Get to know Melissa Prosser

Please take a few minutes to read this interview before hiring Melissa to photograph your wedding day.

How long have you photographed weddings and how did you get into the business?
I first fell in love with photography while attending college at North Georgia College and State University.  While dabbling around in the art building, I decided to take a photography class.  Wow!  I finally felt like I had found my calling.

I was trained in all aspects of photography even developing film, the old-fashioned darkroom way.  I loved every second of it.  I would constantly loose track of time while in the darkroom.  I would go inside the room when it was daylight and come out when it was dark.  The darkroom was my new “home” on campus.  If friends didn’t know where I was, they’d knock on the darkroom door and find me there.

North Georgia College was a great starting point for me.  It got my feet and hands (literally) wet with fixer, and decided that this was what I wanted to do with my life.  I just wasn’t sure how I was going to go about making a career of it just yet..

During the spring of 2005, I started researching wedding photographers in the Atlanta area.  I have always been a bit of a hopeless romantic, so I thought maybe this would be a fun field to get into.  I sent out a few emails to several well-known photographers in the area, and luckily my favorite one responded back!  I went in to have a brief interview with Matt Adcock from del Sol photography, and got myself an internship! I continued interning while finishing up my degree and graduated Cum Laude in December of 2005.

As an intern I learned SO much about the business of wedding photography that it was a bit overwhelming.  My internship quickly changed into a weekly job, then becoming a second photographer at weddings, and then a primary photographer!  My job started to transition when Matt started to concentrate in another area.   At this time I knew it was go time for me.  Time to really market myself and go for it!

Between photographing countless weddings for other photographers, and the over 100 I have shot under my own name, it’s needless to say I adore shooting weddings!  Name an Atlanta venue; I have probably shot at it myself, assisted at it, or am dying to work there!

We love your style and portfolio, but there are a lot of photographers with the same “journalistic” style of work out there.  What sets you apart from the pack?
What a great question!  I think the biggest thing that sets me apart from the rest is how much I LOVE what I do!  I look on the bright side of life, and I think that reflects back in my work.  I have had COUTNLESS guests come up to me at weddings and comment on how much fun I am to work with because it’s just evident that I LOVE what I do!  They tell me that I have a great attitude and thank me for being a pleasure to work with.  That just makes my heart smile.

I also bring my second photographer Curtis, and my fabulous fiance/ lighting assistant Bobby with me to EVERY WEDDING.  I would love to be everywhere at once, but unfortunately I am not superhuman (although I try!).  Having two cameras and beautiful off camera lighting are what makes my style what it is!

I also take the time to do what I call an “artistic edit” of your photos.  When you see your final images  you will be AMAZED at how beautiful you look, how incredible the venue is, and how the overall day is presented.  Your final edit will combine color, sepia, black and white, and just breathtaking photos that you won’t find anywhere else.  We open about 80% of the photos in photoshop and tweak them in some way.  We want you to look the best that you can!   So needless to say, photographing the wedding is just the beginning of my work.

One other thing that sets me apart is that I will be a calming influence on your wedding day.  There is no need to stress out!  At the end of the day, you will still be married to the person of your dreams, so what does it matter if one hair is out of place?  I quietly observe the day as it unfolds, document what is happening with my camera, and try to help out if there is any way I can be of assistance.  This day is all about you.  I’m there to help celebrate in your day and take photos to make these memories last a lifetime.

OK Melissa, I’m absolutely loving what I am hearing, but I bet this is expensive.  Can I afford your services?

ABSOLUTELY.  I actually think you can’t afford not to afford it!   Sure, you probably have some sister’s aunt’s cousin that does photography as a hobby.  That’s awesome.  Let them bring their camera to the wedding.  But can you trust them to take professional photos at your big day?

This day is the biggest day in your new life together as a married couple.  These memories are going to live on forever.  You need someone that has been at more weddings than they can count to document this day.  You are going to show these photos to people that may not have been able to attend your day.  I’m not trying to be negative here, but what if your grand dad is sick?  Don’t you want to be able to show him the pure raw joy that you felt on your day?  I’m sure you’re going to have kids down the road.  Don’t you want them to look at you and say “Gosh, Mom!  You were hot!”

There is no way you can’t afford to have memories like these captured forever…

Do you do any other types of photography?  What other sessions do you offer?
I love photographing people.  I do engagement sessions, post wedding sessions, trash the dress sessions, family sessions, and even pet sessions.  Just please know that I do not own a studio.  I do all of my photo sessions in a “lifestyle” approach.  We go to your favorite park, restaurant, or even just hang out at your house and capture what happens.  I think you will agree that you look much better when photographed in your own element rather than a contrived studio set up.

Melissa, I found another photographer that includes a wedding album, a canvas print, engagement session, etc.  Can you match their price?
No.  I’m sorry.  That’s great that these people can provide these products for you.  Congrats.  But I bet if you really study their work, the quality is no where near what you will see on my site.  I believe that in order to compensate for not having quality work, some companies like to throw in all the bells and whistles to make you want to work with them.  Let’s face it though.  Do you really want an album, huge canvas print and such with photos that look like crap? I didn’t think so.  I say buy the most PHOTOGRAPHY you can afford, then when you have a little extra cash to spend, buy the album, canvas prints, etc.

Who do you work best with?
I work best with couples that want their day captured as it happens.  If you want photos that are going to capture the true mood of the day, then we’ll work great together!  If you want to see photos of you and your girls crying over how exciting it is that you’ve found Mr. Right, we’ll be great!  If you want photos of you looking like the hot tamale that you are, I’m your girl!

Who do you not work well with?
This may seem like a harsh statement, but not everyone can work well together.  I would love to be able to help everyone in capturing their dream wedding day, but some personalities mesh better than others.  If you are a person that gets caught up in a list of everyone you want photographed with you and your new spouse, then you probably need to go with someone of a more traditional style.  If you are a bit of a control freak (and let’s face it, there are people like that out there, and this isn’t necessarily bad!) we probably won’t mesh well either.

I have seen certain photos that I absolutely love and would like to try to recreate for my wedding day.  Can you do this?
I will try my best.  Just please don’t get hung up on this photo and be upset if there is not a couch in a backyard, or a cool lake to take a photo in front of.

Do you take credit cards?  What is your payment plan?

Of course!  I accept credit through PayPal, or personal check.  We break the payment into four installments.  The first is due upon signing the contract, the final payment is due 14 days before the wedding.

Do you take more than one wedding per day?
NO WAY.  Most of my clients hire me for 7 or more hours, and the locations can be all over the state of Georgia.  There is no way I could do it, plus I want to focus all of my attention on YOU!

Do you have liability insurance?
Yes.  I have never needed it, but this does help keep us protected and make you feel safe in case we were to ever need it.

This sounds exactly like what I have been searching for!  What is the next step?
Awesome!  The next step is to call me at 678.687.5734 or email me to set up your free consultation.  I would love to hear about your vision for your special wedding day! During our meeting I’d love to take you through the packages we offer and see which one works for you!