Melissa Johnston Photography

The boudoir marathon that took place a couple weeks ago was a huge success! With a group of 6 amazing women and one talented makeup artist, what more could a photographer ask for!?

To tell you the truth, at first I was very dubious about offering boudoir sessions, but hearing those ladies mention how much fun they had and how great they felt after their shoot, I won’t even think twice about having another one!

The reason why I offer these sessions is mainly because I am a huge believer that a woman’s beauty goes beyond that of their physical body. Beauty comes from within. No matter what shape or form, if you are comfortable with who you are inside then you will be one radiant and confident lady on the out. I strongly believe that I was surrounded with those gorgeous ladies during my last marathon. Here is what some of those ladies had to say about their experience:

‘ I am so happy I did the boudoir shoot. It was an amazing experience – very empowering! I never would have guessed! I was so comfortable, Mel and Dee Dee make a really great team! I would do it again for sure! ‘

‘ I was so incredibly impressed with the boudoir photo shoot experience. The work of Dee Dee was impecable and she was able to capture my look perfectly. Mel was a fantastic photographer to work with. She had a vision for each of us and went with it. Overall, it was a great day and an experience I’ll never forget…but the picture will help remind me! ‘

‘ I just wanted to thank you so much for the wonderful time I had yesterday. I was quite stressed at the beginning but you were wonderful at making me feel comfortable. Can’t wait to see the final product! ‘

‘ The boudoir marathon was one of the best experiences of my life! I was a little nervous before arriving but once I got there and got my makeup up done, it slowly went away. I would totally recommend this to any woman and to do it with Melissa! She was amazing and made me feel so comfortable! ‘

Thanks again to all of the amazing ladies who came out and rocked it! And a huge thank you to my extraordinary makeup artist, Dee Dee. I couldn’t have done it without you! xoxo

Yes, you read correctly. They have the male and female version of eachother’s names. Adorable isnt it?

Particia is my great friend Kristin’s sister. I remember Particia when she was young and full of energy! Although she hasn’t changed much, she is still as beautiful and intelligent as she ever was! I am glad that she found comfort and love with a great guy like Patrice.

I had an amazing time with these two last weekend. They were pretty adament about having their engagement photos taken in the winter so I was happy that we were blessed with the mildest weather we could ever ask for in January! Thanks for all the laughs you two, and I cannot wait to shoot your wedding in July

As promised, here is my 101 in 1001 list. For New Years, I decided to list 101 things to do in 1001 days (just under 3 years) instead of making some New Years resolutions. I find making lists like this force me to accomplish the things I want to do and it feels so good doing them!  101 is a lot of things to accomplish. There’s a variety of small things and there are some big challenges too. I will try my best to achieve everything! Wish me luck – Here it goes:

