Okay, so I’m having an anxiety attack. Seriously, I’ve been so nervous to pick. I’ve been entirely too excited to see who wins but entirely too bummed for those who didn’t. The stories. The kindness. Testimonials of overcoming cancer. An autistic child scoring a touchdown at a high school football game. Families who have never had...
So cute. I love how you picked. Congrats Ashley. What a lucky lady!!!
Darn. I might just have to schedule an actual session 
Two great things came out of this though… 1): My husband really is a fan now and gave me the go ahead to get family pictures with you! 2): In a very silly way, seeing my name stand out in your photos made my heart sing. Thanks for the fun!
Hi Melissa!
I’m so excited, I’ve never won anything in my life!:) I would like a studio session for my modeling portfolio. I’ve gotten really bored with it lately and it could use a touch of your talent. You’re an amazing photographer, any ideas?
Fun! So fun! I love how you did it too! I have had plans to do many giveaways this fall and will probably do one similar to yours in the spring, as soon as I can find my way out of the heap of editing I’m under. Will that happen in the spring? Will I see the sun then? haha. I did do a maternity shoot giveaway. Isn’t it great to have a service, that others can really cherish and love and appreciate, that you can give away? It truly is so rewarding to hand over to someone the tangible memories they can have for forever. And to make them feel beautiful. Yay for the gift of photography. Yay for giving.
Very cool and congrats to Ashley! Very lucky! Melissa is great. Especially loved how the whole process was artfully documented! Great work!
Oh that was so fun! I love it!!! When you have time shoot me an email and let me know if we can set up some mentoring anyway!!!!
Thanks beautiful lady!
Congrats Ashley! You are one lucky girl!!
So I just saw my name in the second picture, how cool!! I know I didn’t win but hot dang that got me excited! hahahahaha
So lets be honest…I have been closer to my toilet bowl then I have to you. I have turned away clients left and right for the simple reason that this little pint-sized being growing in my belly has made me feel like poop. I have also ignored my camera on a consistent basis, and it’s...
94 comments
Count me in! Maybe we could work something out for the next time you come to Utah.
We love your work and need a great pick me up. We would love to have a session with you! It’s been almost 2 years since our last professional session and darn these kids are growing! We are crossing our fingers!
Pick me pick me pick me!!!!! I would LOVE to do a modeling session for my portfolio!!! Oh please oh please! I’ll even rub your pregnant feet!!!!!!!
i would love the mentoring session !
IN PERSON MENTORING SESH! I would DIEEEEE!!!! Hmmm, something to make you cry? That doesn’t sound like fun at all. How about something to make you smile? In middle school I was SOOO jealous of your Nike high tops. They were like suede and so cool. I finally got my pair just as they were going out of style. haha.
YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! What a great give away! I would LOVE an over the phone mentor session OR maybe I can give the on location session to my SIL who lives near you. She would LOVE it and then I could drool over her pictures and be super jealous!
Been loving your work for a while now. You’re such a fab photographer and mommy! Thanks for being you!
It has been two years since our last family photo and our twins, now four, and our beautiful 7 year old look more and more like little people every day. Time is just slipping by and although a million of my photos are great, there is nothing better than a great moment in time captured by a professional.
Have a good preggo cry every day, you deserve it (my trigger was a damn Home Depot commercials where the husband remodeled the bathroom while the wife was away…really.)
If you would save a Studio session for the next time I’m in town with my fam that would be awesome!! If not I would give it to my BFF who lives there with 2 adorable little girls, you would love them!
More than anything i would love an on location session with you. We have a 15 year old boy(how can that be?!) and we know that he won’t at home for many more years. We are trying to capture as many memories of our family of five before he is off on his own and not around to capture anymore. Thanks for the chance to win!
Me! Me! Me!
I would love an “on-location” session. BUT, you are soooo amazing we would totally pack up the kids and take a weekend to come up and see you! That is how much we love you and miss you!
