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Welcome to our blog…we are so glad you are here!
fan – who is totally in love with flip flops, dark chocolate, and capturing
memories.
what you don’t see…I capture your daughter’s amazing smile and soft steps, your
son’s deep blue eyes and unstoppable curiosity, the face of your husband as he
watches his newborn baby sleep…
lucky enough to get to tell their stories…
July has one session available, August is nearly booked. I will be heading to Ocean City, MD July 11-18, if you are interested in booking a session shoot me an email!
Holiday 2009 booking begins June 20th. Last year I was completely booked by July 1st!! Don't forget to schedule your family's session early!
Got to meet up with Grant and his parents this morning for a session celebrating his 2nd birthday! I can’t believe how big he is getting - I first had the chance to photograph him when I was just starting out in 2007, when he was about 4 months old. Now, he is a walking, talking, gorgeous little man! He wasn’t too sure about spending time away from mom during the shoot, but he loved the toy gun I brought, and playing peek-a-boo got me some great smiles. Love him! Happy {early} birthday Grant!
2 July 2009 - 2:26 pm - He is a gorgeous boy! I adore that first pic and love the b&w conversion. Beautiful work!!
2 July 2009 - 2:40 pm - Wow, what a stunning child! I love the way you've captured the light into those eyes. That first shot is amazing. I hope they order that one huge!
2 July 2009 - 2:41 pm - Oh, these are amazing. What great light. The first one is just perfect.
2 July 2009 - 3:37 pm - Thank you so much Melissa. These images are absolutely beautiful and we can't wait to see the rest! Wow!
2 July 2009 - 4:46 pm - BEAUTIFUL!!! I love that first one of him, he is a gorgeous little guy
2 July 2009 - 5:52 pm - That first one is amazing!! I love his eyes and your lighting is perfect!
2 July 2009 - 6:06 pm - melissa your work is always so fresh! I love them all :) especially the black and whites!
2 July 2009 - 6:20 pm - What a cute little guy! He did great, so much variety!
2 July 2009 - 7:29 pm - So adorable! I love his hat and his expression in the first is just priceless. ++
There’s something new in the works for MZP…and there will be a *huge* announcement about this venture soon…in the meantime here’s a little teaser about what’s in the works!
Also, HALF of the holiday mini sessions are already full!! Only two more days this month to book and get $100 off your package of choice! Starting Wednesday, the discount is $75. Contact me for details about booking…these sessions are going to be awesome!
I love this kid! I was lucky enough to get the chance to photograph him twice last year…and I was so excited when mom called to get his three year pictures done! He has grown up a ton, he doesn’t look like a baby at all anymore…he is definitely a boy now! And this fall he’ll become a big brother - I can’t wait to meet the newest family member!
Um, somebody got some freckles…
24 June 2009 - 12:02 am - What a cutie! These are all great, but I just adore the first one.
24 June 2009 - 5:55 am - You really nailed it with that first pic! Precious!
I was supposed to meet J&L 10 days ago for a sunset session….but we had some crazy, tornado-warning kind of storms roll through that night. Needless to say, we rescheduled. 
This morning there was a breeze, some pretty fantastic cloud cover, and two of cutest kids I’ve ever seen - who lucky for me, were in great moods! Mom challenged me with getting smiles from the two of them…I fully expected to have to work at it, but I was hard pressed to find a shot without a smile as I went through the files!
This session’s images will soon be gracing mom’s exam rooms at Women’s Integrated Healthcare. My family has a special place in our hearts for this mom…she delivered my son two and half years ago - and you all know how much I adore my son, lol! I think we got some really fun stuff today, capturing 6 years and 2 years and lots of smiles…
20 June 2009 - 3:20 pm - These are great Melissa. I bet it was great doing these for her. They will love them. THe little girl is just so cute.
20 June 2009 - 3:29 pm - Fantastic!! Those smiles are so sweet and genuine. And I so adore the richness of your colors!
20 June 2009 - 3:36 pm - Wow!! What great shots! I love them, Melissa. Thanks for a great morning. My kids loved you and you worked magic with my normally shy 2 year-old and my ham of a 6 year-old:) Wendy Kindrick
20 June 2009 - 3:46 pm - Melissa these are fantastic!!! I would swoon if these were photos of my kids!
20 June 2009 - 3:47 pm - gorgeous session! what a beautiful family...Mom & Dad each have a Mini Me! too cute! Great work, as always!
20 June 2009 - 3:54 pm - These are all beautiful! great family great photos!
20 June 2009 - 4:03 pm - These are fabulous! Fantastic color, as always. What a beautiful family!
20 June 2009 - 4:16 pm - Beautiful family and Beautiful pictures! Love your B&W conversions.
20 June 2009 - 4:51 pm - Beautiful, Melissa!! I absolutely love each of them. I'm sure the family is going to love them too!
