From her first darkroom class at the age of 13, Melani Lust knew her life’s work would be creating imagery. Growing up in California, Melani’s photographic ambitions led her to become the international documentarian for her large extended family. Capturing her family’s most exciting events on film, Melani recognized the beauty and significance of preserving moments in time. Her ongoing involvement in charitable work in her family’s native Mexico not only provided moving subject matter, but also taught her how to position herself in the right place at the right time, for the most expressive shot. Her childhood sowed the seeds of creativity and expression, of empathy and awareness, and of her philosophy as a photographer.
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After high school Melani immersed herself in another passion, the performing arts, moving to New York to study modern dance at the Alvin Ailey School. Working for a period as a professional dancer gave Melani an experience which deepened her understanding and appreciation of the human form in composition and line, an inherent elegance which is manifested in her photography. She went on to formal education and through her studies at NYU, on a full scholarship, she earned her BA in art history and an MA in fine arts, magna cum laude. Melani took from her studies a sophisticated understanding of aesthetics and, specifically, a sensitivity to the elements of composition and expression that results in a moving work of art. Melani subsequently returned to her first love, continuing her formal photographic studies at the ICP in NY.
Melani continues to stay professionally inspired by taking on photojournalistic and editorial assignments worldwide, shooting regularly for Connecticut Bride, Westport Magazine, Greenwich Magazine, AtHome Magazine and Architectural Digest, among others. Her exhibition in Havana of large scale images of pre embargo autos taken in Cuba gave her worldwide press and recognition. Continuing exhibitions of cancer survivors throughout CT have been featured in the press, including News12. Melani is honored to have received the awards of “Best Wedding Photographer” 2010 and 2011 in Fairfield County by the readers of CT Magazines.
Known for her glamorous, yet natural and classic approach to composition, Melani’s energy and passion know no bounds. Melani’s artistic vision will capture those moments with documentary candor and preserve them for couples and future generations.
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