Reviews

A series of tender moments between parents and their infant baby in candid lifestyle portraits at home in Newport Beach.

Family R.

A wonderful photographer with an extraordinary sense of detail and authenticity. The pictures are down to earth and show “real” life without heavy editing. The pictures of the pregnancy and the first pictures of our newborn are magical and full of emotion. We are very much looking forward to our next big event, which we can immortalize with Melanie.

Young family embraces tenderly on a sandy beach as gentle waves roll in behind them in Laguna Beach.

Family H.

Absolutely thrilled with our experience working with Mel for our family photos! From the moment we arrived, Mel made everything feel so effortlessly fun and relaxed. She has a natural gift for making everyone — even the little ones — feel at ease, and it truly shows in every photo.

She didn’t just take pictures; she captured the heart of our family — the laughter, the love, the genuine joy we share. Nothing felt forced or posed, yet every image turned out beautifully composed and full of life.

If you’re looking for someone who not only delivers stunning photos but also makes the entire experience enjoyable and memorable, Mel is the one. We’re so grateful for these timeless moments she’s given us

Tender moment between mother and newborn baby shown in progressive sequence of gentle kisses in Newport Beach.

Family L.

Mel is a great and warm photographer who made me feel comfortable from the first contact to the shoot. I was able to share all my wishes and ideas with her, which she combined with her expert tips and tricks to produce really beautiful photos!

I can reassure anyone who has a queasy feeling about the “posed” shooting situation: during the shoot there is a lot of laughter, storytelling and the focus is on naturalness. What more could you want?

Thank you so much, dear Mel, for your wonderful work.

Adult and child in casual clothing squat together on a porch playing with small toys in Orange County.

Family S.

Mel was fantastic! We loved her unique process and felt at ease with the entire photoshoot with our family. She created an atmosphere of comfort while documenting our lives and it felt natural and fun! When we got our photos back, we were amazed at how talented she is and how we’ll cherish these photos forever. Couldn’t recommend her more for your photography needs!!

A few minutes old newborn lies sleeping with its thumb in its mouth on the mother’s chest in Huntington Beach.

Family N.

Mel accompanied our birth photographically and it was simply wonderful! At first I was skeptical about having someone “foreign” with me at such an intimate moment, but I never regretted it for a moment. Mel was empathetic, discreet and it felt like she was a friend and we had known each other forever. The pictures are so emotional and real, I look at them every day and am proud of what my body and I have achieved, the strength that Mel's pictures have also captured. If you are looking for great, candid pictures with real emotions, Mel is the right person for you! Not only the photos, but also the people!

AnFamily gather in modern kitchen preparing Christmas cookies and spending time together around counter island in Laguna Beach.

Family C.

Mel made the process of taking family pictures fun and easy. I’ve never had my kids not complain during family pictures until now! She does a great job of capturing sweet memories in the midst of ordinary moments.