Meet Melissa Rodriguez | Los Angeles Couple & Wedding Photographer

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

Hi Melissa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business felt very kismet. I’ve always been interested in photography, but it wasn’t until 2020 and covid times that I started exploring the actual idea of starting my photography business. I had a family member getting married around that time & they asked me to take photos of their wedding day in efforts to keep things intimate due to covid restrictions. I remember spending the entire week leading up to that day studying wedding photography & upgrading my equipment. It was during their wedding day & the editing days following that I discovered the passion I had in telling people’s stories through the art of photography. A week later I was creating my own website & making it official.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a full time professional in the ad operations world, I had a bit of an advantage in the business side of launching a creative focused business. I’ve been fortunate to be able to focus on developing my craft since my career has given me a lot of necessary skills that one typically would need to learn at the same time. All that being said, starting your own business takes hard work, long nights, the willingness to grow and constantly pivot regardless of where you’re starting from.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is my favorite thing to do! I live in Santa Monica so we’d definitely start the week on the west side, but I’d make sure to plan time to explore all the nooks and crannies of LA.

WESTSIDE
Brunch at Elephante
Explore Downtown Santa Monica
Beachside brews at Big Deans
DInner at Crudo e Nudo or Dudley Market

SOUTH BAY
Lunch at Manhattan Beach Post & walk around MB
Hermosa bar crawl >> Vista, Lighthouse, Tower 12

MALIBU
Lunch Paradise Cove Beach Café
Watch the sunset at Point Dume Nature Preserve
Casual Dinner at Neptunes Net

BEVERLY HILLS / WEHO
Breakfast at Joan’s on Third or Urth Caffe
Walk down Rodeo Drive
Go to the Grove
Omakase dinner at Matsuhisa

HOLLYWOOD
Lunch at Ruen Pair in Thai Town
Explore Hollywood Blvd (but dont spend too much time there!)
Griffith Observatory
Dinner at Atrium in Los Feliz
Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
to all the couples that trusted me to tell their story <3

Website: https://www.melissaraephotography.com/

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

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

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/melissa-rae-photography-santa-monica

Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/b4c9vCFnui4gWLg89

Image Credits
My headshot photo: Lindsey Merri Photo All Other Photos: ME!