Melissa Durham Photography Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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![Spencer]()
Spencer Sent on 07/09/2022Wonderful person and excellent photographer!
Melissa is an excellent photographer who gives natural and comfortable prompts, making it comfortable to work with her regardless of your experience level of being the subject of photography. My wife and I had a small wedding, and I wanted to limit how many vendors we had working there because I wanted it to feel like a family and friends event. Melissa did an excellent job of blending in and doing her job well without being in the way of anything. After just a few interactions with Melissa, it felt more like we had a friend taking our photos who happened to have professional talent. We can not recommend her enough to anyone looking for a photographer. -
Tessa Sent on 07/09/2022
The best decision ever.
We got married last October (busy season) and Melissa was hands down the best vendor choice we made. She was always so friendly, responsive even during a busy wedding season. With every interaction, you can tell she cares about you and your wedding, she does not treat you like just a client, she treats you like a friend. Her work is amazing and she has such an eye for those details and in between moments. Her editing style is soft, true to color, timeless and romantic. Day of the wedding she struck the perfect balancing of catching all the great moments, without being intrusive and impacting the moment. The best “fly on the wall” but also a wonderful supporter- she checked on me the most out of anyone at the wedding. We will forever do any future photoshoots with her (maternity, etc), she’s JUST THAT GOOD. We cannot say enough positive things about her, she’s simply the best. -
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Lindsey Sent on 07/02/2022
The best decision for our day!
WOWW!! Melissa was the absolute best choice we could have chosen to capture one of the most special days of our lives. Her professionalism and passion did not go unnoticed. She clearly loves what she does and you can tell in the photos. She did great with a timeline for the day of even with the limited information I had given her. She knew exactly what I wanted and needed without any questions. I was fully confident in her work and knew what she suggested was what we needed for the day of photos. She was able to give us our engagement photos and wedding photos in such a quick timely matter.
I am so thankful we went with her, not only will I forever have these amazing photos she took to remember the best day, but I also gained a friend in the process. I could not recommend her enough! -
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![Olivia]()
Olivia Sent on 12/20/2020The best part of 2020
Other than deciding to elope in Shenandoah National Park, choosing Ocean + Ridge as our wedding photographer was one of the best decisions we’ve made! Melissa was easy to communicate and coordinate with, and was a joy to work with every step of the way. My husband and I didn’t have the opportunity to visit the park prior to our wedding day, however Melissa made sure that was not an issue. She provided us with a comprehensive list of locations & corresponding photos from her portfolio taken throughout the park in advance, and came up with a suggested timeline for us. She took everything into consideration - the lighting, time of day, travel distance between locations, etc. On the day of she arrived early & fully prepared, having taken every detail into consideration. My husband and I spent six hours in the park on our wedding day with Melissa & a second photographer, Anna. We had so much fun exploring the park with them, as they captured every minute of our intimate elopement while also being respectful of our private moments. My husband & I are thrilled with how the photos turned out - we will cherish the memories we made that they captured forever! -
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![Hannah]()
Hannah Sent on 08/06/2020Engagement Session
I hired Melissa for my engagement session and I could not have found a better person to work with! Melissa was incredibly responsive to any question I asked and was very reassuring especially when it came to limitations relating to the coronavirus. Once we were at the shoot, she made us feel instantly comfortable and that really allowed myself and my fiance to have fun with each other. Melissa knew all of the best shooting spots and captured some truly incredible moments that I know we will cherish forever! I cannot recommend her enough! -
![Liz]()
Liz G. Sent on 02/21/2020Booking Melissa was the smartest/best thing I did for our elopement
I would highly recommend Melissa! She was our elopement photographer. But she ended up being way more than a photographer! She helped me with everything. We were new to the area so I needed recommendations for lodging, locations, flowers, etc. We talked regularly for a couple months in preparation for our elopement. She used what she knew about us and her extensive knowledge of the Shenandoah Mountains to create the perfect elopement ceremony and photographs. She also helped wrangle the drama that comes with “the big day”. Everything was on a timeline until my hair/MUA was late. Melissa and my husband were able to talk the officiant into staying, after she repeatedly threatened to leave. Melissa helped my MUA do the finishing touches and she snapped some pictures of me getting ready. Due to the new time constraints, the elopement ceremony location was changed to a nearby location Melissa knew of which resulted in AMAZING PHOTOS of our ceremony. Melissa literally saved our day. Not only did she give us what we asked for but she delivered a product that I couldn’t even put in words. She truly loves her craft. You’ll see for yourself when you get your wedding album. -
![Kaitlyn]()
Kaitlyn Sent on 02/17/2020Simply the best.
