Hello!
I am Melissa Beach and I live in beautiful Sonoma County, CA.
Photography has always been a big part of my life. I was given my first point and shoot film camera when I was 5 years old. By age 12 my dad felt like I had earned my grandfather’s Roloflex film SLR. I took full advantage of my job at a 1 hr photo lab and took thousands of photographs with that camera throughout my high school and college years. While in college I studied all types of images and their effect on people and culture. I studied how photographs record and change culture. How they can manipulate or inspire thought and action. Also how photographs are used in movies, advertising and on the internet.
It was at this point when I was introduced to lifestyle and documentary style portrait photography. The one thing I hated about studio portrait photography is the artificial atmosphere. The backdrops are fake, the props are fake and the smiles are often fake. I want to capture feeling, emotions and connection. You can’t find that in a department store studio!
I capture genuine smiles, loving and playful interaction, and even the occasional tearful pout. I capture the real moments in life. Those are the memories you want to hang on your wall and eventually pass onto your children.
If you live in the Sebastopol, Santa Rosa or Petaluma area and would like to book a session please give me a call at 408-724-1990 or visit my blog http://melissabeach.wordpress.com
Thank you and have a beautiful day!
I am Melissa Beach and I live in beautiful Sonoma County, CA.
Photography has always been a big part of my life. I was given my first point and shoot film camera when I was 5 years old. By age 12 my dad felt like I had earned my grandfather’s Roloflex film SLR. I took full advantage of my job at a 1 hr photo lab and took thousands of photographs with that camera throughout my high school and college years. While in college I studied all types of images and their effect on people and culture. I studied how photographs record and change culture. How they can manipulate or inspire thought and action. Also how photographs are used in movies, advertising and on the internet.
It was at this point when I was introduced to lifestyle and documentary style portrait photography. The one thing I hated about studio portrait photography is the artificial atmosphere. The backdrops are fake, the props are fake and the smiles are often fake. I want to capture feeling, emotions and connection. You can’t find that in a department store studio!
I capture genuine smiles, loving and playful interaction, and even the occasional tearful pout. I capture the real moments in life. Those are the memories you want to hang on your wall and eventually pass onto your children.
If you live in the Sebastopol, Santa Rosa or Petaluma area and would like to book a session please give me a call at 408-724-1990 or visit my blog http://melissabeach.wordpress.com
Thank you and have a beautiful day!
© Melissa Beach