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Welcome to the Melissa McClure Photography Blog!

I appreciate you taking the time to look around my blog! And please don't hesitate to leave me some comment love!

I am a full time wedding photographer based in San Diego, CA. I also photograph several destination weddings a year. This blog has a mix of business and personal updates, I hope you enjoy reading about my life!

Melissa McClure | Create Your Badge


Clients, Vendors, Guests - Please feel free to right click on any of the images to use for your personal facebook, myspace, etc.  I just ask that you give proper credit and leave the logo on the image! Thanks!

Mike and Sara – The Dana Hotel and Resort Wedding

Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 7:26pm Posted in wedding

Last Saturday was my second wedding of the year – starting to a GREAT start if I must say!  I didn’t know Mike and Sara too well going in to their wedding day, since they live in snowy Washington DC.  They were so much fun to hang out with, they make me consider moving East just to be their friend!  :)   The Dana was a little windy that day – but NO rain!

Huge thanks to Courtney Tibetts from After the Engagement for making the day run so smoothly!  You rock girl, I look forward to more weddings together this year!  (Courtney even put aside cupcakes for me and Mandi – so thoughtful!)

Teresa Piazza did a fantastic job on Sara’s makeup! It was my first time working with her and I hope to see more of her in the future!

Meanwhile, the boys were being silly with Mandi and couldn’t get their ties just right…

The gorgeous flowers were done by Sally at Exquisite Blooms!  Notice the yellow rose in honor of Sara’s mother.

They opted for a ‘First Look’ which is the reason I am showcasing so many bride and groom photos below – we had a ton of time!

Mike is incredibly funny…

I get asked a lot if I shoot with another photographer. I do, and its mostly Mandi unless she is shooting her own wedding!  One reason I love having two angles?  Check out my version below…and Mandi’s below that!

This was so cute, I had to share it!

Mandi’s view at the ceremony…

And my view of the hand-off!

The yummy cupcakes were from Babycakes Bakery!

Isn’t that some gorgeous uplighting?  I LOVE uplighting!  Mick from Elite British DJ did them as well as kept the dance floor packed!

Sara gave Mike this book earlier in the day :)

Mandi and I had such a blast at this wedding, she had to drag me away!  Hope you two are having an amazing time in New Zealand!

xoxo, M

Enjoy the Slideshow!

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by Melissa McClure

6 comments

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February 6, 2010 - 7:35 pm Courtney Tibbets - You are such an incredibly talented photographer, and any couple would be lucky to have you. I really enjoy working with you and appreciate you so much! Thank you for always having the photos ready so quickly :)

February 6, 2010 - 7:40 pm Mandi Whiting - loveeeeeeee them all!! this was such great wedding -- good times!!!! Congrats to Mike and Sara!! :o)

February 6, 2010 - 8:17 pm mick scrivener - What a fun wedding!!! It was great working with you and Mandi (and Courtney of course) Looking forward to the next one!!

February 7, 2010 - 9:07 am Alicia - Wow Melissa, beautiful as always!! Those sunset pics are just awesome!!

February 7, 2010 - 10:47 am Milisa - They are all SO great! I especially love the one of them kissing with the sun flair! Awesome work ladies!

February 8, 2010 - 11:34 am Danielle - Gorgeous pics ladies! Love the dress and love the idea of the yellow rose in the bouquet.

Spreading some love…

Friday, February 5, 2010 at 10:43am Posted in personal, wedding

Last night, Cathy, Helena and I attended the Spread the Love tour by Justin and Mary Marantz.  I laughed, I cried, I rolled my eyes (in a good way)!  It was definitely a fun night.  They only have a handful a cities left in their tour, but if there are seats, sign up!  It’s worth the money!

Spread the Love LA: February 5th
Spread the Love San Fran: February 8th
Spread the Love Seattle: February 11th
Spread the Love Salt Lake City: February 15th
Spread the Love Denver: February 17th
Spread the Love Kansas City: February 19th
Spread the Love Chicago: February 22nd
Spread the Love Maine: March 24th

The tour helped give my business a little kick in the butt and I am excited to be developing some new ideas for 2010!  One of the first things I will be doing is dedicating myself to blogging more.  Everyone in favor of this?  This means I will have a few more personal posts, but I hope you enjoy them (and leaving a comment to let me know helps too!)

