An invitation to share my work in a public place is always exciting. Heath and Krystal Browning allowed me two separate displays at their former Mattoon restaurant, Bidwell's. The first one was my High Note Piano Series. I used to have this glorious piano as part of my outdoor studio. Even though I stripped the varnish and gave it three coats of poly, the sun baked her up pretty good. (insert very sad face right here__). She was falling apart and quickly.

Just a few days before my sons took a sledge hammer to it, I took photos of every angle. It was a beautiful summer day and it just so happened that a few random wildflowers grew around it which made it perfect.

A few months later, Dano Reible asked if I would like to have a display at his place of business, Jackson Avenue Coffee House. (See video below). Even sold one of the pieces there!

I wanted to do something totally different from anything I had ever done before so, I created the Bearded Wonder Project. Twenty-five men volunteered to become my muses. It's my favorite endeavor to date. Once again, the owners of Bidwell's were open to my displays. I took it a couple steps further by having an event including a dinner, radio coverage, and  WCIA's ClLiving came to my studio to interview myself and one of the Wonders and aven came to the event. Jeramy Buckles was also interviewed (in a video below).

At the event, the men were available so guests could have their photos taken with them. With his harmonica, Bill Belleau entertained us all with his version of Chicken Train. It was a successful and fun time! I am still so very thankful to Heath and Krystal.

I loved and enjoyed the Beards so much that I thought decided to do a Tatted Wonders series as well. I was on the hunt for the most tatted up folks around. The most interesting and fun was Cindy Davidson of Paris, IL. She is a woman who is so colorful that you just want to stare (but don't. It's rude!) Head to toe, Cindy has tatts everywhere except her derrière (because she can't see it). I wanted to show, through my lens, what she looks like without tatts by covering her entire face and neck with makeup. Lots of it. She was not happy with it on. You can even see it in the portraits. Then, I asked her to remove half of the makeup to show the difference. It was then that her smile was coming out. Once all of the makeup was off she was all smiles. Please watch her video below.

Lewis Whitrock was a joy to photograph as well. If I would have met him while he was at work I would have never known he has not one tattoo let alone entire sleeves, chest, and full back tatts!  He has made sure that while he is at his job that his tatts are not visible.

Billie Lawrence told me that people are so surprised at how nice and mannerly she is even with all of her tatts.

Rico Thomas told me that his tatts serve as a force field of sorts. They keep most people completely away from him.

Harlo Watkins, a talented welder, created a camera out of scrap as a gift to me. I was floored by his creativity and thoughtfulness.

Moral of the story is you may never know who you encounter, who may be a walking billboard of art on their bodies. They are just more colorful, as Cindy Davidson says.

Their portraits were displayed at the Jackson Avenue Coffeehouse. Dano put a notice in the newspaper and on social media sites for the event. Cindy, Billie, and Harlo came to the event to see the display. It was a great evening.

The Gentry family came to my studio for family and maternity portraits. I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to get this opportunity. I mean, this family, they are all beautiful!

Kiaus and Alex are two balls of awesome energy! It took about twenty shots to get two of the boys looking right at me and when they did you could see a twinkle in their eyes. Being a mom of two boys myself, I can hear some saying, "That's mischief" but I don't know. Perhaps they are excited about the arrival of there lil sis.

What stole my heart was how endearing Andrew gazed at his expecting bride. I mean, a romance novel series could have been written on how he lovingly doted on her. It was a moment I don't ever want to forget. I also love it that she said, "He always does that" when I mentioned how sweet it was that his gently kissed her neck.

Jennifer is an outgoing, loves-to-laugh and a makes everything fun mamma! I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her. We laughed a lot! Check out these goofy picks I got of her while we were messing around. I'm telling ya.. she is sooo much fun!

 Jennifer just glows! I can't decide which maternity gown I like most; the white one looks so regal while the purple gown is stunning! You take a look and judge for yourself. Click on each portrait to see it fully. :)

Again, I cannot stress to you just how much fun we had together! I will leave with a slideshow highlight of The Gentry family. ((Cannot wait to meet baby girl Gentry soon!))

