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	<title>Melissa Jill Photography Blog</title>
	<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm</link>
	<description>Melissa Jill Photography Blog</description>
	<language>en-us</language>
	
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			<title>Coming to Phoenix -- Holiday Mini-Sessions!</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2027&amp;coming-to-phoenix-holiday-mini-sessions</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2027&amp;coming-to-phoenix-holiday-mini-sessions</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Mini-Sessions-01.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Mini-Sessions-02.jpg" border="0"></div><br>I'm super excited to announce that I will be coming to Phoenix this fall and offering a limited number of mini portrait sessions! <br><br>These are perfect for: <br><br>-Families looking for a few amazing photos for their holiday cards <br>-Moms-to-be who want maternity photos <br>-Engaged couples needing a few photos for their save-the-date cards <br>-Anyone who has been wanting to get some professional photos taken, but who doesn't want to spend a ton (these mini-sessions are 1/2 the price of my regular sessions!) <br>-Anyone who has been putting off getting updated professional photos or head shots <br><br>I know it's hard to start thinking about the holidays when the weather is wavering between hot and broiling, but trust me! Now is the time to plan your holiday photos! When the busyness of November/December hits, you're going to be SO GLAD you did! <br><br>I am offering a limited number of sessions on the morning of <b>Saturday, November 15th at Papago Park in Phoenix</b><br><br>Sessions will be 25 minutes. If you book by October 1st, you will get the session, an online viewing gallery of 20-30 images, AND 25 custom fine art holiday cards for $299 (regular price is $350)! <br><br>Check out this year's awesome card options! These are all lay-flat front/back 5x7 cards printed on high quality paper:<br><br><br><center><b>Card 1</b></center><br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/1.png" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/2.png" border="0"></div><br><center><b>Card 2</b></center><br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/MJP-2025-Holiday-Cards-03.png" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/MJP-2024-Holiday-Cards-04.png" border="0"></div><br><center><b>Card 3</b></center><br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/11.png" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/21.png" border="0"></div><br><center><b>Card 4</b></center><br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/MJP-2025-Holiday-Cards-07.png" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/MJP-2024-Holiday-Cards-08.png" border="0"></div><br>In addition to the basic package, we have some extra add-ons available. They include: <br><br>- Additional cards in sets of 25 <br>- Individual digital images or all of the digital images from the session <br>- Custom canvases or prints for your walls <br><br>Sessions are limited, and they will fill up fast! If you are interested in securing yours, contact me at melissa{at}melissajill{dot}com.<br><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>How to include your dog in your engagement photos</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1900&amp;how-to-include-your-dog-in-your-engagement-photos</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1900&amp;how-to-include-your-dog-in-your-engagement-photos</guid>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2022 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_01.jpg" border="0"></div><br>I'm a dog person and there's no hiding it! <a href="http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1844&dixies-th-birthday-party" target="_blank">For years I threw birthday parties for my dog Dixie.</a> <br><br>I've also found that many of my clients love their pets just as much as I love mine ... and they want to include them in their photos.<br><br>If you're engaged, you might be wondering whether you should bring your furry friend to your engagement shoot. When it's possible, I am a HUGE fan of having dogs in engagement sessions! <a href="http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1712&tips-to-make-your-engagement-shoot-personal" target="_blank">Including your dog is a great way to personalize your shoot</a>, and it can be a wonderful opportunity to have professional photos taken of you with your pet. It also adds a sense of ease and comfort for many people who might otherwise feel camera-shy. After all, it's hard to feel self-conscious when you're playing with an adorable pooch!<br><br>Here are five things I suggest you do if you would like to include your pet in your engagement photos:<br><br><b>1. Discuss including your pet with your photographer</b><br>While I'm personally a fan of including dogs, your photographer might have reservations (or allergies). And even if they're thrilled to have your pup in the shoot, your photographer will still need to know ahead of time so that they can prepare to make the most of the opportunity. I like to ask whether my clients would like to include a pet in their engagement photos <a href="http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1842&a-handy-tool-to-personalize-your-client-experience" target="_blank">on my Getting To Know You questionnaire right after they hire me</a>, but if your photographer doesn't bring it up, make sure you DO!<br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_04.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_02.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_03.jpg" border="0"></div><br><b>2. Bring along a dog-wrangler</b><br>No matter how much you adore your dog, you probably want a significant portion of your engagement photos to focus just on you and your fiancé. So ask a friend or family member (who is already comfortable with your dog) to come along and take care of your pup during the dog-free portions of the shoot. This way you get all of the joy of including your dog without having to worry about them when they're out of the frame! Typically I like to do the first half of the shoot with the dog and the second half without, so it often works great to have the friend or family member take the pup home at the half-way point.