Capturing the Heart Behind the Words: A Branding Session with Author & Poet Melissa Whiteford St. Clair

Some photo sessions go beyond portraits — they capture a story. Photographing Melissa Whiteford St. Clair was one of those moments.

Melissa grew up near the Mason-Dixon Line and spent 30 years moving with her Marine Corps family before planting roots in South Carolina. Deeply moved by the rise of social injustice, she turned to poetry as a way to process and respond. Her first chapbook, Home Work, was published on Harriet Tubman Day (March 10, 2021) — a tribute to the woman who inspires Melissa’s own mission for justice and equality. Her second collection, Heart Work, followed on Valentine’s Day 2023, reflecting her belief in empathy and healing through words.

Behind the lens, I witnessed the passion and purpose that drive Melissa’s writing. She isn’t just an author and poet; she’s a truth-seeker whose work carries forward Harriet Tubman’s legacy of courage, justice, and freedom.

This branding session was about more than photos — it was about honoring Melissa’s voice and giving her a professional presence to match her mission. Her poetry is art with impact, reminding us that our gifts, whether words or images, can be used to spark change.

✨ Explore her collections Home Work and Heart Work and join her in carrying the mission forward. https://whitegirladvocacy.com/