Meet Melissa | Owner | Skin Deep Photo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I first started Skin Deep Photo in 2013, it was straight out of college when a friend and I decided to make a photo company that featured tattooed people and artists and it was a fun project for us. It was short lived since we went our separate ways and lived our own lives. In 2015, I decided to start up Skin Deep Photo again because photography makes me happy. This time I decided to focus on empowering women and that’s where the motto “Every Woman Deserves to Feel Like a Goddess” came from.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It wasn’t an easy journey to get to where I am today but I had great support along the way. Definitely want to surround yourself with good vibes and good people. I had to learn that not everyone will support you and that’s okay. I’m very happy with the followers I have on social media and the group of talented people I work with. It’s always love and positivity!

When I go through my creative process, not only do the model/MUA and I bounce ideas off each other but if I have an idea for a photoshoot I already have the model in mind. So, I work around the model or the vibe I’m going for and that model will fit my vibe based on past shoots that we’ve worked on together. Other things that do inspire me are my own experiences and my own emotions. If I’m feeling empowered or depressed, you’ll see the caption and mood of the photograph shine through. Just like any artist, it is definitely not easy staying creative, there are times when I do have a creative block and it’s hard to get out of but that’s okay. It’s okay not to be inspired all of the time or to be creative. We all need a mental break from everything but I know when that mental break is over, you’ll bounce back.

Every woman deserves to feel like a Goddess. Every woman has a spark in her that will ignite a passionate fire.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friend and I are both residing in So Cal but if she didn’t, we’d go to Disneyland for sure. Her and I both grew up watching Disney films and singing along to them. It truly is a magical place especially with the right person. We’d also go to our favorite wings spot on Melrose called Hot Wings Cafe or to Dino’s Chicken and Burgers in LA. We’ve had so many good memories there and great food! The thing about having good company is it really doesn’t matter where you go, you know you’ll have a good time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shout out to a special person who motivated me to start up Skin Deep Photo again and assisted me on photoshoots and with my social media account. Shout out to my team as well, always so professional and willing to learn more about photography but also always having my back and making these shoots so much fun! Shout out to the models and MUAs, being able to collaborate and make amazing concepts come to life and for being so supportive! Shout to my fellow photographers, we always hype each other and that’s how it should be. I have mad love for each of my supporters, thank you all!

Website: https://www.skindeepphoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skindeep_photo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skindeep_photo?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkinDeepPhotos/

Image Credits
Models: Mickeey @mickeeyglidden_ Heather @heatheryesenia Cynthia @sin.alcaraz Brandilynn @brandilynn_inked Mars @yung_planet Nicole @nicoleplaysthepiano Megen @_valkyriemissile Nicole @_nicolebriana MUA: Sandra Marcie @sandramarcie