We were lucky to catch up with Melissa Stynski recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Photography in general, its a world of its own. When you decide to focus on one or two particular areas of photography, you really have to focus on perfecting those areas and that craft. I started photography in 2011. Like many other photographers, I was a mom of two young kids and I wanted to figure out a way to stay at home with them. It took me till 2016, when I left my full time job in the medical field to do photography full time. During those years, I photographed everything from weddings to births to funerals. Yes funerals. Who knew right? I soon realize what I loved and did not love to photograph. I had to take some serious thought on what I really wanted to capture and let go of the rest. I knew I loved children and I knew that would make me happy. So in 2014, I cut back from weddings, births and funerals and decided to make my business decision and only photographed what I loved, Maternity, Newborn, Children and Families. When 2016 came around, I was ready to be full time and just put my focus on those four areas. I spent years perfecting my craft, spending time with other photographers that I looked up to, that were wonderful in those areas, taking hundreds of classes on learning posing, lighting, props and of course editing.
The skills that were most essential to me, was learning from others and putting myself on repeat over and over and over again till I felt I had perfected what I wanted.
Of course there were always obstacles that would stand in the way of me being where I wanted to be, money was the big one. If you are in this industry you know photography is NOT cheap and it costs money to train and learn and then buying gear and props and backdrops and the list goes on and on. I had to pace myself and do things as I could. Youtube and online videos became a close friend. However, when I was able to learn anything hands on, that took me the furthest.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello! I am Melissa with Life Photography by Melissa, a Colorado Springs based Maternity, Newborn, Children and Family Photographer. I have been in business since 2011, capturing memories for thousands of families up and down the front range. I have spent years figuring out the photography industry and learning from my clients what people are looking for. I am happy to say I have a five star review on google and yelp as well as with the BBB. I have learned over the years, to listen to what people are asking, when they are looking for a photographer. I understand working with children and how they have a very low patience, so I have to work quickly. I understand that every newborn is different and tending to those needs is different with each child. I understand that dads hate photos and I know we have to work fast, make a few jokes and be done.
I have been told time and time again how much clients have loved how quick I am with the sessions and the photos I am able to capture, often surprise people.
The major question I get asked, daily, “what do you charge?” or “what will I receive from a session with you?”
That is the easiest question, contact me for what you are looking for, I will send you a package list of three options, you choose what works best for you and we move forward. That’s it. I do not want you to stress about photos, I want this to be a time that you will treasure for years to come. Photos are the ONE thing that your family will hold onto for generations to come.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

No matter what I am photographing, my mission is to give my client a memory of that moment. That could mean anything from the perfectly posed maternity client standing on a rock in a beautiful gown at Garden of the Gods, to a family with a toddler having a full on melt down. Just like there is no such thing as “perfect” there is also no such thing as a “perfect” photo. I capture LIFE. I capture life as its happening. What’s happening for one photo, doesn’t means its the same for every photo.

However, my goal, is to always give families the gift of the moment. I have yet, in my years of doing this, to not get one good photo of that toddler melting down, it just takes time and patience.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The biggest resource I wish I would have known about much earlier in my journey, is Professional Photographers of America and my local Colorado Springs Photography Guild. These two organizations have helped me branch my business the way that is is, they have pushed me to become a Certified Professional Photographer, pushing me beyond what I knew I was able to do and become.    

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lifephotographybymelissa.com
• Instagram: www.instargram.com/lifephotographybymelissa
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifephotographybymelissa
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/lifephotographybymelissa
• Youtube: Life Photography by Melissa
• Yelp: Life Photography by Melissa