Before photographing people professionally, Melissa Mermin was an in-house photographer for a design firm but longed for dynamic subjects over still lifes. In 1996 she was hired to shoot her first wedding and since has had a passion for story telling  through a camera.

She received her BFA in painting from Massachusetts College of Art, soon after studied photojournalism at New England School of Photography and freelanced for local news outlets. There were very few female wedding photographers in the mid '90s, much less gonzo-photojournalism style wedding photographers-- but creating stories with camera is secretly what she wanted to be doing all along. She draws her inspiration from renown photographers Gary Winogrand, Vivian Maier and Lauren Greenfield.

Melissa lives in the Pacific Northwest but travels all over the country for most of her events. Working with an assistant and second shooter, they typically show up to the destination a day early to do a location scout. "I often shoot the entire weekend as many destination weddings have special events happening for several days, from rehearsal soirees to day-after brunches. It tells a complete story of the celebration.”

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Her images are featured in books Wedding Photography Unveiled: Inspiration and Insight from 20 Top Photographers (2009); You Can Wear it Again (Chronicle Books, 2005.) The M.I.L.K. series, Love: A Celebration of Humanity (2001, HarperCollins); Friendship, Love and Laughter (Hatchette Books 2009); Dear Mom (Chronicle Books 2010.) 

Her wedding stories have been published in Inside Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot . She's been interviewed for Inside Weddings, Ask the Expert: How to Hire a Wedding Photographer and Photo District News A Couple of Friends Shooting Couples.

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