having a mediocre finished product or unresponsive photographer. Melissa is the best! read more

I have been a longtime fan of Melissa's work. I used for my maternity shoot and I love her wedding work so much that I flew her to Vegas as a gift to my best friend to shoot her destination wedding. Melissa was extremely courteous, despite the bride's family being difficult about her taking photos during certain key moments and my maternity photos are great. I would highly recommend. read more

Melissa does amazing work! My husband and I hired her to shoot our wedding. I've never felt so comfortable having my picture taken. Her bubbly personality made even getting portraits with family fun! She really listens to what it is important for you to have her capture on your "big day" and has the experience to guide you through to get the best photos possible. We couldn't be more delighted with the photos from our wedding! read more

If you're looking for professional, easy-going, fabulous and fun photographer for your wedding...it's Melissa. She makes couples feel at ease on the big day with her good vibes and upbeat attitude. She works her magic capturing all the moments of the day...you won't be disappointed! read more

To know Melissa is to be consistently impressed with just how engaging and professional she is. From the moment we met her to discuss our wedding plans, we were blown away with her grace and confidence. Any anxiety we may have had about our pending wedding day was washed away after getting to know her and learning about her wealth of experience; how organized she is and just how passionate she is about her craft. Communicating with her leading up the big day was a breeze and every step of the way we were reassured that we had the made the right choice to have her as our photographer. On the big day itself, we were left in awe of her work ethic and we both overwhelmingly agreed that our wedding would not have been as special, or such a success, without her. We will forever be appreciative of her and how she effortlessly organized, orchestrated, and contributed to the most important day in our lives. Her genuine warmth, caring demeanor and talent came through in every single photo she choreographed and captured that day. Whatever level of expectations you may have for what a photographer will provide to you, she will undoubtedly exceed them. Thank you Melissa! Love, Caitlin and Dan read more

I wanted to do a bridal boudoir shoot for my husband's wedding gift, but I really didn't want the generic on a bed covered with my veil shoot. I also didn't want my male wedding photographer to do my boudoir shoot, so I needed outside help. I was referred to Melissa through my wedding coordinator, Day of LOVE, and it worked out great! I was able to do a boudoir shoot at a local brewery (my husband is a beer snob and home brewer) and it was perfect. Melissa was so much fun and made me feel super comfortable. When I got the pictures back, I was so pleased with the results. She has a great eye and got some really amazing shots - I didn't think I could look that good! I would totally use her again and have suggested her to several friends. Oh, and yes, my husband loved his gift ;) read more

Melissa is very professional and a wonderful photographer. Her assistants are wonderful and fun themselves! One of them even saved our wedding day by showing all the groomsmen how to fold their pocket squares for their jackets! Melissa was very receptive to my ideas and what type of pictures I wanted, she didn't just go her own way. She also puts her own creative spin on what you want too. My photos were beautiful and perfectly captured the day! I wasn't too sure where to do our engagement shoot, but told her what type of background I was looking for, and immediately she said San Juan Capistrano train station. Upon arriving I could see it was perfectly what I had in mind. I would recommend Melissa McClure to anyone looking for not just wedding photos, but for portraits, family, maternity, and she even does boudoir shoots! read more

As a fellow wedding photographer, I have very high standards for good photography and I can assure you that Melissa delivers the goods on a consistent basis! My wife Nicole and I needed some new photos for our website and just to put up on the wall and we reached out for Melissa for the job. We were so thrilled with the results and not only are the photos awesome but Melissa is a true sweetheart. She made our session fun and an experience that makes us want to do again and again...I am sure not many think about looking forward to getting your photo taken but after working with her we do. Highly recommend Melissa for all your photo needs! Cole & Nicole of Cole Joseph Photography read more

