Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melanie Lopez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Melanie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

I’ve always had an interest in photography. I had my first Canon Powershot when I was 10 years old and carried it with me everywhere. I took classes in both high school and college but ultimately went to nursing school. While working in the NICU, I took photos for a family with their very sick child and realized that’s where my passion was. After having my first child, I decided to pursue birth and newborn photography instead of returning to the nursing world.

I took multiple courses—from Birth Becomes You for photography and videography, to masterclasses under Kirsten Lewis—and business classes as well. I poured hours into learning because that’s exactly what I did during nursing school, and I thrive in education. I leaned on mentorships, practiced endlessly, and slowly built my business while balancing motherhood.

Now, after 7.5 years as a photographer and 10 years as a military spouse, I’ve had the opportunity to capture not only birth, maternity, newborn, and family sessions but also military events such as promotions and retirements. I’ve photographed over 35 ceremonies and have seen the oath so many times I feel like I’ve memorized it.

As a mother, I’ve shaped my business around motherhood—documenting everything from maternity to birth, newborn, and family sessions, with birth as my ultimate passion. With experience in hospitals, birth centers, and home births, along with my background as an RN and my own journey through motherhood, I’m able to see and document details that are often missed. I relate deeply to my clients, especially in newborn sessions when moms are in the thick of postpartum. This career has blended all of my passions into one, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Melanie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Melanie, an Army wife of 10 years and a mother to four wonderful children. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the one documenting life’s moments—the friend taking more photos than necessary and the mom capturing every little detail of my children’s lives. Photography has always been my way of storytelling, and I feel incredibly blessed to share that gift with others.

When I’m not behind the camera, I’m busy keeping up with my energetic 8-year-old son, playing with my sweet and lively 5-year-old daughter, reading to my cuddly 3-year-old, or chasing my adventurous 1-year-old little boy around.

In my free time, you’ll find me reading the Bible, sipping on cold coffee (because, let’s be honest, it’s never hot for long), or keeping up with my children’s homeschool work. With my background as a former NICU nurse, I’ve traded hospital shifts for tending to scraped knees, comforting tired little ones, and being there for every bump and bruise as a stay-at-home mom in Northern Virginia.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of clients for me has been word of mouth, especially within the birth community. It’s a tight-knit group, and having strong connections with doulas, birth workers, midwives, chiropractors, and lactation consultants has been invaluable. Once a few midwives and doulas have seen my work firsthand in the birth space and built trust with me, word spreads quickly within the community. Even for newborn and maternity sessions, referrals mean everything, so fostering a strong network is key. It’s through these connections that I’ve built lasting relationships and continued trust with families.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word of mouth is incredibly important in my line of work, especially since many of my clients come from personal recommendations. Outside of word of mouth, Facebook groups have been a great source of new clients. When a mom asks for photographer recommendations, I can share a few examples of my work, and that often sparks interest. From there, word of mouth continues to spread as clients share their experiences and refer others to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.melanielopezphotography.com
• Instagram: @melanielopezphotography
• Facebook: @melanielopezphotography