Melissa Beach Photography's photostream

Photography has always been a big part of my life. Several members of my family including my father and grandfather were passionate photographers! I was given my first point and shoot film camera when I was 5 years old. By age 12 my dad felt like I had earned my grandfather’s film SLR. I loved photography and was thrilled with the idea of using my grandfather’s camera. I used that camera throughout my high school and college photography classes and I still take it out every once in a while today!

While in college I worked in portrait studios and with private photographers until I transferred to the University of California, Santa Cruz where I decided to get my degree in Anthropology, the study of people and cultures. While in school I focused on images and their effect on people and culture. I studied how photographs record and change culture; how they can manipulate or inspire thought and action. How they are used in movies, advertising and on the internet.

It was at this point when I was introduced to lifestyle and photo-documentary style photography. The one thing I hated about studio portrait photography is the artificial atmosphere. The backdrops are fake, the props are fake and the smiles are often fake.
I want to capture reality, feeling, emotions and connection! You can’t find that in a department store studio! I capture the real moments in life. Those are the memories you will want to remember.

I am most inspired by the ocean and the forest, nature, diversity, and individualism and I try to incorporate these values into my photographic style and my life.

*** I will block you if you do not have public photos of an appropriate content on your photo stream. No creepy people allowed!