Melissa McClure Photography was recommended to me for my wedding by two highly-talented wedding industry professionals and two friends. So naturally, I immediately met and booked Melissa to capture my San Diego wedding. Melissa is professional, big-hearted, and beyond talented. Melissa has the exceptional talent of catching the sun's natural light to create the most amazing portrait. I used Melissa for our engagement pictures, boudoir photo session, and our wedding. Each event was beautifully captured and we received numerous comments about her work. On our wedding day, she was able to capture the sun's ray and sparkle between my husband and I's kiss... she is that good. Melissa has a skilled eye for capturing unexpected moments that really showcase the couple's personality and the moment in time. The result are beautiful photos that capture real life and emotions, unlike a still, posed portrait. Her work is remarkable. Melissa is professional and poised. She knows exactly what she is doing, stays true to the wedding timeline, and is able to tackle hurdles such as hissy bridesmaids with ease and professionalism. You immediately feel comfortable and at ease with Melissa. I could not recommend Melissa more as a photographer. Her talent and professionalism is unparalleled in the wedding business. She is a sweetheart and really cares about her clients which is so evident in the detail to attention she pays to every person. She has a heart of gold. She is a standout in the wedding professional business. Thank you Melissa for capturing the biggest moment in my life so beautifully. read more

Melissa and Mandi photographed our wedding in June and exceeded our expectations. As a fellow wedding photgrapher, I REALLY appreciated the laid back and non-intrusive style that Melissa McClure offers. She helped make our day AMAZING!! read more

What can I say about Melissa that hasn't already been said- she is so much more than just a weeding photographer. I have gotten to know without a doubt that Melissa takes a personal mission to capture your event in all it's glory. Even in our engagement shoot we felt so comfortable and effortless.... When we saw the result in priceless photos we were floored. We had no idea it could be so easy to get amazing photographic memories. We look like ourselves but better. Melissa knows how to capture the best side of you- not a posed contrived version of you.... Just you. I felt that we looked really good in the photos, even better than I felt in real life at that time. I guess a good shutterbugs will know the angles? Anyway... Book her without hesitation. And this is coming from a self professed photo snob. She will NOT disappoint. read more

Melissa is the best! We hired her for our September 2011 wedding and she did a fantastic job. My husband hates taking photos and she was able to make him (and me) feel comfortable and thus was able to get some great shots. We received teasers while still on our honeymoon and she was kind enough to post a few on Facebook so my family could see them too. I've had many friends tell me they wished they could have used Melissa as their photographer at their wedding! Bottom line, wedding photos are what you will have for the rest of your life and Melissa will ensure that you love your photos! read more

I had such a fun time during my boudoir session with Melissa! She immediately made me feel at ease and comfortable in front of the camera. She captured such a great variety of poses and is amazing with posing. I love that it felt so natural. She created a gorgeous album that I'll love forever! read more

Amazing photographer. Handled our kids very nicely and was able to arrange some great shots with different settings in a location very close to our home in N County San Diego. I highly recommend her if you are looking for a true professional. read more

Melissa was a huge lifesaver when I had my wedding and my photographer was not going to stay past the cake cutting. It was super important for me to have our departure photographed and she came to our rescue! I was so pleased with what she came back with. She's a true professional and definitely goes out of her way to make someone happy. Thank goodness for people like Melissa who care about their customers! read more

Not being from San Diego it was hard to try and find a photographer for my engagement photos. I contacted Melissa and we started talking about what I wanted and where would be a good spot. Right away I knew she would be perfect. She was easy to talk to and gave me options to look online to see where I wanted to shoot. While I was on vacation in San Diego we set up a date to take the photos. When I met her she was so nice and easy to take direction from. Our engagement photos came out amazing!!!! We booked her for our wedding day photos in San Diego in April! I can't wait to see her again!!!!!!!! Definitely one of the best!!! read more

I cannot say enough great things about Melissa! We hired her for our wedding day and she was truly a joy to work with. I do not really like to be photographed, but she set my husband and I at ease throughout the whole day and got some amazing shots. She has a gift for catching light and knowing which backgrounds would make for a beautiful shot. She is professional and just a sweet person. You spend a lot of time with your photographer and I was happy to have her by my side! read more