20 June 2009 - 6:10 pm - You totally rocked this whole session! I love all of them especially the 1st and 3rd one!! Beautiful work and a beautiful family!
21 June 2009 - 7:52 am - these are amazing!!! i love your use of texture and color. the office will be well decorated!!!
21 June 2009 - 8:28 am - Love these! You've captured this family so nicely.
22 June 2009 - 8:31 pm - Wow, these are beautiful Melissa! You can tell through the pictures that everyone had a blast!
1 July 2009 - 1:36 am - These are gorgeous!!!! Fabulous work, girl! Adorable family!
1 July 2009 - 1:36 am - These are gorgeous!!!! Fabulous work, girl! Adorable family!
1 July 2009 - 3:16 am - Wow, Melissa, you rawked this session! Beautiful images. That last one should be BIG.
1 July 2009 - 9:43 am - What a beautiful family and what GORGEOUS pics Melissa! Love the color and love the B&W too!
1 July 2009 - 10:08 am - Gorgeous! I love your black and white conversions....amazing!
1 July 2009 - 11:42 am - Wowee! These are just incredible. I love them all.
2 July 2009 - 3:14 pm - Wow, these are gorgeous! LOVE your BW's!
I am so excited to blog about this family…not just because the kids are to die for gorgeous, but because this family is part of a larger family that is very special to me! About a year ago I photographed their cousin’s one year session, then in May I photographed their aunt’s wedding, and in a few short weeks I’ll photograph said one year old’s new baby brother! I love them all! So when Kelly contacted me about her youngest, Sophie, turning one I was so excited! We of course took a couple of family shots, and I was even able to bribe Sophie’s 6-year-old twin brother and sister for a couple…and we got some great stuff of the birthday girl too…
and the birthday girl…
18 June 2009 - 11:55 pm - Oh my word Melissa, these are gorgeous. I love all of them and that last one is just precious.
19 June 2009 - 12:01 am - Wow! What a pretty bunch of kids! These are AWESOME Melissa!
19 June 2009 - 12:10 am - Beautiful Melissa. That 2nd to last one is so adorable.
19 June 2009 - 1:46 am - What a gorgeous session, and the last one is positively adorable!!! Love it!
19 June 2009 - 8:03 am - wow wow wow gorgeous kiddos! fab job my friend
19 June 2009 - 8:15 am - Wow! I love the 3rd pic :) The lighting is just gorgeous!!!
20 June 2009 - 11:46 pm - These are all gorgeous--but that last one is to die for! Great job!
21 June 2009 - 12:47 am - And to think that these three are MY grandkids (and you have photographed my other one too)! I sure married well! And she raised some great girls, and they raised some great kids, and you shot some great shots. I should know, I have been a photographer for about 30 years. Thanks for the great job. Mike Wallace
Oh, sweet boy! Gavin is my *very* first baby planner to turn ONE!! He’s a running, totally adorable, 15 month old boy now! Life and such got in the way for a proper one year session, but it was totally worth the wait, we couldn’t keep this little guy from smiling!! It has been an amazing adventure watching Gavi change and grow over the last year…check out these flashbacks…
newborn (people still talk about this image!)
3 months
6 months
and of course, some teasers from the session…seriously love him!
and his new face…don’t you just love him?
17 June 2009 - 11:39 pm - what a fun post! i love it! that newborn shot is precious, the belly button one is priceless and the last one is just hilarious. :)
17 June 2009 - 11:52 pm - Oh, what a gorgeous guy! Love his eyes! I'm sure mom is loving these for sure! You did an amazing job all year, awesome!
18 June 2009 - 12:13 am - Agh!! I LOVE the belly button shot! It is to die for! And, Melissa, the color in your images is top notch.
18 June 2009 - 9:20 am - oh my heavens!!!! i knew he was cute as a newborn but geez he has grown into such a hansome little guy! love the fish face
18 June 2009 - 11:49 am - I'm such a proud mommy! Couldn't be happier with the way they turned out!
18 June 2009 - 12:25 pm - that last one just made me smile - so cute! what a fun journey of pics... :)
18 June 2009 - 7:30 pm - Wow! my how you have both had a journey this year! You are very talented and I love looking at your vibrant and deep work!!
18 June 2009 - 10:20 pm - LOVE these Melissa! The pictures are just beautiful and he looks like he has such a fun personality!
I can’t believe Rylee is almost one! I have quite a few baby planners reaching their milestone session this spring/summer - and while it has been super fun watching them grow, it makes me sad! 
