Photography has been around since the early 1800’s. Within the next couple of years photography progressed thanks to Louis Daguerre, George Eastman - the founder of Kodak , and Edwin Land - the founder of Polaroid . The 1900’s were even bigger as cameras were being reinvented and sold to the everyday consumer. 120mm cameras, 35mm cameras, Polaroid instant film, Point and Shoot, and digital cameras all came to the forefront during this era.
With modern technology we’ve seen a huge amount of growth in the photo world.
The internet, along with social media has exposed us to a more developed world of photography.
Being a photographer may sound simple, but there is a lot more to it than one can imagine.
Sure it’s as easy as pressing a button at times. But what differentiates ones image from a photographers image is their vision. A subject can be photographed in more than one way and it’s up to the artist to create the best possible image of their subject. Modern day digital cameras and computers can help create, re-touch, color correct images to one’s vision & liking to satisfy a customer.
An artist who has developed their vision and has been capturing warm, beautiful, loving, life moments is 22 year old, Melani Perez
Mel is no stranger to Mohave, as she grew up here and did all of her schooling in this area.
Her interest in photography started in 2017, when she decided to take photos of her family and child as a hobby. Juggling a home/ love life, a child and pregnancy, she dove right into photography as her interest grew more and more everyday.
“My best friend, who is also a photographer, was living with me at the moment and would lend me her camera to take photos of my son. She’d teach me little things and let me mess around. From there I winged it. I would watch YouTube (tutorial) videos. I joined Facebook photography groups and it kind of took off from there.”
Going all-in meant purchasing her first Nikon camera in late 2017, which was a big investment but an important key to her creativity. There was a sense of fulfillment in creating & sharing photographs of her son, which gave her the motivation to practice even more. Her interest in gaining more knowledge led to her doing mini photoshoots in the area. She jumped into it, doing free and/or affordable photo sessions for family, friends and their children which helped expand her artistic ability and style.
Taking on new and difficult types of photography truly helped find her warm, golden, desert style & genre. Mel’s love for capturing “love” through her lens helped her create images that her clients would cherish and appreciate. Her goal was to photograph loving couples. Photoshoots of newborns being welcomed into the world, maternity photos and anything related to motherhood as she could relate to the lifestyle.
“I love warm tones because I like to look at an image and FEEL IT. I want to feel the emotion the photo brings whether it’s a couple in love or an expecting mother with her first child. I feel as if my warm tones bring out that emotion.”
Her artistic vision would continue to develop over the year. She applied new techniques, angles & poses that she learned from previous shoots allowing her to bring out clients personalities through her photos. Now, a mother of two, her supportive fiancé and Mel would find time to allow her to create. She would spend her breaks - aka nap times - and late nights, practicing and perfecting her editing skills.
The countless late nights would soon pay off.
Confident in her work, she legally started her business Melani P Photography
With the full support of her fiancé, parents and family members, she had the help she needed to get some serious work done.
“You should be your number one fan always. Taking the step to put yourself out there and go even further with photography was the best thing I did. Not only has it kept me busy and gave me a social life, but it has also helped me create connections with others.”
Uploading her best images was her way of offering a portfolio via Facebook & Instagram and she started booking appointments through both platforms. The social media pages allowed her to interact & meet new clients and offered new photoshoot opportunities. New soon-to-be & first time mothers, newborns, toddlers and even a wedding shoot.
“What made me take the plunge was when I was getting a lot more requests to do photos for others and not just my family and close friends. Having complete strangers who don’t even know you, but love your work and wanting to book you was such a great feeling. Scary at first but it was rewarding…”
Moving on forward, Melani’s goals include traveling more for further exposure and developing new clientele. Doing more shoots in the area, more weddings and becoming a birth photographer.
“I love everything about motherhood. I love birth. I love everything that comes with it.”
If you are interested in setting up a photoshoot appointment with Melani you can reach her via
Melani P Photography <<<<
She is always looking for fresh faces, so don’t be afraid if it’s your first time.
“I always get clients (almost every single session) who tell me they are awkward and not good on camera, but by the end of the session they are literally models, haha. You don’t have to be a pro in front of the camera, you just have to have fun and be yourself! I know it might be a little awkward being in front of someone you don’t know pointing a camera in your face lol, but I promise just have fun & I can guide you every second of the way!”
Photo below provided by Melani P. Photography
