Melissa is the owner of Belladonna Images in St. Charles, IL. She is a Internationally published makeup artist and you might find her on a local set of a movie being filmed in Chicago too.  Melissa's first love though was photography so it was an easy step when she decided to pick up her camera again and be the head photographer as well at Belladonna Images.  "I love that I get to spend a good 45 minutes to an hour first with my clients hands on by doing their hair  and makeup. I find that to be such valuable time spent with my clients, this is when I get to learn their story, their why they walked through my studio doors and not another photographers. Other than a few clients so far every client that has walked through my studio doors was supposed to. A Boudoir photoshoot is about so much more than the images for most clients. It's about finding themselves again about seeing that they are beautiful and sexy and have so much to offer the world.  A lot of clients are coming out of relationships that tore them down or maybe have been dealing with a chronic health issue that has depleted them. I understand it all and can relate and most times even sympathize with them.  I too have a story of survival and it touches on all points from being the survivor of domestic violence, mental health issues, chronic physical health issues and the child of an alcoholic.  I always say this and I truly believe it and have seen it happen. There can be more of a self esteem transformation in a 3 hour Boudoir shoot than sometimes happens in years of therapy. Something about being in the studio and being fully exposed to a stranger gives clients such a I'm taking my power back moment, it's truly magical to experience it."  When Melissa isn't in the studio she's at home cuddling with her pup Lulu Belle and probably binging Netflix while cooking a new prop idea for the studio. Melissa is a mom to her 21 year old son Nick who she can always be seeing being his biggest supporter of his new clothing line Sterlina Apparel and her 14 year old daughter Sela who can be known for stealing mom's clothes already and she's not in high school yet.  Oh and we can't forget the new furry addition to the family Mr. Bunny a dwarf Lion Head bunny.