PHOTOGRAPHER | Melody Joy Co.

Edinburgh-based photographer Melody Joy Co. shoots in digital format as well as 35mm and instant film and is passionate about monochromatic photography. She loves traveling between the US and UK regularly throughout the year to capture beautiful weddings for couples in love. Melody Joy Co. aims to make your day lighter, sweeter and seamless, while guiding you to the best backdrops and lighting locations.

Tell us about Melody Joy Co.!

Melody Joy was my given name at birth. Melody is my first name, Joy is my middle name and I surprisingly get asked that a lot. My worship pastor father thought that I would be a bit more musical than I actually am. As for my photography work, I initially started using photography in my web and graphic design work, then doing photography for commercial clients and events and then eventually was asked to start photographing the friends and couples around me. Upon realizing the meaningfulness in those moments, weddings stirred my creativity and passion more than other kinds of photography. So I've niched down to only documenting couples in love, who tend to be style-led lovers who resonate with my modern edge style and love of monochromatic photography. 

What would you like couples to know about you?

A little bit about me personally, I love Korean Dramas, a solid cup of single origin filter coffee (Geishas or anaerobic  especially) and all things Housewives. I tend to start talking with a lot of passion about these things. 

Where are you based?

I'm based in Edinburgh, Scotland, but travel regularly to the United States, as I am originally from there. Specifically, I still frequent Chicago, IL regularly throughout the year. 

Do you travel for weddings?

Yes, traveling is how I stumbled upon my now husband and how I found myself living in Scotland. So yes, I absolutely love traveling! I think that the creativity of photographing in a new venue in a new city or country that I've never shot in before, only makes the photos more interesting and unique. Besides the US and UK, I have regularly photographed weddings in Italy, Spain and France, but am happy to travel anywhere to document love and you and your loved ones having a good time. 

How would you describe your style?

I am a fairly laid-back person and love to be in the background most of the wedding day to capture natural moments and candids, but I love to encourage the sass or unique personalities in my couples to come out during their portraits. Other parts of the day, though, I just focus on little moments of interactions between their loved ones and trying to capture details from an interesting perspective, but the composition will always remain focused on unique lighting and connections between the humans in the frame. 

What is your most memorable career moment?

It was more like a memorable year in my career, and that was this last year for me. I moved over to Scotland from America about 5 years ago when my (Scottish) husband and I got married, and I remember saying that when we got engaged it would be nice to have more weddings in Europe, just to be closer to home, and even more so that we just had a little one last year. And I love traveling to the States, don't get me wrong, but when I moved over initially to the UK, almost 90 percent of my weddings were still in the States, and now it's about half in the UK/Europe. Which is perfect for me, as I'm closer to home, in Edinburgh, most of the year, but still can work in the States often, which gives me reasons to see my family and friends there often!

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by fashion in magazines and editorials in places like Violet Book, The New Order, ID, and Paper Mag, architecture (lots of styles, like Frank Lloyd Wright, modern brutalist and even Georgian), cinema (Korean dramas) and minimalism from timeless monochromatic films and tv shows. 

How would you describe your working style?

I strive to read the room's emotions constantly, as I never want to mess up the emotional flow of the day. If you're having an intimate moment with someone, I wouldn't mindlessly grab you for a photo, but grab a few candids and circle back to see if you're ready for portraits. I think that you, as the couple, should enjoy your friends and family on one of the most special days of your life, and while I am always conscious of the timeline and always stay within it, there are few minutes for life to take place vs being too rigid and throwing off the vibes of your wedding day. All in all, I want to be sensitive to your emotions, and I just want to make your day lighter, sweeter and seamless, while of course still knowing where all of the best backdrops are as well as where the best light is shining through at all times. 

Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?

I love both! Although I photograph mostly on digital, I always have film as an add-on for any couples who want memories in 35mm or instant film photos on their wedding days! Most couples add on film now, which is so lovely to have the diversity of what both formats can bring in preserving memories from your wedding day. 

Do you have custom packages according to individual needs?

I have three Wedding Collections and two Elopement Collections in my Pricing Brochure, but also have an "A La Carte" page that has hourly rates if someone wants to add hours or customize hours for other events on the wedding weekend, like a welcome dinner or day-after party. 

What is a favourite product or service that you offer and why?

I love that every photo I deliver is in both color and black and white. I personally will most likely share the black and white versions, but I do think it's nice for the couple to look back at the color tones of their wedding day years from now and generations to come to see the color palette that was chosen or the fashion details of guests outfits or florals or the sunset in color. 

Where would you love to travel to for work?

I would love to travel to any of these places for work (but honestly just planning on going either way in the years to come for holidays) to Seoul, South Korea, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, and Stavanger, Norway where my Grandpa was born and where my dad's side of the family is from. Also, I love visiting Mexico, where my mom's side of the family is from and it would also be lovely to photograph a wedding there one day as well!  

Who is your dream client?

A dream client or couple for me, is someone who fully connects with my work and is inspired by how I capture a wedding day. When there is full creative trust, the photos always turn out amazing and is a more chill and relaxed experience for everyone on the wedding day, to the editing and then to eventually grabbing dinner (as I often do with my couples), because we end up as actual friends afterwards!

What is your advice to couples getting married?

Listen to your heart... just like Roxette says. Not just about relationships, but about all things related to your wedding. Don't let outside influences deter you from what you really want to do and really go with your instinct on who you trust for every vendor and part of your wedding day. The more trust you have in everyone, the more relaxed and present you will be on your wedding day with all of your loved ones.

Melody Joy Co.

Website: melodyjoy.co

Instagram: @melodyjoyco