When you hire Melissa, can expect the absolute best. Her incredibly warm heart creates a space for immediate friendship, and she will always have our business! We met Melissa in 2017 when she photographed my sister in law’s wedding, and after Nick and I got engaged, she was the first vendor we turned to after securing our date! Melissa took away the jitters we had of being photographed and captured Nick and I in a way that we will look back on for years to come so fondly. The way she captured our most intimate moments with grace and kindness is a trait she holds so naturally. Melissa makes you feel like more than a client, because you are instantly a friend. We are so thankful she is in our life and we will continue to ask her to work her magic on all our future big moments life brings us! -
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Allison Sent on 01/13/2020
Stunning - Look No Further!
Melissa is an absolute DREAM to work with. So down to earth, professional, and all around an amazing photographer. She knows no challenge - freezing weather? Surrounded by a swarm of lady bugs? This woman's talent is out of this world! We are MDP clients for life and couldn't be more grateful for how beautifully she captured our day. She is worth ever. single. penny. -
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Michelle Sent on 01/13/2020
Wedding Photographer
Melissa Durham was definitely the easiest wedding planning decision I ever made!! She came highly recommended and as soon as I met her, I immediately just felt so comfortable around her. She took our engagement pictures last fall and I absolutely loved the whole process. She made my husband and I feel so comfortable in front of the camera and we had the best time goofing off and exploring! Melissa is SO talented and professional. She doesn't just provide a service, she provides a friendship. She deeply cared for Tyler and I and helped us out the entire duration of the wedding planning process. My entire family and wedding party loved her on the day of the wedding and I am still getting compliments about how great our pictures are! I will work with/recommend Melissa until she gets tired of me lol- she is one in a million! -
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Susannah Sent on 01/16/2018Melissa is radiant. Pure, kind, and inspiring, she embodies genuine happiness. Her photography is what it looks like when God given talent meets passion. She is so gifted and so efficient. Her photos of my wedding still awe and excite me. I could not have asked for a better person or experience.
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Kaylyn Sent on 01/02/2018Melissa is absolutely incredible to work with. She is an amazing photographer and is so talented! Not only did she make us feel comfortable but she made our entire session so fun. Melissa captures all the emotion and beauty in her photography. My husband and I can’t say enough great things about her and her work! We will definitely continue to use her for future events! Melissa, thank you so much everything!!
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Taylor Sent on 12/28/2017One of the best decisions we made in the whole wedding planning process was using Melissa. She captured everything we wanted on our big day, and then some. Not to mention she had all of our photos done in 2 weeks!!! So amazing.
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![Amber]()
Amber Sent on 09/03/2017Every bride wants to be able to look back at her photos and relive that special day. I’m lucky enough to be able to have this and feel the wave of emotions when I flip through my photos. Moments like; getting ready with my ladies, my mom zipping me up in my dress, the first look with my husband and father, to the champion popping and beer drinking with great family and friends. Every time I look back at my photos the same butterflies re-emerge and I find myself wiping away tears to laughing out loud.
Through my journey of selecting a photographer I found myself numerous times almost settling. Thank God I didn’t…It’s crazy how I found Melissa. Since Facebook creeps on your every move you make on the internet, my newsfeed began to drop subtle hints of photographers. Melissa’s page (Melissa Durham Photography) popped up on my newsfeed one day and I clicked on it. I instantly fell in love with her work. Of course, I figured she was a long shot, I mean look at her work! Over the next 2 weeks, Melissa’s page kept reappearing on my newsfeed and multiple times I found myself viewing her work and falling even more in love. She was what I had been looking for in my photographer and I couldn’t wait any longer and had to take the leap. Melissa was quick to respond and the day we spoke on the phone felt as if I was talking to a longtime friend. She is the WHOLE package!
Melissa, you are a true talent. You’re a simply amazing person inside and out. You were always there to answer all my general wedding questions and always willing to lend a helping hand. You captured our true personalities with such ease and words can’t express what you have done for Keith and I. It’s crazy how people come into each other’s lives. Typically, Facebook drive me nuts when it stocks me, but I can’t explain how grateful I am that it found you. Keith and I are truly blessed to have you and your family as part of our lives and now as friends.
Love The DeMouras
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Samantha Sent on 06/24/2018Melissa was our photographer for our engagement session and our wedding photographer. I highly recommend her! We were looking for someone who is able to shoot with a romantic feel and could capture emotion in their photographs. She gave us complete rights to our photos, something that was very important for me. She’s warm and friendly, personalizes the experience, and goes above and beyond the call of duty by helping to make sure everything ran on time especially on the day of the wedding.
Photography was the thing we blew our budget on since we didn’t do a videographer. And while it was pricey, it ended up being a really good value for the quality of her work. I still have colleagues, family, and friends tell me how beautiful her photos are and my sister is hoping to use her for her wedding in the future.
I also highly recommend getting the second photographer, Katie. The two complemented each other well and it adds so much dimension and perspective to your gallery. -
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