Mel Colvin Photography

07/20/2026

A little mid-summer reset!

06/22/2026

Ok I just watched Netflix's Maternal Instinct and I have not stopped thinking about it since last night!

I won't get into the details (it's heavy, you can look it up if you want the full story), but the short version is that it's about a woman who had just started a side business doing wedding photography and used the trust she built with a couple to get dangerously close to them. As a photographer in my 14th wedding season, it hit different than it might have for some people.

Here's the part I can't shake. She wasn't a stranger who broke into someone's house. She was hired. Welcomed into the family. Fully trusted.

And that's kind of the whole job, isn't it? Photographers don't just show up and take pictures and leave. We get invited into your wedding day, your newborn's first week, your business, your family. We're in the room for the good stuff, the chaotic stuff, the happy tears stuff, and that only works because YOU decided we've earned a spot in there!

I take that seriously. Like, genuinely. I've been doing this for 17 years (with a little break in there..) and I've built my whole business on being someone you can actually vet, not just someone you found in a Facebook ad five minutes before you needed a photographer. So if you're hiring anyone, for your wedding, your headshots, your kid's senior pictures, family photos, whatever it is, please do a little homework first. I promise it's not insulting to us, the good ones want you to ask questions!

A few things worth checking before hiring someone:

- How long have they actually been doing this, and can you see proof of it. (This should be easy, but with AI in the mix, people are getting away with a lot these days...)
- Do they have real reviews you can verify, not just five-star quotes floating on their own website.
- Are they licensed and insured.
- Do they actually have roots and a reputation in your community, or just a nice grid.

Most photographers got into this because we love meeting new people and building connections. We love, love, and family and preserving those milestone moments. That's exactly why I do this. But trust should be earned through actual transparency, not handed over because someone owns a nice camera and a moody Lightroom preset.

Choose someone who's put in the time to build a real reputation. It matters way more than you'd think, and your future self (and your photos/ family heirlooms) will thank you!!! | www.melcolvinphotography.com

RI branding photographer specializing in headshots, weddings & portraits. Based in Pawtucket, serving all of Rhode Island & Massachusetts.

06/19/2026

Tomorrow I'm photographing Julia and Owen's wedding, and today is the calm before the busy day ahead! Here's a little peek into what goes into wedding prep on my end!

The behind the scenes prep is real! Cleaning every lens, charging every battery (and the backup batteries, and the backup backup batteries), and formatting every memory card, plus making sure I have plenty of backup cards packed too. You can never have too much storage on a day like this!

The timeline and family shot list get finalized together with the couple the week before, so today is just a check in text. I remind them to hydrate extra today, rest tonight and I reiterate the exact time I'll see them tomorrow. I always plan to arrive about 30 minutes before I'm needed so I can scope out the venue if it's somewhere I haven't shot before and introduce myself to the coordinators and vendors.

Packing the car is its own event (my wonderful husband helps with this part!) I pack snacks, Gatorade, a backup outfit in case I end up kneeling in grass or mud for the perfect shot. Funny enough, I actually own two of the exact same dress that I wear to weddings, so if I do change mid day, the couple will probably never even notice. This is my 14th wedding season, and I've come up with my own little tricks of the trade!

And after fourteen years of hauling all my gear on my back, I finally bought a wagon this year and I am never going back. My shoulders have never been happier (...when you're 4'11" carrying a long bag of light stands...things get complicated...)

Then there's the family shot list, which is its own kind of skill once we're actually on site. Making sure nobody wanders off right before their turn, keeping the names organized so we're not standing around calling people one at a time, and always, always appointing one person with a loud voice who knows the whole family to help corral everyone into place. That person is worth their weight in gold on a wedding day!

What people don't always realize is how much of this job happens before we ever pick up a camera. I want my couples to actually be present on their wedding day, not stuck posing for hours or worrying about what's next. Enough photos to capture everything that matters without so many that they spend the whole day performing for a camera instead of enjoying their day!