We met yesterday for a super quick 15 minute session to get some shots for her birthday invites…we’ll do a full fledged one year session in a couple of weeks, but I couldn’t resist sharing a few of these!
17 June 2009 - 2:06 pm - how fun and rewarding, and yes sad for these lil ones to be a year old! she is too stinkin cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17 June 2009 - 2:21 pm - oh my heavens so stinkin cute...she has been gorgeous since she was born
18 June 2009 - 7:31 pm - I love that BW!! Just luscious!
18 June 2009 - 10:21 pm - Oh my...how cute is she!? Love the 2nd one especially...the tones are just beautiful!
I know what you are thinking , “it was 100 degree today how can you possibly be writing about holiday sessions already,” but folks it is time to start getting on the calendar for your holiday sessions!! Last year I was booked super fast, you know what a great deal you get with the session, cards, and some prints, and people want to be sure those pictures are back in time!
This year’s mini sessions will be offered on two Saturdays in September and two Saturdays in October only - 6 sessions each day - 24 sessions total! Booking starts this Saturday, June 20th. Those of you that book in June will receive $100 off your holiday session, those that book in July will receive $75 off, and those booking in August (if space remains) will receive $50 off. All booking inquiries will need to be done via email mz{at}melissazihlman.com (remove the {} when emailing)
Wait until you see the locations I have in store for your family this year - both inside and out and both totally amazing! I can’t wait!
16 June 2009 - 11:58 am - I love this! It's perfect and the picture you chose is adorable.
16 June 2009 - 2:50 pm - i sent out my early bird email yesterday just like you told me to and will be booking mine july 11...oh and wow that is one gorgeous little girl, heehee
Miss Eve was back for her 8 month session! It was a long time coming, as my schedule and mom’s schedule were a little difficult to coordinate this time! This little beauty has been a part of my baby plan since before she was born, when mom signed on as a gorgeous maternity model! Today was probably the hottest day of the year so far, topping out a 100 degrees, and even though we started the session at 6:30 it was still swealtering…but Eve (and mommy & daddy too) were troopers!
Seriously how cute was she in her little tutus and the matching bows she had for each outfit?!? Don’t you just want to eat her up…cause I seriously think about stealing her and taking her home after every session we have!
16 June 2009 - 12:43 am - Wonderful pictures! You found the most beautiful light and her eyes are so gorgeous! Great work!!
16 June 2009 - 7:13 am - oh my gosh...what a gorgeous little girl! great looking parents too! they are naturals in front of the camera! great session!
16 June 2009 - 9:13 am - Oh Melissa, these are adorable, I love the bright beautiful colors, you did an amzing job, despite the heat, I can not wait to see the rest! And she loved you this time! Thank you so much for YOUR amazing work and being so kind and helpful!
16 June 2009 - 9:45 am - She's precious! Love the family shot - what a sweet moment.
17 June 2009 - 1:03 am - What a cutie! LOVE the one in front of the lime doors with her wearing the tutu. Her parents must be thrilled!
17 June 2009 - 7:48 am - Adorable!! I scrolled past this thinking "i know that cute little girl"....sure enough it's Eve!! She is getting so big. Love the bows and big blue eyes!!
Spent the morning with a fun family roaming around the train station in Grapevine! This family has such a cool connection - you can totally see the love between them all. So awesome! Mom really wanted to capture this time in her son’s life, at 10 he’s not a little kid anymore, but isn’t really a young man either. I adore photographing children at this age - they love being in front of the camera and their personalities really shine through!
And they dressed themselves so well…I am really loving linen and brown this summer…totally relaxed and not fussy at all. Thanks so much for coming out today, it was great to finally meet you all!
7 June 2009 - 1:02 pm - LOVE them!!!!
7 June 2009 - 3:33 pm - Love these. I love how you pull the colors back into your pictures. The processing is amazing. They do look like a fun and wonderful family.
7 June 2009 - 11:23 pm - beautiful photographs of this family!
9 June 2009 - 12:20 pm - holy WOW! i adore that first shot it completely capture the true spirit of a 10 yr old boy, exactly as you said it. and of course the shot with mom and son, {adore}
9 June 2009 - 7:09 pm - Your website is fantastic. Do you take pictures of children of different races? My children aren't Caucasian. Maybe their skin tones don't look as good, especially in black and white. Bakka Neh
13 June 2009 - 6:13 pm - great location! love these! : )
15 June 2009 - 9:14 pm - I do take pictures of children of all races! Unfortunately I don't get many clients who aren't Caucasian. You should check out my casting calls on the mzkids website - I am always looking for children to expand my portfolio! :)
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