<br><br><b>3. Pack for your dog's needs</b><br>This sounds like common sense, but when you're thinking about whether your outfit goes with the one your fiancé is wearing and what the traffic will be like on the way to meet your photographer ... well, it can be easy to forget to bring pet-necessities. So plan ahead and have a little go-bag prepared to accompany your dog to the shoot. This can contain: a water dish and bottled water, treats, a toy, and waste bags -- anything your dog needs to feel safe and well cared for on the shoot!<br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_091.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_101.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_111.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_121.jpg" border="0"></div><br><b>4. Make sure the location is pet-friendly</b><br>Just because a location is outdoors doesn't necessarily mean it's a good fit for your pooch! For example, in the shoot above I was taking Jon & Alison into the desert for much of their engagement shoot. Cacti and fluffy fur aren't the best combination! So we made sure to take photos with Wrigley from the safety of their front porch before  heading off into the desert without her.  <br><br><b>5. Have fun!</b><br>One of the reasons your want your dog to be part of your engagement photos is because they're already a part of your family. So let that connection shine! Don't be afraid to have fun with your fiancé and your pet! The happiness and comfort you feel together will show in your images. <br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_05.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_06.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_07.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Dog-in-engagement-photos_08.jpg" border="0"></div><br>I always feel so blessed to get to document a couple with their furry family members! I know that the resulting photos will be shared and smiled over for years to come. So if you have been wondering how to include your dog in your engagement photos, I hope these suggestions help! <br><br>-----------> If you are planning your engagement shoot, you might also be starting to plan your wedding! It's a great idea to start thinking about the timeline of your day early on! If you would like to have a timeline to start from, <a href="http://dilogr.com/app1/s/weddingtimeline" target="_blank">click here to take a quick 2-question quiz</a>, and we will email you back with an ideal preliminary timeline based on the sunset time on your wedding day as well as whether or not you would like to do a first look! <br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Ideal_Wedding_Day_banner10.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div style="display:none;" ><img class="align center size-full" src="http://www.melissajill.com/pinterestimages/Include-your-dog-in-engagement-photos.jpg" alt="5 tips for including your dog in your engagement photos, plus adorable inspiration!" /></div><br><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>The #1 marketing opportunity photographers are missing</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1728&amp;the-marketing-opportunity-photographers-are-missing</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1728&amp;the-marketing-opportunity-photographers-are-missing</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2022 04:28:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/El-Chorro-Scottsdale-Wedding_302.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/El-Chorro-Scottsdale-Wedding_021.jpg" border="0"></div><br>Imagine this. A bride and groom who are in the beginning stages of wedding planning meet with three local vendors -- a venue, a planner and a florist. The couple sees your name on the venue's preferred vendor list. They meet with a planner who pulls out a book to flip through a wedding they planned and you photographed. The bride mentions that they saw your name on the venue's list and the planner begins to gush over you and your work. And when the couple later pulls up the florist's website, they see a photo credit for you on the front page. Guess who they are booking to photograph their wedding? YOU. <br><br>This seems like an ideal too-good-to-be-true scenario, but it's happened for me and my business repeatedly. Simply because we've made sending images to vendors a priority and a happens-every-time part of our workflow. <br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/best-marketing-opportunity-for-wedding-photographers-01.jpg" border="0"></div><br>Time and time again, I've been shocked at how many photographers miss this opportunity that is staring them right in the face. Planners complain to me that maybe 1 in 10 photographers send images to them. And that's AFTER they've asked numerous times. What!?<br><br>All I can think when I hear this is how dumb those photographers are. I know that sounds harsh -- but seriously! HUGE missed opportunity. And it was staring them right in the face. It's not rocket science. We, as photographers, have a valuable commodity -- a visual representation of every other wedding service provider's blood, sweat, tears and creativity. They want these images to show off their work to future clients. All we have to do to earn their goodwill and referrals is GIVE THE IMAGES TO THEM. Without any strings attached. Quickly and generously.<br><br>Again, it's not rocket science. So why don't 90% of photographers do this one simple thing? Two reasons:<br><br>1 -- They don't grasp that they are missing a huge opportunity and therefore don't prioritize it as such.<br>2 -- They have great intentions to do so but don't have a system in place to make sure it happens, so it falls through the cracks as they move on to shoot their next wedding.<br><br>If you find yourself in the 2nd camp, determine today to fix your workflow so that this simple yet important task happens after every single wedding. <br><br>These are the 6 steps we've taken to systematize this process so it happens every single time and doesn't slip through the cracks:<br><br><b>1 -- Add it to the Wedding Workflow Checklist</b> <br>If you don't have one yet, simply start one by writing down every step you currently take to serve one client, or <a href="http://www.melissajill.com/photographers-workflow.cfm" target="_blank"> click here to purchase our checklist and customize it for your needs</a>.<br><br><b>2 -- Delegate</b> <br>My full-time office manager is responsible for sending images to vendors after every wedding. This task is something that you can easily train someone else to do. Remember, you can't do it all yourself. If you have hesitations regarding delegating and outsourcing and when to do it, <a href="http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1262&workflow-series-pt-delegating-and-outsourcing" target="_blank">check out this post for more on this topic.