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Posted in trash the dress

Want to see what it looks like to trash a Kenneth Pool wedding dress???  Amber and Brett’s first year wedding anniversary is coming up and what better way is there to celebrate it then to shoot a trash the dress session!

So I’ve been trying to come up with ideas on how we should shoot this trash the dress session of Amber and Brett. The only thing I kept telling my friends and Giant is that I envision mud. Lol. So Giant told me of a swampy area out in the suburbs by his grandma’s place.  We took a drive out there one weekend and I knew right away that was the spot.  Amber and Brett were both crazy enough to trust me on choosing the location and the style of their trash the dress session.  I LOVE THEM for being so open-minded!!!  They’re seriously the sweetest funnest couple to hangout with.  Amber is a stunningly beautiful and SUPER SWEET and Brett is super FUUUUUNNY!!!  What a gorgeous couple they are!  I was allowed the honor to shoot their e-session last year. You can check them both out here and here.  Once we got there, my assistant that day, Jessy Hauser, sprayed on THREE layers of bug spray (Jessy was probably thinking I was nuts for being so neurotic) all throughout my body.  Can you please tell me WHY I still got bit???  We all did actually.  Argh!

It was a hot and muggy day when we did this sunset shoot.  We were all hot, sweaty, scratched up from the tall grasses, and badly bitten but it didn’t stop any of us from having fun.  I’ve got to give it to both Amber and Brett.  By the end of the shoot when they were rolling around this smelly marshy area where you can see a frog sporadically jump every so often and beavers swimming by.  Not once did they complain.  They just laughed and went with it.  I said it before and I’m going to say it again, I LOVE THEM both for being so brave and open-minded!!!  Not everyone could’ve done what they did!

Thanks Jessy Hauser for coming out to help assist!!!!

Make-up by Diem Angie Nguyen

Chicago Trash the Dress

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  • Bernadette AtterberryAugust 31, 2010 - 2:54 pm

    Just BEAUTIFUL!!! You are an amazing photographer!!

  • Bernadette AtterberryAugust 31, 2010 - 2:54 pm

    Just BEAUTIFUL!! You are an amazing photographer!!!

  • Jenna JulianneAugust 31, 2010 - 5:00 pm

    THESE ARE AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

  • AmalAugust 31, 2010 - 8:39 pm

    These picture are splendid! You did an awesome job Melissa trashing this dress!! LOVE it!

  • MelissaAugust 31, 2010 - 11:09 pm

    thanks so much everyone!! they were just a dream to work with!!

  • Brandon ScottSeptember 2, 2010 - 8:03 am

    Awesome shoot Mel! The second last shot is bang on!!

  • Chicago Family Photographer | Amber and Brett's Fall Family Session at Busse WoodsNovember 24, 2015 - 9:34 pm

    […] are no exception. I’ve known these two for over six years, from when they were just engaged, then married, and finally, to the birth of their beautiful son Brayden who is now over 4 years old! I’ve […]

Posted in destination weddings,weddings

St. Thomas Weddings

Tyffani found me through Facebook one evening and decided to reach out to me about her destination wedding held in St. Thomas, U.S Virgin Island.  Needless to say I was pretty stoked about it.  Both Tyffani and Scott didn’t make the decision to book our tickets till two weeks before their wedding!!!  Hours after Giant and I landed in St. Thomas, we met up with Tyffani and Scott for the first time at the Wyndham Hotel.  It was instant chemistry!!!  We all meshed so well and both Tyffani and Scott we sooooooo laid back about everything.  Tyffani was just glowing with happiness and I even told her that as we were walking around the property.

Wedding day.  Tyffani, a hair and make-up artist, did hair and make-up for the girls.  The entire time she was singing, dancing, and just glowing!!! The guys next doors was sitting in their hotel room watching movies.  Hahaha.  It’s so nice being a guy sometimes.  While the girls all been up since 4am doing hair and make-up, they were still sleeping or watching movies.

It was a really hot and humid out in the caribbean sun but neither the bride and groom were the least bit fazed by it.  They couldn’t stop smiling at each other.  During the mother and groom’s dance, Scott danced with Tyffani’s mom.  Scott’s mom passed away spring this year but the love that everyone had for her was apparent during that dance.  It was THE MOST EMOTIONAL DANCE EVER!!!!!  I was S O B B I N G!!!  The ENTIRE room was sobbing.  I have no idea how I managed to shoot but somehow I got through it.

Thanks Tyffani and Scott for allowing Giant and I to be such a big part of your life.  We loved you both, your family, and friends.  If there’s a downfall about shooting destination weddings is saying goodbye to these people you’ve grown close to during your time there.  Enjoy your pictures!!!

St. Thomas Wedding Photographer

Destination Wedding Photographer

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  • SamTheManAugust 26, 2010 - 9:14 pm

    Beautiful, simply beautiful!

  • MelissaAugust 26, 2010 - 10:46 pm

    why thank you sammy!

  • AngelaAugust 28, 2010 - 3:48 pm

    I really like the tiny gallery you’ve embedded! Thanks so much for sharing your gorgeous images! 🙂

Posted in lifestyle,trash the dress

So I’ve been extremely busy this past week.  Here’s a quick sneak peek of FOUR shoots I’m working on!  Let me know what you think!!  Oh and what do you think of my new blog and logo!!!!!

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  • diem angie nguyenAugust 25, 2010 - 5:15 pm

    I am happy to be apart of three of these shoots! Love them hunny!

  • diem angie nguyenAugust 25, 2010 - 5:30 pm

    a part* =)

  • Angela EdelbrockAugust 25, 2010 - 7:26 pm

    Oh Melissa you did such a great job as usual thanks for sharing you inspire me!

  • MelissaAugust 26, 2010 - 12:20 am

    thanks so much diem for being such an awesome model as usual!

    angela-you’re way too kind. thank u. that means so much to me.

  • Joshua AlbaneseAugust 26, 2010 - 9:49 am

    Awesome Melissa! I love them all but the last one has a special feeling that I love.

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