Melissa Tuck Photography Blog bio picture

  • WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

    Hi there! I'm Melissa, and I am a visual storyteller who specializes in documentary wedding photography and fresh, stylized portraiture. I'm based in Rome, Georgia, but I love to travel!

    I am passionate about telling people's stories fully and authentically from a unique perspective. I love what I do, and I'm excited to share my life and work.

    If you use social media, please consider liking my Facebook page to stay updated on new content.

    So happy you stopped by for a visit. Look forward to hearing from you!

LILA + CHRIS ENGAGED!

03.28.11 Posted in ENGAGEMENTS, PORTRAITS

I am beyond thrilled to share these pictures with you. It really stood out to me during their engagement session that Lila and Chris are laid back and comfortable with each other. They are genuine and engaging and just lovely to be around (let alone photograph!). Because Chris & Lila are lovers of all things nature, we started out the shoot at the State Botanical Garden and then finished up in a wide open field where their pup, Rainey, could play and run free. I had such a lovely afternoon with these two gentle hearts, and I cannot wait for their wedding this spring!

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March 28, 2011 - 10:27 am

Jenny - These are great!! Being a dog lover, my favorite is the black and white one of them hugging their pup! So sweet!

KATHRYN + DAN ENGAGED!

03.23.11 Posted in ENGAGEMENTS, PORTRAITS

I’m going to describe this e-shoot in one word: fate. Let me explain. I was up in DC last week for some work unrelated to weddings/portraiture, and somehow Kathryn & Dan knew I was going to be there. : ) I’m shooting their wedding this fall in gorgeous Chapel Hill, and they were originally undecided about engagement photos. Lo and behold, they changed their mind and contacted me three days before I was scheduled to be in DC for some documentary work. BAM! We made the e-shoot happen, and I’m so glad we did. Perfect timing, perfect weather. It was beautiful. I had a blast with them wandering around the monuments (also because Kathryn kept me laughing the whole time!). Y’all are one good-lookin’ pair, and I can’t wait for your company again in the fall! : )

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March 23, 2011 - 6:28 pm

D.C. lover - Love these monuments and your photos made me feel like I was there. Great place for an engagement shoot, and it sure looked great! Lucky couple to have you.

March 30, 2011 - 4:01 pm

Rachel - I DIE! These are amazing!!!!

April 11, 2011 - 1:51 pm

Tye - Wowwww she has beautiful hair! Nice looking couple indeed, and as always, beautiful and amazing work Melissa!

September 19, 2011 - 12:10 am

Jenny Tenney - Lovely! She’s got amazing red hair. Also love the new branding and look of your blog. Definitely suits you.

CAREER DAY

03.09.11 Posted in COMMUNITY, PERSONAL

Let me let y’all in on a little secret: public speaking isn’t one of my most favorite things to do. My heart beats a little faster. My palms get a little more sweaty. My brain works a million more times a second… you get the picture. : ) So, when one of my friends (who is also a school counselor) asked me to speak at Auburn Elementary’s Career Day to over 100 second graders about why I love my job, my first thought was: “Oh goodness…no!” Then I placed aside my panic to remember my mantra (borrowed from my yoga instructor), which is currently: “let go, fear less and love more.”

With a nod to the “fear less,” I told myself that I needed to get out of my comfort zone more (= out from behind my camera). I realized that being able to describe why I love my job to second graders isn’t that much different than what I say when I speak to prospective clients. It’s pretty simple: I love telling peoples’ love stories.

All in all, speaking to the kids at Career Day was extremely rewarding! They were so inquisitive and full of energy. Some had ideas of what they want to be when they grow up (most popular answer: pro athletes), and some didn’t. I encouraged them to keep an open mind always and to constantly work hard at everything. I shared some of my favorite photos (set to music by Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift — crowd favorites!) and even did a demonstration at the end of how to take a good photograph. Hopefully the students got something out of my short time with them. Even if something I shared about my experiences made only a couple of them think about something they hadn’t considered before, that’s good enough for me. : )

[Since schools are strict about photographing kids, I wasn't able to take photos for my blog... but I did grab this frame the other day and it made me think of how I loved to blow dandelions as a kid!]

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March 9, 2011 - 4:13 pm

#1 Fan - Wish someone as fun and pretty as you had come to MY career day.

March 9, 2011 - 5:47 pm

School Counselor :) - The kids LOVED you! Thanks again for coming! You really made a difference!

