Melissa Dale Photography

Jenny + Drew: Day 5

Missy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:28:54 +0000

Today was pretty low key as we are all recovering from the wedding day. We slept in, laid on the beach, took an afternoon nap and then we grabbed a few taxi’s to take us to Shirley Heights Lookout Bar and Restaurant. The view was beautiful and the reggae drum band was fantastic.

Jenny + Drew: Wedding Day!

Missy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 03:51:59 +0000

I have one word to describe Jenny and Drew’s wedding in Antigua. EPIC. Once I am home again I will blog all about it. For now…pictures!

Jenny + Drew: Day 3

Missy — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:43:57 +0000

The day began with a catamaran cruise with friends and ended with the grooms supper. Between drinks, fake mustaches and friends the laughter and good times rolled. One more hour until the biggest day of their lives…..

Jenny + Drew: Day 2

Missy — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:56:49 +0000

Jenny and Drew were busy wrapping up wedding details today. One of those details was checking out the location of the ceremony. This photo was taken near that spot.

Antigua: We have arrived!

Missy — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:28:04 +0000

The Grove/Pederson wedding party has officially arrived in Antigua! We actually arrived yesterday but we have been so busy having fun that I haven’t had a chance to blog about it until now. There are approximately 60 people here to help Jenny and Drew celebrate at St. James Resort. The weather, island and people on it are all just amazing. The wedding officially takes place on Saturday and right now everyone is just enjoying themselves. Whether it be swimming in the ocean, laying in the sun, wandering around the resort or partying it up in one of the bars with live bands….we are all having the time of our lives!

I can’t wait to share the official wedding photos with everyone but until then, here are a few photos taken from the plane as we flew in.

Shoot for Sam

Missy — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:15:18 +0000

I remember the first time I met Sam. Several years ago I was at a womans showcase in town and Sam had a booth set up to showcase her photography. I had no idea then that we would later become friends. Sam and I now share a studio space near downtown Fargo. She is the most loving, goofy and pretty girl you will ever meet. She is also the toughest.
Sam is only 25 years old but the amount of things she has had to endure the past few years is more than most of us will ever have to endure in a lifetime. She has had two pregnancies. Both of which did not make it to term and both of which were heartbreaking. In October, she was life flighted to Mayo due to health complications to her and the baby during her second pregnancy which was called a cervical pregnancy. She could have died and was in the hospital for a month. Thank God she made it through all of that.

She found out about 2 years ago that she is a carrier of the BRCA1 gene, which means she has a mutated gene that makes her at a high risk for getting breast cancer. It runs in her family and she has had many family members that have died or have been affected due to the mutated gene. Her mom has been through some of what she is going through now. Yesterday she went in for a bilateral mastectomy. I visited her in the hospital today and quite honestly walked in expecting the worst. But there she was, a smile and a hello. Same ‘ol Sam.
We will be holding a benefit for Sam in Fargo, ND this coming May. The benefit is to help with some of the massive medical bills she has accrued throughout the past couple years. It’s just a tiny way that her friends can come together to show how much we care for and love her. Please take a few minutes to read her story and please consider donating online or coming to her benefit in May.

To read her story and donate online-
shootforsam.com

Katelyn

Missy — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:59:20 +0000

The little girl that has stolen my heart. I was so looking forward to taking Katelyn’s 1 year photos after meeting her a few months earlier for some Christmas photos. Between her big, beautiful eyes and sweet post photo shoot snuggles….how could I not just absolutely love this little girl.

My Funny Valentines

Missy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:45:41 +0000

As a little girl I always looked up to my parents and grandparents. They taught me what love was. They showed me how to love by example. They made me realize there are some people out there that love without question or judgement. My dad taught me that love is funny and each day should be filled with jokes or being goofy. My mom is the center of my world. I can’t even explain how much my mom loves me and how very lucky I feel having known that since birth. My grandpa is soon going to be 94 years old and he has shown me that love can last. That even if you can’t remember anything else, you remember your true love. My grandma, my best friend. Loving is just part of her nature. As a child I thought I couldn’t possibly love these people any more than I did then but now as a 32 year old woman I can tell you that my love for them just continues to grow each day. Happy Valentines Day mom, dad, grandma and grandpa. Thanks for showing me what love is.

Forever Love

Missy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:01:33 +0000

I have love on my brain today. I know it’s not perfect, it’s not always easy and it’s not necessarily a fairytale. I haven’t found it yet and I am not sure I ever will but when/if I do I hope it is the kind of love my grandparents have for each other. My grandpa always said he would never leave the farm and at 93 years of age no one wanted to make him. Yet, when my grandma was forced to move into assisted living due to some serious medical issues it didn’t take my grandpa long to decide home was wherever his hunny was. The farm they raised their family on will always be grandma and grandpas to me no matter where grandma and grandpa live. It’s odd to me to think of that house sitting empty now, filled with their stuff and all our memories. There are 65 years of memories wrapped up into that tiny house on their little piece of land. And while grandpa can’t remember most of them or us anymore he does remember that he loves my grandma and THAT to me is as close as you get to perfect love.

All of the photos below were taken on their farm.

Action

Missy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:37:24 +0000

It’s hard for me to explain how great it was to be able to photograph this little man again. A couple of weeks ago, I emailed his mommy and asked her if she would bring him up to my studio to take his two year photos. When she said yes I was bubbly with excitement.

Action, as his father affectionately calls him, is the son of one of my dearest friends. It just so happens Actions birthday is just a few weeks before his dads. Bonus! I get to take his two year old photos AND surprise my dear friend with the best gift I can think of giving. It was so fun seeing Action again and I couldn’t help but giggle at all the little things that reminded me of his daddy….the way he crossed his arms across his belly, the fact that he loved being behind the camera more than in front of it and the way he smiled….

Happy Birthday, Jed. And thanks for being one of the best friends a girl could ask for.