Modern Photography

We've been to three "boutique photographers" here in Denver and six in LA, but none deserve the recognition I'm about to give! You know the drill. At first my wife was skeptical (as usual) and the kids were unraveling in a sugar fed frenzy, bopping all over the place, distracting me and leading toward a somewhat embarrassing rescheduling. Then a male assistant (which was a nice surprise) was summoned and surprisingly he both calmed and occupied my children when others would have failed. He got them to smile even laugh. I was impressed. Together they directed the shoot, were organized, communicated smoothly, and to us it seemed they really liked each other AND what they were doing for us. HUGE. Best of all, there was none of the "I don't need your business" attitude like most of the other successful high end photographer/artists we've hired. The two of them liked what they were doing and it was contagious. Not a hint of boredom. I could feel a good energy in the space and something about the lighting and even the smell of the place was remarkable. It felt good to be there. The wait to see the work was not unusual and we actually looked forward to going back. We were surprised, but then not surprised, that Melanie did the sales presentation. She owns her work and takes pride in all of it. She did a first rate presentation. The pieces we purchased for our living room and foyer are stunning. Flawless. Lastly, my wife jokes about calling her assistant when our children are out of control, and I agree. I highly recommend Melanie, her studio, and I applaud her for finding a male assistant that gets it! Pros: The vibe. The atmosphere. The couple who run the place. Everything about it. more

Melanie Smith has done multiple sessions with my two kids over the past few years, and produced some truly incredible photos, including a couple of beautiful large prints on canvas. Not only has the experience been relaxed and fun for me, but more importantly, the kids have a blast. Melanie does a wonderful job putting everyone at ease, which makes her sessions a real joy. Even with young, restless children. And at a very reasonable price. I continue to be thrilled with the final product, which will be cherished forever. I will be back often as my children grow. A great experience. more

My wife and I decided on Modern Photography, after reviewing a number of alternatives. We have twins, and were looking for real "pros." We are completely thrilled with the results we received. We found the service to be incredibly professional, the staff was warm, friendly, and excellent with our children (it's obvious they love kids; they are well prepared). The quality of the prints, framing materials, and overall professionalism far surpassed anything else we've found around Denver. (We've had portraits taken on three other occasions.) We loved the projected presentation of proofs. If you're in a hurry and looking for cheap, quick, photos, this is not your place. If you're looking for heirlooms of fine artistic quality, you really can't do better. The work is of exceptionally high quality, and it takes time. (If you have a bad attitude going in to an experience like family photography, you'll probably get what you came for.) We all collaborated so well on both the individual shots, and the family portrait. We will definitely be going back every year for them to photograph our twins. If I could rate Modern Photography with more than five stars, I would. Pros: Beautiful, convenient studio. Wonderful, professional staff. GREAT final product!! Cons: None more

We visited the studio based on a postcard we got in the mail. The session was ok - she didn't seem to be able to connect with the kids. She definitely did not connect with me - her remarks when we arrived a few minutes late made us feel as if we had arrived late for an audience with the pope. The process for picking some photos was very good - projected on the wall she had selected a decent set of shots, and we were able to pick out our favorites. This of course leads to what turned out to be amazingly expensive framed photos for which we don't own the copyright. Finally, after another 6 weeks we have to set an appointment to pick up our stuff. No, can't stop by - you need an appointment. So if you have a deep checkbook and can deal with artist attitudes, she might be a choice. I have not recommended her to any of my world. more

I was referred to Lucy Dare from the Best of CitySearch awards. Recently, I visited her studio, looked at her work, and scheduled a session for my children and myself! I am so excited because her portraits are so beautiful. Finally! I will be getting portraits done by a professional, award winning photographer, not an inexperienced department store employee. Check out her website and decide for yourself. I did! more

We were referred to Lucy Dare by friends of ours with a newborn. They were so pleased with the portraits and service that we decided to give her a try. We were not disappointed. She was great with our kids (including our two year old) during the session and really put us all at ease. The final results exceeded our expectations. So we were really happy overall and highly recommend Lucy Dare Photography. Her studio is beautiful, too! (Our last year's portraits were from the place at the mall and we weren't very happy with them.) more

Tapestries, large canvas prints and in-house framing, convinced me to hire Melanie. The best fine art and portrait photographer in Denver. Melanie worked with me to create portraits of my family that every guest and relative raves about. I was really surprised to see her fine art displayed throughout the Luna Hotel in Denver! Great personality! Pros: Patient & Passionate, High Quality RESULTS more

What a wonderfull experience. The session was relaxed and very fun. That warm and happy energy is right there in the final prints. I couldn't be more thilled with our photos. We will cherish them for a lifetime. more

Melanie Angela Smith handles each protrait with the utmost of care. She is a true artist and makes you feel right at home. The way she is able to capture the spirit of a moment is amazing and her work truly makes the room light up when you hang it. I would highly receommend her! more