We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melissa Moran. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melissa below.
Melissa, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
Oh man, I love this question. My parents are awesome in a lot of ways, but there was a handful of things they did that I really believe helped me to be who I am and where I am today. My parents were a huge factor in me realizing the creativity that was stored up inside of me. They blessed me with so many opportunities to find and release my creativity: dance classes, modeling, piano, violin, and clarinet lessons (not to mention the multitude of sports and other extracurriculars) and supported me in everything I did. At a super young age (I want to say I was about 12), I had my own paper route- and with my parents help, I learned so much about working hard, customer relationships and experience, and even sales. I wouldn’t have learned any of that if it weren’t for my parents teaching me and helping me along the way. I know without a doubt that between the things my folks taught me (during those years, and beyond), the opportunities they provided for me to find my passions and exercise my creativity, and the support they gave me along the way, I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
Melissa, 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?
My name’s Melissa, and I’m a Destination Wedding Photographer and Videographer based in Southern California! I’ve been in the biz for about 11 years now- since 2013. But my journey as a photographer/videographer started well before that.
When I was just a kiddo, I was scouted by a photographer in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, and for a short time I pursued modeling and acting. I learned about posing, lighting, composition, shooting, and all of the production process that goes into creating beautiful photos and video. I was signed to one of the top modeling agencies in the world, but it was a bit difficult to keep my “normal life” as a kid in Ohio *AND* pursue modeling full time in NYC. So, I chose to let that opportunity pass.
Fast forward a few years later to my senior year of high school. All that I needed was one English credit to graduate, and then I’d be good to go. My advisor signed me up for a class called Communication Technology (which I totally thought was going to be a boring computer engineering class (lol)). It turned out to be an intro to Film, and I quickly grew interest. My teacher became my mentor and consistently encouraged me in my work. Until then, I had no idea what career path I wanted to take, but because of her encouragement and mentorship, I decided to get my degree in Broadcast Journalism. After a year in school, I realized I hated journalism (haha), but loved the creative aspect of working with video! I switched my major to general Film Studies, and after another year of school, they got rid of my major… soo I dropped out of school completely haha. By that point, I had already started making money filming weddings and didn’t see a point in switching schools if I was learning more by doing it myself!
Shortly after that, I moved to California and interned with a wedding photographer, which led to me working for him for several years. I learned a ton about business, as well as photo, which led to me expanding into wedding photography for my own biz, instead of just video!
Over the past 11 years, I’ve grown a ton as a videographer and photographer, and I’m soo beyond grateful that I get to do this full time! I think one of the main things that sets me apart from other people in the wedding industry is how freaking FUN my client experience is (not to toot my own horn lol, but my clients tell me all the time how fun their shoots/wedding days are because of the joy and excitement I bring to the table!). I’m always my client’s biggest fan! :) I also strive to capture authentic moments, instead of super pose-y shots. I’d rather shoot something that’s already happening in the moment (the seconds in-between the craziness of a wedding day when my couples don’t even know I’m shooting, or when the bride’s grandma is out on the dance floor, etc.) rather than a perfectly composed photo.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Oh my goodness- the most rewarding aspect of my job as a wedding videographer/photographer is getting to hear people’s reactions to receiving their photos and films!! It makes my day every dang time.
I did an engagement shoot for a couple just last week and this was their response:
“We’re OBSESSED with these holy cow….this turned out wayyyy better than we could have ever imagined. I literally shrieked with some of these.. the way you captured them really makes us look like movie stars/models! Can’t wait to share with our family and insta”
I absolutely LOVE getting messages like this!! It makes me so stoked to hear that people have something so precious that they can cherish their whole lives!
I recently heard from clients I had years ago that their daughter asks to watch their wedding film at least once a week. They also sent me a video of her requesting to play the song from their wedding video and singing along.
THAT is why I do what I do!! Everyone should have the gift of re-living their favorite memories over and over again, and sharing it with their families and friends for generations.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Instagram! I believe it’s currently one of the best “free” marketing tools there is! When I decided to jump full time into my biz a little over a year ago, I came up with a massive (and probably way too detailed lol) business plan. I wrote up my “client avatar” or “ideal client”, and one of the things in that description was that they loved insta.
I can’t say that I’m “consistent” on social media by any means, but it’s where most of my clients come from! Which I hope is an encouragement to other people- that you don’t need to post on social media every day (or even every week) to get clients!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.milkandhoneyfilmco.com
- Instagram: @milkandhoneyfilmco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/milkandhoneyfilmcompany
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@MelissaWeyers
Image Credits
Melissa Moran