Client Spotlight: Last Minute Elopement in Mays Landing, New Jersey
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
It was a random Tuesday. I was up at 6 AM, could not sleep, scrolling Facebook searching for clients like I normally do. Call me a shark. I am a business owner, and I am here to give people a chance at having amazing art. Then I saw it.
A post about an elopement shoot the very next day in Mays Landing, New Jersey. I was like, alright, let me reply. I have been dreaming of getting into elopements, so at that point it felt like a sign. No overthinking, I just went for it.
Within a few minutes, I connected with Doug. He told me he was eloping with his wife, Bella, and they needed a photographer right away. He is a photographer himself, which made things easy, and he wanted something basic and real to life.
Perfect. All my work is edited by hand by me. No AI, no shortcuts, just actual editing done by a human.
Their budget was not high, so we worked out something that made sense for both of us. Accessibility matters to me, and not every couple needs a huge production to have their story captured. The next day, we met up at the courthouse in Mays Landing. From the moment I met them, everything just clicked.
Melissa did an incredible job for our elopement ceremony! My wife and I loved her professionalism and having her help direct us! She was super laid back and easy going with an amazing eye. The quality of the photos look incredible. My wife and I highly recommend her for all your photography needs! Thank you so much Melissa!
Doug is a metalhead, and as a fellow metalhead, it was easy to connect right away. That kind of shared energy makes everything smoother, especially when you are working in a fast-paced situation like this.
But the best part was how they met. They met through a mutual friend and fell in love within four months, and now they have a baby boy on the way.
The ceremony itself was beautiful and simple. They stood together, exchanged vows, and stayed completely present with each other the entire time. When they went in for their first kiss, I almost cried while taking the photos. That is the kind of moment you do not fake.
From a technical side, I kept the shoot simple on purpose. I used my Canon R with a 24 to 105 RF lens and chose it over my R5 intentionally. Lower megapixels give softer transitions and a more natural feel. Sometimes more megapixels is not the answer, and I still love my R even if people downplay it.
Bella was an absolute natural in front of the camera. She needed very little direction, and everything just worked without forcing anything.
Doug matched that energy right away, and their chemistry carried the entire shoot. I really did not need to do much, which is always the best case.
This shoot was honestly just fun. Everyone was easy to work with, and everything flowed the way it should.
After the ceremony, we explored a few different looks, including a subtle vintage feel. Nothing heavy, just enough to give certain moments a nostalgic vibe that feels like a memory.
Doug is a metalhead in a band and also a photographer, and I definitely recommend checking out his work: https://www.instagram.com/onsighthc/ Riff City Photography
Bella was learned professional dance at UArts in Philly and designs stickers, and you can check out her work here: https://www.instagram.com/maindosed/ It was really cool getting to work with two creative people who value connection and creativity. Being around that kind of energy always makes the work better. I am really hoping to work with these two again because they are an epic duo. Congratulations to Bella and Doug on your elopement. Elopements like this are the ones that stick with you. Simple, intentional, and completely honest.
If that sounds like your kind of approach, then you are already in the right place.
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