If there’s one word that sums up my time with Ballinger, it’s collaboration. The Ballinger team operates with an impressive sync—designers, architects, and strategists working seamlessly across the many (many) layers of each project. Each turn down a new hallway revealed a different group deep in conversation: brainstorming, sketching, problem-solving, and building ideas together in real time.

Sometimes, photoshoots get treated like a box to check: schedule a shoot, get the images back, update the website, post a few times on social media, and move on. 

Brand photography isn’t meant to be one-and-done, well planned and executed photography is meant to last.

Photos have the ability to shape how people perceive your brand, build a level of trust between your brand and consumers, and in the end, play a part in whether or not someone engages with your content over time.

This fall, I had the chance to visit Merion Mercy Academy again, and it was such a great day on campus. The goal for this shoot was to refresh their photo library with a mix of classroom candids and lifestyle shots featuring students. We had a solid plan going in, but left plenty of room to move things around and capture moments as they naturally unfolded.

As 2025 wraps up, I’ve been sitting with a lot of gratitude and reflection. Every year teaches me something new, but this one felt especially defining. Not louder. Not busier. Just clearer.

This year wasn’t about chasing more. It was about refining what already matters: how I work, who I work with, and why I do what I do in the first place.

Here are a few of the biggest shifts that shaped 2025.

Getting the call from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia made my heart skip a beat. I love traveling and learning about different institutions and communities. Marymount was looking to update their branding photos, so we settled on a shoot day this fall, and then two more in the coming spring. Exploring a new campus and uncovering its hidden gems is one of my favorite parts of this work, and Marymount was full of them. Marymount’s campus is a cozy 21 acres built into a hill, and I just LOVE the way the buildings interplay with each other. From elevated walkways and a maze of staircases to light-filled hallways – smiling students and faculty were quite literally around every corner.

Corporate photography has changed a lot over the last decade – even in the last few years things seem to have picked up the pace. It’s not just about headshots or event documentation, today’s corporate visuals play a more strategic role in branding, communications and overall marketing. And they compete in a very busy visual marketplace. Check out how companies and photographers are adapting to new expectations and storytelling trends in 2026.

If you know one thing about me, you know I am a BIG fan of dogs. I am partial to boxers (I’ve had five), but any dog is a good dog in my book. When North Penn Animal Hospital was working on a new website and updated brand and called ME to update their photos, I was unbelievably excited — I don’t think I’ve ever answered an email faster. Offer me the chance to spend the day with the team in Lansdale and pet every dog I could find?? Dreams do come true.

When you invest in hosting an event, whether it’s a conference, gala, fundraiser, retreat, or company celebration, you’re doing a lot more than just having a party. When you host these events, you’re creating an opportunity to tell a story, market your brand, and create a  connection with your audience. Professional photography turns these moments into marketing assets that you can use long after the event is over.

At Melissa Kelly Photography, my team and I help organizations capture the energy, emotion, and intentionality behind your events so you can leverage those photos across platforms year-round. Here’s why professional event photography delivers such a strong ROI.

Back in October, I had the chance to photograph “Contested Frames: Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples Confronting the Colonial Gaze” at the Temple Anthropology Lab & Museum. It was one of those projects that stays with you long after you pack up your gear.