I’ll leave you with two photo booth photos from past Saturdays wedding (coming to the blog soon!)

If you know me in real life, I’m pretty goofy. I love to laugh. And I love to be laughed at…I mean with.  Mandi and I always have fun on wedding days!

And here we are with the wonderful Courtney Tibetts, wedding coordinator from After the Engagement!  She likes to laugh too :)

Photobooth by Red Cheese

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by Melissa McClure

8 comments

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February 5, 2010 - 11:04 am Helena - Love sweet love! I am really excited for you to blog more! Let's go take some pictures jumping in the ocean in our girl scout uniforms and post them without fear! ;)

February 5, 2010 - 11:12 am Ryel j - Amen to the blogging personal posts more. You're such a giving, kind and super funny gal that the world needs to hear that more!! I'm excited to follow your adventures. <3

February 5, 2010 - 11:23 am Courtney Tibbets - LOL! Good stuff!

February 5, 2010 - 11:38 am Patrish - More blogs! More blogs!

February 5, 2010 - 11:58 am Tami - I *never* miss one of your blog entries and more would just be the cherry on top! More, more, more please!! :)

February 5, 2010 - 1:15 pm Danielle - Two thumbs up for more blogging!

February 5, 2010 - 3:31 pm Kati Harvey - YAY! So excited for more blogs to read! :)

February 7, 2010 - 6:33 pm Cathy Crawley - You crazy kids!!

Baby Kross in the hospital

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 9:33am Posted in children, family

My good friend and wedding coordinator Eve Harrison of Ooh La La Wedding Touches and her darling husband Marvin had their 2nd little bundle of joy show up the day after Christmas!  Big brother Shay wasn’t allowed in the hospital, so he isn’t in any of the photos, but you can see their cute family here.

Baby Kross is so adorable and was so calm when I met him at 12 hours old!  Take a peek :)

Big hugs and Congrats to the Harrison Family!

xoxo, M

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by Melissa McClure

9 comments

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February 2, 2010 - 10:17 am s h e r r y - Cuuute! Such a fresh newborn! :O Wow.

February 2, 2010 - 10:41 am Danielle - OMG, these pictures definitely deserve a huge SQUEE!! So cute!

February 2, 2010 - 11:22 am Lori - These are so beautiful. What a precious gift!

February 2, 2010 - 11:23 am Tonya Ritchie - Gorgeous baby & gorgeous pictures! Awesome job on all of them :D

February 2, 2010 - 11:57 am nely - awww. what a sweet session. makes me almost want another baby.

February 2, 2010 - 11:34 pm Michelle Bellofatto - I'm jealous of you. What fun to photograph a family in their first hours with their precious newborn child. These are great!!!

February 3, 2010 - 1:53 am Lauren P - Just precious, lady! Totally fresh out! Well done :)

February 5, 2010 - 7:29 pm Jackie - wow, love these pics! What precious moments!

February 7, 2010 - 10:49 am Milisa - #5 is my favorite! So cute!

Lori – Paper and Thread Invitation Studio

Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 8:36pm Posted in Networking, Portraits

I first heard about Lori though my good friend Cathy with Love at First Invite.  Cathy has started a new side business that includes website, logo and blog design as well as branding and marketing!  One of her first clients was Lori of Paper and Thread Invitation Studio.  Lori contacted me for new headshots for her brand new website!  Don’t forget to check it out.  And when you are done there, hop on over to Cathy’s new website, Love-Inspired!

I love this prop-sewing machine Lori brought to the shoot!

Lori, it was great getting to know you and laughing with you, even when we were both getting over the sniffles!  Your new website looks Fab!

xoxo, M

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by Melissa McClure

5 comments

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January 31, 2010 - 8:41 pm Harmony Loves - very classic and cute :)

January 31, 2010 - 8:45 pm Eve - Super cute pictures as usual Mel :) Good work!

