Melissa Hassey

Family Portraits in Sea Isle City!

melissa — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:04:29 +0000

As always this family was wonderful! We spent a beautiful night in Sea Isle where the ocean meets the bay. This is one of the families that I have had the pleasure of photographing and getting to know well over the last few years. On this day, I got to meet even more of their extended family… who, as expected, were fantastic as well. This is such a great group and always so much fun!! Thanks to all!

We did some fun “splashing” photos at the very end of the session. Below is the outcome. I asked for it!

Long Beach Island/ Spray Beach!

melissa — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:36:40 +0000

So, yes, I returned to LBI the very next day to meet up with yet another great family! I had actually photographed Madison & Tyler a few years ago on LBI and it was really great to see them once again. Since that last session, their family has expanded by one more and now includes the adorable and energetic, Reese!

We had a lot of fun that night chasing birds, running in the sand and playing Ring Around the Rosie on the beach!

Madison…

Tyler…

Reese….

Towards the end of the session, Reese happily hopped in the drivers seat hoping to drive us all to the bay! How cute is she?! I simply had to capture this…. Needless to say, she was quite disappointed when Dad decided he would be the driver.

Long Beach Island Family Portraits!

melissa — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:35:47 +0000

What a beautiful and fun day we had the other week on Long Beach Island!

To keep it simple, these two beautiful people….

…made these two beautiful people:

And, well, I was very lucky enough to photograph all four of them.

I had such a hard time editing favorites for this session, so I am including a bunch!

As many of you know, I often tell the kids to say silly things like “stinky feet!”. These guys really had fun with it and I was able to capture a bunch of silly, happy and natural moments.

Engagement Portraits at the Jersey Shore!

melissa — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:48:03 +0000

Another fantastic couple! I had the pleasure of photographing Anna & Bill last week in Ocean City, NJ. Suitably, the motto there is: “Picture Yourself in Ocean City”. How appropriate.

Anna & I actually know each other through Tyler School of Art where we went to school and graduated together. As Anna is a talented artist and photographer herself, I was, of course, very honored for her to ask me to be their wedding photographer! We decided on Ocean City, NJ for the engagement session. So fun!

It was actually quite a gray and cloudy day with looming rain… though, luckily it did hold off. I actually like a nice cloudy day and luckily so di Anna & Bill. We really had so much fun just wondering the beach, boardwalk, arcade and of course the amusements at Gillians Wonderland Pier.

I am really excited for their wedding at Terrain at Styers this coming September!

I am well aware that I have a tendency to photograph a lot of hands and feet. This session was no exception and so I compiled them all together!

This seagull was just asking to be photographed!

After the beach it was off to fun and games. Literally!

And, yes, I was indeed on the pirate ship with them!

Oh, and I also got to ride the carousel!

Sometimes I just can’t believe that this is my job!

Our Ocean City, NJ Vacation

melissa — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:58:29 +0000

Last week I was lucky enough to spend 5 days in Ocean City, NJ! It was lovely! Carl’s parents rented a house on 3rd street just down the block from the beach and boardwalk. It was a fantastic location! We spent the week with his parents, sister, her husband and their 2 kids, Tommy & Brian. It was so relaxing and so much fun. Thanks so much again, Marge & Ray!!

Here are a few fun pics from the week:

Of course, what’s a storyboard about Ocean City, NJ with a picture of the Ferris Wheel?

Carl & I:

We finally got to fly our massive 30′ kite again! Thanks, Dale!! I love this kite. It is so much fun and simply took off into the air that night. Here is Carl’s blog about it:

http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/08/12/ocean-city-2010/

I love Tommy doing “the beach is that way” muscle kiss in the photo below.

Brian getting dirty….

That’s my husband (insert those popular little hearts that people use that I don’t know how to use here). Anyone know how to make them, leave a comment!

Yep, that is Steph having a good time on the carousel.

And again on the “Fun Slide”…

Love this next one….

Goofs!

Towards the end of the week, the boys got to choose their new pet hermit crab. FREE!!!! (fineprint: with purchase of cage, of course). Tommy’s hermit crab was painted as SpongeBob. Weird, I know…. I believe he named his “Bob”. Brian named his “Chum Chum”. Chum Chum, unfortunately had a short life after leaving the boardwalk. I think he almost made it 24 hours? I do believe that he was later replaced. Chum Chum II, perhaps? RIP Chum Chum.

Wildwood Beach Portraits!

melissa — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:47:39 +0000

Surprisingly, this past week was my first visit down to the shore so far this year. Also, it has been years since I had been to Wildwood Beach. I always recall my High School Senior Week memories when I visit there. In fact, I remember that we stayed at a little place called “Captain Lou’s Beach House”, which I am fairly certain no longer exists. Good times!

ANYWAY, back to the topic….. it was really wonderful to stick my toes in the ocean and meet up with such a fun, kind and easy going family! This was a large group consisting of 4 individual families which included 11 cousins all together. It happened to be a gorgeous night as well! The water was warm and the air temperature was that of a perfect summer evening. You just have to love that!

Thanks so much to all of you that were on the beach that night. You made my job so easy! I hope that you are enjoying your vacation and that the family reunion was fun as well!!

This is a favorite candid of all of the grandchildren together with their Grandmother. Cute, huh?

