WHO: Melissa of Marble Rye Photography
WHY: Melissaâs photos arenât glossy and perfect. Theyâre deep and soulful, and a little worn in the elbows like your favorite jacket. Which is basically how I would describe Melissa herself (less the worn in the elbows). A loyal APW reader since 2009, everything about Marble Rye Photography was created to reflect you and your values. So while Melissa is one hell of a talented photographer, her work is never focused on perfection⌠even though she gets pretty damn close. At this point, eighty percent of the weddings Melissa shoots are APW weddings, because she just gets you (and I donât have to tell you how important that is).
WHERE/HOW MUCH: To keep things simple, Melissa offers one package, which has way more stuff than any wedding photography package should have, but there you go. For $3,200 you get eight hours of coverage with both Melissa and a second shooter, a hardcover album, an online gallery of high-resolution images, and an engagement session (thatâs transferable to absolutely anythingâa boudoir shoot, your welcome dinner, or your grandparentsâ anniversary gift). Marble Rye Photography offers free travel throughout the whole state of California (though sheâs based in Venice, California) and for everywhere else in the country, travel is simply at cost.
The first time I met Melissa of Marble Rye Photography, she was in my living room listening to Meg, myself, and a few other APW sponsors give a workshop on building your business. She had been working two waitressing jobs to save up money for photography equipment and classes, and then traveled all the way up from LA just to hear us talk. Fast forward three years, and Melissaâs portfolio has changed and grown so much I almost wouldnât recognize it, but Melissa is the same old Melissa: all hustle and kindness, which is basically the two qualities you want in a wedding professional. Hereâs what Melissa had to say about how her relationship with APW has grown all these years (it made me cry, so do with that what you will):
I found APW in 2009. I caught the tail end of Megâs wedding planning and watched a community full of strong, sweet women grow within the commentsâroots digging into soil beneath her writing and reader weddings. I wasnât planning a wedding then. I just came by every day to read smart female-driven content and the conversations it created. And Iâm still here.
I found my ideal clientsâAPW couplesâlong before I became a wedding photographer. My values as a business owner, and as a wedding vendor, have been profoundly shaped by the thoughtful perspectives Iâve come across on the site. The way I see it, weddings are for standing up and celebrating your commitment to your partner, first and foremost. And theyâre a day for you to graciously thank your community, and for your community to graciously give you their support, and love. Lots of times theyâre a day for a dance party (and sometimes, of course, theyâre not).
This wedding of yours? Itâs happening once. Iâm here so you can see what the people you love are witnessingâa big promise being made between you and your Person. And Iâm here so you can see what is happening all around youâthe people you love celebrating with each other. Dancing like crazy. Crossing cultural divides. Squeezing each other, whispering âIâm so happy for them,â and âI am, too.â These are the moments Iâm after.
Melissa, on top of being someone you want to make friends with, just she gets weddings. She understands that theyâre about moments big and small. Which is why her calling card isnât in details of the traditional sort, but in the details that exist in moments like this:
But part of the reason her package includes a second shooter is so that you donât sacrifice the bigger picture for those details:
Melissa isnât just here for the photos though. Everything from her business philosophy to her package pricing is rooted in making sure your experience working with her is the best experience it can be. She says:
Most importantly, I want you to know that I come to the table with a deep respect for customer service. Iâm going to anticipate your needs. Iâm going to anticipate the needs of your partner, and of your wackiest family member. And if you start to feel overwhelmed or stressed by the excitement of the day, I am going be able to calm you down. Itâs just something I know how to do. Itâs probably the part of who I am that I am most proud of.
Iâm consistently impressed by how far Marble Rye Photography has come since my living room. But itâs growing into something beautiful that Iâm proud to have been a part of, and itâs only getting better with each year. Plus, youâll be hard pressed to find a wedding photographer this good, offering eight hours of coverage with a second shooter and an album for $3,200. In fact, I donât even know why youâre still here. Go hire Melissa yesterday.
Marble Rye Photography offers full-day wedding coverage throughout the whole state of California, for just $3,200. Click here to get in touch with Melissa today!
