Melissa Engle Photography

I have been playing with a camera since the tender age of 12 when I started having my friends over for photo sessions in my backyard. By the time I was in high school I was photographing senior portraits and doing freelance for the local newspaper. I continued to pursue my photography interest in college where I majored in Studio Art with a concentration in photography and worked as an assistant wedding photographer.

From 2005 to 2009 I was blessed with the opportunity to work as staff photographer for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a non-profit Christian relief, peace and development organization. During those four years I traveled to 26 countries telling the stories of MCC through images.  Many of the photographs in the travel album were taken on assignment for MCC’s magazine a Common Place.

Most recently I spent one year volunteering at the Cultural Center of Batahola Norte in Managua, Nicaragua where I taught photography classes and workshops to children, youth and adults and became a huge fan of chocobananos (chocolate covered bananas).

I use a story-telling approach to my photography and my favorite subjects are people. I find great beauty in the faces and stories of the people I meet and I hope my images can help viewers find a connection with the people and places in my photographs. I am based out of Lancaster, PA but willing to travel wherever my camera will take me.