Salt Lake City & Park City, Utah Wedding Photographer-Melissa Kelsey » modern. elegant. real.

Salt Lake City & Park City, Utah Wedding Photographer-Melissa Kelsey bio picture

Thanks for stopping by my photo blog. I’m a wedding and portrait photographer, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I’m a transplant to Utah from Northern California, where I grew up skiing and enjoying the outdoors with my family. I moved to Utah to go to college (and ski) and here I am 15 years later, married to a hard working, supportive husband. We have a vibrant baby girl and two black Labs, who have been very patient with us while we figure out this baby thing.

I’m dedicated to making beautiful photographs for my clients and providing them a great photography experience. I get excited when I get a great shot (as many of my clients can attest) and I’m not afraid to act like a dork in public.

Here, you'll find lots of wedding photographs and portraits, wedding tips, and an occasional personal tidbit. I love to hear from and interact with my readers, please leave a comment or send me a message.

Please scroll down for my latest blog posts.

05.17.12

Erica & Dave’s Millcreek Engagement Session

Dave and Erica are adventurous and active, to say the least. Dave grew up in Salt Lake City, exploring the trails of the Millcreek area, so it was fitting that we do Dave and Erica’s engagement photo session, there. This area also happens to be my backyard. We met at my house and walked through my neighborhood to a trail head nearby.

The sky was perfect that day—no Photoshop tricks were used in the making of these photos. We’re lucky, in Utah. We are spoiled by great sunsets on a regular basis, but this one was especially beautiful. There’s something about being outside, in the breeze and sun, that makes people feel alive and connected. It energizes and inspires my photography, too.

Erica and Dave are the kind of people who put passion and gusto into everything they do, and I think that shows in these photos. You can see it in their embrace, in their arms and hands, in the way they’re feeling their connection to each other and their surroundings. Hurray for life and love!

04.12.12

Are We Hot Enough For Your Blog?

In correspondence with a groom named Joe, recently, he jokingly asked, “Are we good-looking enough for the Melissa Kelsey blog?”

Here are Janet and Joe. I mean, hello?! These two look hot. There’s a really great story to go along with this photo, but you’ll have to wait for the full blog post for that story and more great photos of them.

salt lake city wedding photographer

Janet HAll: Melissa you were so kind and beautiful and wonderful and professional and well just amazing. Thanks for all the pics you took. I've only seen one and I know the rest will be just as good. I am going to market the heck out of you. That was meant to sound good. :)

melissakelseyphotography: Wow, Janet. Thank you! I'm glad I got to be part of your surprise. What a wonderful thing. And, that did sound good. ;)

cynthia: Daaaang! Love. More please

04.06.12

Tarra & RJ | Engagement Photos at a Family Cabin

Some people, you just click with, you want to be friends with. That’s Tarra and RJ. Tarra was a guest at Lydia and Jesse’s wedding a few years ago and she called me up to photograph her wedding. I couldn’t be happier about that.

There’s a special cabin in Ogden Canyon, that’s been in RJ’s family for years. That’s where we did Tarra and RJ’s engagement photos. I got a glimpse into the past of RJ’s family. You could feel the history in that Arts & Crafts style bungalow. You could imagine the parties, with kids running around in the summertime.

I love finding locations for my clients, based on their style and desires—I consider it an important part of communicating what a couple is about. Using RJ’s family cabin, which is so personal to him and Tarra, couldn’t have been a better way to communicate their essence. It didn’t hurt that the place looked like it was straight out of a J.Crew ad.

03.31.12

Published | Utah Bride & Groom Magazine

I’m honored to have had Robyn and Jonathan’s beautiful St. Regis wedding, featured in the 2012 issue of Utah Bride & Groom Magazine.

03.29.12

Restoration Hardware Store Opening at City Creek Center

As you may have heard, the grand opening of the City Creek Center in Salt Lake City, was a pretty big deal. I got a call the day before to photograph the opening of the brand-spankin’-new Restoration Hardware store. Man, is it luxurious and sparkling!

Jamie of Bellessa Designs, was so kind to think of me for this event. Jamie is an outstanding floral designer, and is also the head interior designer at the new Restoration Hardware store at City Creek. That’s a pretty big deal, if you ask me.

It was exciting to feel the energy of all the people and anticipation, downtown. There were long lines to get into stores, a marching band in front of Macy’s, and people all around. It was fun to photograph something different that day.

I was asked to photograph all the “rooms” of the store, in Restoration Hardware catalog style—straight on, no angles, please! This was a fun exercise for me. Usually, I photograph rooms on an angle, from the corner of the room, to get as wide of a view as possible. I was also there to photograph the ribbon cutting, the inaugural ceremony for the new store.As I moved around the beautiful spaces, photographing everything, I couldn’t help but hear the team-building talk the staff was having in preparation for the big opening. I was impressed and felt inspired. I almost wanted to work there myself! Little known fact: I was an interior designer for 5 years, in between graduating photography school and starting my photography business. Yep.At 10 a.m., we all headed outside the shiny doors for the ribbon cutting. The staff lined up, cheering loudly and holding a long satin ribbon. With great big scissors…the ribbon was cut! You could hear the cheering of ribbon cutting ceremonies all around City Creek Center, but I’m pretty sure Restoration had the loudest group.