Oh Melissa…you know I am a HUGE fan! Not only do I LOVE free stuff…but I love free photos! YES! Count me in lady…On Location of course.
Melissa!! You are AMAZING!!! Your pictures are incredible and I am still in awe with all that you accomplish- especially being pregnant with two other little ones running around. Congratulations by the way! This is super exciting news. You are much braver than I. Oh how I wish I lived closer and could meet up for some in-person mentoring. I’ve actually looked into hiring someone out here to go around with me and teach me a thing or two. Your work is phenomenal and maybe someday we’ll be in the same place at the same time- cause I know my hubby and I would love to hire you for a family photo session! We both love your work! Good luck with pregnancy #3. So glad to hear that your morning sickness has eased up a bit.
Melissa-I haven’t had photos done of me since I was a senior in highschool-thats 13 years!! I need your expert-ness!!
My little bambinos NEED a family picture! Not me of course, it’s ALL for them! I would LOVE a location shot! I”ll even carry your camera bags!
I was just thinking about how much we needed a family photo session… This would be such a blessing!
Wassssssup! Since you are prego, what kinds of things are you craving? All my mom ate was cereal and watermelon! Let me know so I can start filling up the cooler with nice little snacks.
Sweet Melissa!! I feel your pain… we are sharing the same due date! whew hoo!! #4 on the way baby!! I would like to be selfish and say I want one of my family and girlies but…. my sis is getting married in December and all the grandkids will be together here in town and i would LOVE to get a great shot of all the kiddos for my mom and dad for Christmas. ; )
Hope you’re feeling better… loves!
Melissa my friend, I think I’m gonna have to win this thing just so I get a chance to hang with you again! Our catch-up sessions have been too few and far-between for my taste…
Our little family would love to have our mugs recaptured and enshrined upon our walls–Grant’s gappy smile is begging for a close-up!
So glad you’re feeling better…
Melissa, I am pregnant too! Congratulations! I can TOTALLY relate to morning sickness. UGH! Anyway, we would LOVE to be picked to win a free in studio session because we want our little one to have his/her pictures taken after the arrival! We are so excited to be making a little family and we can’t think of a better way to capture those precious moments when the baby is so new and perfect Thank you so much for this oppurtunity to maybe win! We will be crossing our fingers!
VERY AWESOME!!!
SA-WEET!!!! My husband FINALLY got the manage job that he wanted so that we could make ends meet. It was a LONG road to get where we are, but a sweet family picture of our family on his desk would be such a reward for him. Studio please Thanks! Oh, and it would hopefully remind him that we really should have one more child to make that family picture complete HA!
My kids memories are passing by and the only thing that captures these memories so they last forever is with a camera. I have the camera part just not the capturing part! I need some help to learn how to better utilize my camera so I can capture my munchkins growing up! I have tried to get some help from other photographers BUT no one is willing to help (come on people be Christian) in fear that I will try and steal their business. I assure you I am not good enough nor do I want another responsibility of trying to start a business. I just want pictures that I can hang on my walls and be proud of! I have tried to read some things but if you don’t know the basics of the camera then the writing in the books is like reading Isiah from the old testament! I think with your help Melissa, I can learn to use my camera in a way that looks better then just a walmart $99 dollar camera (I spent way more then that on my camera and it should show!!) My children when they grow up with Thank you as well! Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. This really would be a DREAM COME TRUE TO WIN THIS AMAZING PRIZE!!!