First for most you won't go wrong with Melissa. She's an incredible photographer. She took our engagement and wedding pictures. We were more than impressed with her photography, professionalism, responsiveness.. etc.. you name it! She helps coordinate things on the day of the wedding, give her insight on other venues she's been to. We got married on Maui March 7th and our pictures are already finished and they are AMAZING. Thanks Melissa for capturing every angle of our special day. We have gotten so many compliments on all the pictures. You're much more than a photographer. You're the bomb.com!!! :-) read more

From the very minute I knew I my wedding plans, I knew I wanted Melissa to do our photos. Since we were planning to elope, I knew the details could be somewhat hard to pin down, especially because of the location of our wedding and the vision we wanted. From the very minute we booked her for our day, Melissa was professional and helpful and let's face it - patient (I was a slightly neurotic bride!). We didn't nail down our location details until the day before the wedding and she showed up, site unseen, ready to document our day. She even brought cheap champagne for us to pop for some epic pics! Because we eloped - we had eager family waiting to see pictures - and on the spot, as soon as we finished, she edited a few on her phone so we could send them to family and share on social media (this was a big deal for us, since none of our friends or family were there). She shared a video montage with us of some of her favorite images after ew short weeks and we were blown away. When we received our gallery not long after, I must have looked through them a hundred times. Absolutely marveled for hours at how beautifully she captured our wedding. Not only did we get really amazing photos - but she 100% captured the spontaneity that I had envisioned for the whole thing. Spectacular work. We were honored to have photos taken by you, Melissa. We look forward to having you document many more years of our love and family. Thank you so much. read more

We had a destination wedding in San Diego in July, and hired Melissa McClure as our photographer. One of the best decisions we made in the whole process! Melissa is, to put it simply, amazing. Melissa was the first vendor we hired for our wedding. We did a ton of research looking for venues (all online) and every picture we found that we truly loved was one of Melissa's. She is an incredibly talented artist and has an amazing eye for detail. The bonus is that she is an awesome person! We hired Melissa from MA, and it turned out that she was vacationing in Boston a couple months later. We were able to meet up with her for an engagement shoot. Soon after, we received the CD and absolutely LOVE the photos! And so did everyone who saw them! Her work is stunning. Melissa has a knack for finding poses and settings that you just don't see all that often. It was her first time in Boston, and she found so many beautiful spots that we have so often looked over! Suddenly, a simple arch or doorway became a gorgeous spot, with the light shining perfectly! Melissa's work speaks for itself. Look at her website or just Google her. Unbelievably talented woman. What you won't find online, however, is how awesome a person she is. We had so much fun hanging out with her in Boston and on our wedding day and are thrilled she was able to be a part of it. She is a very calming influence and was able to get our pictures done SO fast that we were able to join our guests at Cocktail Hour. She's the best, and even got us some teaser photos less than 12 hours after our wedding ended! When we showed the teasers to family the next day, at the turn of each picture an aunt declared "that could be on a brochure!" about every photo! And she is right, every single photo Melissa takes is breathtaking. read more

It has been an honor to have Melissa McClure Photography capture some of my most important and intimate personal life events --- from professional headshots, to family photos, to her most recent work capturing my engagement and wedding portraits --- Melissa has a unique ability to perfectly blend both the emotion of the moment and the beauty of the location. I am consistently delighted with the quality of her work and have received countless glowing comments on her photos from friends, relatives and colleagues. In addition to being a fabulous artist, Melissa is a consummate professional and is always a pleasure to work with. I wholeheartedly recommend Melissa McClure Photography to capture your most important life moments. read more

I called Melissa approximately a month before my wedding on 07/20/13 however she told me she wasn't available :( she did however say that her associate photographer Mandi would be available. Me and my wife couldn't have been happier with the experience. She was extremely friendly, helpful knowledgeable and skilled. She seemed to genuinely enjoy the work and helped us feel comfortable with the experience. I've had an opportunity to see several of the finished photographs and they are perfect. They are exactly what I was hoping for. If I needed a photographer in the San Diego again, I'd 100% call Mandi. Thanks again :) read more

