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.

Spring Picnic Engagement Shoot | Jennifer and Brian-ENGAGED!!!

March 28, 2012

When I met Jennifer and Brian for their wedding consultation, I can seriously say it was love at first sight. Everything about them makes me smile. Their love story, their chemistry, our chemistry! When Jennifer contacted me the following day with the good news saying they wanted to book with me, I was seriously doing the happy dance in my living room. I couldn’t stop talking about these two with my Giant!

Jennifer had a vision of what she had in mind for their engagement session. They were a bit nervous for the shoot but it quickly became fun and next thing we know, we were all laughing non-stop through out the entire shoot. It helps up forget about the cold as well!! I seriously can’t wait to work with these two on their wedding. Love, love, love them both!!!

spring picnic engagement shoot