Personal Archive

Happy New Year – A look back at 2017!

2017 was an interesting year for me. With the highest high (my wedding) to some really low-lows within my personal and family life. Overall it was a really tough year. But putting this collage together today, looking at all of my smiling couples I am reminded how much joy my job brings me. To be there on one of the happiest days of someones life. To celebrate their nerves, the first kiss, that walk down the aisle as husband and wife…and so many more precious moments. It’s sometimes hard to believe how lucky I am that I can make a living off a passion. I get to travel the world and meet so many new and interesting people. Hear their stories, sometimes even shed a tear with them. Life is fleeting. I like to sit in these moments of joy and reflect on what truly matters. For me, that is spending time with my loved ones, sharing a meal with a new friend, reading an engrossing novel, mentoring a budding photographer and watching them get it.  Overall just connecting with the human race. My wish for you in the new year is to find those moments of pure bliss and savor them. Go after them. Capture them in your heart, mind or even on camera. Cheers to a fresh new start.

Happy New Year! Goodbye 2015!

Year after year I think to myself…I have the most amazing clients. How do I get so lucky? Each wedding day is so unique and tailored to my couple and I love getting to know them through this process. Not to mention all my amazing portrait clients too that aren’t pictured here! Thanks to you all for the support, love and business over the past year!

xo, Melissa
2015 clients

Balboa Park – Father-Daughter Portrait Session
MMP Gives Back Contest Winners – Rachael + Rudy
Normal. A word which means confirming to a standard; typical; commonplace. When you think of the traditional family, you picture a loving mom and dad, a brother and sister, and maybe even grandma and grandpa. If one had to define a normal family, that’s probably what comes to mind…though I can’t think of anyone who can say with a degree of certainty that they had a “normal” childhood. This certainly holds true for Rachael. She grew up in an extremely broken home, where her mother physically and verbally abused her as soon as she started crawling. Her mother and father fought day in and day out, and after a series of lies told by her mother, at the age of 7, Rachael‘s father, Rudy, would be forced to walk out of Rachael‘s life forever.
All the while, Rachael‘s mother continued to abuse her, until finally, she had enough, and set out to be the victor–not the victim.
Fast forward to today, Rachael, now 21, is still dealing with the repercussions of her mother’s actions, the most recent being identity theft. She had severe depression, and finally decided to reach out to her father. Now, 14 years later, Rachael has been reunited with Rudy. Every Thursday is “Dad/Daughter Day.” They have enjoyed getting to know each other, and noticing how very similar they are in looks and personality, despite their separation.
Rachael was browsing Facebook, and noticed Melissa’s post about wanting to give back to her community and supporters by providing a free mini shoot. Having worked with Melissa in the past, and with Father’s Day just around the corner, she thought it would be a wonderful gift to have some portraits captured of the two of them. (And Rudy just so happened to say what a good idea it would be to go to a studio and have pictures taken).
(from Rachael) Despite everything one goes through, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. It may be hard to see, but it’s there if you set your heart on finding it. Thank you, Melissa, for being part of that light. Your beautiful photos truly capture the love between a father and daughter. Thank you again for sharing your gifts, time, and talent with us in preserving a memory that will forever be fond in my dad’s heart, and mine.

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MMP is now offering one on one mentorships to photographers!

mentorshipI’m thrilled to announce I am offering 1 on 1 mentor sessions for wedding and portrait photography! Shoot me an email if interested! melissa@melissamcclure.com

Wedding and Portrait Photography Giveaway!

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I’ve never done anything like this but I figured after 10 years shooting weddings, it’s time to give back – in a big way. Here’s the deal: I’m giving away a FREE wedding and/or a FREE portrait shoot. The catch? You have to be deserving.

Having a rough time? Down and out on your luck? Can’t afford beautiful photos but want them? Know someone who fits this description? Send me an email with the subject line “Contest” to melissa@melissamcclure.com and share your story to be entered! You can nominate yourself or someone else.

 I’m also giving away one $100 Amazon Gift Card – available to everyone. To be entered for the gift card, share this post on your FB, Instagram, Pinterest or your own blog (make sure to tag me so I can get your entry recorded) or nominate someone for the contest above! Feel free to use the hashtag #MMPgivesback

Please note: Free photography is for San Diego County only. I will accept entries for all over the world but travel fees will need to be covered by the client. Free wedding must take place in 2015 or 2016. Winners will receive photo coverage and high resolution images.

Winners for the free photography and gift card will be chosen on June 1, 2015

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