I really appreciate you stopping by! My name is Melissa McClure and I am a wedding and portrait photographer based out of San Diego, CA, but available to travel worldwide. I have been shooting since High School yearbook days and graduated with BA in Photojournalism. I love hanging out with my friends/family, travel and blogging :)
I hope you will take some time to catch up on my blogs. Check out the archives too! I love what I do and can't imagine being in a more awesome profession. Being there to capture the bride and groom on their amazing day is so important to me. I love creating family heirlooms.
Enjoy the blog, and don't be afraid to leave me some comment love!
I met Amanda and Kyle in Balboa Park a few weeks back for their engagement session. They were so adorable, I loved how Kyle looked at her in almost every photo! They felt a bit uncomfortable in the beginning, but by the end of the hour long shoot, they were laughing and goofing off in front of my camera like pros!
I’m looking forward to Amanda and Kyle’s wedding this September!
xoxo, M
It’s been almost exactly 10 months since I saw little baby Adeline last. You can see her last photo shoot here.
She belongs to my first college roommate Nikki and her hubby Matt! The day after the wedding, I met up with this adorable family at the Peoria (Illinois) Riverfront for some camera time! Addy just turned 1 about a week ago!
This wedding was extra special for me. I have know Kirsten more years that I can count on one hand (almost 2). It was a huge compliment when she said she can’t imagine anyone else but me photographing her wedding. Tim and I made the trip to the Midwest to celebrate the June 14th celebration of Brett and Kirsten’s wedding. In fact, we got to go back to where it all began…where Kirsten and I met, which happens to be the place that Kirsten and Brett met and fell in love! Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois!
The day started at 9am with a yoga/meditation session. This was such a great idea! Kirsten is a Yoga Instructor at Downtown Yoga in Peoria. Her friend from Heading Om studio came to lead the session.
My friend and sorority sister, Misti contacted me because she was needing some updated photos of her kiddos! Tim and I headed to their adorable home in East Peoria to oblige.
Meet Maddi, Maci and Joey!
Tickle monster!
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!
Play time!
The love their Mommy!
Misti, it was so great to see you after all these years! Your children are beautiful and so well behaved! I was so happy to meet them!
xoxo, M
Joey and Cristi had a beautiful, intimate Alice in Wonderland themed wedding in the bride’s parents back yard! They put so much thought and detail in this theme, I loved it!
These two were obviously made for each other! They laugh constantly, the guaranteed prescription for a lifetime together!
I loved this angle 
Their babies, Alice
and Max!
The handsome Joey:
Almost time to become a Mrs!
See? Laughing, constantly! Cristi’s dad performed the ceremony!
Yummy cake!
Details!
And more details!
Some quiet time
A fun ring shot on the lawn ornament!
Laughing through the first dance!
Cristi dancing with Joey’s dad and Joey dancing with Cristi’s mom!
Party time!
Shout out to my awesome second shooter, Emily!
Joey and Cristi, thanks for being so kind and welcoming! I had a blast hanging out with you and your family/friends!
Enjoy your slideshow below or Click Here to open a new slideshow window!
xoxo, M
We made it home safe from Chicago last night! It was an amazing week full of photo shoots, friends and fun! Photos coming very soon!
A few of you have asked for an update on my cousin Mark. He is doing wonderfully, he went home at the begining of the week and even the doctors are impressed with his progress! Thank you for your kind words, they did not go unnoticed!
I ordered a new sample album from my lab, Miller’s. I love their prints, so when they annouced they would be doing flush mount albums, I was stoked! I am really happy with the customer service as well as the quality of the book! I ordered the books on Sunday night…they arrived at my door on Wednesday afternoon! No joke!
You can see for yourself here. 3 Books. (1)12×12 album (also includes a gorgeous leather box), (1)8×8 parent album and (1)5×5 parent album. The parent albums are exact copies of the larger album and can only be ordered in conjunction of the 12×12:
If you are a bride or photographer interested in seeing this in person, just let me know, I’d be happy to show them off for you!
Just a quick note about my week. Tim and I will be leaving to Chicago tomorrow morning until Wed June 18. I should have internet access, but that isn’t 100% confirmed. One of my best friends is getting married on Saturday in Peoria, so I will be driving all over the state of Illinois. I apologize for any delay in getting back to you!
This morning my cousin Mark had open heart surgery to replace a heart valve. This is his second surgery in the past 7 years. He is such a strong person, physically, mentally and spiritually. I really admire him. Plus he is Tim’s raquetball buddy!
Some of the images below are a bit graphic, so if needles and hosital equipment make you queasy, I would skip scrolling down!!!
Tonight I got a chance to visit him at Rady Children’s Hospital. The staff was very kind and knowledgeable. My aunt Rhonda met me at the front and brought me in to see him. The doctors had decided to keep him asleep to moniter his blood pressure.
Here is his heart moniter (or so I gather!)
Thank you to all my friends/family who sent good vibes/prayers Mark’s way. The surgery was a success and tomorrow he will get to wake up!
Jeremy and Mandi are so cute together! I love how comfortable they are around each other and in front of the lens! Mandi also has a passion for being behind the lens, which wins me over of course! :)
We met downtown in the Gas Lamp District at a restaurant that Jeremy’s family owns. Tim and I actually got there early and had some appetizers…and they were fantastic! If you are looking for some good steak or seafood, check out Lou & Mickey’s!
GUESS WHAT I GOT?
My entire life I have been a PC girl. I can remember talking online to friends (well monitered by my parents of course) pre-Windows! But my best friend made the switch a few months back and I saw how glad she was that she did it!
So the delivery man shows up this morning with a large heavy package!
Isn’t she beautful?
I won’t be giving up my laptop anytime soon…but it was getting frustrated by the graphics and slow-ness of it! Wish me luck, I know nothing about Mac’s!
Shout out to my buddy MA5EN for helping me make this decision!
Wow, where do I even start with these two! After their HOT engagement session in San Juan Capistrano, I knew their wedding was going to be something else! I was right. The rain went away and left some amazing clouds, the beautiful flowers by Nancy Stevens and the rockin’ music from DJ Bill Calhoun (the DJ for MY wedding!) were just a part of what made this Bali Hai wedding so much fun!
Of course I had two of my good buddies to shoot along side of me, David Baxter and Ally Michele!
Check out this dress! Sexy bride! The getting ready part happened at Humphries Half Moon Inn.
A little ring shot just for me…
Jennifer (email me for her info!) came down from LA to do Mary’s makeup!
Love this!
Later…at the Bali Hai…
Mmmmm Shirley the Cake Lady (619.561.9377) did a fantastic job!
I love the look on Brandon’s face here!
Mary’s sister and her daughter during the ceremony!
First kiss as husband and wife…and boy it was a big kiss!
Ring shot on the Pear candle favors!