</a><br><br><b>3 -- Select vendors</b> <br>I use the vendor contact list that our clients fill out as part of our <a href="http://www.melissajill.com/photographers-workflow.cfm" target="_blank">Final Details Questionnaire</a> about a month before the wedding. I take a highlighter to it and mark the vendors I want to send images to. Typically, I mark every vendor whose work is showcased in my images that I would like to work with again. This is the only step I complete in our workflow in order to make sure everything I'm talking about in this post happens. I highlight.<br><br><b>4 -- Send high res. images with no watermark</b> <br>Oftentimes photographers are overly protective of their work. They want to control every image, where it appears, and how it appears. In my mind, these photographers are missing the forest for the trees. Yes, we want photo credit. And that's something reasonable to request when another vendor is using our images to show off their work. But the most important thing is the relationship. If we want to build genuine relationships that will span the length of our careers and fuel our businesses with referrals, then we need to build those relationships on the foundations of generosity and trust. To me, getting credit for an image is not as important as building a good reputation of being generous and growing a solid referral network. In other words -- I'd rather show a vendor I genuinely care for them and their business by giving them images with no strings attached (and hopefully earning their trust and referral) than micromanaging them and treating them like someone who cannot be trusted with my images. So when we send images, we send high res images without a watermark. In our email or note we let them know they are free to use the images however they see fit to show off their work, and if they are able to give us a photo credit, "photo by melissajill.com" would be great.<br><br><b>5 -- Send the digital images via <a href="https://pass.us" target="_blank">PASS</a> (pictured above)</b> <br>If you don't have PASS, use another method. It really doesn't matter what method you use, as long as you do it. But PASS is quick and easy for us. My office manager preps the images for vendors by copying them into separate folders before uploading to PASS, so the florist can quickly download a zip file of images of her work. We've had multiple vendors comment to us on how this additional step is such a blessing and makes it so much easier for them to use and share our images.<br><br><b>6 -- Create books for venues & planners you want to work with again</b> <br>In addition to emailing a link to a downloadable gallery of high res images to most all of the vendors we work with for every wedding, we also send 7x7 press-printed gift books with about 80-100 of our favorite images showcasing the venue or the planner's work to venues and planners that we want to work with again. Venues and planners are typically a couple's first point of contact in the wedding planning process and we get a healthy amount of referrals from them, so we want to make sure to take special care of them. These books are simple -- one image per page created in Lightroom and ordered through Blurb -- but they make a great statement, especially if you send them out for every wedding and the venue or planner starts to develop a library of them. We work with planners who pull them out during every consultation with a new client and show them ideas and things they have created for past weddings. What a value for the planner and what a statement to the client!<br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/best-marketing-opportunity-for-wedding-photographers.jpg" border="0"></div><br>There you have it! Don't miss this opportunity! It does take some time to create a system, but once you have these steps in place, they happen for EVERY WEDDING. And the resulting reputation you build and referrals you garner make the effort well worth it.<br><br>Photographers: Did you find this post helpful? <a href="https://melissajill.leadpages.co/leadbox/14115f9f3f72a2%3A130a4a763346dc/5710239819104256/" target="_blank">Click here to receive special email access to my most helpful content!</a><script data-leadbox="14115f9f3f72a2:130a4a763346dc" data-url="https://melissajill.leadpages.co/leadbox/14115f9f3f72a2%3A130a4a763346dc/5710239819104256/" data-config="%7B%7D" type="text/javascript" src="https://melissajill.leadpages.co/leadbox-922.js"></script><br><br><br>-------------------------------------------------<br>Vendor credits for top two images: <br>Venue: <a href="http://elchorro.com" target="_blank">El Chorro in Scottsdale, Arizona</a> // Gowns: <a href="https://www.bellabridesmaids.com" target="_blank">Bella Bridesmaid in Phoenix</a> // Floral: <a href="http://www.carteblanchefloral.com/#index" target="_blank">Carte Blanche Design</a> // Hair: <a href="http://hairbyemilyhughes.com" target="_blank">Emily Hughes</a> // Makeup: <a href="http://www.mlwmakeupartistry.com" target="_blank">Michelle Wight</a> // Gray Dress by <a href="http://amsale.com/" target="_blank">Amsale</a> //  Print Dress by <a href="http://www.donna-morgan.com" target="_blank">Donna Morgan</a> <br><br><div style="display:none;" ><img class="align center size-full" src="http://www.melissajill.com/pinterestimages/MarketingOpportunityPhotogsMiss.jpg" alt="This simple step is a HUGE marketing opportunity. Are you one of the photographers who is missing out?" /></div><br><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>How to choose a wedding photographer</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1353&amp;how-to-choose-a-wedding-photographer</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1353&amp;how-to-choose-a-wedding-photographer</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2022 08:44:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Choose-a-photographer_01.jpg" border="0"></div><br>If you're a bride or groom who values photography, the task of picking a wedding photographer can be a tiny bit terrifying. After all, there are no do-overs. You're going to get married once, and you only have one shot to pick a photographer. You're spending a lot of money, and you're putting all your eggs in one basket without being able to see the final product in advance. Yikes! Scary!!