Create Memories That Last A Lifetime

A whimsical photography experience for families

in and around Napa Valley and Northern California

Everyone with a smart phone and ChatGPT is a photographer these days.

So why should you hire me to take your portraits?

First, I am not just a photographer. I am an artist and a storyteller. Photography just happens to be one of my favorite mediums.

Second, you probably have tens of thousands of photos on your phone. But maybe you want a portrait printed as a quality piece of artwork that you can display on a wall in your home, or as a coffee table book. Or maybe you want a unique experience, with images that are actual memories.

Maybe you don't want that, and that's okay! It just might mean I am not the right photographer for you. There are so many photographers in Napa Valley who will take gorgeous images of your family and I'm happy to recommend a few of my favorites.

But if you love and appreciate storytelling portraits as fine art, I might be the right photographer for you. And if you are looking for a full-service experienced artist who will help you not only create your portraits, but handle the printing, framing, and installation, then I would love to be your photographer.

Do you have a strong vision for your portraits or are you just starting to brainstorm?
Interested in higher quality products than Shutterfly or Mixtiles offer, but not sure where to find them?
Not sure what you want but like what you see so far?

HAPPY CLIENTS

"Did a family portrait photo session with Melissa and it was a wonderful experience. We had my newborn and a 4.5 year old. She did a fantastic job making sure everyone was comfortable. She was engaging and caring which made the experience fun. She had creative ideas for photos. She has a sharp eye and captured the essence of my family. The photos are exceptional and will be treasured for many years to come."

Valentina R.

PORTFOLIO

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HOW IT WORKS

Let's Chat

We'll begin with a brief phone call! This initial conversation helps us get to know one another and figure out if we are a right fit to work together. I love to learn more about my clients so I can create meaningful portraits and artwork customized to your home and style.

Your Portrait Session

You'll experience a pre-planned and well-executed portrait session with no surprises. Everything is decided upon ahead of time—locations, outfits, props, poses, insecurities, concerns, hopes, symbolism, and more—ensuring a relaxed atmosphere where you can truly enjoy the art of creating art.

Ordering Appointment

This is the best part! Join me at the studio for your private viewing and ordering appointment. You'll select your favorite images and we'll explore printing and framing options to showcase the portrait artwork that your family will cherish for generations to come.

Let's Chat

Your future self will thank you.

I'm definitely guilty of thinking the images I take on my iphone are easily accessible, and always will be. Aren't we all? We think we can rely on the cloud, or a thumb drive, or a hard drive to store our precious memories.

But I have a ton of floppy disks from college with my essays on them, and no clue how to access them. Pictures from the early aught's on a broken desktop from 2004 that I'll probably never see again. So what happens when the technology changes as it inevitably will, or your cloud subscription expires, or that company goes out of business, and we can't access our files once again?

This is why I am so passionate about helping people ensure they have printed artwork, as well as digital images, and additional storage on your phone or computer with a custom app.

What else?

The next common questions are usually about what to expect, what it costs, and when we can schedule your session.

Every session is different, and customized to the client, but you will know exactly what to expect on the day of session because we plan it all ahead of time.

Portrait sessions start at $1,350 and include a $1,000 print credit toward your artwork. High School Senior Sessions start at $1,795 and include a hair and makeup artist, and an album or coffee table book of favorite images.

I only book a handful of clients each month, so my calendar often books several months in advance. Sometimes I can take a last minute booking, but I will always require a phone chat, and an in-person meeting before the session, so I usually need at least 1-2 weeks notice before your session date.

For more information, including my session guide, style guide, and other tips for your portrait session, tap the button below.

Session Guide + More