
Melani Lust (CAS '95, IFA '99) is a wedding photographer who was recently voted "Best Wedding Photographer" for the fourth consecutive year in Moffly Media's annual Best of the Gold Coast edition. Here's our Q&A with Melani, and a glimpse at some of her amazing work.
Who is your favorite photographer?
Henri Cartier Bresson, the father of candid, photojournalistic photography. He had the best eye for composition and capturing that "decisive moment" which is the hardest, most rewarding capture of all.

My studies in Art History are indispensible to my work as a photographer. I can always hear, in the back of my mind, the lectures by Robert Rosenblum talking about the shifting planes of geometry and merging the 2nd and 3rd dimensions in a composition, Linda Nochlin talking about realism, rawness and grandeur, and Marvin Trachtenburg talking about the lines of architecture, particularly helpful when photographing in cathedrals. My background in art history has given me an appreciation in form, line, light and composition that informs my approach before I click the shutter.
Has the use of iPhones or Instagram affected wedding photography?
I love the new technology! iPhones are great for couples who want to share photos from their wedding day with anyone they come in contact with. I use them also for all of my "scouts," where I send photos to the bride and groom of the locations where I wish to photograph. There are some problems with them, however, such as guests at weddings who try to capture every moment and step in front of my lens to do so and those who spend the wedding in front of their iPhone, instead of enjoying the moment (guests in front of their iPhones makes for very poor photos). I am indifferent concerning Instagram, yet I know it is well loved by many, and my couples also use it for sharing their wedding photos.
A three day Indian wedding here in CT and NY. It was quite a sight to photograph the groom in full regalia, complete with sword, arriving on horseback with his dancing friends and family members surrounding him, all in traditional Indian clothing. It was incredibly beautiful and stunning, with the bride in full henna and a Sari and jewelry from India. The wedding had a fun sense of humor, such as the children hiding the shoes of the groom during the traditional Indian ceremony. What a treat to know that these wedding traditions have been the same for thousands of years!
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