Warmly,

What is your favorite holiday?
Did you know there is one for almost everyday of the year? Some are traditional, some to honor special people in our history, however most are just for fun. I thought it would be a great experience to celebrate these joyous days by taking portraits of some pretty awesome kids (and adults too).

We went all around town to get these special shots. Here is a list of businesses where we got the shots you see below: Merle Norman, deBuhr's Feed & Seed, D to Z Sports, Shore's Jewelers, Burger King, The Pet Shoppe, Cole County Memorial Airport, Suite Dreams Hotel, Dairy Queen, Cracker Barrel, Mattoon Public Library, 24 Hour Gym, Mattoon Flower Shop, Daisy Lane Scrapbooking & Craft Mall, and of course, Studio 21 .

We are still working on this project so, I will upload the posts as soon as possible.

Click each image to enlarge.

Because weddings are not on my list of specialties, I always declined for various reasons. When one of your very best friends in all of the world asks you to shoot her wedding, well, you just do it.
So, I did.

David and Nina could not have asked for a more perfect day. In October at the Mattoon Country Club, the weather was gorgeous and the venue equally as much. Everyone there was bright with warm and loving smiles. It was a day I'll never forget. I am forever thankful to be asked to capture their day.

Congratulations David and Nina!!

Love your tog friend,
Melissa

 In need of updated family portraits, Karen touched base with me. She was excited because her family was going to be together for Christmas. The Amtrak Depot was her choice because she loves the architecture there. This family loves hard and laughs even harder not to mention that everyone of them are incredibly photogenic! My favorite portrait from this session is the one of them laughing together.

Our families have been friends for many years. We always enjoy getting together with them. They were pleased with their portraits when I revealed them however Karen was extremely happy when she opened the box to her prints. We are planning another family shoot in the spring for a large, wall art portrait. I simply cannot wait!

It was just this November that "Trina" the mobile medical unit, MMU, was delivered to Choices Pregnancy and Health Center and I was there to capture the ribbon cutting ceremony and blessing.

Serving Charleston, Mattoon, Paris, and Casey Illinois, the MMU is equip with an ultrasound machine. Limited ultrasounds, free pregnancy tests, parenting classes, parenting classes, and abortion counseling are all available for free.  

As you can see from the slide show, the brand new MMU features the comforts of a cozy home-like office. The staff are some of the most caring women I've ever met.

Please pray for their endeavors as they assist many women and families in the east central Illinois area.

On a Saturday afternoon in 1985, my sister took me out to lunch. We ended up at our favorite fast food joint, Burger King.It was very busy so I boldly claimed that I’d never work there. This wasn’t just any run-of-the-mill chain restaurant either. This is the ORIGINAL Burger King I’m talking about. See, the owner, Gene Hoots, opened Burger King back in 1957. Since Hoots had a federal trademark on the name they won a case to keep the chain restaurants from opening within a twenty mile radius of his. You can read more about the original Burger King’s history here.

Burger King ended up being my first real job. It was a great learning experience. We weren’t allowed to use the cash register feature that told us how much change to give back. We were required to count it back. Thankfully, a coworker taught me how.

When I first started I got the honor of grinding the onions. I honestly tried everything I could think of to stop my eyes from watering; sunglasses, pinched my nose with a clothespin, wore a handkerchief over my nose and mouth. Nothing worked. I was relieved when another rookie entered the scene.

There was never any idle time. We had a plenty to do after a rush of customers like filling ketchup and mustard bottles, writing up new numbers for drive through, and washing those aluminum ashtrays. Who remembers rolling out paper towels after the grill cooks mopped the floor? On Saturdays the former manager, Bill Douglas, would pull up to the back door with a trunk-full of packaged meat from Morgan’s Meat Market. We would take a specially designated scoop and “ball up” the meat for the infamous burgers.

