I’m home from my 3 week trip!  I came down with a stomach bug in Africa, so I’ve spent the last week trying to recover from it.   The trip was very eye opening, to say the least.  I feel that there were 3 major parts of the trip (Turkey, Ethiopia & the safari in Tanzania) that I’m going to post three photoblogs about it.

For the first three days, we took a long layover in Istanbul, Turkey.  The mosques were the highlight for me!  They were created so beautifully, great subjects to photograph.

My parents 🙂

The tragedy in Japan is just devastating to watch and read about. My heart goes out to all the people living and visiting there! The earthquake caused quite a stir around the world, including West Maui where we spent our last day of vacation!

Our hotel evacuated around 1am and we fled in our rented Jeep to higher elevation. We listened to the radio, tried to nap and talked about the tsunami that was going to hit Hawaii and eventually the West Coast. We snuck back to our hotel around 6am when we felt it was safe enough. Whew what a way to end an amazing vacation!

Still haven’t heard how the rest of Maui fared but I hear we got hit worse than the other islands. We had just taken a snorkel trip out of Maalaea Harbor not even 24 hours ago and it was one of the areas with a lot of damage. See two of my photos from yesterday’s snorkel trip below.

We appreciate the concern and support by our friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, Email and text messages! Love you all! Our next adventure…find out if our planes are really flying out today or not!!!

As I was pulling images from each of our weddings this year I got an overwhelming feeling of gratification.  I am so blessed to have met each and every one of my clients and each of them touch my heart in a different way!  I am completely humbled by the people I have met, new friends I have made and the current friendships that have been made stronger.  I wish I could hug each and every one of my blog followers – I am so grateful for you!!

2010 was a big year of change for me.  I traveled more for business and personal time than ever before (84 days = the amount I was away from home!), Tim and I decided to mutually split up, I won Bridal Insider’s Photographer of the Year, was published in some awesome magazines/online blogs and I turned 30 years old!  It was a definitely roller coaster but would not change one thing.

I look forward to an even better 2011 with new couples, some returning clients and all my future brides and grooms!  I hope you all have a prosperous and eventful 2011!

xoxo, Melissa

After 3 weeks away traveling for 3 weddings out of state (and one out of country) I am back in my own bed tonight. I have a ton to catch up on so I appreciate your patience!

Hope this photo of Mandi and me makes you smile!  It was taken on the first night of the cruise, where we shot Shawna and Jason’s amazing underwater trash the dress and wedding at the Atlantis Resort!

Mandi and I are headed to Nassau, Bahamas for Shawna and Jason’s wedding via Carnival Cruise lines! We leave today and the wedding is on Tuesday at the gorgeous Atlantis Resort. Because I am on a cruise ship, my internet will be extremely limited. I plan on checking once a day, but my response times will be longer than normal. 🙂

For now, enjoy a few photos below of my trip to St Croix, Virgin Islands last week!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

See you in November!

xoxo, M