Melissa Phillips is a Los Angeles-based photographer, award-winning filmmaker and creative director. She photographs subjects with an editorial eye — capturing unguarded moments and shaping real reactions. Some images are candid, others are composed, but they all reflect how people show up when they feel seen.

Melissa’s background in documentary work, journalism and creative direction informs how she works: with attention to context and a belief that small moments can carry the story. Her work spans North America, India, and Haiti, where she’s been documenting subcultures and micro-economies since 2011 as part of a long-term project. Her photography focuses on underreported stories and unique communities, offering a counterpoint to common narratives of poverty and marginalization.

In Los Angeles, Melissa collaborates with the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN) in Skid Row, capturing stories centered on housing justice and human rights. She’s created short films for social media and is currently directing her first feature documentary in Slab City, California. The film explores personal themes of family, belonging and the meaning of home.

Whether you're a brand looking for an intimate connection with an audience, an organization hoping to tell a story through portraits, or an individual who wants images with feeling, focus, and a point of view, Melissa brings documentary experience and a director’s eye to every session. She’s available for both commissioned work and personal bookings — including portrait sessions, pop-up studios, events, short films and more.

Melissa holds professional memberships with ASMP, NPPA, and SPJ.