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.

Chicago Drake Hotel Weddings | Czarina and Gordon-Married!!!

May 20, 2010

Holy Name Cathedral Weddings

Czarina is probably one of the calmest bride I’ve ever met. She basically kicked back, relaxed and enjoyed this beautiful day that now belongs to her and Gordon. Both the bride and groom started off their day by getting ready in separate rooms at the luxurious Drake Hotel. I arrived with both Emily Gualdoni (second shooting for me that day) and Amanda (assisting me that day) to a smiling bride (thanks ladies for helping out!!!). Before you know if, the bridal party was being whisked away in a trolley while I took a ride with Czarina and her dad in this beautiful vintage 1956 Rolls Royce by A Dynasty Limo. I just remembered Czarina glowing throughout the ride to Holy Name Cathedral. She was just absolutely stunning!!! I’m just so blessed to have a job which I can capture such beautiful moments like this. That ride to the church was just the beginning to a perfect day. Rain or shine!! I’ve cried at every wedding I’ve shot. Yes, I’m a crier. I almost cried during Czarina and Gordon’s first dance. Their song of choice is by Bob Dylan-Make You Feel My Love. It was just so tender and romantic!!!!