January 31, 2010 - 10:03 pm Milisa - These pics are AMAZING! The lighting was beautiful and her smile is infectious!

February 1, 2010 - 11:05 am Danielle - Cute pictures! Where did you go to shoot?

February 1, 2010 - 1:29 pm s h e r r y - These are so pretty! Love the light, and the sewing machine!

FEATURED: Rock ‘n Roll Bride – Again!

Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 5:11pm Posted in Networking, trash the dress

I adore Kat and her Rock N Roll blog! Every time she posts something new, I get a giddy feeling in my tummy! Can you imagine how giddy I feel when I see MY OWN WORK on there? :)  Loni and Todd’s desert trash the dress (check out my post below this one!) was featured yesterday on one of my favorite blogs

Check it out here and leave a comment if you wish!

Thanks Kat!

xoxo. M

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by Melissa McClure

3 comments

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February 1, 2010 - 11:04 am Danielle - Congrats Mel! You are so talented, you totally deserve the recognition!

February 2, 2010 - 7:14 pm Mandi Whiting - YAY!!!!! :o) Congrats!!

February 4, 2010 - 2:05 pm Rock 'n Roll Bride · Thursday Treats – 4th Feb 2010 - [...] Little Photographs Tom Fowler Photography Thrifty Wedding Melissa Mcclure Reminisce Photography & Design Jodie [...]

Trash the Dress – Desert Style! Part 2 of 2

Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 3:27pm Posted in trash the dress

Loni + Todd

I only met these two about 3 hours prior to this shoot, but I have to say they know how to Bring It!  I could have sworn Loni had a model background, but no!  She is just that photogenic!

But see for yourselves…

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And yes, she rides dirt bikes too :)

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My favorite <3

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Todd is a fireman so I told him to pick her up in a fireman’s carry!

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It was so great to meet you two!  You are so cute together, I love how he makes you laugh! :)

xoxo, M

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by Melissa McClure

20 comments

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January 24, 2010 - 7:39 pm Jenn - Another awesome session!!! Love these pics!!! Really like the 3rd one from the bottom. Talk about an edgy ... yet beautiful couple!

January 24, 2010 - 7:44 pm kerri mcconnell - ooh! your favorite is also mine! great job!! :)

January 24, 2010 - 7:51 pm Rhonda Mazurek - Fabulous pictures Melissa!!!

January 24, 2010 - 10:30 pm Jennie - Love this blog!! I have so many favorites. Fantastic shoot!

January 25, 2010 - 12:00 am Milisa - They turned out AMAZING!!!! This was a fabulous one hour...of course the rest of the weekend was fun with you too! :)

January 25, 2010 - 12:17 am Cathy Crawley - Very very cool indeed! Love them all Melissa!

January 25, 2010 - 9:10 am Alicia - Wow!! What fantastic pics!!! LOVE them!

January 25, 2010 - 12:12 pm CORINNE - Love these pictures and that it's not the "typical" photo setting!

January 25, 2010 - 12:22 pm Carrie - Love the sexy desert light for these and Milisa's - beautiful!

January 25, 2010 - 7:16 pm The Princess - Wow....so what do you do with the dress now?

January 26, 2010 - 9:02 am Danielle - I love the tuxedo T-shirt! :)

January 26, 2010 - 6:24 pm Harmony Loves - I loved this session! so glam and rocker. You totally rocked it Melissa

January 26, 2010 - 6:39 pm Marianne - Such a fun session!!

January 26, 2010 - 6:50 pm Carl - Sweet blog!!!

January 26, 2010 - 6:56 pm Dawn Malone - These are awesome Mel! Looks like a ton of fun, love the lighting.

January 26, 2010 - 7:35 pm Lauren P - You knocked this outta the park, plain and simple. The desert, the tatted bride, the light.... it all came together amazingly. Awesome work lady! rad Rad RAD!

January 26, 2010 - 10:21 pm Jessica Lee - These are awesome!!

