Melissa Riordan

I’m a nature and wildlife photographer based in Los Angeles. My intention is to capture and share the beauty of nature and wildlife to inspire connection, reverence, and love for our beautiful planet as well as create a sense of serenity within the viewer.

I started photography when I was working as a trauma psychotherapist in Kansas City. Most of my clients were foster children. Some of them had been victims of unspeakable abuse. The world started to feel so ugly to me at the time. A friend of a friend was looking to sell her Nikon. I had always loved taking pictures so I decided to buy it. I then spent all of my free time out in nature photographing landscapes, flowers, birds, etc.

Spending that time in nature and my passion for photography truly helped to balance my perception of the world at that time. It also taught me regardless of what is going on in the world or our lives, we can always find the good and the beautiful if we are looking for it.