Anyone would be crazy to not jump at this chance. Your work is beautiful! And, I die at the thought of doing family pictures with you– studio or location! Cause setting your own self-timer gets a little old…
Your work is extraordinary. I would be honored to win a free On Location session with you, your little one, and your camera. My story? Not so different from most women working this planet. Over the past few years I have been in transition like a caterpillar. I ended a long relationship, took a leap of faith into the world – alone, lost 90 pounds, and met the most wonderful, loving man. I have emerged from the cocoon a butterfly – loving me, loving life, loving love. A photo session at this point in my life would capture my true, NEW essence … a picture grounded in history, marked by an evolutionary journey, filled with light, hope and most importantly love. I would be honored to be your client and appreciate the opportunity. Congratulations to your expanding family. <3
I really would like to win this session for our family so my mom can have a picture with all of us. Bo comes home from his mission in just 4 months and I think this would be a great thing for our family. The last picture we had of all of us together was at my other brother Tyler’s wedding which was before Bo left on his mission and 2 grand children ago.
I’d love a Studio or “on location” session so you can capture the cuteness of my kids!
I would love a classy studio session that I always “ooh” and “ahh” over on your blog. You are a saint for providing this give-away while the mother of 2 young ones and pregnant!! Did I tell you that I want to win really, really bad????? If I were a photographer, I would want to be just like you!!
I’m a total fan of yours by the way. A friend showed me your photography and I’m totally in love with your photos. Anyways, I’m pretty sure I don’t live in the same state as you but I’d love to win a phone mentor session. I just got a new camera and I’m reading tons of books but I think some person to person info could really help!
Wearing It On My Sleeves
You have such talent Melissa! I have enjoyed looking at your work and being inspired everyday! Your lighting is just… amazing. We would love to get pictures but the mentor session would be PERFECT! And for your laughter moment of the day… I fell on my front steps the other day and hit everyone single one of them with every part of my body and my mail went flying. All I could think about was the neighbors laughing at me!
You are so gorgeous and I would love to see if you could make our family look as great as you seem to help others look. Hopefully you’ll be feeling well enough to enjoy all of the fun food that will be coming up soon!!
For Christmas I want a family photo session, in studio OR on location (YOUR CHOICE!) You should pick me because I have five beautiful children….all different shades of color…and we need need need a family photo. This is my Christmas wish, my shooting star wish, my eyelash wish, my birthday candle wish, my wishbone wish, my necklace wish, my ladybug wish, my dandelion wish, my penny wish, and my rainbow wish!
i am entering because i would be honored to have my two boys shot by you. people always wonder why i hire or have others shoot my kids and it is simply because i love another person’s perspective. i would most likely want an on location or studio shot depending on weather. i did not know you were pregnant. congrats! is this baby number 2 for you?
Love what you did an more so what you wrote with Nicole’s cutie…You are an amazing photographer and even if I don’t win someday I want you to take some pictures of me. Have fun with the giveaway and even more fun with the baby on the way!
Thanks
Amber Oyler Davis
Oh, oh pick me!! I LOVE your work! We would love an “on location” session. Congrats on baby #3! Glad you’re feeling better. It seems like we are always having babies about six months apart from each other but sorry chica, that’s just not gonna happen this time! You are obviously a lot braver than I am!
Please add me to your drawing!!!! Well Brooke but you know what I am saying I LOVE YOUR WORK and will be living in Rexburg in the near future and would LOVE to drive the distance to have you photograph my little girl!!!
p.s. ~ You Are Beautiful, Lovely, Of Good Report, & Praisworthy, & Dogonit I Seek After These Things!!!!!~
p.s. You Are Beautiful, Lovely, Of Good Report, Praisworthy, & Dogonit I Seek After These Things!
Sarah Robinson sent me over….now that I’m here I would love to congratulate you on your little bump! Also, Who wouldn’t love to have you whip up a little magic behind the camera? I would love to win a session with you to give to my daughters and grand kids. This Nana needs to be on their wall!
Referred by Anna Marshall! Here’s to winning!
Dear melissa,
I want to win soooooooooooooo bad. Please pick me! I have a 2 year old who isn’t in a family photo because thats how long it’s been…
Much love
Anna
Ps, it would be a family photoshoot , and my hubby mike Marshall referred me
I would love to win Melissa – you are one amazing photographer!!! Glad you’re feeling better.
