Traveling has been a passion of mine since I got my first passport at 6 months old (no joke!) I sat on my moms lap and made gaga sounds at the photographer. I started traveling alone at age 6 to visit my Aunt in Missouri every Summer. I haven't stopped since. Where I go, my camera follows. I love experiencing new places and capturing each one in my own way.
I’ve been staring blankly at my screen unsure of how to start this blog. Brianna’s father, Jeremy encouraged me to share as much about Brianna and her terminal illness as I am comfortable with. I want to start off with talking about Neimann-Pick Disease. Brianna has Type C. Please click here for a basic overview of this fatal disease or click here to read about the Foundation and to donate to the cause. Jeremy is all too familiar with this disease, he lost his oldest daughter Bailey a few years ago to the same thing.
Jeremy and Brianna have an amazing relationship. Being in a room with them for 5 minutes will show you that this little girl is his universe. I hope to have captured their relationship in these photos.
My good friends Jodi and Adam are old friends of Jeremy’s. Jeremy saw some photographs I took that are hung in their home and really liked them. When these two families planned Brianna’s last trip to Disneyland, Jodi knew that she wanted to bring me along to document the day and surprise Jeremy.
After the Disneyland trip, I got an email from Jeremy. The last line said this: “I don’t know how to thank you for taking the time out of your day to do something special for us. All I can say is that you have made an impact on both of our lives that will never be forgotten.” And isn’t that what life is all about?
But guess what? Brianna and Jeremy made an impact on my life too. I hope you can see that in these photos.
Mickey and Minnie came by to visit the girls, Brianna in the middle and Riyen (Jodi and Adam’s daughter) on the left.
And of course, Riyen, who could be called a “regular” on my blog by now!
These next two images are some of my favorites of the day. I couldn’t decide which one I liked better, so I posted both!
I love how Brianna is looking at her dad in this photo
And meeting her favorite, Tinkerbell!
Jeremy and I would like to encourage to you hug your loved ones a little bit closer today and every day after this!
xoxo, M
Simply breathtaking! Beautiful pictures of a beautiful family. You really have to praise fathers like Jeremey.
What a beautiful thing you were able to do for them, documenting this day. Gorgeous! I especially love the second photo of them on the Dumbo ride – they look like they are flying high. So magical!
Thank you for sharing these images with us. I’m glad that you were able to use your skill to document this for them so they can cherish them forever.
These images remind me of my daughter, who is of similar age last year when she met Arial for the first time at Disney World.
These are so beautiful and meaningful, Melissa. Wow. Thanks for sharing their story as well as their photos.
Amazing photos!
We had a shoot like this not too long ago, and it really made us realize the importance of how photographs of loved ones really do make a difference in people’s lives.
That’s absolutely beautiful Mel.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful images.
Couldn’t look at them without tearing up.
Absolutely precious Mel! I love them. What a beautiful set of photos the family will have forever.
So so so sweet. The color photo of them on the elephant ride made me tear up a little. Great work, Melissa. They’ll cherish these forever!
These are so precious. I love how you captured the close relationship Jeremy and Brianna have — and I love the moment on the Dumbo ride. What a great dad!
That’s great Meliss…
Life is so short, and unfortunately, it’s sometimes stories like this that remind you to stop and smell the roses.
I feel like a broken record but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for spending the day with Jeremy and his baby girl! I was there and saw most of these pictures later that night but they still make me cry. You are an amazing photographer, person and friend. Thank you infinity! :o)
with what i have seen and the heart ache in my life, it takes a lot to make me cry. thank you again. i am lost for words.
Wow Melissa! These are wonderful. I’m sitting at my desk crying. Thanks for the reminder to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you everyday.
Melissa- Thank you for capturing these wonderful memories for Jeremy. He is an amazing daddy and cherishs every moment he has with her! Beautiful!!!!
Speechless. Completely speechless. What a wonderful amazing thing you have given their family. I soooo love the desaturated Dumbo ride photo. Welling up on the spot!!!
So very hard to hear…children should never have to deal with these kinds of illnesses. It is awesome that you made a difference with your beautiful art.
Told you this before, but you’re awesome Mel. He will cherish these forever, I am sure of it.
dumbo ride in faded colors is beautiful – a wonderful way to document life and cherish memories. photography is one of the finest artistic levels to capture lifes beauty. each time you take a photo you are archiving history! go girl~~~~~~~ 🙂 xooxox ann
gorgeous Mel, brought tears to my eyes..
Tears to my eyes…as photographers this is why we do what we do!
Melissa,
Thanks for sharing this blog with us.
The pictures are so beautiful..
Beautiful….just beautiful. I will pray for them.
I’m all choked up and in tears. Everyone involved in making this day happen, wow! Thanks for sharing and the reminder.
Beautiful images…I know they will always cherish those memories. Sending prayers of strength and comfort for them.
Amazing, Melissa. What a beautiful way to inform the masses. It brought several tears to my eyes, but at the same time, I had a smile on my face looking at that beautiful little girl and her daddy, imagining the absolute surrealism of the day for them both. You are a special person as well for doing this for them. Thank you for sharing their story.
Beautiful images! Very moving…What a beautiful little girl, so sweet.
I am completely speechless. It is impossible to look at these without tearing up. You have captured some really great moments between them that will never be forgotten. The pictures are beautiful and really show the love between the two of them. Just Beautiful!!
~Thank you for sharing ~ It just shows you that there are no guarantees in Life…. You did an amazing thing for Jeremy and his daughter that will last a lifetime… you are truly amazing Melissa~ I hugged Jake extra hard tonight because of this blog and said a special prayer for Jeremy and Brianna….
What a wonderful, courageous man. His love is, like you said, so evident and pure. Melissa thank you for teaching us about the disease and showing us where we can give support…and for sharing these beautiful images with us. You are amazing…
Thank you sharing Melissa. Jeremy is a very strong father and his love is so evident in the pictures. I especially love the 2nd dumbo pic. I will be keeping their family in my thoughts and prayers.
Amazing, beautiful, heartwarming….you have done such an amazing thing for this family Melissa.
Hey Melissa, Wonderful pictures of you and Tim in Mexico – you still look so happy. The pictures of Brianna are just wonderful; you were able to capture the love in each of them. We love you, Lynn & Phil
This just breaks my heart! Thank you for sharing their story and for taking such precious pics. Definitely a reminder to hug & kiss our loved ones.
Wow Melissa. Beautiful…your two favs are also mine. Those two photos seem to capture so much.
This is too precious..what an amazing father…..
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crying don’t know what to say but that all I can do is pray…. So so so sorry…… Be strong and live in christ.
Ok, I’m totally bawling my eyes out now 🙁
These are beautiful images. Brianna was a ray of sunshine and is forever missed.
Oh my! These pictures brought tears to my eyes! You can feel the love and happiness!