When Melissa Wright was made redundant from her job as an estate agent in 2008, she also found out she was pregnant for the second time – in the same week.
But truth be told, that was probably two pieces of good news – even if she didn’t know it at the time.
After giving birth to her second child, Melissa returned to work as a part-time estate agent in Armagh. But soon, the rigid office environment began to clash with her responsibilities as a mother. It was 13 years ago, and Melissa found herself at a crossroads, uncertain of what her future held.
“I was away from the girls so much, and I just didn’t like what I was doing anymore,” she explained. “I had to think of something else, and that’s when my friends said, ‘You’re so good at taking photos, why don’t you give it a go?'”
And just like that, Melissa, in her own words, “stuck up a Facebook page” and started sharing her photography.
“I never expected much from it at first,” she said. “I started doing family photography, and then I did a shoot with a bridal dress from Creative Ideas in Armagh. After that, I started getting wedding bookings, and that was it.”
Melissa was largely self-taught, and that attracted unreasonable criticism from others in the profession.
“I remember when I first put up my Facebook page, some photographers weren’t very happy, to say the least,” she recalled.
“It didn’t bother me much, but it made me more determined. There are loads of photographers out there, especially now, and photography is about having an eye for it. It’s not just about learning on paper, so that comment actually made me more determined.”
Her resilience paid off, and 13 years later, Melissa now holds a qualification and is a proud member – and vice-president – of the Professional Association of Photographers Northern Ireland. In June, she’ll take on the role of president.
“To become a member, you need to submit a panel of photos to expert judges within your first year, and they give you your qualification,” she explained.
“It’s a way of ensuring professionalism in a field that’s not regulated. With so many mirrorless cameras out there, people think it’s an easy job, but you need to know your settings, your business side, and how to handle the pressure of a wedding day. That’s why I really push for the Professional Photographers Association.”
Melissa and Bobby in Motion at the Carrickdale Hotel
Despite the many challenges self-employment throws up, Melissa has never considered walking away. In fact, she’s thrived being her own boss.
“I was earning more money going out in one day, doing family shoots, than I was earning in my full-time job before that. I was working 9-to-5, being away from my kids, whereas I could now go out on a Saturday, do three or four family shoots, and get the same sort of money, if not more, but still be at home to do the school pickups, the nursery runs and just be there for my girls.”
And that was a particularly important aspect of her life she needed after 2015 when she separated from her ex-husband, having been together from the age of 16.
“I was a single mum for quite a long time too,” said Melissa, who re-married in 2019. “Being a photographer meant that I was there for the girls, and I had a good support network when I had to go out to weddings to look after them.
Melissa’s 2019 wedding. Photo by Kirsty Lynn Jameson Photography
“So it works well around my family life too, being self-employed. You can pick and choose your own hours. If you have to take time off to go to a school play, you can do that; it’s your business. You work how you like, even if it means working at night when your kids sleep so you can be there for them during the day.”
Melissa, who was recently awarded the NI Wedding Photographer of the Year at the NI Wedding Awards, truly loves what she does, and that comes across to her clients.
And the work keeps stacking up, with 30 weddings so far booked for this year, not to mention her second-shoot jobs for fellow photographers. That usually entails groom prep; essentially a second pair of eyes. So, with 23 in the calendar, it’s 53 jobs in a 52-week year.
“Going out to a wedding day is so good. I’m getting paid to do a job that I love to do. I’m getting to meet loads of different people, go to different venues, and see Northern Ireland and Ireland. It’s eye-opening; we live in such a gorgeous country, and it’s so lovely as a photographer to go out and do this.”
A delighted Melissa after winning her award
Photography is, of course, much more than just taking beautiful pictures.
“The main work is at the computer,” Melissa admits, acknowledging that the editing and post-processing of photos are just as important as the actual shoot.
In a social media world, Melissa says, while it can be difficult not to fall into the pit of instant gratification, she takes pride in delivering high-quality results, ensuring that her clients receive more than just fast photos—they receive an experience.
“You’re paying a photographer not just for their time on the day but for their aftercare, for how they respect your photos and deliver the final product,” she says.
“People do expect things back so much quicker than they did 13 years ago, but it’s an overall experience.
“I think when people are booking their photographer now, a big part of it does come down to the person as well, not just the images.”
Ciara & Darren with a Bellingham Castle backdrop
Melissa tries her best to showcase herself on Instagram but admits it does not come naturally to her.
Perhaps, her pre-wedding meetings and pre-shoots – “you know, the ones the groom loves,” she laughs, make her standout.
“So when clients book me, they get a pre-shoot included in their package. I just don’t want to rock up on a wedding day and have never met the couple. I want to be able to walk in there as a friend on the wedding day, they know who I am, and they know what’s going to happen.”
Melissa says the grooms actually say those pre-shoots help when it comes to the wedding day itself; they know what to expect and “they’re not so scared”.
“I remember back, like I’m talking, even before I started shooting, you would see the bride and groom going off, and they’d be away for hours. They wouldn’t have got time to spend time with their guests, and I just think you don’t need that; 20 minutes max on your wedding day for couple portraits, and then go in and enjoy your day where your guests are—all you need.”
The rest, says Melissa, “you need to trust your photographer with.”
“I find that my clients trust me, because they have seen my work and we’ve had a good chat, and they’ve booked me because of my specific style.”
With 53 jobs booked in, Melissa tends to visit venues multiple times a year, but she does have an absolute favourite.
“Bellingham Castle in Co Louth is my all-time favourite venue. It’s the staff, the setting, the food, everything about the castle is lovely, and it’s private, so you hire it, and there’s nobody else there, it’s just all your guests there. I love it, absolutely love it.”
“And in NI, the Old Rectory in Killyman is gorgeous; such friendly staff as well. They’ve put so much work into it, like they’ve really made an amazing wedding venue, and they’re still adding more stuff onto it. So those two, definitely.”
