Ready for my explanation? August 2008 came with a pretty incredible move for Mee to Cold Lake, Alberta that brought the best year of my married life, family life, adult life and so on… so far! I had some of my own plans for what was to “go down” once I got to Cold Lake, but thankfully my ideas were put on the back burner for a little while!

I was ready to open up my own photo studio and run run run. I was so excited, had the support, encouragement, backing, and the actual facts in front of me, of everything going to play out very nicely. And then it happened! I became involved in a local church that we got plugged into and was asked to come on board as an Administrative PR person. At first I was really hesitant and I think I even said “no!” since I was so focused in my Photography path. But then I started seeing things from a different point of view and re-thought everything through. My “no” then turned into an immediate “yes, when can I start!?”

The Adventure began almost 6 months to this day ago, when I jumped in and got my feet wet on the way. The awesome thing, which was also the “different point of view” and the changer of my mind, was that this Church was no ordinary Church! So over the course of months and months of pure joy, I was exposed to some quite amazing Art Forms. I can now say that I have worked with a state of the art: music equipment, have dived into working with an amazing Music Team, gotten recorded, sounding pretty swell with everyone’s hard work put together, and that is just the music side of things! That’s not to mention the AMAZING people I have gotten to know, laugh with, cry with, find purpose with, and not include the Video/editing/slideshow/brochures/graphic design/advertisement experience/special event planning for large and small groups, that I have gotten in on along the way!

And since this is starting to read like a resume, I’ll stop. But let’s just say that I got so exposed to so much Art stuff that I LOVED, my creative side just went wild! My house turned into a pallet of white walls and bursts of colors everywhere in my decor, My children started being dressed like colorful rock stars, My clothes were no longer white and black but now my closet got some color adventure added to it, I bought all kinds of flower plants that are successfully blooming (ok only because my daughter reminds me they need sun and water) My husband couldn’t figure out what to do with my passion and joy (ok maybe he couldn’t ever figure out what to do with that part, but now it is even more evident!) And it just seems like somehow, somewhere along the line I Woke Up.

I woke up to creativity, Love, Music, Art, and of course again to photography. So I am now on a new adventure…really wanting to share the arts with all of Cold Lake and all of Alberta, by being true to myself as an artist, with photography, with light, color and passion; and by helping other people see in them selves the love and joy that I have recently re-found. We will see where this new road takes us, hopefully by some Art’s Department in Cold Lake…
But for now I just wanted to write and say I am back!

There is so much to share, hopefully we can come back and share more…
Cheerio
-Melissa E Earle
PS Love Live and Laugh often…don’t ever forget to find joy around you

I did something today that I haven’t ever done before! And I am so glad I finally did it!

It was so cold out, and as I was driving onto the local military Base here, I saw that their weather report was saying it was -128 C out today! I couldn’t believe my eyes, I had no idea it was that cold! *wink No, it really wasn’t that cold, it was a typo as today was really -12 C, but I still could have been fooled with just how cold it really did feel outside!

As I was getting ready for this photo shoot, it started snowing and I was so happy about getting a chance to work with snow flakes! And hoping that the snow would do wonders with the Snow Beauty that I was photographing today

We had fun even though it was so cold! I can’t wait for you to see some of the rest!

Hello Blog World! Yes, it is Mee, Melissa still alive and kicken.  I wanted to come back and say hello since it has been so long since I have posted anything, and I know most of you have asked me or written me wondering if I was still alive and well and Yes I am.

The update :

I am officially moved and living in Cold Lake, Alberta now and have been taken up in an amazing whirlwind of meeting new friends, getting used to school aged kids now, and the social worlds that come with both territories.

One thing I must say is that I haven’t completely fallen off the planet with some awesome new things on the drawing pad with an amazing team of designers and videographers working on some top secret stuff to go with mee photography.  With that will come lots of new client/friend’s faces and lots of parties! I can’t wait for you to see!

The one thing that made me want to come and blog today though, was last night I saw a commercial and wanted to post it because it made such an impact on my thinking.  I got into photography so that I could help change some “traditional patterns” for the benefit of the youth and the next generations to come.  I am not trying to support this company in any way, but their commercial is the one that got me thinking

Send me message or a comment to let me know you guys are still alive and around as well! I can’t wait to get back into my beloved photography world again!!! You guys rock!

Cheerio

-Melissa E Earle

Welcome to the new Mee Photos Blog!

I have been working on this for quite some time now, and even though it isn’t completely finished, I am really glad you came on by!

It almost feels like I ‘fell of the face of the earth’ but I here I am and ready to get blogging once again!

Cheerio

-Melissa E Earle

I love photography. I think I told 7 people that this past week actually, and each time I get responses that I Love, where people realize that even though an artist needs to pay the bills and eat, they get that I am not in this for the money, I am in this for my love of Photography!

With that said, I love art, I love different types of photography and oh my gosh! I almost forgot! I LOVE light! I love how as a photographer, I can see light so diverse in many different types of settings. The way you see light or color effects your image so much!

These thoughts were clues as to the photos I am about to post.
I LOVE coffee! Especially java domain coffee, from the local coffee shop! I love that I can go in there and they know what I want even as I am opening the door. They know me by my work and by name and I know them by their smiles and great customer service. Just recently, a guy started working there who had such a great sense of style and artistic taste (you should see his doodles! They rock!!) so with his awesome personality, we got along really well, and I asked him to do a photo session with me! I knew he would be really unique and I wanted to try out some new angles, lighting, and shots; and knew he would be a good one to try it all out with!