1. Learn to be a better snowboarder
2. Volunteer abroad atleast for a month
3. Get a bike * Done 17/08/10
4. Attend a mentor session with a photographer that I admire
5. Have a complete set of prime lenses especially those that I dream of!
6. Attend a huge workshop
7. Get in shape
8. Have my photography featured in a magazine
9. Double blog traffic
10. Go to Europe
11. Have a regular yoga/pilates regime
12. Print pictures for my own home
13. Shoot a wedding in a country I’ve never been
14. Find a nice packaging system for the business
15. Be a vegetarian for a month
16. Have atleast one shoot yearly where proceeds go to a charity of my choice
17. Make a vegetable garden ever year
18. Open my own studio
19. Learn guitar
20. Get pics taken of myself by a great photographer
21. Go to a karaoke with friends * Done 23/02/10
22. Go on a very long roadtrip for atleast a week * Done 12/07/10
23. Get a blog or site professionally made
24. Go to a shooting range
25. Make a photobook with my own pictures
26. Hire an intern
27. Make a new close friend
28. Go white water rafting
29. Offer a mentor session
30. Get a new hairstyle
31. Go out West * Done 05/05/10
32. See and maybe even shoot some wildhorses * Done 08/05/10
33. Spend a full day alone at the spa
34. Find a better editing process
35. Finally use all of my Polaroid film and make a project out of it
36. Refurbish a piece of antique furniture
37. Make more time for friends
38. Learn to sew and make something
39. Shoot a close friend’s wedding
40. Pay off my school loans
41. Blog everyday for a month * Done 31/08/10
42. Face one of my fears
43. Read a book a month
44. Get my wisdom teeth taken out * Done 22/03/10
45. Start a retirement fund
46. Find a new music artist interest
47. Make a picnic and eat it under a tree
48. Start a journal with dreams, goals and inspiration
49. Go to a photography tradeshow convention (WPPI, Imaging USA, etc.)
50. Get a clawfoot tub
51. Go snow tubing
52. Learn how to curl my hair well
53. Give my cats a bath
54. Find an artificial lighting technique that suits my style better
55. Sing at an open mic
56. Finish my abandoned farmhouse project
57. Make a boudoir section on the website
58. Finally grow some herbs in my kitchen pots * Done 12/05/10
59. Print more canvases for my office
60. Volunteer somewhere where people are in need
61. Finally go on a trip with my mom * Done 20/02/10 to 28/02/10
62. Do something I would not normally do
63. Go camping for atleast a week * Done 18/07/10
64. Shoot my first Chinese or Indian wedding
65. Have a themed party
66. Don’t drink pop for one whole month
67. Grow a nice flower bed * Done 12/05/10
68. Find an album company I am really happy with and get great album samples * Done 26/08/10
69. Get a nicer car * Done 04/25/10
70. Make a manual with my business systems
71. Cook dinner every night for one whole month
72. Give away a wedding package to someone who really needs it
73. Buy another really cool antique camera * Done 05/28/10
74. Go zip lining
75. Do a random act of kindness
76. Do a creative shoot on film
77. Get my tattoo covered/removed * Done 21/06/10
78. Become even more proficient in Photoshop
79. Help at a homeless shelter on Christmas Day
80. Spend New Years Eve in New York City
81. Take more artistic, personal photos
82. Lose 10lbs so I can fit in my highschool jeans
83. Bake something once a month for a year
84. Take a girls only week or weekend with my girlfriends
85. Get my nails strong so I can have beautiful, healthy nails!
86. Finally do my ‘G’ driving test * Done 27/01/10
87. Floss daily for a whole month
88. Babysit my godson * Done 13/06/10
89. Shoot a trash the dress in the snow
90. Go for a hot stone massage at The Nordik
91. Add pictures to Flickr
92. Knit a blanket
93. Rekindle my friendship with a long time friend (love you Jess) * Done 06/07/10
94. Organize and find a functional paperwork system for finances, client bookings, etc.
95. Join ‘Now I Lay me Down to Sleep’
96. Go apple picking
97. Purchase PhotoOne
98. Transfer all CDs to iTunes
99. Read a business book
100. Take one REAL day off every week during the busy months of June-September
101. Donate 5$ for each item on my list that was not accomplished to a organization of my choice

I am so sorry for being M.I.A on the blog lately. It’s almost as if I go into hibernation as soon as the cold hits! But I assure you, I haven’t… I actually have so much to blog! Anyways, onto the real reason for this post:

At my very first office/administrative job, I worked with Stephanie. Stephanie was engaged and always told me stories about her and her then fiance, Fernando. She was a great story teller and it was apparent that she was so happy with her life with him. I was invited to their wedding which was beautiful, and since then I have changed jobs and we have fallen a bit out of touch… So it was great to hear from her again in an email with the news that she was pregnant with a baby boy! I was thrilled with her news, and then even more so when she asked to photograph her little man. It is so amazing to see a couple grow into a beautiful family like this one. Congratulations you two, you truly deserve such happiness.

Like I mentioned in my last post, I can’t help but be so thankful for all the amazing things that have happened in 2009, the people I have met and the experiences I have had the pleasure of  being a part of. I am overly excited to see what 2010 brings forth. I also mentioned that there will be lots of things to look forward to where the business is concerned and I cannot wait to introduce all the small and big things to you all!

If you know me, you know that I am queen at ‘To Do” lists and coming up with resolutions for myself. I am huge dreamer and I am not ashamed of that. I think it’s important to have dreams and goals and I think it’s even more important to try your darndest to achieve them. I have a gazillion goals for 2010 and I have already started on a list of things I want to achieve for 2011! Last year I made a ‘24 things to do before I turn 25‘ list. This year I have decided to make a 101 things to do in 1001 days (just under 3 years) list. I am still working on my list but should be done soon and will post it as soon as I finish it. I am very excited to start crossing things off my list and recommend it to anyone. When I checked things off my last years list, it gave me such a great feeling of success and achievement.

Here’s to 2010 being the greatest that it could ever be, filled with achieving goals and making dreams come true!

* This picture was taken at last nights New Years wedding that I had the pleasure of photographing