It would be amazing to have the chance to work with such an amazing photographer!!!
I would love an updated picture of my family on location. I love looking through your blog and seeing all the spectacular pictures you have taken. You are one amazing girl!! And congratulations to you. You have such adorable girls. Should I wish a boy for Philip?!
Sarah Robinson sent me to your site. Excellent work !
A session from you for Brooke would be incredible, she’s so photogenic and you’re sooo good at what you do !
My niece, Sarah Robinson sent me to your site….incredible work !
My niece Sarah Robinson sent me to your site. Beautiful work !
My cousin, Sarah Robinson sent me to your site. Wonderful work.
My cousin, Sarah Robinson (who sent me to your site) does great photography, but yours is incredible !
Sarah Robinson sent me to your sight……lovely work !
Because for me, 30 was nothing. 32 is everything. I am so content with who I am right now and where my life is going…but I’m also in the depths of a horrendous midlife crisis based solely on the one fact I remember from college biology: at 32 your cells begin to die faster than they replenish. I can no longer look in the mirror without seeing every flaw and wrinkle and knowing that from now on, it’s all downhill. Even now I’m choking up typing about it. Amazing how you can just wake up one morning – your birthday – and go from a beautiful, confident, strong Mommy to weeping at your own reflection and seeing nothing but a crone. Perhaps a photo session where my flaws are glorified and I still manage to look pretty at 32 would help? I’ll try anything, and your work is so stunning that I wonder if it just might do the trick to restoring my confidence in my physical self. Thanks for considering me! (Your work is GORGEOUS!!!)
By the way, Sarah Robinson sent me the link that has had me perusing your work for the last hour now. That said, maybe she should win.
ang - I would love a family session! I have admired your work for years. Thanks for the chance!!! You rock.
ang - I would love a family session! I have admired your work for years. But due to adoption fees, paying for photos is out of the questions for a long time! Thanks for the chance!!! You rock.
I am a huge fan! If I won I would totally want a mentoring session … oh wait, maybe some headshots of myself for my business? I never like photos of myself, but I bet you could make me pretty … Crap. No, definitely the mentoring session. Sappy: I can’t really think of anything – other than – look at all the people commenting on your page and your website that you have inspired! That is truly amazing!
I went to school with Rachel while growing up, and from some of her posts I stumbled upon your website months ago. I am constantly come back and finding myself more and more amazed with your talent.
If I were to win, I’d want either a studio or on-location shoot. I’m not picky. My husband is returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and it has been really hard being a part from each other – we’re best friends. He’ll be returning in February and I’ve been thinking for months how I want to remember this time in our life and the patriotism and bravery he has for defending our country. Plus, him in a uniform just takes my breath away. I know when he gets back it’ll feel like we’re newlyweds again and I really want to have our giddiness and love captured with the military influence incorporated, too. If I don’t win, I’ll most likely try getting in touch with you in the future anyway, but I figure this is worth a shot. Thank you for sharing the wonderful talent and gift you’ve been given!
Melissa – I would LOVE to win this giveaway…and just think, you could bring Liv with you to photograph our cutenesses and Aidan would be the happiest kid in the world. We would make an extra special family pic trip up to Boise for this!
I could go for some sweet glamour shots! Studio is good. I’ll even trade ya a FREE illustration or two 
I would love a session.
we Adore your work! Hannah is a senior. she is collecting all the lovely pictures her friends are taking and worrying about how to afford such great shots for herself. she saw some of your pictures two years ago and wanted to be able to ask you then. Please pick hannah. It would make her year!
so glad you are feeling better, too. Morning sickness is the worst! but how worth it – you make the most gorgeous babies.(and that is not just shameless flattery!)
I went to H.S. with your brother Brad and saw his pictures your recently did. I was thinking at the time man she is good I would sure love to pick her brain! So now that the option is now out there I would sure love to pick your brain. You really do come from a great family!