The burgers have always been great however it’s the nasally number calling that is so unique. After you place your order, you are given a number. You then take a seat. When your order is ready the shift manager will call your number. For drive through orders, you would drive around the block, park, and listen for your number to be called and go back to the window. On a good day you can hear the number calls on the furthest ends of Mattoon.

It was winter of 2015 that Gene Hoots retired and sold his iconic restaurant to businessman Cory Sanders who updated most of the interior and added cool decor like the corrugated metal and new flooring. Cory has recently sold it to former manager Ernie Drummond and his wife Jodi. Back in the day, Ernie was the only shift manager who could call numbers just like Bill.

Ernie started at Burger King back in ‘77 as a grill cook. He then became a shift manager and remained for twenty-five years. He and Jodi had a unique opportunity to purchase the restaurant and boy am I ever glad they did! He has made some necessary changes to the menu options like bringing back the customer favorite, Blues Hog BBQ. Something special Gene Hoots started that has never changed are the 25¢ ice cream cones for the sports programs. Ernie told me that they now have people who are bringing their grandchildren in for those cold treat rewards just like they used to get.

Some little known facts about OG Burger King is that dollar-wise they do better than the chain restaurants without a breakfast menu. With only one little window, half of the business is from their drive-up. It’s number one seller is the double cheeseburger. I asked Ernie if his customers ever asked for unusual items. He told me that someone once asked for grilled pickles. One day the staff was looking for the cherry juice. Interestingly enough, they ended up finding it at a table where a customer was dipping her french fries in it.

Even though I claimed I’d never work there, I am sure glad I did. So many great memories and lessons learned. I truly enjoyed working with Ernie and Jodi and it thrills my heart that they are the new owners. So, CONGRATULATIONS to Ernie and Jodi! They will be celebrating their official grand opening on Friday, March 3rd. So, order up a double cheeseburger, fry, and a shake and play a game of Ms. Pacman until they call your number.

Melissa M. Harden
www.melissamharden.com

The Original Burger King
1508 Charleston Ave
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-8122

Hours: All week 9:00am - 9:00pm

Burger King's Facebook Page

Just as her grandmother, mother, and her aunt, Renee England has a love for Merle Norman cosmetics. It was 1995 when she found out the studio in Sullivan, IL was closing up. She decided to give up her office job at an insurance agency on the square and made the jump into the makeup business. She didn't realize this shop had been struggling for a while. Hoping a better location would help, she purchased a different building. Because of the failing local economy, it just wasn't doing well so, she closed it for good.

It was 2005 when Fran Whitley, the owner of the Mattoon Merle Norman, was nearing retirement and needed some operational assistance. Renee ended up working for Fran. Going to meetings and working with her, she learned the ins and outs of the trade. It was 2007 that Renee decided to purchase the Mattoon studio and she couldn't be happier! She truly loves the satisfaction on her client's faces when they are pleased with the way they look.

Keeping the staples, every single year the product line just gets better! My favorite is the Lasting Foundation, Ultra Powder, Lip Liner Plus, and the mascara primer.

If you've never been there or if it's been a while, you will be pleasantly surprised at the array of offerings. There are luxury boutique items such as jewelry, scarves, and fashion outer wear. Need a lil pampering? Merle Norman now features a relaxing spa retreat! Shannon Dearing, a licensed Esthetician, offers professional skin care services including Microdermabrasion, Merle Norman exclusive facials, body wax and tintings.

If you have a teenage daughter then you've probably heard of Renee's Merle Girl Program. Young ladies apply to Merle Norman then they are invited to come in for a complimentary make-over. Judges then decide who would best represent Merle Norman. I have had the honor to photograph the last three Merle Girls.

Now if you wanna go waaay back...

It was back in the early 80's when I first met my now very good friend and daughter of Fran, Nancy Whitley Dearing. She showed me how to apply make-up just like her mom did. Nancy always made me look good for important events like dances, nights out, and even our graduation in 1988. When I would go to her home it always amazed me that the bathroom had as much makeup as the store!

Now, back to Renee... I hope this blog has peeked your interest because Renee is awesome and the products she carries are high quality. You are going to thank me!