March 10, 2011 - 8:12 pm

Kellin - this story makes me really happy. thank you for sharing :)

CALLIESPONDENCE

03.03.11 Posted in BABY, PORTRAITS, WEDDINGS

Everyone, meet Callie [paper lover turned stationery designer] and her rockin’ business: calliespondence. Clever name, eh?! Love it. Callie did the stationery for one of my couples last year (Hey Sophie + Pat!), and I was so excited that she wanted me to do a product shoot to refresh her portfolio and blog; she’s got some beautiful stuff. Callie creates custom stationery of all kinds: wedding suites, birth announcements, note cards, holiday cards, etc… You name it, and she’ll make it come to life! And to top it off, she makes “doing business” a treat. : ) You can check out some of the goods/make a custom request at her Etsy shop (which will be updated soon). Here are some of my favorites (+ a few of her adorable toddler Rush at the end!)…

Letterpress printed holiday card + birth announcement rolled into one:

Wedding suite:

Engagement party invite:

Personal stationery:

Birth announcement:

Letterpress printed thank-you cards:

Letterpress printed holiday card:

Letterpress printed holiday card:

Birthday party invite with matching note card and sticker:

Told you he was adorbs! : )
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March 3, 2011 - 9:39 am

Jenny - Beautiful stationary and adorable little boy!

VEGAS, BABY

03.01.11 Posted in PERSONAL, TRAVEL

“You’re so money and you don’t even know it.” — Swingers

When I think of my experience at WPPI in Las Vegas last week, I think of this quote (and it’s not only because the movie is set in Vegas). This quote encompasses how I felt before experiencing the largest photography convention and trade show in the world (15,000+ photogs!). Then I had the chance to hear so many inspiring photographers who have built themselves wildly successful businesses and you know what they all had in common? Number one: they truly value their art, and number two: they strike a work+life balance that allows them to stay energized throughout the year. Now, this doesn’t mean I walked away from the conference feeling high and mighty (in the least bit); it just means that I have a rejuvenated zest for wedding photography, and I need to go confidently in the direction of my dreams and live the life I’ve imagined! [paraphrased from Thoreau] … And I need to remember that I am money every once and awhile. ; ) So in my experience, what happens in Vegas, will NOT stay Vegas; I’m so excited to share what I’ve learned and to grow my business to new levels!

Here’s a little snapshot of my time. I’ll start with one of the many amazing sunrises from the window of our hotel room:

Here are some photo friends from North Carolina: Jenny Tenney & Lauren Cowart. These ladies have ridiculous talent and such lovely souls! I had a great time with them. : )

Jasmine Star. Loved her!

Tamara Lackey making a funny face. : ) Her presentation focusing on a work+life balance really touched me.

The super talented Jose Villa (who shoots solely on film). I die over his style.

And yes, I asked for a photo. : )

First night out exploring Vegas…

This long exposure isn’t perfect, but I still like it. : )

Second night out wandering around!

We had to visit The Bellagio – who could forget the awesome scene from Oceans Eleven?!

I took this series of photographs inside The Bellagio with the intention of making an animation. I love the kaleidoscope effect it creates!

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March 1, 2011 - 12:39 pm

Lauren Cowart - I love it!!! Your vision is amazing, Mel! I can’t wait to go back next year :)

March 1, 2011 - 12:53 pm

Courtney - love love LOVE these pics (and the ladies in them!) i agree with lauren; your vision is inspiring. i especially love your use of color, chica.

March 1, 2011 - 1:34 pm

Caroline Merrill - Wahoo! Love the shots. You are awesome. :)

March 1, 2011 - 1:43 pm

Jenny - Yay! That was so much fun. I hope we can all go back next year with even more UNC folks!

March 1, 2011 - 1:44 pm

Jenny - P.S. The animation is so creative!

March 3, 2011 - 9:31 pm

Clare - I LOVE the final animation. It’s a little addicting :) You rock!

March 9, 2011 - 3:58 pm

Tye - Awesome shots, as always, Melissa! I’m not typically one to think cityscape images are beautiful, but these really are!
And just a little “small world” side note – I was able to start shooting weddings because of Lauren’s sister Taryn!

February 16, 2012 - 9:53 am

» Melissa Tuck Photography Blog - [...] not able to attend WPPI this year in Las Vegas due to my first wedding of 2012 (!!!) this weekend, so I wanted to post a [...]

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