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Melanie

You know those days when you are at the mall, navigating the
gleaming isles of the sweetly smelling make up counters with a double stroller,
trying hard not to look like the hot mess you know you are?   You’d
like to avoid the make up counter altogether because it screams of how
unpolished you currently look.  But,
alas, because of where you parked you have no choice but to walk past the make
up counter to get into the mall.   –>

 

 


–Those were the days I would try my best to keep my one-year-old
twin boys and their “big” 2-year-old brother contained as we made our way
throu gh the mall.  “Arms in boys, arms in boys!”
–>

 

Typically make-up counters aren’t hanging out ‘welcome’
signs for the crazy train we were passing by!
In fact, the reception was often chilly.
I get it.  Who wants grubby little
fingers all over those nice displays!
Not to mention fragile glass plus little boys = recipe for D I S A S T E
R !!

However, the make up counters at Towne Mall were different;
there were always smiles.   Specifically,
there was always one woman who stood out as an absolute ray of sunshine without
even knowing it.  When I would pass by
the Lancome counter I was always greeted warmly with a ‘Hello, how are
you?  Oh look at those adorable boys!!  Hi boys, how are you!!??”   She
would ask my boys questions and always have some word of encouragement for me
as we passed.

I’ve gotta be honest; I was blown away.  It felt as though someone was actually
welcoming us to the mall!  At the make-up
counter of all places, who knew!!   Our angel in disguise was Melanie, the beauty
you see featured in this Couture blog.   I quickly forgot how disheveled I looked; I
forgot to worry if my boys were wrecking anything; I just relaxed.

 

 

Everyone who knows Melanie knows what an amazingly kind and
gentle person she is.  She exudes a
genuine compassion that sets her apart wherever she goes.   Her magnetic personality is something that
endears her to everyone who crosses her path.

Melanie pours herself in service to all around her.  She is a giver.  So for her to be on the receiving end of
being pampered was foreign territory for her!
Every time she’d try to get up and help with something I’d tell her,
‘sit down and let us take care of you.’  This was her day to “Unveil her Cinderella” instead of stepping into that role for everyone else!  She got to sit back and enjoy while my stylist Jill did her hair and then stepped into her portrait time to create a wide variety of looks…some editorial, some vintagy, some fine art feel like the one above…some that will bring a wide smile to her mom like below!

Melanie and I share a common passion:  to reveal the deep inner beauty we see in all women.  We share a desire to strengthen
women for the heavy loads that life requires of them by helping them realize their own strength.

 

Melanie is also an avid gardener and loves to get her hands
in the dirt.  Combine all that with
Melanie’s creative artistic side and an idea emerged she was hoping to see come
to life in portraits.

Melanie was excited to include some vintage items, like her
compact and records.  Records are a
passion she shares with her son Alexander.
Alex is Melanie’s whole world.
Alex is funny, creative, a jokester and her inspiration for keeping her
light shining brightly daily!   She
literally beams when she speaks about him.
She is raising a gentleman who honors women and will be her pride and
joy her whole livelong life!

 

Melanie wanted to create something unique which spoke of
life to her.  She loves the symbolism of
trees, their strength, their rootedness and she sees women in the same
way.  My assistant Hayley enjoys drawing
trees so she set about the task.   Epitomized
in a portrait:   her love of gardening, her love of
strengthening women, her love of art, all married up into an idea that started
in her imagination.

 

Melanie loved the feeling of this portrait….she actually stepped back out of her dressing area to tell me what she saw.  She saw her having just finshed a performance and she was stepping back stage to get into her next costume….LOVE that she sees the stories to images we create!  I have always been a storyteller with my portraiture so you can imagine how delighted I was by the stories she saw in all her portraits!

 

My portrait clients know what a high value I place on
boutique client care.  If you are looking for
the same thing for your cosmetic needs, stop by and see Melanie at the Lancome
counter—you’ll be so happy you did!  Tell her “hi” from Jennifer when you do! 😉

  1. Sandy Shields says:

    I am totally in awe! Melanie is so gorgeous, both inside and out! These pictures truly capture who she is! Jennifer, you can be so proud of your work!

    • Jennifer DiDio says:

      Thank you Sandy—I am in love with Melanie’s gallery because I do feel it is such a beautiful expression of who she is…;)

  2. Sarah Gscheidle says:

    My mom is good friends with Jill’s mom, and I love looking at your photos. I had the pleasure of working with Melanie in the makeup department in Belk a few years back, and she is one of the most awesome people I have ever met in my life. These photos are absolutely beautiful and I’m so glad Melanie had the chance to be treated like the princess that she is! <3

    • Jennifer DiDio says:

      Awww, that’s awesome Sarah! I think everyone who bumps up against Melanie thru this life counts themselves fortunate! Awesome to hear you enjoy following my work—thanks for the kind words! 😉

  3. Dawn deKozlowski says:

    I am the proud and very fortunate Mom of Melanie. How can one express the awe and pride in their child so it doesn’t sound like any other parents familiar boasting – when you know that there is something very special there? Mel bel has always been her own person and very creative in every way…she really can do Anything she wants to do, she is that gifted. She has always been "comfortable in her own skin" and everyone is drawn to her humble, kind and caring ways. I just love her so very much and I want to thank you for making her feel beautiful and pampered because it is something she provides to everyone else all the time. Your pictures have captured my beautiful daughter in your artistry, and I appreciate all that you have done. Thank you for letting my daughter shine – it is what she does best! Dawn deKozlowski, proud Mom

    • Jennifer DiDio says:

      You have soooo very much to be proud of and it’s so apparent that Melanie is passing on all the wonderful deposits you made into her life into Alexander’s life as well! No greater joy for a mom than that! It was my pleasure to create this portrait experience for your baby girl! Yes, she does shine, like an angel!! 😉

  4. Beth says:

    I am Melanie’s Lancôme vendor representative and I am thrilled to see the beauty captured in these images. I have had the pleasure of working with Mel the past few years of her long career with Lancôme and she is the quintessential example of generosity and luxury service. I’m am awestruck…….by what Melanie does everyday with the clients she loves so much and by the beautiful spirit captured in these photos. C’est Magnifique!

    • Jennifer DiDio says:

      That’s awesome Beth! Isn’t it wonderful to see Melanie on the other end of services focused solely on her! Thank you for your kind words and sharing your awestruck! Lancome is very fortunate to have Melanie as part of their team! 😉

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