I also remind every couple to drink water throughout the day. Weddings are long, emotional, and somehow always warmer than expected. A hydrated couple is a couple who actually remembers their own wedding!

Meanwhile I'll be over here drinking my water and strategically not drinking too much of it, because there is no elegant way to ask a wedding party to pause for a bathroom break. The things we do for the perfect golden hour shot! Though I do look forward to a crispy Diet Coke during the reception!

Here's to a beautiful day tomorrow for Julia and Owen!!!

06/08/2026

My 14th wedding season started last Sunday, and it of course began with another Saints grad and old friend! 💜💛 I've known Brandon since high school, so when he asked me to photograph his wedding day, it was an immediate YESSS!!! Brandon & Rachael tied the knot at St. Cecilia Church in Pawtucket and celebrated at the New Bedford Whaling Museum! And yes, the rain showed up too. But honestly...the museum made for the most incredible backdrop, and we still walked away with some killer shots! Here are just 2 of my favorites I wanted to immediately share!

05/21/2026

Patients are researching you before they ever call to book.

They're looking at your website, your Google profile, your team page. And if what they find doesn't feel warm, welcoming, and professional, they're moving on to the next name on the list.

For privately owned practices, that first impression matters more than ever. You built something personal. Your photos should show that.

A branding session for your practice can include:
- Fresh headshots for you and your team.
- Office photos that help new patients feel comfortable before they arrive.
- Images that show the human side of your practice, not just the clinical side.

Better photos mean more trust. More trust means more booked appointments!

If you own a private practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut and your online presence could use some love...let's talk!
Send me an email at [email protected] or visit melcolvinphotography.com to learn more!

📷 Mel Colvin Photography

*Photos taken during branding session for Eyediology Vision in Providence, Rhode Island.

05/19/2026

Hi everyone!

It’s been a while, and I wanted to hop on and let you know 1. I am still here and booking portrait sessions and weddings! and 2. I need a quick favor!

When I think about why I do what I do, it's people like you that come to mind. Getting to show up for my clients and freeze the moments that matter most to them is genuinely my favorite thing in the world.

I'm a finalist again this year for Best Photographer in the Valley Breeze Voices of the Valley awards, and I'm so honored to be in the mix alongside some truly talented and amazing photographers!

If you feel like sending a little support my way, voting is open for just 3 more days!

Click the link and scroll down to Photographer: https://www.valleybreeze.com/votv26/ #/gallery/?group=533314

No pressure at all. Just grateful you're in my corner!

With love,
Mel

04/14/2026

Wedding season is almost here and I am READY!
I have a few select 2026 dates still available for weddings and elopements in RI & MA. If you have a friend or family member who is still looking for their photographer, send them my way! I would love to be part of their day.

Tag someone who needs this or drop my name -- word of mouth means everything to me and my small business. 💛

https://www.melcolvinphotography.com/social-links

04/13/2026

This wedding lives rent-free in my head!
Oceancliff, Newport, RI…end of the reception, everyone inside, just the two of them under that arch. We did this in about three minutes so they could get back on the dance floor and it’s still one of my all-time favorites! That arch.. 🤤
Getting married in 2026 and still searching for your photographer? I am SO ready to chat about your day. Click the link in bio to connect!!

04/01/2026

Hey friends! I'm hosting a Headshot Mini Session Pop-Up on April 7th at Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, RI. Professional headshots for just $199 + tax in a fun, relaxed environment. No stuffy studio, I promise.

This is perfect for anyone who's been telling themselves they'll update their headshot "soon." Realtors, small business owners, coaches, job seekers, you know who you are!

Only 4 spots left and the event is Tuesday. Would love to see some familiar faces there!

👉 Book here: https://www.melcolvinphotography.com/headshot-mini-pop-up-event

Please share this if you know someone who has been talking about needing a new headshot, or if you have a new hire in your office that needs an update!

HEADSHOT MINI POP UP EVENT - Rhode Island Branding, Wedding & Portrait Photographer