A Brief History

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Born in Phoenix, Az,  I grew up in Los Angeles, CA, where I was given a brownie box camera by my dad. That started the whole thing. In High School I had a great mentor, my cool photography teacher, Mel Menkin, who continued the trend towards my future profession.

From there I attended CSUN, UCLA, and Art Center College Of Design in Pasadena, after which I began my freelance career in photography.

I started launching my career with clients such as New West and Big Beautiful Woman magazines, the LA Times, Billboard, Variety, The Breeze (The magazine of the California Yacht 

Club, where I became  the photographer until moving to Oregon), 

More LA clients included Domino's Pizza, IBM, ISWM,  Axis, and Currents (The in-house magazine for the Marina City Club in Marina Del Rey ), where I was the staff  photographer while continuing to do  headshots for the many actors that form the mecca of Hollywood.

Working with such clients as Renta-Yenta (Lila Greene and Toby David), I began photographing celebrity  parties of amazing magnitude, such as following an eighteen piece marching band  through the LA airport welcoming a gentleman home from Europe,  a midsummer nights Christmas put on by Oleson Lighting, complete with elephants and acrobats, and a Bob Hope TV Special in Frank Lloyd Wrights' Ennis-Brown house.​ 

One more fantastic  Renta Yenta event followed a 50th birthday party from LA,  to a San Francisco and back for a night of  frivolity.

I was also lucky enough to work with David Mirisch Enterprises. The Mirisch family are film  producers and David used Hollywood Celebrities ​to do fundraising events all over the world. I met and photographed many celebrities while with him. I am proud to say I am back working with David as an Oregon Associate bringing celebrities to Oregon for Benefits, Fundraising, Parades, Openings, and more.

 Here are some names of note ~ Richard Simmons, Pat Boone, Dick Clark, Gary Larsen, Dinah Shore, John Carradine, Florence Henderson, Lyle Azado, Terry Porter, Jerome Kearsey, Mr. Blackwell, Grace-Lee Whitney, Matt Groening, Michael Curry, Will Vinton, Gus Van Sant, Bill Plymton, Ed McMahon, Hal Linden, Barry Morse, Norman Corwin, Prince Muhammad of Jordan, Chuck Jones, Martin Sheen. Dr George Fishbeck, Anthony Quinn, Ray Bolger, and Dick Van Dyke, Danny Elfman, and many others throughout the 28 years of photographung the Portland Creative Conference.

My first Porland connection was with a fabulous acting agency WE (Wilson Entertainment owned by Kathy Wilson), 

I have continued to be part of some great  organizations such as PATA (Theatre) and OMPA ( Film ,TV), and the Lake Oswego Chamber Of Commerce.

Since it's beginning in 1990, I have been the photographer for the Portland Creative Conference, started by Will Vinton and continued by Steve Gehlen (Keeping The Arts).

Getting into Ecommerce, I am the photographer and PR for Oregon's Music Center (owned by Steve Esagui) in Lake Oswego,

It's great have a varied clientele such as fundraisres, start-ups, theatrical agencies, musical organizations, businesses, portraits  (people/pets), events, and public relations. ​

A Slice Of Life At The Marina City Club

Photography by Melody Saunders

Redefing Success  Women's Unique Paths by Nancy Johnson

Photography  by Melody Saundsers

From Rage To Courage by Michel Monnot

Many PR photos by Melody Saundser Photography

Merely Players: The Scripts by Barry Morse ( Edited by Tony Wynn and Robert Wood)

Front and back covers photographed by Melody Saunders

Birds Have Feelings Too 

Written by Lynora Saunders  Photographed by Melody Saunders

A Bone On MY Pillow by Melody Saunders

Adopting Joy by Colleen Kettenhofen

Cover  and author photos by Melody Saundersv 

The Longest Trek by Grace-Lee Whitney (Star Trek)

Author photo by Melody Saunders

Dump Your Therapist, Stick Out Your Tongue by Melody Saunders

It's Funny About Fitness 

Written by Lynora Saunders 

Cartoons by Dick Saunders 

Photographs by Melody Saunders