READING TIME: 2 min 30 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/06/2025
I first met Melody Joy over a virtual coffee, but her passion fills every word. She reflects on her early years:
At the beginning I started off doing more graphic and web design … I realized that photographing couples in love … were more meaningful moments to capture.
Her path to wedding photography wasn’t straightforward. With a business degree in 2012, Melody ventured into design—websites, graphics, branding. Those skills sharpened her visual sensitivity, but something was missing. She began photographing friends, then friends of friends, and gradually realized the power in freezing real moments of connection.
In 2015, she knew: weddings were her calling. By 2016, she shifted focus to destination weddings. Today, she divides life between Chicago and Edinburgh, chasing light and stories around the globe.
Melody describes her style in just three words:
“Editorial and emotive yet minimal, in a clean way.”
She doesn’t chase trends. Her images breathe—not overworked, not overstyled. She leaves room for the emotions to live. The clean simplicity ensures that the story, not the gimmick, is front and center.
Her toolset reflects this philosophy: a Canon 5D Mark IV, a Canon 430EX Speedlite, and her analog love, a Yashica T5 film camera. But her favorite tools? Patience, intuition, and trust with her couples.
When it comes to editing, Melody insists on full manual control:
“I edit every photo manually on Lightroom still … I have never used Presets, as I truly enjoy editing manually.”
No shortcuts, no filters. She weaves nuance into hue and contrast until each image “feels the exact way I want it to.” That level of care echoes in every album she delivers.
What does Melody love most about being a photographer?
“I really enjoy meeting really wonderfully unique couples all over the world and making friends with them …”
For her, it’s never a transaction—it’s a relationship. She begins each project with a thorough questionnaire. The couple sends inspiration boards; they talk and refine until vision and comfort align. She emphasizes synergy:
“That also means getting on the same page as the planner and other vendors … to work together as one seamless team.”
Melody believes every couple deserves a package that fits—not the other way around.
“I am always open to creating a custom package that best fits every couple’s needs …”
Whether it’s an intimate elopement, a multi-day villa celebration, or a weekend abroad, she molds her offerings to honor each story’s shape.
As for tips to help clients prepare for their day?
Reminding yourself of why you’re having this event … focus on your love … getting suppliers you trust really helps you be able to focus on your partner … vs the worrying about the details.
In her world, the emotional core matters most. Calm the inner storm, trust the team, and live the day.
Yes, Melody is a true destination photographer. Her favorite settings? Intimate villas in Italy. Quiet elopements in the south of France. But she also loves returning to Chicago and exploring Scotland from her base in Edinburgh.
“I regularly take weddings in America … I technically live full time in Edinburgh, Scotland now … flying around Europe is also very easy to do as well from Scotland.”
A seamless life of travel, art, and home in equal measure.
Melody Joy Co. is more than a wedding photography brand—it’s a bridge between hearts in every corner of the world. Her style, her process, her humanity—all align to honor something timeless: love, connection, and the quiet power of a well-told image.
