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Create Memories That Last A Lifetime
A whimsical photography experience for families
in and around Napa Valley and Northern California
EFFORTLESS STYLE
CURATED EXPERIENCES
CHERISHED MEMORIES
Time flies, and babies don't keep.
As parents, we understand how hectic life can get. Between managing kids' schedules, work tasks, travel plans, and an endless list of chores, it can feel impossible to find time for everything.
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You probably have a ton of photos on your phone, but when it comes to organizing everyone for a family portrait, there always seems to be a reason to wait. Before you know it, years pass, and there hasn’t been a right moment to capture the whole family in one frame. While you may have plenty of photos, none of them are quite right for displaying proudly in your home. And it's important to you to capture a timeless portrait of your family, before some of them are no longer here to be included.
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Not sure when to book?
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Waiting for a blemish to fade?
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Wondering what everyone should wear?
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Concerned that your partner won't be on board?
HAPPY CLIENTS
GALLERY
HOW IT WORKS
1
Let's Chat
We'll begin with a brief phone call to discuss your needs. This initial conversation helps us ensure that we are the perfect fit for your vision. We’re excited to learn about your family so we can design a personalized experience and create beautiful artwork customized to your home and style.
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2
Your Portrait Session
You'll experience a pre-planned and well-executed portrait session. Everything is organized and decided upon ahead of time—from outfits to props to poses—ensuring a relaxed atmosphere where you can truly enjoy the moment with your loved ones, and know that we'll make you look good.
3
Ordering Appointment
This is the best part! Join me at the studio for your private viewing and ordering appointment. You'll select your favorite images and we'll explore various premium printing and framing options to showcase this moment in your family's story.
Your future self will thank you.
Too many families stress over getting perfect family photos, so they put it off. They think they can rely on their 20,000 iPhone images, their hard drive, or the cloud to store all their precious memories.
What happens when the technology changes again, and those files are lost?
This is why I am so passionate about helping families ensure they have printed artwork, not just digital images.
I help you with every detail, ensuring a seamless experience to minimize the stress. I want you to enjoy a fun portrait session that is also a precious memory with your loved ones, so it results in artwork you’re excited to display and see every day, and share with the next generations.
What else?
The next common questions are usually about the cost and when we can schedule your session. I completely understand! When you're putting in the effort to gather everyone together, or even if you're doing solo portraits, you want to ensure you have an expectation of what the investment will be, and that you'll receive beautiful images you will love, whether you need them for a special occasion or just because.
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We make it a priority to ensure every client walks away with images they adore—framed, artist-signed, and ready to hang, meant to be enjoyed for years.
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To discover more about how we can help you get stunning, framed portraits of your loved ones on your walls, click the link below.
MEET MELISSA OFFICER
Hi there!
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I'm Melissa, a portrait photographer living in beautiful Napa Valley with my husband, our two kids, and a bunch of pets!
I do things a little differently than other photographers you may have worked with in the past. A portrait experience with me begins with a phone consultation, followed by an in-person creative session where every detail—wardrobe, styling, theme, props, posing, and location—is thoughtfully planned. After your session I help you select your favorite portraits for printing, and I work with professional printers and framers to ensure your portraits meet my high standards for archival quality. If you are local to Napa Valley, I will also have my team deliver and install your artwork complimentary. In an era of fast throwaway products, we go against the grain and strive to create timeless portraits of exceptional quality that will become a family heirloom to be passed down for generations to come.
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Why I do things a little differently...
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Professional family portraits were not a thing in my family when I was growing up. Sure, we have the occasional haphazard family pictures from holidays (taken on old film point-and-shoot cameras, of course) but nothing that was taken by a professional photographer and printed and framed as artwork. I do cherish those aged, imperfect images dearly, but because I now know that wall portraits in particular have been proven to build self-esteem in kids of all ages and help strengthen family connectedness, I wonder if I would have been a little more confident, and a little less shy seeing artwork of me and my family every day.
I have always been fascinated by portrait art, from Rembrandt to Kehinde Wiley, and Irving Penn to Annie Leibovitz. There is simply something magical that happens when you can capture the essence of a person or family in a specific moment in time. The way light can sculpt a scene and evoke emotion; the ways objects and settings can tell a story and symbolize a lived experience; and how fleeting this life truly is—how fast we all grow up, and grow old, if we're lucky.
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This is why legacy portraits are the heart and soul of our studio. And I’ve learned that being more than just a photographer—being a guide, a stylist, a friend, and a storyteller—is what makes each session special. From advising on outfits to capturing your child’s genuine smile, I’m committed to making every portrait a testament to your family’s unique bond. It’s not just about the photos; it’s about the joy and connection you feel every time you look at them.
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