January 30, 2010 - 11:15 am laura evans - saw this session on rock n roll bride & i love them ... they are stunning! i think it's the huge contrast in everything that does it for me (though having those kind of "models" works too) ... there's something so rock "n" roll, fantasy about them as well. Gorgeous.

January 31, 2010 - 12:35 am Katelyn James - so fun! Love this!!

January 26, 2010 - 1:35 am uberVU - social comments - Social comments and analytics for this post... This post was mentioned on Twitter by MelissaMcClure: Part 2 of my TTD in the desert is on the blog now! Check it out! http://trunc.it/50gc2...

Trash the Dress – Desert Style! Part 1 of 2

Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 10:02pm Posted in trash the dress

Milisa + Chad

These two are former clients of mine, they were married at Ponte Winery this past September.  Milisa had approached me last year about shooting her Trash the Dress session in Ocotillo Wells.  I am a big fan of the desert so of course I was up for it!  We had such a good time!  Their friends Loni and Todd also wanted in on the TTD action, but you will have to wait until the next blog for theirs!

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Nipple alert!!

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<3 this one!

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Thank you so much for a fun desert weekend!  Tim and I had such a blast with you two!  Buffalo wings are in our future!

xoxo, M

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by Melissa McClure

14 comments

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January 21, 2010 - 10:11 pm Janice - Love them! You make me want to look at my album all over again!

January 21, 2010 - 10:16 pm x to the tina - milisa and melissa rock

January 21, 2010 - 10:47 pm Beki@bekidawnphotography.com - HOW FUN!!!!!! Love them!

January 21, 2010 - 11:22 pm Gina - What a cool session! Their matching freckles are so cute

January 21, 2010 - 11:41 pm Jenn - Awesome session!!!! <3 them Melissa! You both rock and looks like a lot of fun!!!

January 22, 2010 - 10:16 am Heidi - So fun! You looked great Milisa! Great shots too! I love the sunset one. With the "Nipple alert" warning I was expecting a little wardrobe malfunction! Hahahahaha!

January 22, 2010 - 10:20 am Mother of the Bride - Wow! Is she beautiful or what??!!! And my son-in-law looks pretty handsome too. I love the pictures Melissa, and I love you Milisa.

January 22, 2010 - 10:58 am Felicia - These are so beautiful and Milisa looks great! I can't wait to do this!

January 22, 2010 - 5:54 pm Diana - They look great!

January 23, 2010 - 10:16 am Danielle - Awesome! I love the one where they're inverted and kissing! Great photos Mel!

January 26, 2010 - 7:12 pm annaliese - Milisa: you look lovely....melissa: great job AS usual. These photos have such personality!!

January 26, 2010 - 8:55 pm Tonya Ritchie - I LOVE all of these...just beautiful! My favorites are the shot of them kissing with the lens flare peeking through and I LOVE the wide sky shot!!

January 27, 2010 - 6:24 am nely - I love the sunset shot! Great set of images, Mel!

January 27, 2010 - 10:00 pm Nicole - LOVE this session!!! Awesome work!

Jeremy and Suzanne – Pala Mesa Wedding Photographer

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 9:15pm Posted in wedding

Suzanne and Jeremy picked an amazing weekend to get married – my anniversary weekend! :)  They tied the knot at one of my favorite places to shoot in San Diego – Pala Mesa Resort and Golf Course!

Suzanne’s sister, Claudia, is a professional makeup artist and I loved how her eyes matched her bouquet!  Claudia was also the makeup artist for my wedding and I have known her since first grade!

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One of my favorite images of the day <3

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Mandi and Allison were over with the guys while they got ready

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The handsome Jeremy

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Suzanne and Jeremy opted for a “first look” since the Winter sun sets so early!

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Jeremy couldn’t keep his lips off of her!

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Stunning Suzanne!

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Love this image Mandi captured!

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I loved that they all had pockets – even Suzanne’s dress!

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How adorable are they?  You may recognize Mia from a past blog!

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A family friend made their cake – it was delish!