<br><br>I try to put myself in my clients' shoes when I am meeting with them to talk about their photography needs. When I chose my own wedding photographer, I reached out to a trusted and talented photographer whom I already knew well ... and it was <i>still</i> a little scary. So I can imagine the fear and trepidation that couples must feel who are approaching completely unfamiliar photographers. In addition to this, I've heard FAR TOO MANY horror stories involving wedding photographers not delivering, and newlyweds being left disappointed or heartbroken.<br><br>So, from a photographer's point of view, I thought I'd share a few tips on making this huge decision. I know it may seem that I'm a little biased (pick me! pick me!) but I honestly don't think every client out there is right for me or me for them. So how do you find the best wedding photographer for <i>you</i>?<br><br>Three simple pieces of advice:<br><br><b>1 - Make sure that when you view their photos, you FEEL something.</b> <br>You are hiring an artist with a specific eye and heart. They curate their portfolio to communicate their personal photography style and point of view. You want to resonate with how they see and capture the world around them -- specifically relationships. And if you feel something when you look through their portfolio at a bunch of strangers' wedding photos, you are guaranteed to love your own photos all the more!<br><br><b>2 - Ask to view an entire wedding worth of photos -- the proofs.</b> <br>Any photographer can show you a slideshow of their best 50 photos they've ever shot and you will be impressed. But that won't give you a good sense for what your wedding photos will look like. You want to make sure they have good quality photos throughout the course of one entire wedding.<br><br><b>3 - Make sure you like them as a person.</b> <br>Whoever you pick to be your photographer is going to be around you and your family for many hours on the best day of your life. So you want to feel comfortable with them and most of all, be able to TRUST them. <br><br><br>If you make your choice for a photographer based on the above three criteria MORESO than based on price, you GREATLY increase your chances of being thrilled with the result of this once-in-a-lifetime decision.<br><br>------> If you are currently planning your wedding, <a href="https://go168.infusionsoft.com/app/page/chooseaphotographer" target="_blank">click here to download a FREE checklist of 12 important questions you should be asking any potential wedding photographers you meet with!</a> We've created a convenient form for you to print and take along as you talk with photographers. Make this big decision a little easier!  <a href="https://go168.infusionsoft.com/app/page/chooseaphotographer" target="_blank">Download your copy today!</a><br><br><div style="display:none;" ><img class="align center size-full" src="http://www.melissajill.com/pinterestimages/3-tips-for-choosing-a-wedding-photographer.jpg" alt="3 Tips For Choosing a Wedding Photographer" /></div><br><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>Book Review: Profit First</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2031&amp;book-review-profit-first</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2031&amp;book-review-profit-first</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jan 2022 08:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Profit-First-Review.jpg" border="0"></div><br>I used to read business books religiously. <a href="https://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?catID=30&postID=1874&how-i-make-reading-for-business-a-habit" target="_blank">I wrote a blog post about it here along with all my tips for making reading for business a habit.</a><br><br><a href="https://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=1982&our-wedding-photos" target="_blank">Then I got married.</a><br><a href="https://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?catID=21&postID=2013&beaus-newborn-photos" target="_blank">Then I had a baby.</a><br>Then I moved across the country.<br>And I've been humbled. haha! <br><br>In the last 3 years while all of the above was happening, I have read a total of ONE business book. <br><br>I finished <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Profit-First-Mike-Michalowicz-audiobook/dp/B06X15WW79/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=profit+first&qid=1642558321&s=books&sprefix=profit+%2Cstripbooks%2C66&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><i>Profit First</i> by Mike Michalowicz</a> about a year ago and started implementing what I learned from it right away. And I'm here to tell you about how it has impacted my business.<br><br>I found this book to be a very nuts-and-boltz practical road map for business owners on how to structure their finances. I was able to follow Mike's recommended equations to figure out how much I have been spending on these four primary categories:<br><br><ul><li>Profit</li><li>Owner's Compensation (my salary)</li><li>Tax</li><li>Operating Expenses</li></ul><br>...and how much I SHOULD be allocating to each category. After finding out how much I WAS allocating and how much I SHOULD allocate to each of these categories, I was able to follow Mike's suggested path to, over time, shift my finances to where I SHOULD be so that I have a business that is set up to succeed financially.<br><br>For me, practically this looks like the following:<br><br><b>1 -- More balance/health throughout seasons</b><br> My business is seasonal to some extent, so instead of having a surplus in the 4th quarter and over-spending because of it, then suffering through a dry period in the spring, I am now able to pay myself a consistent salary and spend wisely on operating costs throughout the year.<br><br><b>2 -- Saving throughout the year so that my business can pay all of my taxes.</b><br>This is something I used to do well, but let wane. I am glad I'm back on track!<br><br><b>3 -- Wiser budgeting for non-essential expenses</b><br>Knowing how much I have to spend on my business helps me to make wise choices when it comes to advertising costs and other optional expenses. We all have operating costs that we HAVE TO PAY to be able to keep the business running, but looking back, there was a year where I spent too much on advertising for my other business -- <a href="http://www.alignalbumdesign.com" target="_blank">Align Album Design</a>. I didn't know it at the time because I didn't have a good sense of what I could afford to spend while simultaneously keeping my business healthy. But now I do.