Real Story – Page 3 – Charleston's Premier Boudoir Photographer

2020 New Year

Mell Bell and Wanda the photographers and founders of mellBella Photography

Happy New Year from mellBella! It’s 2020. It’s a new year and with that it means there fresh excitement for change, hope, and love. For growing, dreaming and achieving, building a better world filled with justice and love, making positive connections, for surviving and getting through, gratitude, and as always kindess.

We don’t know what all this new year holds. Some people say 2020 is the year of clear vision…haha. But we have some ideas and dreams that we look forward to bringing to you this year.

Our motto for this year is timeless advice:

“If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else!” RuPaul

Thank you for your trust, your support, and just being yourself. To 2020!

mellBella Photography, 2018

She’s My Hero- December

As we come to the end of the calendar introductions, we couldn’t imagine a nicer person than Jennifer to end the year with. Meet Jennifer. She will be December in the She’s My Hero Calendar. Jennifer succeeds at two demanding jobs. She is a hardworking RN AND an incredible wedding coordinator. She has been married to her sweet husband, Brian for 4 years. They absolutely love and spoil their awesome dogs! Jennifer’s hero is someone she’s know her whole life and is very close to her heart. Thank you again to Paperdolls Wedding Hair & Makeup for creating the final hair and makeup look in our calendar. It was perfect!

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When Mell Bell and Wanda created the She’s My Hero Project back in January, we wanted to raise awareness and funds for the Center for Women, meet and team up with fellow businesses (especially women-owned ones), and tell the stories of local women to bring together, inspire, and celebrate women. We got to meet so many new people and work together to take our BIG idea from a dream to a reality through this year long project. The journey has been difficult but worth every minute. We hope you will join us at the celebration and reveal on Wednesday, October 10th from 6-9pm at Boone Hall.

mellBella Photography, 2018

She’s My Hero- November

Meet Mell Bell. She is 39 year old Mom of a 7 year old daughter. Mell meet her husband in college at USC. She is the Co-Founder of mellBella and has been with Richard Bell Photography for 13 years and a professional photographer for 10 of them. Mell Bell is very passionate about Humans Rights and Equality. Just wait until you see who her hero is, think way back for this one! Thank you again to Sarah Pearson Artistry for going back to the 1800s for the hair and makeup styling.

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The She’s My Hero Calendar Launch Party to benefit the Center for Women is next week! We’ve been keeping the calendar TOP SECRET, and on Wednesday, October 10th the BIG reveal will happen at Boone Hall from 6-9pm. However, we did give exclusive information to Skirt Magazine. Be sure to check out their October issue in print or online for some sneak peeks.

mellBella Photography, 2018

She’s My Hero- October

Meet Wanda who is representing October in the She’s My Hero Calendar. Wanda has been married for almost 30 years! She got married at 17 to her high school sweetheart, has 4 daughters, and 1 newborn grandbaby. She loves Alice in Wonderland, tea, good music, record collecting, and tattoos. She perseveres and always has a plan. You may recognize her from her work at mellBella Photography (that’s us) and our brother company, Richard Bell Photography. Thank you so very much to Sarah Pearson Hair & Makeup Artistry for her time and skill in getting the makeup just right for Wanda’s hero. Her hero is a modern day fictional character who uses her strength and intelligence to save her community.

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The She’s My Hero Calendar Launch Party is next week! As part of our Silent Auction, we will have 12 professional canvas portraits, representing each woman from calendar, up for bidding. We want you to be there and celebrate with us. Get your FREE tickets at:

And be sure to check out the October issue of Skirt Magazine! There will be some sneak peeks into the heroes.

mellBella Photography, 2018

She’s My Hero- September

Meet Sherry. She is a 37 year old mother of 4 children including a set of twin daughters. She works as a full-time Bookkeeper/HR Rep AND a part-time college student! She loves her family and outdoor activities. And if you love corny jokes, she’s your kinda friend! She about to be married this November! Her hero has a truly incredible story of perseverance and strength. Thank you so very much to Sarah Pearson Hair & Makeup Artistry for creating this lovely look to honor her hero.

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October 10th is just around the corner, and if you haven’t gotten your FREE tickets yet for the She’s My Hero Calendar Launch Party, now’s the time. Get Your Tickets HERE

Our brother company, Richard Bell Photography, will be documenting the whole event through photography and videography. To add to the evening, they are bringing their Gifyyy Photo Booth–a super fun Photobooth that takes animated Gifs and texts it to you to share on social media. We love the Gifyyy so much! Here’s one the Wanda and I created at a wedding a few weeks ago.

Be sure the check out our Silent Auction Sneak Peak Album, and we’ll be posting more photos there next week. We only have 3 more introductions to complete our calendar, and we just approved the final proofs of the She’s My Hero 2019 Calendar at the printer’s today. Shout out to Daniel and the team at local printshop, Knight Printing and Graphics! They have provided such a great experience, and we look forward to picking up the final product before the BIG EVENT.

mellBella Photography, 2018

She’s My Hero- August

Meet Amanda representing the August 2019 in the She’s My Hero Calendar. Amanda, her husband and their one year old are new to the Charleston area. They moved here from Cow Country, Pennsylvania. Amanda is a freelancer, work at home mom. She is studied dance and can still get up on her toes in her ballet slippers! At the big reveal Calendar Launch Party, you will immediately recognize her hero who was as fiery and fun as her birthday month of August! Thank you so much to Paperdolls Wedding Hair & Makeup for perfectly capturing this icon’s look.

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We’re so thankful to Justin Wham Weddings & Events for sponsoring and coordinating the She’s My Hero Project Calendar Launch Party. Owner Justin Wham and his team are a HUGE part of making this event not only look great but go smoothly as well. Remember the event is ONLY 2 weeks away. Dress is casual or business casual, but we welcome you to come just as you are. The color for the event are purples, lavenders, silver, and white, so feel free to dress in those colors, if you like.

Did you get your tickets yet? While the event is FREE to attend, you just need to register at the link below. Come ready to have fun, purchase a calendar, bid and win at the Silent Auction, and/make a donation. The calendars will be $20 and a suggested donation at the door is $20. Of course, it’s not mandatory, but after all, it is a fundraiser. All proceeds go to support the Center for Women. Get your tickets NOW!

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