Hotel rooms and airplanes. Fatty fast hamburgers and late night filmings. And finally, a welcome home party from the three people I love the most.
After I jumped the hurtle of pure exhaustion, I was able to sit back and inhale life for a minute. There is something incredibly and overwhelmingly fulfilling in the job I agreed to take. It’s about losing myself in the lives of others. [FRAMED] isn’t about me, it’s not about my work, it’s not about my life.
It’s about others, their work, and their life. All I get to do is ask questions, laugh, and do what I feel I do best.
Pester.
I beg for a story. I dig beneath the surface and I try hard to scuba dive into the brains of these amazingly unique individuals. I get to forget about my belly that has overtaken my thoughts. I get to look past my restless legs that figit, and the constant drive to head towards the refrigerator.
I am blessed with the job of getting to know new people, new artists, and new dear friends.
Trevor Dayley-You are a perfect fit there Melissa. Keep up the amazing job. We all love watching you.
ashley machado-Thank you for doing the traveling and interviewing these amazing artists & giving all of us an insight to their own lives, processes, art, jokes…into their life. I am equally hooked!
Thank you for pounding the pavement as hard as you do, especially with a little one on the way
Jen Stafford-I just want to thank you for doing this. I am LOVING it so far. I really look forward to Tuesdays, and getting to sit and watch and learn about other photographers’ lives and their amazing work. It’s awesome!
Zuzanna Audette-Thank you Melissa, for everything you are doing….how bout I host an episode on you and your work Xx
Dana Peterson -I have been watching all of your episodes. Very inspirational. I didn’t realize you are so tall. This clip when you are standing next to Becky is crazy! Maybe Becky is just short.
Thank you for doing this. Awesome opportunity for you and us!
deb schwedhelm-just learned about your framed series and i seriously LOVE them. i also had the pleasure of meeting ryan at a FIND workshop and i just love him. thanks for sharing!!
deb
Sue Fowler-This is SUCH fun to watch! What a great idea! Really enjoy seeing the lives of other photographers, we can all learn so much from one another!
Keep it up!
I’m pretty sure today is Sunday. Or wait, Saturday. Where am I?
My days are full, and usually when I hit the pillow I dive into such a deep sleep that I seem to wake up confused. My girls are busy, my belly is growing, my husband is amazing, and the work load is overwhelming. [FRAMED] is more than a project, it is our life.
Some might call me crazy. I mean, who wouldn’t. I’m vulnerably allowing my face and fat belly to be plastered all over the world wide web. I’m asking my mother to assist in raising my children for the sake of them having some consistency while I travel. And we’re asking the world to jump on a train of unique education that no one has yet produced before.
It’s strenuous, it’s tiring, and it’s incredibly worth it.
[FRAMED] has received emails from photographers and talent all over the world. It has had feedback from vendors that are dying to be a part of it. And we have already filmed some incredible artists who have skills dripping from every pore.
And this is just the beginning.
I am not perfect. But the talent and real-ness of the talent we have on the show are. It’s an imperfectly perfect perfection. I laugh, I figit, I cackle, and I am sometimes immature. I might stutter, snort, slur a few words, use improper English and I might even pick my nose on camera. But that’s the beauty of it. It’s real. These artists [FRAMED] takes the viewers to are willing to share, to teach and to narrate to the world the stories of their lives. They are willing to let us all be flies hanging out on the wall in their studios, their homes, and their offices for the sake of sharing a piece of their wisdom. All for the interest of bringing a little bit of relatable knowledge to those of us that seek the help. But even better, anyone at any level can be involved.
So if you happen to hear me snort when I laugh, ignore it. When you see me rub my belly in the corner while kicking off my shoes, look past it. And if you’d like to join us on this unhinged escapade of absolute fun and craziness, we welcome it.
Goodnight world, my pillow is calling my name.
Episode 1: [Mitch Meyer] Conceptual Portraiture & Ad Photography.
Sarah Love -I’m so obsessed with what [FRAMED] is doing. And you having a belly and snorting makes it more connectable and relatable for imperfect perfection like me. Thanks so much for what you’re doing.
Gina Hansen M -Amen to that Sarah! Thanks to you, the production company and to [FRAMED]!!
Leilani -Amazing! Thankyou so much!! Loving it so far and seriously cannot wait until next week!
Melissa-I don’t know you, but I like you! Anyone that talks about snorting and picking their nose on their blog is my kind of person. Honest, real & unashamed.
Thanks for all that you are doing! I had started following your blog months ago as I truly enjoy your work. That is how I then got introduced to [Framed]. Yay! It is really fabulous and extremely inspiring! -Melissa (signed while scratching my butt)
Michele Lake -This is SO COOL Melissa! What an amazingly talented and beautiful person you are! And if you snort, it’s okay, because that’s what makes you even more loveable!! You’ve always been so real. Best of luck!!!
Suzanne-You look stunningly beautiful in all the videos and somehow still manage to look real and approachable. A true gem! Even though I’m not a photographer and will admit that I’m totally clueless when it comes to photography, I love your new “show”!! Carry on Melissa and go rule the world!!
Bobbie Brown-This is amazing! I am so inspired after seeing this and you are doing a fantastic job! Thank you SO much!
Melissa Bode-I’m HOOKED!! Your friend Trina sent me over to your site… seriously you are BRILLIANT. I love your concept & the purpose behind Framed. Can’t wait to keep watching. Best of luck!!
Melissa Bode
Cameras I've used:
Nikon D300: The big momma
Nikon D3: The big daddy
Nikon D40: A small more compact camera that we use for trips and family stuff.
Lenses and shenanigans:
50mm 1.4
18-200mm
24-70mm 1.4
70-200mm
SB800 Flash
8GB CF Flashcards
ProMaster Digital CardReader
Mac OSX
Adobe Photoshop CS4
Adobe Lightroom 2
Studio
Elinchrom Studio Equipment
EL Skyports
Disc Reflectors
Paper Backdrops
Cool? Cool.
AboutMe
About Me
Melissa lives with her sweet husband, Philip, and precious daughters Livia and Charli Mae. Although she dreams of fresh crepes under the Eiffel tower and the thrills of zip lines through far away jungles, motherhood and Mac n’ Cheese are currently her comfort and everlasting happiness. She absolutely loves good fashion and the taste of fine dining but you’ll more than likely find her changing diapers in sweatpants with the remnants of stains from eating a good juicy burger.
Because of influential people in her life in the fashion and photog industry, Melissa decided to pick up a camera and explore the life of an artist. Based in Boise, ID, she hopes to take the world by storm with a diaper bag over her shoulder and a camera in hand.
To see a more personal look into what matters most, click here.
Melissa Niu is a photographer based in Boise, ID. For more information regarding her services, please contact Melissa via email: melissabniu@gmail.com
Open up a can…
Facebook
AllAboutU
All About U
The more I pick up the camera, the more I realize that the final frame is not about the photographer. The photographer is merely the tool to communicate an emotion or feeling. Every person deserves to be captured in a photograph, and every photograph has a story.
Whatever the story, I’d like to tell it…through my words and my camera. It’s a project about human interest, not about the money. It’s about leaving the pocket book at home and allowing someone to be a platform to share the good word. It’s about my own self improvement, and my selfish need to be selfless. In other words, it’s not about “Melissa Niu” Photography anymore. It’s about U, your story, and the inspiration that must be shared.
Have a story? Tell me about it. melissabniu@gmail.com
If it’s something that I believe the world needs to hear, I’ll be there with a camera and a pen in hand.
Xx
7 comments