Melissa is so much fun to shoot with! I'm a travel blogger and Instagram influencer at @thehackerette and I always need to create quality content for brands. Melissa has an amazing eye for capturing those little spots that you'd never notice on your own. She's also the queen of finding awesome murals. The photos have come back to me super quickly, sometimes in the same day! This is such a help since I sometimes need a quick turnaround to meet a deadline. I'd definitely recommend her for whatever photography skills you're looking for. read more

I've used Melissa several times in the years since I wrote my original review -- most recently for a family photoshoot -- so it's time for an update! Honestly, I could go on forever about how much I love Melissa's work. She is so friendly and engaging both in front of and behind the camera. She always gets my kiddos to smile and does an incredible job of allowing their unique personalities to shine through in her photos. She is beyond professional in her demeanor and communication, and her work truly speaks for itself -- she has an amazing eye and an incredible talent. I'm so grateful to know her and to have her to capture important milestone moments in my life -- from our post-wedding photos to maternity shoots to now our regular family photos. I have almost an entire gallery wall in my home devoted to images Melissa has captured for us over the years, and I smile every time I walk by them. If you're looking for a photographer to capture important moments in your life, look no further. Melissa is the total package. read more

I did a boudoir session with Melissa as a gift to my husband for our wedding anniversary. I was super nervous but Melissa was great and helped me pick out outfits and feel totally relaxed. Her studio is amazing and the whole shoot was so much fun. The photos were fantastic and flattering and my husband absolutely loved his album. We couldn't have been happier and will absolutely use Melissa again! read more

I was very familiar with Melissa's work prior to booking my photo shoot with her but was halfway convinced that she must be photographing particularly photogenic people because they always looked so relaxed and beautiful. This is the opposite of how I feel in front of a camera - I'm neither relaxed nor photogenic when I have my photo taken and usually feel very awkward. However, booking with Melissa I knew she would be fun and bring out my best self with her direction and enthusiasm. It was one of the first times that I actually LOVED being in front of the camera. Melissa made me feel great and look great and I couldn't be any happier with my photos. Wish I had booked a shoot sooner and look forward to another occasion to do so! read more

Melissa is amazing! She photographed my wedding in November and was able to capture the most beautiful moments. I couldn't imagine using any other photographer!! read more

I couldn't be happier that our wedding will be photographed by Melissa McClure. She has the most beautiful vision in her photographs, and she is so wonderful to work with. We just finished our engagement photo session and we are so excited to show everyone her work. She helped us with ideas for the theme and location and has been amazingly supportive every step of the way. The shoot itself was a BLAST and she made it fun and exciting. We are so lucky to have her! read more

I booked Melissa for a family photo session when my son turned 1 years old. Unfortunately I didn't time the session all that well and my son was a crankypants due to lack of nap. Thankfully Melissa was such a sweetheart and won him over. He was laughing and smiling for her. She knew exactly what to do with a little kid and how to have him smile as if right on cue. In turn, we received the best family photos ever. We look like freakin models in our pics, true story, we're that hot. The customer service I received with Melissa was top notch as well. I asked what we should wear and she gave me great advice to coordinate the colors of our outfit without wearing the same dang thing. I wouldn't hesitate to hire Melissa again. read more

When I was thinking about proposing to my fiance, I knew that I wanted to capture the moment somehow, but wasn't quite sure how. I wanted to propose so badly, but had no clue when/where would be the perfect elements to capture. When I finally found the perfect time, I contacted Melissa to see if she was available. Not only did she bend her schedule around my incredibly short notice, but she recommended the PERFECT location -- a trail at Torrey Pines that overlooks the Pacific Ocean -- Completely secluded, romantic and memorable. When the day came, Melissa was stealth in hiding as my girlfriend and I walked the trail. And knowing that I'm a video guy, she even brought along an assistant to capture video! She captured it ALL. My fiance kept saying how comfortable she felt around her and how friendly she is to work with. And when we got our photos/video, we were FLOORED at how amazing they turned out. They are such a perfect keepsake of that moment in time that we'll never have back. Melissa is so great at what she does, and we highly recommend her! Needless to say, Melissa will now be photographing our wedding, too! read more