<br><br><b>4 -- Profit draw bonuses</b><br>I didn't realize this before reading this book, but business owners should not only be paid a regular salary from their businesses, they should get quarterly profit draws. These are rewards based on how well the business is doing. Our businesses should be profitable. And we should be rewarded by the profit.<br><br>After a year of implementing the system of <i>Profit First</i>, these are the percentages of my business income that are allocated to the following categories:<br><br>Profit -- 2%<br>Owner's Comp -- 28%<br>Tax -- 8 %<br>Operating Expenses -- 62%<br><br>Since I have a specific salary I want to pay myself monthly, I am able to figure out how much the business needs to take in in order for 28% of the total income of the business to be my desired salary. I can break that down to know how much we need to bring in weekly or even daily to meet our goals. This has been super-helpful as well as it has helped focus me on doing the tasks that will actually move the needle and bring in the income we need to sustain a healthy business.<br><br><br>I would definitely highly recommend this book to all small business owners! Finances are not fun for us creative types, but knowing your numbers is SO crucial for business success and you will feel empowered to meet your goals when you have a handle on them! This book will show you how!<br><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>Best of Mini Sessions 2021</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2030&amp;best-of-mini-sessions</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2030&amp;best-of-mini-sessions</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2022 01:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_73.jpg" border="0"></div><br>Today I'm sharing the BEST OF mini sessions from 2021! Man, I photographed some cute people last year in both Alabama + Arizona! I love that I get to split my time between both states and stay in touch with so many clients from Arizona who I adore!<br><br>Included in these photos are SEVEN couples whose weddings I photographed -- some as long as 16 years ago! Also a dear college friend who I haven't seen in 20+ years, old neighbors and dear friends. I feel so blessed that I was able to connect with all these amazing humans once again!<br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_02.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_03.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_041.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_05.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_06.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_75.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_08.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_09.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_76.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_11.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_12.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_77.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_14.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_15.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_78.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_17.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_18.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_79.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_20.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_21.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_80.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_23.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_24.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_81.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_82.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_27.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_28.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_83.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_30.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_31.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_84.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_33.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_34.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_85.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_36.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_37.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_86.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_39.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_40.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_41.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_42.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_87.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_44.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_45.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_46.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_47.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_88.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_49.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_50.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_51.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_52.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_89.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_90.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_55.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_56.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_91.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_58.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_59.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_92.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_61.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_62.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_92b.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_93.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_65.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_66.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_94.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_68.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_69.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_70.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_71.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-Mini-Sessions_95.jpg" border="0"></div><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>Family Yearbook Albums -- My new favorite thing!