MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Mel Usry on Capturing the Beauty That’s Already There
Documentary-Style Photographer, Educator, Mama of One, and Quiet Observer of Life’s Most Beautiful Moments
Mel Usry
Mom to a 15-month-old boy, lifelong lover of photography, and the kind of creative who sees magic in the mundane, Mel Usry is here to help families feel their memories—not just see them.
Through her documentary-style photography, Mel offers families, couples, and small business owners a rare gift: the freedom to be fully present in the moment while she quietly captures it all. No posing, no stiff direction. Just the deeply human, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of connection that lives in the small gestures, sideways glances, and shared laughter.
“What I want to be best known for is giving families and couples the permission slip to be fully present... to just live the moment, knowing I’m there to preserve the profound beauty that already exists.”
The Pivotal Moment That Changed Everything: From Teacher to Photographer, via a DSLR and a Baby Boy
Growing up, Mel didn’t have entrepreneurs in her orbit. Everyone she knew had “regular” jobs—corporate roles, government work, or teaching careers. So naturally, she became a teacher too. And for a while, that path worked.
But burnout crept in. The long hours, the emotional labor—it all started to wear. During the pandemic, like many moms, Mel got a glimpse of a new kind of possibility.
“COVID hit, and I was like, ‘OMG, working from home is giving me life!’ That’s the seed that planted the idea of a job that would let me be home more.”
She didn’t dive straight into photography. First, she pivoted within education—into a tech coaching role that gave her a taste of creative autonomy. Still, something felt unsettled. That’s when a chance hand-me-down from her dad—a DSLR camera—sparked something old and new.
“I always loved photography growing up, but hadn’t done anything with it since college. When my dad gave me his old camera, that’s where this journey began.”
And then she got pregnant. A long commute, a growing belly, and a newfound hobby collided into a single, soul-stirring question: Can I actually make money doing this?
Finding Her Why: A New Mom’s Eyes, A Newfound Purpose
When Eli was born, everything shifted.
Mel was in it—fully in love with her baby, obsessed with documenting every coo and cuddle, capturing it all with her phone camera. But one thing was missing: herself in the memories.
“I loved taking photos of Eli more than anything in the world. But rarely did anyone get photos of me in return. I had to ask. And you know dads—love him, but getting the photos I was craving is not his specialty.”
That’s when the mission crystallized.
She didn’t want to take posed family portraits. She wanted to give moms what she wished she had—photos that reflected the feeling of the moment. Intimate, real, emotional memories preserved without anyone needing to stop and pose.
“Those are the kind of moments I want to capture for other moms, dads, grandparents. I don’t want to take picture-perfect images. I want to take real images.”
And from there, her business took root—nurtured by motherhood, inspired by connection, and held up by community.
The Power of Community: How Made for Mothers Helped Her Start Before She Felt Ready
The idea of launching a business was intimidating. Mel had no roadmap, no business degree, and no clue where to begin. But one conversation with her hairstylist led to her first branding shoot—and although she says she still felt like she didn’t know what she was doing, the momentum had started.
“That’s when I got connected with Made for Mothers. And I realized—I don’t have to know everything. I just have to start.”
Inside the Virtual Village, Mel found the support, strategy, and sisterhood she needed to stop waiting for perfection. She realized that what made her work special was exactly what she was already doing: showing up fully, honestly, and compassionately.
“Made for Mothers showed me that I can do and be both. I can still be a great mom and love my family and start a business. I don’t have to give up one to have the other.”
Behind the Lens: Mel’s Work, In Her Words
Mel is an expert at observing and anticipating emotion. She doesn’t choreograph moments—she waits for them. And then, she captures them in a way that feels like memory.
Her sessions are quiet, thoughtful, and intentional. Whether she’s documenting a tender morning with your toddler or the behind-the-scenes buzz of your business, she offers imagery that goes beyond visuals. Her photos feel like something.
“I believe the small, everyday things are what make up a life. And too often, they live only in memory. My job is to preserve those moments for you.”
Alongside family and couple sessions, Mel offers Behind the Brand shoots—authentic, behind-the-scenes storytelling for small businesses. No stock imagery here. Just you, your passion, your process—captured as it truly is.
How She Makes It Work: Motherhood + Business = Building Between the Margins
Like many CEO moms, Mel’s business isn’t her only gig. She’s still working full-time in education while raising her son and growing her photography brand. But her approach to balance is grounded in clarity and care.
“I build my business between the margins of our life.”
Here’s what helps her stay grounded and inspired:
Therapy for healing and mental clarity
Open communication with her husband to make time for work without guilt
Phone-free time with her son as a daily reset
Creative solitude—quiet moments to reflect, notice, and create
Letting go of perfection so she can show up as her whole self
“Spending uninterrupted time with my son fuels me. That commitment gives me the energy to keep pursuing this dream.”
A Final Word from Mel
“Your life, exactly as it is, is already beautiful. You don’t have to perform for the camera or wait for the perfect moment. The love, the connection, the everyday chaos—it all deserves to be remembered.”
Whether you’re a mom, a couple, or a small business owner, Mel’s gift is helping you see what’s already there: the beauty in your ordinary, the story in your now.
CONNECT WITH MEl
Follow her: @melusryphoto
Book a session: www.melusry.com
Join the community that helped her grow: Doors to the Virtual Village are always open. Click here to step into the room built for you. Your seat’s waiting.
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about YOUR HOST
Hey, I’m mariah
BOY MAMA and MADE FOR MOTHERS CEo + FOUNDER
My claim to fame is burning my multi-six-figure marketing agency to the ground when my son was born in order to create the village I needed so badly as a CEO & mom. I felt deeply alone, and I knew there was a better way! And guess what!? I figured it out, moms just need to be deeply rooted for, seen by, and surrounded by other moms!
If you're NEW to the Made for Mothers community, just know that his table is long and wide, there are plenty of seats, no cool girls, no gossip, no aggressive networking, no stressing if your babies can tag along... we're mothers first, and wildly ambitious entrepreneurs second AND you belong here!.
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