Blessings,
Melissa M. Harden
www.melissamharden.com

Merle Norman's hours are:
Monday through Friday 9:30am - 5pm and Saturdays 9:30am to 3pm
1608 Broadway Ave.
Mattoon, IL 61938
(217) 234-4277
https://www.facebook.com/merlenorman.mattoon/
mnlipstick1@hotmail.com
www.merlenorman.com

My favorite pizza in all of the world? Instead of telling you, I’ll give you the phone number 235-0880. Villa Pizza, Home of the Massive Pie! Here is a lil history... In 1971, Sicilian father and son duo, Sammy and Sarafino, came to Mattoon and started Villa Pizza. Sarafino’s girlfriend was still in Sicily. She didn’t want to come to the United States and he didn’t want to go back. He knew he would be required to join the army for two years. Eventually, his heart was overtaken so he decided to go back, and he joined the army so he could soon be with the love of his life.

In 1975, Sammy put the restaurant up for sale. Anthony G. Arena, also Italian and former college MVP and pro football player for the Detroit Lions, came to Mattoon from Chicago and purchased the pizzeria. Once their house sold, his son Jon came down and the two worked side by side. Jon had quite a culture shock and missed his friends. He quickly learned that he was going to love it here. Within a few short months he made some lifelong friends. Eventually, the entire Arena family came to Mattoon and helped out at the new business.

Carrying on with tradition, Villa’s beloved sausage is a secret Arena family recipe which is locked up in a safe at Mark’s My Store. The amazingly rich sauce and all of the ingredients are fresh.

Villa’s pies come in bambino, small, medium, large, family, and of course the Big Tony, plus there is the Original Stand Up Pepperoni Pizza! Pick-up, delivery, dine-in, and there is even an area for parties.
Try it...
You’re gonna love it!
Melissa M. Harden
www.melissamharden.com

Villa Pizza
2023 Western Ave
Mattoon, IL 61938
217-235-0880

My son, Chance, LOVES Floyd’s Barbershop in Tuscola, IL. Jason Armstrong graduated from the Decatur's infamous Lockhart Barber College in '15. Chance loves everything about going into see Jason from getting greeted by Conner, to the great cut with an awesome hard part, to the warm towel after a neck shave. He always comes out looking like a million bucks! Walk-ins, conversations flowing, and jokes flying is how Jason tends to keep the traditional styling alive at Floyd’s.

Da Bomb, Cuban Tobacco, and Old Time Barbershop are names of the Armstrong Gentleman’s Care product line. The all-natural beard oils, washes, soaps, and balms are handcrafted by Jason’s wife Kelsey. The ingredients Kelsey blends are paraben and GMO free. Also, they have no harsh chemicals or dyes. The men rave about these locally made products because their beards are now soft without an oily residue which the spouses love!

And... now you know why we love Floyd's Barbershop!
Melissa M. Harden
www.melissamharden.com

Floyd's Barbershop
107 W Sale St, Tuscola, IL 61953
(217) 253-9011

How well does your profile picture depict you and your desire to move ahead in your career? Is it a simple coworker snap of you or a selfie? As a professional, you should take steps toward making yourself appealing to the people who can take your career to the next level.
Do you think professional headshots are expensive? That free photo by a friend could be killing your career growth. In one click, your profile photo may or may not express your motivation to be the best in your field. With a few minutes and dollars I can help you create the dynamic images you need to attach to your social media and marketing materials. Lighting, backdrops, hair, make-up, posture, and clothing are all taken into consideration. So, do you leave that responsibility to a selfie or well-meaning friend's snap, or do you go to a headshot specialist?
People will form an opinion of you based on your headshot before they read anything you have written. A profile with a professional headshot will get more clicks than a profile without one. How professional and accessible you appear will impact the recruiters who decide your interview future. So I ask you, how well does your headshot portray you as a professional?

To say I am having fun with these pet minis is to put it mildly! I have had the pleasure of meeting and falling head over heels in love with these awesome fur babies. Each one of them has a unique and touching story. Just in case you don't know how these special sessions work... I will explain.