</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2029&amp;family-yearbook-albums-my-new-favorite-thing</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2029&amp;family-yearbook-albums-my-new-favorite-thing</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:35:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/custom-Family-Yearbook-album.jpg" border="0"></div><br>Ironically, as a professional photographer, I've never been great about documenting my own life and family. I'm lazy about it. When you do something for a living, it feels like work to do it for yourself. I'm much more inclined to want to LIVE IN THE MOMENT and soak it all in without a camera in my hand. <br><br>But that has changed recently as I have started to experience for myself the ABSOLUTE THRILL of holding a family yearbook album in my hands. <br><br>I hate to admit it, but this started out as a task on my to do list that I put off. But because my album design company <a href="http://www.alignalbumdesign.com" target="_blank">Align Album Design</a> was getting ready to launch our <a href="https://alignalbumdesign.com/consumer/books.cfm" target="_blank">Family Yearbook Albums</a> to consumers, I had to create two of these for myself as samples to photograph for marketing purposes. So I did the hard work of pulling all of our professional and iPhone photos together from the first two years of Beau's life and sending them off to one of my Align designers. <br><br>The simple act of gathering those photos and reliving my life was SO transformational for me. And when I received the link to the initial designs -- I was officially SMITTEN. <br><br>I now have two family yearbook albums sitting on the bookshelf in our living room (and another in the works!) and you guys -- I AM IN LOVE. <br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Family-Yearbook-Albums_01.jpg" border="0"></div><br>And because I'm committed to creating one for my family every year going forward, it's now so much easier for me to grab my camera or iPhone to intentionally capture moments for our family. I know at a deeper level than ever that I am going to cherish these FOREVER. <br><br>Having a curated, beautifully laid out book that tells the story of your family each year is beyond powerful. Looking through photos on your phone or computer doesn't even begin to compare.<br><br>And I'm excited to share this with you because Align has officially made these available to photographers and consumers alike! <br><br>These come standard as 8x8 linen albums with either a cover photo or engraving on the front and with 40 spreads (approximately 150-200 images). All you need to do to get one is <a href="https://alignalbumdesign.com/consumer/books.cfm" target="_blank">fill out a simple order form</a> and upload your images. Align does the rest! You will get an initial design, up to 3 revision rounds to make it perfect, and your choice of cover options (linen color, photo or text, etc.) The design, revision, printing, binding and shipping are all included in the price!<br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/custom-Family-Yearbook-album2.jpg" border="0"></div><br>I shot a short 1 minute video to give you and idea of what these look like here:<br><br><div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/589476908?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479&h=a2339760c5" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Align Family Yearbook"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script><br><br>And one of my favorite things about these albums is looking through them with Beau. He often asks to see "Beau in mama's tummy" and gets so excited to sit with us and look through them.<br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/LCP-GrimmetFamily-2020-197.jpg" border="0"></div><br>If you are interested in getting your hands on one of these amazing books, you can use promo code <b>YEARBOOK50</b> to get $50 off one album. <a href="https://alignalbumdesign.com/consumer/books.cfm" target="_blank">Click here to get started!</a><br><br>And if you're interested, here is the full design from our 2019 family yearbook -- the year I had Beau!<br><br><div id='grimmet-family-2019' class='ae_embed' width='879' height='428'></div><script type='text/javascript' src='https:////d3ej44odz62oqc.cloudfront.net/assets/embed.js'></script><script type='text/javascript' src='https://albumexposure.com/melissajill/public/grimmet-family-2019.js'></script><br><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>I&apos;m shooting weddings again!!</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2026&amp;im-shooting-weddings-again</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2026&amp;im-shooting-weddings-again</guid>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2021 10:27:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Grimmet_Family_0177.png" border="0"></div><br>It is with great joy that I want to let you all know that I AM SHOOTING WEDDINGS AGAIN!! <br><br>haha! <br><br>It's been a crazy year and a half since I announced my retirement and we moved to Alabama. I was needing to simplify my life in the midst of all the change -- so I went from running three businesses and being a wife and mom to a 9 month old in Arizona, to running one business and being a wife and mom in Alabama. Truth be told, I was intimidated to start over with weddings in a new state AND I honestly didn't have the time to do so while juggling everything else. My husband is a pastor, so we are also spending a ton of time building community with our church family and with our new neighbors. So the plan was to focus on building <a href="http://www.alignalbumdesign.com" target="_blank">Align Album Design</a> and be a mom. <br><br>Well...the mom thing is going great. I adore Beau and working from home with a part-time nanny is the perfect set-up for us. <br><br>But then COVID. <br><br>I feel like that's the common storyline for so many of the pivots in our collective lives of late. Anyone else with me? The lock-downs surrounding COVID were unexpected and the effects were massive on the event industry. Align has been greatly impacted since our clients are all photographers. As part of this plot-twist, I had two weddings rescheduled numerous times from the spring of 2020 that I finally shot last month in Arizona. Truth be told again -- I was nervous. I hadn't shot a wedding in a year and a half. I felt rusty and insecure. <br><br>But both weddings were a huge success and my clients were such a delight to work with! <a href="https://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2025&long-awaited-royal-palms-wedding" target="_blank">You can see Matt & Michelle's wedding here</a>, and I will be blogging Genny & Kyle's wedding very soon. It was so much fun to be back behind the camera again shooting weddings!