Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Rush.
Melissa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I never thought I’ll end up doing photography for a living and I’m beyond grateful to be able to do it. It was a dream that turned into reality with hard work, persistence and lots and lots of inspiration from people. I learned that anything is really possible, it’s not easy but whatever you want to achieve is indeed possible!
I was working at an advertising agency for 9 years as an Associate Media Director and photography was my hobby for 10 years. I would run to photography classes after work and started shooting portraits and weddings on the weekends. With experience and time, a desire to do something different, inspiring and meaningful naturally emerged. My husband is the one who planted the seed that I should try doing photography professionally. At first I did not have the confidence to do it and once I embraced the challenge oh it was game on!
In the beginning, I lived in Dallas and was doing weddings on the weekends and worked at a premium Boudoir studio. Then I fell in love with Boudoir Photography and what it offers to women. How the experience gets them out of their comfort zone and makes them shine. It’s truly fascinating to remind women how amazing they are just the way they are!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all, hahaha! If you ask any entrepreneur or someone who is training for a marathon the same question they probably would agree with me. It skipped my mind that when I decided to become a professional photographer that I’m signing up to become a business owner. It’s an endurance game and there is so much to learn at such a short time. There will be days when it’s challenging but then I remember these thank you notes and emails from my clients and it just inspires me to work harder. One woman thanked me for showing her what her husband sees in her and this just touches me so deeply. Or when you see these special moments when the woman completely lets go of this idea of how she wants to be perceived and fully opens up to the experience then she becomes fearless and completely radiates! Wow it’s really beyond words, we end up having timeless and stunning images as a byproduct.
Melissa Luella Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We shine light on Boudoir Photography for extraordinary everyday women! I specialize in creating timeless intimate portraiture of women but the best part of it is the experience itself. Every woman should definitely do it at least once in their life. I’m happy that I’m able to show women their amazing and shiny qualities with the use of photography. For a moment, they forget about the ideas that they have about their body and just fully trust me to create something beautiful together! I always say it’s a two way street, I strongly encourage ladies to be open to the experience as they get more out of it.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
There are so many amazing moments in this journey but I’m happiest beyond words when each client is super happy when they leave my studio (before they even see the photos) and also when they come back for their viewing/reveal session. My goal is for them to take home images that they love and their reactions are truly priceless. I’ve had some ladies tear up when they see their images and this deeply touches me.
Contact Info:
- Address: Joy Street Artist Studios
86 Joy Street
Studio 21
Somerville, MA 02143 - Website: www.melissaluella.com
- Email: info@melissaluella.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaluella/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaluella/
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
