Melissa Jill Photography

martin zuckermann - Thank you x 3! Melissa, Well, I had been away for some time doing so many little shoots, but I now realized how much I've missed in the last month, hard to keep up with so many new entries!, but I love it cause it's almost like a "reality", and being very much child-like, I love the pictures mixed with letters of your comments, it's a story-telling-venture for me. While I was in Texas I bought the "E Myth", boy, boy, boy!, what a great jewel, thank you SO mucho :) And, yes, loved all the graphics, it also helps me understand the scary world of Blogging. martin

Truc - Melissa, I love this post. Thanks for sharing. I love your blog and will keep coming back for more.

Emily - Your Heart's Desire - Love the comment "You talk TO us and not just about yourself" that is a perfect way to put it and I wholeheartedly agree.

Alicia - PS: Not everyone will like my work. Not everyone will like me. But thank goodness, there are plenty of people who do! : ) Those are the ones that I want to invest my time and energy in. It's kind of like that previous blog that you posted....and I wrote something back about the difference between Monet, Michaelangelo and Picasso. I personally can't stand Picasso...but there are plenty of people who would pay thousands of dollars for his work. And likewise, I love Michaelangelo, but some would say that they can't stand his work--that it's too gaudy. But God made people's styles and tastes different and my job is to service those who like my style in photography. I can't constantly morph myself into everything that people want. How would I set my work apart as something that I love? That I created in a style that I want to present to others? I love that you can not worry about stuff like that! Thanks for reminding me to be true to myself, Melissa! : )

Alicia - "I don't write a post and analyze what people will think of me when I write it. If I did that I'd go crazy!! I can only be myself and everyone can take it or leave it. It's the reality of life and it's the reality of the blog world. For those of you who own a business or write a blog - regardless of whether or not you are a people pleaser - I would encourage you to do the same thing. Be yourself and take a stand for what you believe. As a business you won't succeed if you try to be everything to everyone. But if you present who you truly are, you will likely attract the right clients and a set of amazingly encouraging blog readers who like you for who you are." WOW... I almost don't know what to write, I'm speechless. That touched my heart so much and brought tears to me. Such a good reminder to this woman who's been working at breaking out of that people-pleaser mode. I can hear positive feedback from a bunch of people and then receive 1 negative comment and stew on it, letting it become the only thing that I can focus on. It's so hard, but I'm trying to focus on the overall positivity I'm receiving instead of the 1 or 2 negative weights that anchor down my enthusiasm for photography. This was such a powerful reminder! I'm going to print it out and post it up on my bulletin/inspiration board. Thank you! : )

Heather Corporan - "this is a quality that God didn't bequeath to me" I wish sometimes he hadn't 'bequeathed' that quality to me : ) But it's so nice to know someone out there appreciates that as an actual "quality' : D Just another reason I like you - you're so likeable. I wish I had my very own MJ out here in NH : D Great idea for the survey - and by the way, you are the ONLY blogger who has ever responded to my comments!!! So climb up that tower and enjoy the view (but only for a while k! lol)

Sandra - I am always deeply moved by your words and photos almost equally. Your ability to bridge real life and business through this blog is so inspiring. I've wanted to do the same for a while now, but find the idea of combining the two worlds scary.

Martin in Quebec - Oh Melissa, you just pulled my first comment in about a year, guess that should give you a reason to redo your graphs! I'm touched you took the time to read my thoughts and a little shy you posted some of them. Stil, I was looking forward for your results and it's great. I was very surprised how much hight was the percentage of Photographer / Hobbyist we were.It really proves you are a reference in wedding photography. Thank you Melissa, you made my day... aaahhh, let's make it a week!

Kristin Conk - Just the fact that you sat down and figured out all of the stats shows what a giving person you are! You actually care and want to share and you certainly deliver when it comes to content on your blog! You are such a sweet and amazing person, i hope to get to work with you again sometime! I am saving up for the MJ 2 DAY!!!