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.

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.

The campus of Holy Family University came alive as the institution officially launched its new campaign, “Bold Vision: Empowering Futures. Transforming Lives.

Widener University Homecoming weekend is always a good time! Last year we had picture perfect weather, so we were due for a little drizzle this year (while inconvenient for the event, made for some memorable photos)! This year, MKP team member, Theresa, ran with the show and did an amazing job capturing every event across campus, both big and small. I’m so thankful for the incredible team I’ve assembled over the years. Their professionalism makes sure every client experiences the same high-quality photography we’re known for.

The transition to corporate work wasn't something I planned in the early days of MKP. (If I’m honest, I’m really not much of a planner, I’m more of a “recognize your opportunities and seize them” kind of gal.) It happened gradually as I began exploring what else my photography could accomplish beyond documenting life's big moments. It didn’t take long to I realize that the skills I was using while shooting weddings and portraits had many more applications than I imagined.

Last month, the Drexel Dragons traded textbooks for paddles as students from LeBow College of Business’s Executive Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) program took to the river for a day of dragon boat racing.

It’s probably true that most people don’t get excited about annual reports. But they can be exciting, especially when they are telling a real story - and great photography is one of the best ways to deliver that message.

Whether you’re wrapping up a big year or sharing your organization’s long-term impact, your visuals can do more than just “fill space” between the numbers. Here’s how to make your annual report photography feel intentional, human, and story-driven.