Melissa Arlena Photography

$$$ • Photographers, Session Photography

Charlottesville, Virginia
(434) 218-3558

Reviews

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  • Julie Brock
    Feb 2025

    Melissa's SEO expertise and photography expertise is a level above the rest. She is professional, kind, and a pleasure to work with. 10 out of 10 would recommend. I've been a photographer for 17 years, and keeping up with the behind the scenes needs for SEO year after year can feel overwhelming. She took great care with my long-standing website, and I'm thankful for her knowledge and know how!

  • Genevieve Ainslie
    Feb 2023

    Melissa has photographed my family multiple times, starting with my oldest's newborn photos, and I love every set of photos. She knows how to shoot under any lighting condition, makes you feel incredibly comfortable, and is great with kids - even when they don't feel like cooperating. She is also highly communicative and just great to work with in general. I always know I'm in good hands when we hire Melissa.

  • Amanda M.
    Jan 2023

    Melissa took our annual family portraits before the holidays and we absolutely love our photos. We moved from CA and was new to the area and I have been on a hunt for a photographer that fits what we were looking for. I am SO glad we found Melissa! She is so personable and with us throughout the whole session. She even made my very shy daughter so comfortable in front of her lens. We loved our photos and our friends and family did too! Definitely book her private session as it is worth every dollar spent. Memories like this last a lifetime! Thank you again for the wonderful photos and I can't wait for our next session!

  • Amy Bender
    Jan 2023

    I am in love with the Christmas photos Melissa did for my boys!! She was so kind and made my boys feel at ease right away. The background and set were beautiful and Santa and Ms. Claus looked like the real deal!! These are by far the best Christmas photos I’ve ever gotten! Never again am I going to a mall Santa. The images were so bright and colorful and I get so many compliments from friends. I’ll be going back to Melissa for family photos next :)

  • Mary Holsinger
    Jun 2022

    Not only did Melissa do an AMAZING job photographing our wedding, but we have gone back again and again for family photo shoots as well! She is truly gifted and a wonderful person too!!

  • Heather Riley
    Jun 2022

    Melissa was so patient with me, my husband, and our toddler. She has an amazing eye for making you look effortlessly beautiful and knowing the best time of day for photos. We discussed the humidity for the day we originally planned and decided to try the following morning to avoid the sweaty photos especially for a VERY pregnant momma haha her photos were gorgeous, she has an amazing personality that makes you feel comfortable from the first conversation, and she will not force you to take poses (PDA poses were a no go for my hubby) but still get the pictures you envisioned! All with minimal effort from you. She's a Rockstar!

  • Christina Neiduski
    Jun 2022

    We were so lucky to find Melissa to take infant photos of my baby boy! We were scheduled at the height of COVID so there was a lot of uncertainty, but Melissa was extremely communicative and understanding. Since the first session we have had three additional sessions for family photos throughout the year and every single one has been amazing. She is a miracle worker behind the camera- my son lights up when he sees her and she captures the most incredible photos! I cannot say enough amazing things about her and her photography skills- you will not be disappointed!!

  • Nicole Hoffman
    Jun 2022

    We did our newborn session with Melissa. She made us feel so comfortable and the pictures really show that. We also love the details she captured of the nursery.It’s been amazing to look back and have these really amazing photos from such a special time. And we were lucky to get one of her cherry blossom mini sessions before she moved to Florida!Highly recommend for anyone looking for natural, bright, family photos!

  • 허한나
    Jun 2022

    Melissa is the best. I love natural style photos and she captures all those precious moments of our family in a natural and tasteful way! We had two family sessions with her, one in our home in last winter celebrating my son's first birthday. We had another family session out door this summer. Both sessions turned out amazing, they are so adorable! I highly recommend her, you won't regret!

  • Jenna
    Jun 2022

    Melissa is a pleasure to work with and master of her craft! The images from our family shoot came out great. And she was patient and helpful with our son who was only six-months old at the time! She knows all the tricks to get a baby smiling. We enlarged one of our photos to a canvas that we put up on a wall in our home. I cannot recommend Melissa enough.

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Melissa Arlena Photography

, Charlottesville

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Hours

Monday: 9AM - 5PMTuesday: 9AM - 5PMWednesday: 9AM - 5PMThursday: 9AM - 5PMFriday: 9AM - 5PMSaturday: ClosedSunday: Closed