The only problem with photographing other artists is that mee as a photographer, I feel stretched to be unique and creative, which is a good thing, but my heart is always in my throat wondering if I got the right angle or shot! Artist people, especially the ones that know Photography know what you are doing! There is no hiding behind the rock with them! lol

So, with no further aduuu, let me introduce you to the guy that got me on my toes for this photo shoot!
By the way, don’t you just love how you can see me photographing his persona? I cropped just so you could get a better look at the detail as well!

I love the light that we found in a country field

The leaves that were so see through it seems

We went exploring and found this awesome pile of “- - - -” I won’t tell you what it was, but let me tell you that we didn’t stay long due to it melting from body heat, and the second clue: that as soon as we got closer to this mile, the more my mouth began to get dry and flavorfull!

This is one of my personal favorites! I just LOVE how this turned out! Can you guess how it was taken? The clue for this image is in the next image which will for sure give this away! By the way for all of you technical people out there, I did these images in the next to brand new lightroom. I took all my images, tweaked them with “Urban Lightroom Presets” made by Dawn and then just exported them into photoshop where I then sized them for the web. I am learning to love lightroom.

One more awesome one! I just love this!! The crazy thing about this image is that I didn’t even notice as I was taking it all the reflection that was bouncing off the window of the car door! I didn’t notice it until I started playing around with the HRD settings and then wow! Out it popped! You gotta love HDR!

And then of course, I jumped in a few! Fun shooting! I love being challenged by artists! Any more? Bring it on!!!!

Cheerio
-Melissa E Earle

I am working on a session right now, and I can’t wait to show these pictures, because I love love love that I was able to shoot this session for her. You know us women, we need excused to feel loved and special, and these are my favorite sessions because I know that my photography somehow made a difference in my women with purpose’s lives!

More to come about those type of sessions, how to book one for yourself ! And more of these images soon!
Cheerio
-Melissa E Earle

There was a session I recently photographed where I was asked to do family photos. Last minute found out that not everyone could show up, so we had a fun time with these sisters and one of the girl’s daughter.
We were up pretty high, overlooking the whole area, playing in fields, down dirt roads and picking flowers; I always love photographing from such a high vintage point! It makes for such a heart in your throat experience!

Aren’t these sisters so cute together!

Throw in a little one and you have a bunch of adventure and excitement on your hands!

No matter how old you get, if you keep a sister close, she becomes someone you can lean upon! I just love sister relationships, they are some of the best supporting ones around!

And make sure to click on the images in this mini slideshow to see more!

Cheerio
-Melissa E Earle

The waiting after the sneak peek is now over, for my amazing couple!
Next week I will tell you what I have been working on, why I have been away for so long.
But for now I will keep you in waiting!

Back to this gorgeous couple!
They look great, the interact like angels and I cannot wait to celebrate there wedding with my photography coming up really soon!

I’ll add more when I get back from the weekend photo sessions!

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cheerio
-Melissa E Earle

When I was 9 years old I really wanted Roller Blades for my 10th Birthday.

Rollerblades, well they were the new cool thing in town and my best friend forever and I spent every free second of our time together that our parent’s allowed, at the local roller skate park in town. My favorite part was when the disco ball was turned on and I was skating with the wind in my hair, as fast as I could.

But when I was 9 years old I decided that I had enough “things” & ” 3 brothers” and that all I wanted for my 10th birthday was a sister. Someone in whom I could share my love, my laughter, clothes and my life with.

So I went to my parents with this great new idea I had and told them that all I wanted for my 10th birthday was a baby sister. Mom just laughed and Dad grabbed my hands, looked in my eyes and told me that if I prayed about it, God might just give me one. After that, every single day I prayed that I would have a baby sister.

Soon after I found out that mom was pregnant, but not really any time near my birthday. On the morning of my birthday, mom woke up with a gasp and told me that I should probably go over to a friend’s house. I wasn’t really excited about spending the day without my family, but I was IN SHOCK when I got the call that night that my mom was in labor.

Yes, when I was 10 years old, God gave me the best birthday present ever, a baby sister. We have shared this amazing day ever since, even if we were miles away

I didn’t want to write on my blog and say it was my birthday, since growing older has gotten harder every year, but I wanted to congratulate my sister and tell her I miss her and I wish she was closer to me so that we could celebrate together.

Love you Nique~Q!!!!

Your sister, Melissa E Earle

July must be the month of birthdays!
Happy Birthday Adam White
Peter Muise,
And Peter Doucette!
Cheerio
-Melissa E Earle aka Mee

In ode to my bessie billie bob’s birthday this week, i won’t give away how old nor the actual date, but I will say that in about 7 hours we will be off to the city in quest for a birthday surprise. I can’t wait to give it to her!!!

Even though bessie lina might be beautiful with super long batty lashes, she still doesn’t have as many friends as mee, her sister. We have a sister rivalry on facebook to see how many ligit friends we really have. I have more numbers, but she “just KNOWS” more than mee. Regardless…I am winning

Here’s to you bessieroo! without you in my life, I would be ohahaw so drab with no excuse for drama, like how we were talking about inner stomach particles last night, were serious about third world nation crisis but then could have a merry ol’ time watching the office win at family feud! I owe it all to you!

Here’s to you bessie! Love you!
Happy B-day and I wish you so many many more with mee *wink and a laugh without a snort, just for you babie!

Cheerio
-Melissa E Earle aka Mee