Believe it or not, our family has never had professional family portraits done. Would love to have a shot at this opportunity and we would all even travel to Boise to make it happen! It’s way past time for a family photo, especially due to our family’s medical situation.
So..the chances of me winning are very slim. I have tried to get a session with you before and I am so excited you are doing this give away. WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE!! My husband and I have a little girl who is about 6 months old and the one thing that would be ideal would be have a family picture in our new home. I can’t tell you how amazing your work is. You are very talented. On location or studio would be fantastic.
I would LOVE an on location photo shoot with my family. I have an almost 3 year old, a 5 month old, and a handsome husband. I’m desperate to capture these fleeting moments! And I love your work!
totally on location. but i don’t know where that location is…it’s a secret even to me at this point. i’m sure we could think of something totally fantastic though.
so you wanna know something sappy huh? you got it mama….
http://www.kivitv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?
this morning i watched this video:
ClipID1=5241284&h1=A+Game+To+Remember&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=183167&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=85155877
it’s the news video of one of my friends autistic son scoring a touchdown for his highschool team. i balled. i know this boy and he is a treasure and a gift. i adore him. he makes me smile every time i see him and i thank our Lord for giving us such miracles like joey. i hope it blesses you this morning. and i’m glad to hear you’re feeling better.
I have a(n almost) 6 month baby and we only have snapshots of family pictures and I would LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE a studio session with you! I’ve loved your work ever since I saw Alex and Wendy’s pictures! I think you’re absolutely amazing and I’m very excited for your new addition!
after witnessing the magic you performed with Kate, I would LOVE an “on location” with my family. Thank you for sharing your talents with the world. Love You!
Yay for not being the porcelain princess anymore! I’m sure you still looked amazing even on your most barfaliciuos day. I would love a studio session!!
Even if I dont win I am dying to get me and my three girls in
I’ll take the on location shot, and when I say on location I mean Seattle baby! And, I would expect the whole familia to tag along:) Something sentimental to make you cry…the last time we had beautiful family shots taken little Liv was an only child! Can you believe we are both prego with #3? Can you believe I am still pregnant? 41 weeks..come on now!
Love the give away!
Trina
I would choose a Studio shoot for sure. When I was young (which, I must admit was a LONG time ago) I did quite a bit of modeling. It has truly been a decade or two since I had anything professional taken of me. I would love to have something with the ‘older me’ to share with my family. THANKS for offering this prize. Pick me! Pick me!
you don’t know me, but i absolutely LOVE your work! my husband and i are from boise but are both going to dental school in louisville, kentucky. we have two boys and have NEVER had our pictures taken. i finally decided that my boys are growing to fast so i scheduled a photo shoot with a professional photographer but then it ended up not working. in other words, the funds were not there (seeing how we’re both full-time students) and we seem to never have any free time. we are going home for christmas this year and will be there for about 3 weeks and would absolutely LOVE to get our pictures done by you. so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pick us, the brown family, to win the photo shoot! we could really use a family picture on our wall!
oh, and congratulations on being the baby!
Melissa…only you could iron out all my wrinkles! Give us a try!
Hi! My older sister Mashaide (Olayan) Holden sent me to your website. Looks like your a great photographer. I hope she wins this contest.
Sent by Mashaide Holden
So, I stumbled on to your blog a couple of months ago, and I seriously think I check it out every other day to see if you have left me some eye candy or have written something so eloquently like you do. Some people have the gift of writing, some photography, you have them both, and that is a rarity. Your cutting edge images continue to inspire me to grow and try new things in photography. Not trying to be a brown-noser here, just statin’ the facts. I would love, love, love to be mentored by you, and would love love love to have a session by you somehow, someway in the future. I’m an Okie, so that might be a little crazy to pull off, but a girl can dream. I’m so sorry you’ve been sick, that stinks, but I’ve heard its a good sign. Just keep swimming (Nemo)
I just had my first baby (he’s 16 days old today!) and would feel blessed to have you capture this amazing moment in mine and my husband’s lives.
