Welcome to Melian Photography, where capturing the essence of your story is my passion. I'm Kara—a dedicated photographer, wife to an old soul, and proud mother to a spirited daughter. Based in Midland, Michigan, I eagerly travel wherever your love story takes us, from the serene landscapes of Idaho to the sun-kissed shores of Hawaii and beyond.
The name "Melian Photography" holds a special meaning to me; derived from Elvish, it translates to "Dear Gift," reflecting my belief that each photograph should evoke cherished memories and tell your unique story authentically. With a touch of nerdiness (okay, maybe more than a touch), I'm committed to delivering images that capture real, breathtaking moments—ones you'll proudly display on your walls and share with your loved ones.
Beyond my passion for photography, I bring a wealth of experience as a licensed Social Worker in Michigan. This background fuels my desire to capture genuine connections and provide a calming presence during our sessions: whether it's navigating wedding day jitters or ensuring every detail is just right, I'll be there every step of the way.
I prioritize building genuine relationships with each client, getting to know you personally to ensure your photos reflect your true essence. If you're looking for images as real and vibrant as your story, let's connect over a cup of coffee. I can't wait to hear your story and discuss how we can create unforgettable memories together.
Some other completely random facts to leave you with:
- My favorite store is Trader Joe's (or TJ Maxx... or maybe Target... give me all the T stores!).
- My favorite items from TJ's are the Cookie Butter (crunchy!), their chocolate dipped chocolate chip dunker cookies, and their black pepper pistachios. Also a special shout out to the Chipotle BBQ sauce that I now dip everything in.
- I'm a nerd for Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and pretty much every other fantasy fiction series out there.
- My bucket list item that I got to cross off recently was...drum roll please... shooting the cover of multiple novels (my photos are published as the covers)!
- My favorite vacation destination thus far is a tie between the Highlands in Scotland and anywhere in Ireland (literally anywhere, but finding castles in random fields was the best!). Did you know that I offer huge discounts on destination weddings and elopements? Well I do, so please take me with you to capture your adventures!
Kara is truly not only the most amazing photographer but genuine human. She is super knowledgeable about everything from what to wear at your engagement shots to researching when the sunset will be...she puts her all into every moment of your day. She blew us away & honestly did more for us day of than we could have imagined or expect with our timeline. If you’re hesitating on a photographer, we would 10000000% recommend booking Melian Photography.
Stephanie & Zach
Where are you based and do you travel?
I'm based out of Midland Michigan, but if you couldn't tell, I love to travel!!! If you want me to photograph your story, it may require a travel fee for sessions depending on where it takes place (for locations farther than 45 miles from Midland for lifestyle, senior, or newborn sessions based upon current federal mileage reimbursement). For weddings located outside of the lower peninsula of Michigan, there will be travel and lodging fees associated with wedding collections; but no worries, I always try to find the cheapest way to travel and we will discuss this upon our initial contact. Don't forget, I offer GREAT DISCOUNTS FOR ELOPEMENTS AND DESTINATION WEDDINGS!
How long will my wedding photos be accessible online?
The images will be available for 45 days after your wedding gallery is completed. I recommend that you please back up your images in at least three forms (laptop, USB, external hard drive, etc.) before that expiration date; if your gallery expires and you have not downloaded your images, there will be an archival fee for me to save and re-upload your images.
I know that I get a print release, but can I also order prints directly from you?
Yes, the online gallery system I use allows you, along with friends and family, to order prints directly from the website. Those go through a professional printing lab that I work with and ensure the best colors/composition for photos of your special day!
If for whatever reason you're unable to shoot our wedding, is there a back-up plan?
This has never happened before (and knock on wood that it never does!), however emergencies do happen. In that case, I would have my second shooter take over and find another back-up for him/her. I would then be the one to edit all of the images to ensure that they are a similar style to what you would see and what you would expect from my wedding gallery. I always hire my second shooters to ensure that they have a similar shooting style to me in the case that, god forbid, an emergency were to ever happen.
Do you do any retouching, color adjustments, etc. to the photos that you take?
Yes, color adjustment of images is a typical process of my editing. In terms of retouching, I do complete light retouching, however, if there are extensive amounts of retouching that are requested, those would be charged per image (for example if Uncle Bob had sweat stains when in his suit, I would not fix that unless specifically requested). Light retouching means that I would be looking for images of the two of you and if you had a pimple or something on the day of your wedding, I would ensure to remove those. My style of shooting is not heavy editing where I am using Photoshop to change what anyone looks like, instead it would be to enhance the natural beauty during the day and remove the things (like pimples) that wouldn't be there typically.
When will we get our photos?
Wedding galleries will be delivered 6-8 weeks after your wedding date. Photos will be delivered through an online gallery; a link will be sent to your primary email and from there you can share that link with your family and friends.
What exactly are "printing rights?"
Printing rights means that you can take those images to a printer of your choice and get those printed. For example, if you wanted to use Shutterfly or another online printer, you are able to do that. I never recommend places like Walgreens, Walmart, etc. as the inks/printing methods they use often screw up the color profile of your images. I do not guarantee the printing quality of any printers outside of those that I recommend and use directly through my online galleries.
Can we request a specific shot list for our wedding?
Yes, a month before your wedding I will send you a wedding questionnaire which will request the specific group shots or images that you are interested in. After I receive this questionnaire, I then go ahead and put a personalized photography timeline together to ensure that I (and my second shooter if applicable) know where we're starting along with planning out time for the shots you're requesting. I never guarantee an exact duplicate shot as we want to ensure that your wedding and session is represented in a unique way, but I do use photos that you request as an inspiration for specific shots.
Do you carry insurance?
Yes! If your venue requires proof of insurance, please just let me know and I can get that to them prior to your wedding date.