Hello Beautiful Souls,

It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Okay… maybe more than a minute. But if you’ve been wondering where I disappeared to, the short answer is: life happened. The long answer? Well, grab a cuppa, because I’ve got stories to share.

📸 Behind the Lens: Shoots & Stories

I’ve been knee-deep and very selective about taking on photo shoots that resonate with my style and goals lately—some planned, some spontaneous, but all have been entirely soul-filling. There’s something magical about capturing a moment that whispers a story, especially when you’re working with people who are just beginning their photography journey. Did you know that I’ve also been creating YouTube videos specifically for fellow female photogs over 45 (because yes, we are absolutely allowed to start fresh and fierce at any age). These videos are my love letters to you—packed with tips, real talk, and a whole lot of encouragement (Melissa Mills Studio is the YouTube channel where you can find me).

One thing I keep coming back to is storytelling through photographs. It’s not just about the perfect lighting or the sharpest focus—it’s about emotion, connection, and truth. Whether it’s a wrinkled hand clutching a coffee mug or a child’s wild hair caught mid-giggle, there’s a story waiting to be told. And you, dear beginner, are the perfect person to tell it.

🎓 A New Chapter: Research & Reflection

In a twist I didn’t see coming (but maybe always dreamed of), I’ve started my research degree. Yes, at 52. Because why not? It’s stretching me in ways I didn’t expect—mentally, emotionally, and creatively. I’m been diving into a particular topic that makes my brain buzz and my heart race. It’s exhilarating and exhausting and absolutely worth it. True, I am only at the beginning….. but that’s how all great stories begin right!?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family, Chaos & Love

Home life? Oh, it’s a beautiful mess. Between work, shoots, editing, and research, there’s dishes piling up, dinners that are more “assemble and pray” than gourmet, and moments where I just sit in the car for five minutes of silence before walking in the door. But it’s my chaos. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

📝 Writing to Stay Sane

And then there’s the writing. Every day, I scribble, type, or voice-note whatever thoughts are swirling in my head. It’s my therapy. My release valve. Because if I don’t, I swear I’ll explode into a babbling ball of tears and tangled emotions. Writing helps me make sense of the noise, and sometimes, it even helps me find the poetry in it.

I’ve started a ‘Questions’ Journal. What is a question journal you ask?? Let me share this insightful practice with you Friend… First – buy a beautiful thick journal! The kind that makes you WANT to write in daily, this is important (I selected from the Japanese paper range – Midori. They are minimal, lovely to write on and beautifully made). Second – once a day, every day, spend some time to ask yourself a question, then write your thoughts down (and if you can’t think of questions to ask yourself, don’t fret! Pinterest has a HUGE number of really deep and meaningful questions that you can ask yourself, no matter the journey that you are currently on – love, life, self-fulfilment and self-discovery.)

It doesn’t matter the type of question; what matters is the way the pen feels in your hand as it starts to bleed out ink onto the paper. How your wrist sits on the paper, like it’s gently supporting you so your words can flow freely…..and that you are putting down your thoughts, in that moment, about how you feel. I promise you, once you begin this practice and do it daily, you will grow and expand in ways that you didn’t know that you could!

So yes, I’ve been away.

But I’ve also been becoming. And I’m so glad to be back here, sharing it with you. If you’re a woman over 40 or even over 50, and you’re just starting your photography journey, know this: you are not late. You are right on time. Your story matters. Your lens matters. And I’m cheering you on every step of the way.

Let’s keep creating, connecting, and capturing the beauty in our messy, magnificent lives.

With love and light, Mel