The transition from high school to college is a significant milestone in a student's life. This transition can be fraught with challenges, with one of the most prevalent being the "summer melt" phenomenon. Summer melt is the phenomenon where students who intend to enroll in college – who may have even made a deposit or attended a summer orientation – fail to matriculate in the fall, often due to various barriers encountered during the summer months. According to a study from Harvard University, the rates of summer melt range from 10 to 40% of college-intending students, meaning that hundreds o ..read more

Summer break is a time of relaxation and rejuvenation for many college students, but it can present challenges for colleges and universities striving to maintain engagement during this downtime. With students scattered across the globe and many campus activities on hold, how can colleges keep their communities connected and involved? We'll explore how institutions can maintain engagement during summer break and keep their students connected, inspired, and informed. Host Alumni Events and Feature their Success Stories  Summer break is an opportune time to highlight the achievements of alum ..read more

I think a lot of us can agree that COVID created some kind of time warp where 2020 feels both like a lifetime ago and somehow also like it was just yesterday. In the evolving education landscape, classroom images can quickly become outdated and when VSB reached out to update their mask-free image gallery for the first time since pre-COVID I was pretty excited to jump into the classroom and get to work.  Before diving into the classrooms, I collaborated closely with VSB’s marketing team to outline the objectives and vision for the updated images. We worked out a two-day schedule that allow ..read more

As businesses evolve and market landscapes shift, more and more companies, organizations, and institutions are revamping their brands to secure a competitive edge.  A Hanover Research study found that 75% of companies did work on their brand between 2020 and 2021. A 2022 UpCity survey found that 51% of businesses had changed their branding since Covid-19 began.  Whether it's adapting to changing consumer preferences, repositioning in the market, keeping your brand current, or revitalizing a brand's identity, embarking on a rebranding journey requires careful consideration and strateg ..read more

While my work brings me all over the east coast, nothing makes me happier than getting a call from a local business in my hometown. Wes Carver Electric has been owned and operated in little old Lansdale, Pennsylvania since 1999. Before they were ever clients, I have walked my dogs past their building on Broad Street a thousand times, and seen their signature vans all around town serving the community. They gave me a call in November to take some professional team photos to update their website. Wes has been a returning customer for several years, and understands the importance of incorporating ..read more

At the end of January, Villanova University hosted their 9th Annual Women in Tech Conference and asked me to document this impressive event. A chance to document women doing incredible work in the technology field (or any field for that matter)? YES PLEASE. Villanova invited leading innovators in the technology field to their campus to discuss AI-powered applications, sport analytics, digital health, machine learning and other emerging tech ventures. There was a long list of talented speakers, many of whom are Villanova alumni (a great way to encourage alumni engagement). Their keynote spe ..read more

As the seasons shift, so do the visual landscapes around us. But what about your website and social media platforms? Is it time to refresh your online presence to reflect the current season? With Spring on the horizon, here are some compelling reasons to update your website photos with the changing seasons. Audience Engagement Maintaining a consistent branding message is crucial, but sticking with the same images indefinitely can give the impression that your company, business, or institution is stagnant. While completely overhauling your brand images multiple times a year isn't practical fro ..read more

It’s Women’s History Month! All month! What better opportunity is there for me to highlight some of the incredible and influential women I have worked with over the years (and there have been many). One of these phenomenal women is Jill Bodensteiner.  Jill Bodensteiner has been the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Saint Joseph’s University since 2018. Not only does she lead the Hawks’ 20 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s varsity sports, and the University’s Campus Recreation Department, but she also helped to create SJU’s Beyond the Hill initiative to develop student-athletes i ..read more

In today's fast-paced and digital world, establishing a strong and unified brand image is crucial for businesses looking to stand out in the market. While logos, color schemes, and messaging of course play a significant role in brand building, one often overlooked element is the power of team photos. Now more than ever, consumers are looking to connect with the people behind the brand to develop a more personal connection. Whether it’s stylized headshots or on-the-job candids, capturing the essence of your team through professional and authentic photographs can be a game-changer in creating a ..read more

I’m so fortunate that my work allows me to meet many talented individuals in industries across the board. In November, we were invited to be a part of the two-week event “When Heaven Meets Earth: Experiencing Taiwan’s Sacred Statues” at Saint Joseph’s University.  Chen Zongwei 陳宗蔚, a prominent statue carver from Taiwan, flew 8,000 miles to Philadelphia to take part in an artist-in-residence program on campus. To see Zongwei’s artistry in action in Taiwan, usually means adding your name to a four-year waitlist, but for the students at Saint Joe’s (and our team at Melissa Kelly Photography ..read more