<br><br>Somewhere between the two weddings, I began to sense in my spirit that I was not done. That I needed to open myself up to shooting weddings again. There's something so sacred and special about being able to capture the emotions and moments of a wedding day. I've done it over and over again for 18 years and I still have more to give. <br><br>Now that we are settled in Alabama and Beau is 2 (and recently potty trained -- yay!!), I feel like I'm coming out of a fog and that I have bandwidth to take on more. I am excited to continue to put down roots in the Huntsville area, and to get to know the wedding industry here!<br><br>Because I have family and deep roots in the wedding industry in Phoenix, I am going to shoot weddings in the Phoenix area without charging a travel fee. So I will be based out of BOTH Huntsville and Phoenix, and I will shoot in Huntsville, Phoenix, Nashville & Birmingham with no travel fee. And of course I am available for travel outside of these areas as well! <br><br>Thank you so much for your support and love and I look forward to sharing more beautiful weddings here soon!<br><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>Long-awaited Royal Palms Wedding</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2025&amp;long-awaited-royal-palms-wedding</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2025&amp;long-awaited-royal-palms-wedding</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_01.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_02.jpg" border="0"></div><br>Matt and Michelle met in their first year of law school. During their first semester, they both thought the other one was cute, but never spoke. Michelle ended up breaking the silence one night when they were out at a bar with their classmates and the rest is history. They hit it off, went through law school together, the bar exam and started their legal careers together.<br><br>Fast-forward to their engagement and they planned a spring 2020 wedding together. I was so excited -- we shot <a href="http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2022&farm-at-south-mountain-engagement-shoot" target="_blank">their engagement shoot with their cute dog Bleu</a> and I was so looking forward to their wedding ... and then COVID hit. <br><br>It was a tough call, but they postponed their wedding to the fall of 2020. Then a few months later they had to make another tough decision and postponed it AGAIN to the spring of 2021 -- one full year after their original wedding date.<br><br>It was heartbreaking to see them go through this emotional rollercoaster and postpone the most anticipated event of their life again and again. But they are resilient, and I believe these trials only brought them closer and increased all of our joy when their wedding day FINALLY arrived and we were able to celebrate!<br><br>These two were fully present and enjoyed their wedding day to the fullest. It was such an honor to witness. <br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_03.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_04.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_05.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_06.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_07.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_08.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_09.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_10.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_11.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_12.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_13.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_14.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_15.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_16.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_17.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_18.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_19.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_20.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_21.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_22.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_23.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_24.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_25.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_26.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_27.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_28.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_29.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_30.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_31.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_32.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_33.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_34.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_35.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_36.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_37.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_38.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_39.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_40.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_41.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_42.png" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_43.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_44.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_45.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_46.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_47.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_48.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_49.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_50.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_51.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_52.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_53.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_54.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_55.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_56.