Your pet will get a thirty minute mini photography session with me at Studio 21 for only $49. Within a few days, you will view the edited portraits. You will then choose your favorite for a matted 8x10. Also, that portrait will be entered into a Facebook "Like" contest. The pet with the most likes wins the contest.

The winner will receive a full indoor and outdoor pet photography session, $100 studio credit, and a gift certificates to a local pet supply store.

Bugsy, Winston, Conner, Chloe, Buddy, Fancy Pants, Gypsy, Fluffy, Mystic, Marley, and Rowan will tell you they enjoyed the crazy noises, smells, and snacks here at Studio 21.

If you are interested in the My Pet Project just call Studio 21 at 217-962-0048, email at melissamharden@gmail or message me on social media.

~Melissa M. Harden

Psssssst.... our cat, Sparky, is a little less than happy to have all of this intrusion to his space. So, I won't tell him about your appointment. ;)

Let me tell you about my dear friend Nina. She is always there when I need her. Last April I decided to sign up for two events to promote my glamour photography business and she was right there to help me along. Two expos for women almost back to back! They both ended up being at the same venue too, the Unique Suits in Charleston. I should have went around and snapped some pictures of the entire place because it was so impressive.

She and I has such a good time at both events. Entertainment, dancing, food, shopping and a lot of giveaways! All the things we ladies love!

 I am so happy to have these photographs so we can look back. Click each one to read the caption. Thank you Jen Harp for most of them. :)

I wanted to create drama for this session with Tanille so I positioned my lights in a way that would focus just where I wanted them to.

The very first image took my breath away! I almost broke down in tears. It was exactly what I wanted to capture.

Then I had lit her up in other ways to showcase her hair and make-up.

My intentions for this entire shoot was to go black and white however the colors were too stunning to mute for every image. The portrait below is my absolute fave. I just adore her expression. I think she looks like a flamenco dancer.

Here is the black and white photograph I took. I love it however I am so happy to not have selected this muted format for all of the images.

Tanille has the ability to have so many different looks. A classic beauty if you ask me. During this session I got a little more creative with light and posing. Let me know what you think of these full-body images.

I offer a fine art after ever glamour session.

It's time for you to exist. in. photographs.

Call me at 217.234.2415

Blessings,
Melissa M. Harden

Starting with a bright white wedding gown, I tea-dyed it and ended up with a beautiful creamy vintage color dress for any occasion. ((take note of the fuzzy slipper and hot pink jammies))

It's a terrible cell phone photo however you can see the difference in color.

More crummy cell phone pictures... Nina up doing her hair.

Silly Nina!!

A pretty dress, BIG hair, and a drop-dead GORGEOUS Nina and this is the end result...

Thank you Nina for being the subject of this project. This portrait won 1st place in  the professional class at the Mattoon Art Council Exhibit.

Just sharing from my June 2014 journal...

Days Gone By


    Upon entering a local assisted living facility, a bright-eyed elderly woman approached  me. Since I had my gear in hand I asked if she was planning to get her photograph taken today. “Oh I am thinking about it!” she said with a smile. Her kind expression told me that she is a sweet soul. At my every glance she was smiling.

Skylor and Chance, my two sons, set up the props and backdrop. Such good workers. Not a second after the set was complete we had our first model. Thereafter, the pace was pretty smooth and quick. Hayley, an employee assisted each resident to my portable studio.

First, I take an individual portrait then we get the silly hats, wigs, glasses, even a feather boa, or some other goofy prop and snap away.  The “models” really ham it up and have a good time. Photo sessions like these can become entertainment, like a show for them. They laugh, and then applaud each and every participant. Skylor and Chance help by putting the props back for me.

My new sweet friend came up for her turn in front of my camera. Once I took her photograph I turned my camera around and showed the image to her. She had a concerned look but still pleasant. She said, “That’s not me.” I smiled and reassured her that it is her. “Nooo” she continued, “that’s not me.” Her words resonated with my soul. She knew it was a portrait of her. She was telling me that on the inside she still feels young and full of life.