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Allison snagged this shot at the reception:

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I can’t even begin to describe how awesome the dancing was at this wedding!  Check out the slideshow below for more dancing photos!  It was almost all Arabic music and dancing and I loved every minute of it!  It made me want to get out and dance too!

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S&J – I had such a great day with you two!  You are so obviously in love, everyone around you can feel it!  Best wishes while living in Hawaii (jelaous!)

xoxo, M

Enjoy your slideshow!

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by Melissa McClure

13 comments

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January 15, 2010 - 9:19 pm Lyric - Beautiful Melissa!

January 15, 2010 - 9:24 pm Harmony Loves - gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. great job Melissa!

January 15, 2010 - 11:06 pm Katy Regnier - wow the lighting on those portraits is beautiful! Nicely done Melissa!

January 15, 2010 - 11:56 pm Cat Logan - Stunning as always!

January 16, 2010 - 12:30 am s h e r r y - Gorgeous images! I love her eyeshadow and dress!

January 16, 2010 - 3:40 pm Stephanie Ash - Wow, wow, WOW! These take my breath away. Beautiful, inspiring, and I cannot WAIT to start shooting weddings!! Thank you for the inspiration, and GREAT work!!

January 16, 2010 - 5:38 pm Cathy Crawley - What a gorgeous wedding in a beautiful location! I love that shot of their first dance, it really says it all :) Beautiful as always Melissa xxx

January 17, 2010 - 4:44 pm Danielle - Mel - you do such an amazing job of capturing the bridal glow! You're the best!

January 18, 2010 - 1:33 pm nely - beautiful work, Melissa! I love the rim-lighting in so many of the portraits.

January 18, 2010 - 3:47 pm Milisa - I love the "he couldn't keep his lips off her" picture. So sweet!

January 26, 2010 - 6:21 pm Lauren @ Every Last Detail - This wedding is awesome! Love the bouquet and the bride's makeup! Amazing work Melissa!

January 26, 2010 - 8:48 pm Tonya Ritchie - Love all these pictures Melissa, especially all the beautiful lighting & lens flares :) My favorites are the couple on the steps and the ring shot...just gorgeous. Your work really inspires me! (btw...just ordered my 50mm 1.4 lens and I cannot wait!!! :D

January 27, 2010 - 7:26 am Betsy, La Vida Creations - Suzanne!! I've known Suzanne for years (her cousin is my dearest childhood friend) and was so thrilled to see her wedding on your blog, Mel! Gorgeous work capturing the essence of how joyful I would expect her to be on her wedding day. Just beautiful!!

Isaiah and Jenn – Engagement style photos by Mandi Whiting

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 8:04pm Posted in Portraits, engagement

*I’m having an issue with a serial hacker, there is some code in my blog so I continue to get hacked. I am working on fixing this issue, but it requires me to start a whole new blog. Thank you for being patient!*

If you are interested in hiring Mandi, please contact her at mandi@melissamcclure.com


Last month, Mandi got together with Jenn and Isaiah for a fun photo session at South Coast Winery. It’s such a beautiful location to shoot, so many secret little spots. I’ve never shot a wedding there, but would love to in the future!

Jenn, you are so gorgeous!

My fav of the day! Can you believe those colors??

Jenn & Isaiah – Glad to hear you had a blast with Mandi and loved the photos! You two are such models!
xoxo, M

by Melissa McClure

1 comment

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January 18, 2010 - 3:49 pm Milisa - Great job Mandi! I love the one of the two of them standing in the vineyard...beautiful!

Featured: Sally and David on Wedding Nouveau

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 8:02pm Posted in Uncategorized

*I’m having an issue with a serial hacker, there is some code in my blog so I continue to get hacked. I am working on fixing this issue, but it requires me to start a whole new blog. Thank you for being patient!*

I love what Fri Bailey called it: VietnaScottrish Charm! I am very pleased that Sally and David’s multi-cultural wedding was featured on Wedding Nouveau today! Head on over there and take a look for yourself!

by Melissa McClure

1 comment

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January 16, 2010 - 5:35 pm Cathy Crawley - Woo hoo! Congratulations Mel :)