We have been waiting for a Melissa Niu master piece to be hanging on our wall since the day we were married and you were expecting the other little nugget…
ON LOCATION!
I would love to win this!! My husband and I have been married for 4 years and have never had our picture taken, other than our wedding. We did not choose a good a photographer and I regret that every day. We only have TWO professional pictures from our photographers of just us on our wedding day. This is no joke, how sad is that!! I am not sure what they were even doing at our wedding. Well, my husband and I would love to start our family soon and I would love to have a professional picture of just us. Thanks for doing this fun giveaway!
Also, I am a fan on facebook.
Thanks!!
Hey Melissa, just throwing my name in the hat. Janelle and I would love to have pictures taken of our little girl since we don’t have any of her yet and she’s already 6 months old. Even if we don’t win, can you let me know what your prices and availability are? Your photography is incredible! Congrats on the soon to be newest addition and glad to hear you are feeling better.
Ok Ok, I was going to not put my name in since I’m down here, and you’re up there. But ya know… it stinks that as the photographer you are rarely in any pictures yourself. So, I’m in! I want it! I really do. You are absolutely incredible at what you do and to have a piece of that would be FABULOUS!!!
I was so excited to see you were doing this contest. I would love to have a group session of my family since it finally complete.
I have my two boys, and got a wonderful surprise last year when I found out I was pregnant with a girl. I was so shocked that I didn’t really believe it until I finally met her!…. Anyway I would love to capture their precious faces in a family picture and a couple of the kids together!!
Thanks
Barrie
What an exciting giveaway! I would LOVE an “On-Location” photo shoot with my husband and little pooch. I love your work and I’m always checking back at your website. You are so gifted! I wish I could include something cheesy and sappy, but all I can really say is that I love my family more than life itself: they are everything to me!
We need you! We’ve never had professional picture taken since our wedding. Our kids never have! We’d probably want the studio… AND CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Melissa- I love you! You are pretty much the greatest role model ever! If I grow up to even be just a fraction of the amazing woman you are, I would be satisfied. I love your kids and I am always open for babysitting. Count on me for babysitting your next child too. (Also, I would love to babysit in exchange for pictures!) but I would for free anyway because it is so much fun! I just wanted to take this chance to tell you how awesome you are!
Melissa- You are so awesome and I love you! You are the greatest role model! If I grew up to be just a fraction of the beautiful woman you are, I would be satisfied! I will babysit your kids anytime and you can plan on me for babysitting your next one. (Also, I would babysit for a photo session) but I will babysit for free anyways because your kids are so fun. I just wanted to take a chance to tell you how wonderful you are and how much I look up to you.
I love your work! My sister showed me your website awhile ago and I always find myself checking it out, you are so talented! I would love to win an on location sitting. I have 3 young kids and it is nice to have an updated photo every year, especially since the ones we did last year are already out dated with the new addition!
haha! it didn’t work once, so I did it again and apparently it did work!
I would love to win! You are an amazing photographer with such passion…its beautiful!
Oh- MENTOR ME, MENTOR ME! When I read your blog it reminds me why I love photography, but even more- why I love life and being a MOM! Plus I have always wanted to meet you! I hope I win!!!! WAHOO- thanks Melissa!!!
oh- and I would love to mentor is studio with you! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your studio work! FASHION grabs me!
I would love an on location session or an in person mentor session. It is so hard to photograph my wiggly toddler and use the tripod to do a family shot with her smiling. Last year we had to set the lighting up around her, while she was watching a movie in her Christmas dress. Everyone wondered what she was thinking and why she had certain looks on her face. It was my little secret.
Congrats on your little peanut. Once the baby gets here the sickness will be a distant memory.
I would love to win a location photo shoot. I have 2 boys and am expecting too! Are you hoping for the opposite sex this time!! I love your photos!
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