xoxo, Melissa
I‘m a storyteller.
If you know me in real life, you know I’m quite the talker. I’ve never been afraid to engage people in conversation and that’s led to a fruitful career in photojournalism, which is how I really discovered my love for photography. I grew up hanging around a lot of adults. My ears perked up listening to old stories, absorbing unique turns of phrase that make Southern storytelling so unique, and I like to think that translates into my visual storytelling.
My photo style is not strictly “documentary,” but those elements are definitely at the forefront. I truly believe your moments matter. Not just the perfectly posed ones with every hair in place, but the moments in between.
Will I pose you? Absolutely. But we will also laugh a lot and I’ll tell a few corny jokes to make you feel more at ease in front of my camera.
WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE LIFE, LIGHT & AUTHENTICITY
MEET Melissa
My husband, Will, is the absolute love of my life. We met while both working at our local newspaper and fell in love. Chances are good you’ll see him at a lot of sessions, and he’s my main man on wedding days. He’s really good at making kids laugh and is always down to be the DJ (Baby Shark, anyone?). From emotional support and making sure lighting is perfect to keeping me hydrated—Glacier Blue Gatorade Zero, only—and fed, Will Gaines is a true gem.
Love, family and tradition bring warmth to our home.
Alabama, USA
Jennifer + Jordan
“Everyone needs a Melissa Gaines in their life.”
WORD ON THE STREET
01
It’s hard to pick a favorite destination but Italy, northern California and Glacier National Park are in a solid three-way tie. I’ve never met a pizza I didn’t like. I love Michael Bolton and I’m obsessed with Pomeranians, particularly our two fluffs, Copper and Rosalie.
travel
I love to
CONTINUE
02
We believe that life's biggest and smallest moments are worth celebrating. You'll always find a bottle of champagne in our fridge in the event that the night deserves a bit of celebrating!
act like it!
life's a party
CONTINUE
03
CONTINUE
Something we enjoy doing in our downtime or when we are traveling is hiking and visiting national parks. Some of our favorites are Glacier, Redwoods, Zion, Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree National parks.
hike
TAKE A
meet the artist
Do you ever find yourself looking at photos and losing track of time? Sometimes, Will and I find ourselves just looking through old photos from our time together and we just talk and laugh. I hope your portraits bring you joy when you look at them and reminisce on the most special days of your life and how happy you are to have these little snippets of time captured forever.
BEHIND THE PHOTOS
the heart
INQUIRE
Wedding coverage begins at $1,500
Please contact me for a complete investment guide and to find out how you can customize your wedding package.
INVESTMENT
DETAILS
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