She then asked if I could dance. “No. Not formally. Sure wish I could.” I admitted. As she tapped her feet on the floor, “I used to!!”. I could see the joy fill her eyes as she reached deeply into her past.

I cannot express just how much I treasure the time I spend with our older generation. So much to learn. So much to appreciate.

Here are a few lines of a song written and performed by Jon Gibson titled Days Gone By.
I can see a picture of a boy, so young. Skimmin’ stones across a tiny stream, one by one. Catch a butterfly and let ‘em go. Climb a tree so high no one will know. These are the days gone by baby...


Blessings,


Melissa M. Harden

Ok.. so you have made your consultation appointment and now you need to prepare a bit for your glamour session. First of all, I want you to know that we are going to have a lot of FUN!

Here is a list of things to consider for your glamour session:

Glasses: If you wear eye glasses and contacts, I suggest wearing the contacts so your eyes take center stage.

Hair: Do you have a favorite hat, flowers, or clips for your hair? If yes, please bring them.

Clothes: Please bring all of your clothing items on hangers and make sure they are wrinkle-free.

Dresses: This is a glamour session so please bring your evening gowns- **especially the flowy/breeze-catching bottoms that can be twirled**. If you do not have one, perhaps a friend will loan you one.

Tops: Form-fitting blouses are best.. not skin tight however shape-flattering ones. Solid colors photograph best and plaids are the worst.

Pants: I typically photograph from the waist up so please be comfortable. (yes, yoga pants are just fine)

Shoes: Same thing.. wear whatever is comfy for your feet. However.. if you have a sexy pair of heels.. bring them

Jewelry/Accessories: The bigger the better when it comes to necklaces because they do frame the face well. Also please bring, belts, scarves, bracelets, and earrings.

Undergarments: Nude bras are the best because they do not show up underneath tops where black and white ones will.

Props: If you dance, are in a sport, or have unique talents please mention those to me and I will see how we can incorporate them into the shoot.

Other things to do and consider for your session:
Please wear a button-down top, have a clean and moisturized face, clean hair (a day dirty if it is hard to hold style) for your hair and make-up time with our professional team.
Please shave under arms, tweeze stray brows, and other personal maintenance.

VERY IMPORTANT:
PLEASE.. do not spray tan the day of or the day before your session!!!!

Approximately two weeks after your session you will be invited to view your images.

Go here for my boutique packages. If you have any questions at all please call me at 217.234.2415

Blessings,
Melissa M. Harden

            Can you imagine the family below proudly holding a DISC instead of their beautifully mounted, 16x24 print? Nah!! Just think, they will have that printed portrait for the next fifty or more years but where would a disc be? Not sure, perhaps in a box somewhere in an attic or basement. One thing I do know, by that time it will be obsolete and so will be the technology to read the disc.   

            No one ever gets emotional about a shiny, silver disc yet Elizabeth, cried happy tears when she first laid eyes on the printed images of her sweet family. She knows that her printed portraits will be on their walls for their friends, family, and guests to see for a very long time. A disc well, it may get misplaced, broken, or worse yet never opened for print which the latter happens more than we know.

            I am not saying that I do not offer my clients digital files of their images. As a matter of fact I give them away! With each print my clients purchase, they in turn receive a digital image they can share on Facebook, email, or their phone.

        It is not in the best interest of my clients to ONLY get digital files. Allow me to put it into perspective... if you were to commission an artist to create a painting of your family would you rather have the finished product or a digital file for you to print later (or never)? The same goes for the art of photography. When you go to print your photographs, will you know how to color correct, manage exposure, or know the best pro lab for quality prints?  Of course not because it is my job to do those things for you.

       When you order your heirloom quality portraits with me they are printed on archival mountboard.. all ready for framing.  Then all you need to do is hang it on the most prominent wall of your home for all to see,

        For any questions, comments, or appointments please call my studio at 217.234.2415

                            Blessings,
                            Melissa M. Harden, Paparazzo