The Story Behind the Lens
Me doing me things.
From Barrel Racing to Boudoir – The Story of My Wild Ride
Before I ever picked up a camera, I was more likely to be found in a saddle than behind a lens. Horses were my first love—I grew up barrel racing and later earned a degree in Agriculture Business. Photography wasn’t the plan… but it found me when I needed a change. I’d spent plenty of time in front of the camera, so stepping behind it felt surprisingly natural.
My first lessons came from watching my dad with his old Minolta film camera. From there, it was a whole lot of trial, error, and figuring things out the scrappy way. And I wouldn’t trade that path for anything. Nearly a decade later, photography has become not just my job, but my creative fuel—and the best excuse to connect with people in the most meaningful way.
I specialize in wedding, boudoir, and portrait photography. I have a boudoir studio in Jackson, Mississippi, and our family is based in Florence, where I shoot regularly too. Whether it’s capturing your big “I do,” your bold confidence, or the sweet in-between moments, I’m here for all of it.
At the heart of everything, I’m a mom. Seventeen years (and counting!) at the helm of our family crew has made me strong-willed, occasionally loud, and fiercely in love with the chaos. Our eldest girls are now seventeen, which is wild, and our blended family is made up of EIGHT (yes, you read that right) kids, my husband Patrick, and a whole lot of love and laughter. Patrick second-shoots with me when he’s not wrangling kids or fixing something, and my dear friend Michelle helps keep the tech side of things from giving me a full-blown meltdown. She’s a lifesaver, truly.
To my clients—you’re the reason I get to do what I love. Your trust and support mean the world, and you’ve helped me build something I’m incredibly proud of. And if you’re new here—welcome! Let’s capture your memories, and probably laugh a lot along the way.
The Second in Command
Meet Michelle – Chaos Coordinator & Behind-the-Scenes Ninja
Hey there! I’m Michelle—mom of three, part-time magician, and full-time wrangler of all things behind the scenes. I joined Melody’s crew a few years ago to help with the “unseen but essential” stuff—graphics, social media, scheduling, and all the tiny details that keep things from going totally off the rails.
These days, I’m also her right hand on photo shoots (especially boudoir sessions), making sure everything flows smoothly and no one’s left wondering what to do with their hands. I live for the creative process and the little moments that make every shoot feel personal and fun.
When I’m not helping keep our studio ship afloat, you can find me chasing after my three wildlings, binge-reading fantasy novels, or pretending I don’t hear the snack requests.
I’m so proud to be part of this amazing team, and I can’t wait to help bring your session to life—with plenty of laughs and maybe just a little glitter along the way.