I really wanted all of the kids (and adults “kids”!) to have fun. So we started out with them running towards me….

Yeah, I would say that that seemed to loosen them up a bit!

And, yes, as usual, my camera and I were soaked by the end of the nigh!

How to Get the Best from your Wedding Photographer!

melissa — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:30:32 +0000

Check out this article from an awesome website, Rock ‘n Roll Bride. This is a must read for anyone getting married (and especially those of you that love and appreciate photography!). I encourage all of my bride’s and grooms and potentials to read this one. Very Very Good Stuff!!

http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2010/07/how-to-get-the-best-from-your-wedding-photographer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rocknrollbride%2Findex+%28Rock+%27n+Roll+Bride%29&utm_content=Google+Readerj

The highlights:

1- INSIST ON A PRE-WEDDING SHOOT

2- CONSIDER A “FIRST LOOK” AND PRE-CEREMONY PHOTOGRAPHS

3- THINK TWICE ABOUT GROUP PHOTOGRAPHS

4- SCHEDULE IN ENOUGH TIME

5- TELL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER OF ANYTHING PARTICULARLY SPECIAL

6- BOOK THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER

And, well, what’s a blog without a photograph?? Just some random stuff from the past….

Beautiful Newborn Baby Girl!

melissa — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:24:24 +0000

Very luckily for me, this family was the recipient of a thoughtful (baby shower) gift certificate. I always love to photograph newborns and was really excited to finally meet newborn, Marilena, and her proud new parents, Kim & Anthony. I arrived with all of my flowers and props and practically moved into their home. They were so accommodating with this!

Once I got settled in, we moved Marilena all around inside and outside of the house. I loved their house! I think I may just offer Kim a job as a stylist for my upcoming photo shoots!

Anyway, Marilena did SO great!! A natural model indeed! Oh, I have to say that Rocky & Spunky (their dog & cat) did excellent as well…. as you will see! They were so cute and just wanted to be near all of the photography action and, of course, be close to Marilena

Well, I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed creating them!

A little side note about some of the props: I recently purchased the pink tutu, the white tutu (that Marilena is lying on) and fairy wings here: http://www.fionasfairys.com/. This is a great new shop at The Piazza in Northern Liberties. The owner, Karen, is extremely nice and they have an array of beautiful outfits and accessories for babies and older kids (including boys!). Oh, and the designer of the white tutu is: Kaiya Eve. Very cool stuff!!

This next shot really did just happen all by itself! Eventually, we did re-position Rocky just a little bit. Even still, seriously, HOW CUTE!?

Sleeping fairy….. sigh…. (ps. she is sleeping on top of the 12 month tutu skirt)

Here is Rocky making sure not to be excluded from this family portrait.

Adventures in Fishtown & Kensington….

melissa — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:56:59 +0000

This is a blog post for all of you fishtowner’s. SoYo’s, NoYo’s, Newbie’s, Lifers, Oldheads, Yuppies, Hipsters, Thugs….. whatever you care to call yourselves…… :0

It was one of those recent days where it was somehow storming and sunny all at the same time. Beautiful, really. My friend Jenn called and asked if I had any city photos she could have. I then suggested we wonder through the neighborhood on this gorgeously dreary day. It was fun to get on the streets again and photograph. The streets of Philly are where this entire photo adventure of mine started many years ago….. I was much bolder then… See “Don’t Talk to Strangers” series.

My most frequented corner store:

Check out this awesome door made of, I assume, bench ends. Very cool!!

From the Spring Garden El stop. Many years ago I was kicked off the El at this very station for taking photographs. A friend and I were “written up” by a cop and told never to photograph on the El again. Haha!! I will say that, at that time, I was using a giant 4″x5″ camera with a hood over it. And, I was attempting to photograph the people on the train. Wow, I really was bold back then!

Cool PBR advertisements at Spring Garden (designed by various different artists).

You can see the El steps and, I believe, some of the new art school that they are building on Front Street. Oh, and a bit of the city line on the left…. This shot really shows the dark cloud, bright sun contrast that was happening that day.

Water from a fire hydrant…

Gamer…

Kensington. Does it look like I am jailed in or jailed out?

Talking About My Generations….

melissa — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:53:18 +0000

Recently, I was asked if I had any “Stock Photography” of a 4 generation family portrait of women to be used for the cover of a magazine. Hmmmmm…. well, I was sure that I did somewhere but it would require contacting families and getting permission, etc. I decided to photograph my grandmom, mom, sister and baby niece. This portrait session was, as expected, a lot of fun and full of laughs!

My amazing, beautiful, fantastic, funny & kind grandmother (I can’t say enough about her!), very unfortunately, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Ughh… I hate to give that terrible word a capital A but since it was named after a physician and is the proper punctuation I will leave it be….for now…. :/

ANYWAY, we went to visit my grandmother at her now home, Arden Courts – Warminster. If you have a family member that suffers with this destructive disease and are looking for help and care, this is a wonderful place! It is clean, the staff is really nice, the food is good, the residents get their own bed and bathroom, it is not overcrowded and there are always an array of fun and creative activities going on day and night.

I am so glad that we took these photographs! Though Kylie (my niece) and my nephews will never get to know first hand just how fantastic their great grandmother was…. I am glad that there will always be many great stories and, of course, photographs.

By the way, I will let you know if any of the photos make it to the magazine!!