Melissa photographed my wedding this past weekend (4/5/14) and I could not be more happy with my choice in picking a photographer. She is SO talented, so easy to work with and she gets it done! She was even there helping me get ready:) She puts such a creative spin on all her pictures and they aren't those "posey posey" pictures, but natural with great lighting and backrounds. I feel like she really captured the essence of us and our wedding and I honestly could ask for no better than Melissa! She is it, book her now!! read more

Melissa was my wedding photographer in 2014. My wife and I still talk about what an amazing job she did. We couldn't be happier with the experience or the photos. read more

Loved Melissa McClure Photography! I actually used Mandy she works for Melissa. She was really awesome. I got some great pictures of my wedding. The only thing that sucked was my wedding started late of course (what wedding doesn't) so we were really rushed during the photos. We didn't get any pictures of my husband and I close up from head to toe. A little disappointing but that's the only problem I had. We had some amazing pictures with the beach as our background and Mandy really took time to make sure each shot was picture perfect. My sister also used Melissa for her wedding and he pictures turned out great. I would def. suggest this company to anyone. They are amazing!! Thanks Mandy and Melissa! read more

My family and I, and pretty much everyone I know and love, has had the opportunity to work with Melissa many times over. She is fantastic and comes highly recommended! My first experience working with Melissa (and her associate Mandi) was during our Trash the Dress session. So fun! After that, we've continued to book MMP for nearly all of our photography needs... Christmas photos, family portraits, etc. Her professionalism, combined with an exuberant personality, is something that can not be beat. I guarantee you will have a positive experience working with Melissa and love love love your images! read more

Blame it on the gleeful rush of being newlyweds, but we honestly feel like we just threw the perfect wedding, and a very large part of that was thanks to Melissa, a photographer we confidently recommend. From day one, when we interviewed her at Starbucks, she was a comfort; in fact, she was the very first vendor we hired, and I knew immediately, we were on the right track. My decision to hire Melissa was one I never doubted. She is easy to talk to, quick to respond, a joy to be around, and unmistakably committed and dedicated to her job. Although the very serious conviction she has over what she does is unmistakable, her bubbly joy and the fun she takes in photography is not only contagious but seemed to be the perfect complement to our whole wedding philosophy! She was helpful with us picking a planner, understanding about unique family situations, great with travelling, punctual, considerate and thoughtful and delicate during intimate moments, fast with teasers, sweet with guests, and very sincerely loving towards my husband and I. Moreover, she was so impressively willing to help; she combed my bangs for me, helped me get in my second dress, helped keep us on schedule, never pushed or pulled us, and always had an eye out for my false lashes and running mascara. She even stayed late as a complimentary favor. I mean, how do you ever thank someone for that?? Quite honestly, it felt like hiring a friend, and that came through in the photographs. She made me feel fun and pretty, and that's not all that easy-- I am typically and severely non-photogenic, but that doesn't matter when with Melissa. She takes beautiful photographs; she maintains the honesty and purity of a moment, and amazingly captures exactly what matters most to you and makes it look just as amazing in print as it felt in person. Trusting someone to photograph your most intimate and special moment is huge, and we are so happy we chose Melissa. She brought us her best, and we are forever appreciative! read more

Melissa is AMAZING. She took photos for our first anniversary, our version of Rock the Dress (because I couldn't bear to trash it!). She came to the B&B where my husband and I were staying, followed us around to all the beautiful places my husband had found, and took some AMAZING pictures. We had tons of fun too! Afterwards, her service was quick and the results were STUNNING. Seriously these are a million times better than our wedding photos (which were NOT taken by her; why didn't I know of her earlier!?!). Love!!! read more

Melissa did my daughters Senior pictures and did an amazing job. I highly recommend.

Melissa is awesome! She is beyond talented, and she has a great way of making you feel so comfortable in front of the camera that she can make any person look and feel great! :) read more