Wedding Photographers Chicago | Melissa Diep Photography | Blog bio picture

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Remember the scene in Sex and the City the movie when Louise from St. Louis gives Carrie her Love charm? That’s Melissa Diep. She’s in love with Love. She’s the kind of gal who wears her heart on her sleeve and cries a little when her brides and grooms take their First Look. She loves the thrill of photographing the magic that exists between her couples, the innocence of a sleeping newborn, and the simplicity of a family in their own backyard.

Melissa is always on the hunt for the new and interesting in her hometown of Chicago, by way of Saigon, Vietnam. It is because of her family’s hardships and tenacity during their flight from the communist North––spending 10 days on a cramped fishing boat, then living in a refugee camp in Thailand for nearly two years––that have shaped who Melissa is today as a woman, wife, mother and photographer.

Armed with only a handful of pictures from her early childhood––one single baby photo and just a few as an infant in her family’s camp––it’s easy to understand why Melissa employs a photojournalistic approach behind the lens. She aims to deliver photo memories with stunning visual impact; natural and unscripted while telling your story effortlessly.

Melissa’s upbringing motivates her to live fully and to appreciate the grand, the small, and the in between. In her everyday, Melissa rocks girly dresses with blazers on photo shoots and drinks Vietnamese coffee. She believes in finding beauty in unexpected places, always doing her hair and lusting over shiny red Minis (regrettably, but dutifully, she upgraded hers to a more baby-friendly vehicle).

Melissa lives in Chicago with The Giant and Little G, also affectionately known as her husband and one year old son, of whom she religiously takes one 100 photos a day.

Hotel Allergro Chicago | Katrina and David::ENGAGED!!!

March 14, 2010

Hotel Allegro Engagement

It was a foggy and rainy evening in downtown Chicago but that didn’t stop us from planning this super fun engagement session. We were originally supposed to shoot inside Union Station but we found out upon arriving there that it was partially closed due to a private event. But I wasn’t a bit worried because we went straight to Hotel Allegro to do the shoot there instead. I love shooting there because it’s just beautiful and colorful. Thanks again to the staff at Hotel Allegro for being so gracious and welcoming as usual. Katrina and David are both medical students sharing a long distant relationship. Katrina lives here and David lives in Florida. He flew into town this weekend to help Katrina out with the wedding planning and have their session with me. It was so much FUN. I think we laughed the entire time our session. I am so blessed to be able to photograph such an amazing couple like Katrina and David. I can’t wait to witness your big day and thank you for trusting me enough to let me document it. Can’t wait!!!