Today we’d like to introduce you to Tennille Melcher.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Tennille Melcher and I am the proud owner of Romantic Moments by T. I have been a professional photographer for over 12 years, a proud wife, mother, and call Franklin, TN my home.
Sometimes it feels like my journey began much much earlier. My Grandpa Sam was a World War 2 Air Force Staff Photographer and though he passed away before I was born, I feel like he is with me every time I put my camera around my neck.
In my earlier years as a photographer, I photographed women in Music and Fashion and enjoyed the experience, but always felt like there was something else out there calling my name. It wasn’t until early 2016 when a friend asked me to take Boudoir pictures of her that I knew I was hooked.
I have spent the past 5 years building something that is more than just another photography studio, rather a safe place where individuals and couples can be themselves without judgment.
Boudoir is such a personal form of artwork so every project is unique to match their personality, style, and creative comfort.
Sometimes a couple may be looking to re-kindle the spark, or a wife is wanting to do something different for her husband’s birthday, or even a recent divorcee who just wants to feel sexy again.
The reasons, methods, and inspirations may be different, but I know if I can get them out of their shell and let their real personalities shine, my mission was a success and the camera is able to capture their raw inner beauty.
By helping clients break through their own exterior shells, I help them discover the true inner personality that is photographed and will live with them forever. Grandpa Sam’s old slides are still with me 75 years later and a constant reminder of how powerful our profession can be.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a Boudoir photographer automatically comes packaged with its own challenges. Todays’ society still has many stigmas on what happens behind bedroom doors so naturally, a photographer who helps capture intimate scenes or personal moments would be included in some of those stigmas. Whether it’s somebody who thinks I shoot “porn” (I don’t) or those who make sure all their friends know “they would never take those kinds of pictures” (and then book a session the next day), Boudoir photographers seem to have our own unique set of experiences in addition to the “normal” challenges that photographers deal with on the day-to-day.
It was much more challenging for me in the beginning as I wasn’t used to that type of criticism, but the amazing thing is that as I became more experienced and confident in what I was doing, it seemed the “noise” either stopped altogether or has been drowned out by the positive comments and reviews from current and past clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I wish I could tell you more about my work but since I don’t feel like I am working when I am behind the camera, I will focus more on why I am so passionate about what I do.
I think we have all heard some variation of the phrase that “to be truly happy, we must find what we love to do and then figure out a way to make money doing it.” I always thought it was more cliche than anything else – and then I discovered Boudoir Photography.
It had been almost a decade after becoming a photographer when a friend asked me to take intimate photos for her husband. I had already done a Boudoir shoot for my husband years earlier so I dusted off my old pictures and used them to help me with posing and lighting. What I didn’t know at the time, was how much I would enjoy Boudior photography and it has been my passion ever since.
Ever since that day, I have challenged myself to become not only a better photographer but to learn how to help my clients express their individual sensuality and rekindle the romance with themselves. No matter whether it’s a couple or an individual session when they feel more confident about themselves, it always shows on the camera. My favorite part of the day is when they see an untouched photo on the back of the camera and they reply with “Oh my G-d, is that me?”
My true passion is for helping people find their confidence and self-love and I just happen to use the camera as the instrument to remind them just how beautiful they are. We all get bogged down in the day-to-day and it’s all too easy to forget how special and unique we are.
Looking back at this amazing journey I have been on, I know there are far more experienced photographers in the world who have done this for far longer, but when I can make my client feel like they are the most beautiful person in the world, I don’t need to be the best photographer to capture that rare moment their life when they aren’t worried about being judged or shamed and can just be themselves. If I had to pick my “superpower”, it would be my ability to make others feel comfortable enough to open up and be themselves for the first time in a long time (if ever).
In addition to my custom-built indoor studio that provides multiple scenes to shoot from, my client wardrobe currently has over 200 unique pieces which can help alleviate some of the stress clients may have when they feel they need to buy the perfect outfit for their shoot.
Always looking to bring more value and magic to my sessions, a gorgeous new 450 sq foot studio/greenhouse almost 40’ long is nearing completion and will offer additional outdoor scenes such as hanging benches, outdoor showers, and tons of greenery that can’t be found inside indoor studios, I am calling this and the surrounding area Romantic Gardens and we are planning on an early Spring 2022 launch!
Not only am I excited about the new outdoor studio, but I have already been getting reservations from previous clients for new Spring outdoor sessions before we are even done with construction!
I guess you can say my passion is passion and I’d like to think it shows in everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Email: tennille@romanticmomentsbyt.com
- Website: https://www.romanticmomentsbyt.com
- Other: https://www.momentsbyt.com
Image Credits
Romantic Moments by T