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_57.jpg" border="0"></div><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Phoenix-Royal-Palms-Wedding_58.jpg" border="0"></div><br>Wedding Planner: <a href="http://www.andrealeslieweddings.com/" target="_blank">Andrea Leslie Weddings & Events</a> // Venue: <a href="http://www.royalpalmshotel.com" target="_blank">Royal Palms Resort & Spa</a> // Florist/Decor: <a href="http://www.thewildfloweraz.com" target="_blank">The Wildflower AZ</a> // Bridal Dress Shop: <a href="http://www.destinysbride.com" target="_blank">Destiny's Bride</a> // Bridesmaid Dress Shop: <a href="http://www.destinysbride.com" target="_blank">Destiny's Bride</a> // Hair: <a href=https://www.instagram.com/hairwith_karakas/?hl=en" target="_blank">Kara Kas-Marogi</a> // Makeup: <a href="http://www.lindawagnermakeup.com" target="_blank">Linda Wagner with Make-up Butterfly</a> // Stationery: <a href="http://www.unikacollections.com" target="_blank">Unika Collections</a> // DJ: <a href="https://www.jhsoundscapes.com" target="_blank">JH Soundscapes</a> // Rentals & Decor: <a href="https://glamourandwoods.com" target="_blank">Glamour and Woods</a>, <a href="http://latavolalinen.com" target="_blank">La Tavola</a>, <a href="https://bright.com" target="_blank">Bright Event Rentals</a> // Cinema: <a href="https://simply-cinema.com" target="_blank">Simply Cinema</a><br><br>---------------------------------------------------------<br><br>Equipment used for above photos (film gear for daylight, digital for reception):  Contax 645 Film Camera // Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.0 Lens // Zeiss Distagon T* 45mm f/2.8 Lens // <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/396057-USA/Fujifilm_15473599_Pro_400H_120_Professional.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">Fuji 400</a> & <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/197197-USA/Kodak_8127946_Portra_800_120_Color_Print.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">Portra 800 film</a> // Film developed & scanned by <a href="http://www.photovisionprints.com" target="_blank">Photovision</a> // <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/847545-REG/Canon_5260A002_EOS_5D_Mark_III.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">Canon 5D Mark III</a> // <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/457680-USA/Canon_1257B002AA_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_2L.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">Canon 50mm 1.2 lens</a> // <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590449-USA/Canon_2750B002_EF_24mm_f_1_4L_II.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">Canon 24mm 1.4 lens</a> // <a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1250646-REG/canon_speedlite_600ex_ii_rt.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">2 Canon 600EX-RT Speedlites</a> // <a href="https://goo.gl/FqSneC" target="_blank">MagMod Bounce</a> // <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/901145-REG/bolt_cyclone_pp_310_battery_pack.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">2 Battery Packs</a> // <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/113317-REG/Avenger_A630B_A630B_Black_Light_Stand.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">Light Stand</a> with <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/32350-REG/Lumedyne_AHUA_Umbrella_Bracket.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">umbrella bracket</a> and <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/743061-REG/Vello_CS_Universal_Accessory_Shoe_Mount.html/BI/2840/KBID/3781" target="_blank">cold shoe</a> <br><br> ]]></description>
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			<title>FLASH ALBUM SALE – Quaran-TIME to CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE!</title>
			<link>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2023&amp;flash-album-sale-quaran-time-to-celebrate-your-love</link>
			<guid>http://www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm?postID=2023&amp;flash-album-sale-quaran-time-to-celebrate-your-love</guid>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2020 14:25:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[ <div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Melissa-Jill-wedding-album.jpg" border="0"></div><br>I know this month has been tough on everyone. But more than anything this crisis has clarified what is most important in life. It's not the things we work so hard to accumulate or our social status or accomplishment -- it's the people we love most. It's human connection.<br><br>So that got me thinking -- what better time than now to celebrate the love and relive some of your favorite moments of all time? <br><br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Align-Legacy-Books_185.jpg" border="0"></div><br>This month only (I likely will never make an offer like this again!!) I am offering a deep discount on albums! My hope is that this will allow many of my past clients who were not able to purchase an album for various reasons to finally get one in their homes and experience the joy and connection it can bring. <br><br>More than any other product, I want all of my clients to walk away with a custom album. An album tells the story of your day in a way that no other product can. And it lives on to tell that story to your children and grandchildren. One of my clients recently told me that her wedding album is her daughter's "favorite book". She loves to "read" it and hear about all the people in it. When she gets to the part where mommy and daddy are dancing, she asks her dad every time if she can dance with him. Wow! There's really nothing like a wedding album! And everyone should have one!<br><br>These albums are SO beautiful and such high quality. Each album is custom designed and printed on the finest Fuji Crystal Archival photographic paper. Lay-flat pages with a protective coating allow the story of your wedding day to shine through while helping the album stand the test of time. Only the best for my clients!<br><br><div align="center"><img src="http://www.melissajill.com/images/content/Align-Legacy-Books_051.jpg" border="0"></div><br>The cover includes your choice of either an inset photo or your names and wedding date in modern lettering. <br><br>Nothing would make me happier during this crazy, uncertain time than to get one of these beauties into the hands of each an every one of my clients! <br><br>So this month only I am offering <b>50% off my custom designed heirloom albums!</b> To get the process started and lock in this special rate, <a href="mailto: melissa@melissajill.com">click here to email me!</a> <br><br>What better time to relive your wedding day and all the people it brought together than now? I would love to help bring a smile to your face and help you celebrate what truly matters.<br><br> ]]></description>
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