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 Lincoln Park Zoo Engagement | Jessy and Justin:ENGAGED!!!

May 24, 2011

There’s something so cute and endearing about this engagement session of Jessy and Justin. I shot this e-session a few weeks ago and I was editing these pictures with a smile on my face the entire time. Jessy and Justin are just beyond cute. Their love and chemistry if I can put it in words is pure and simple. I LOVE when a couple is open to ideas for any type of shoots. Jessy and Justin was that type of couple.

I met Jessy a year ago when she contacted me about assisting me so she can learn the ropes about photography. I felt so bad because the one time she did assist me, we were all so badly bitten because it was the Amber and Brett trash the dress shoot. The funny thing is that three females assisted me last year and one got married and two got engaged not too long afterwards. Jessy was one of them! LOL!

Thanks Jessy and Justine for making this day and evening fun. From the e-session to Vietnamese food afterwards. I always get excited when people like themselves are open to different types of food. LOVE!!