Meet Melissa Sweredoski: Photographer & Publicist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Sweredoski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, what do you attribute your success to?
The success behind Moments by Mel is fueled by my passion for people. In all aspects of my life, I connect with people. I don’t see any of my jobs as work, rather an outlet for my skills and natural personality. I have been working in communications for nearly a decade and when I am with a client, they get all of me. Moments by Mel highlights my ability to not only take a good photo, but to understand a human to their core and capture their essence in a still image. Whether you’re looking for branding or a family portrait, there are little “moments” that I capture which set clients apart. My success comes from connecting and understanding this on a deeper level, so I can help them reach their goals. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My life mantra is “Never stop learning. Never stop exploring.” This mentality has led me to more opportunity than I would have ever imagined. I believe that every single day you should be getting at least 1% better in an aspect of your life. The compound affect that has will blow you away. My professional journey really was catalyzed by my move to Fort Lauderdale in 2015. I didn’t know anyone when I moved here and knew I needed to connect with people instantly. Being in the communications field, I naturally talked to everyone who would hold a conversation with me and saw each person I met as a genuine opportunity to learn from and grow with. That’s just what happened! Flash forward to 2020 and I am the Vice President of PR for Levy Public Relations and just launched my own photography business, Moments by Mel. A few of the greatest things I have learned are that you have to be endlessly enthusiastic about everything you do, give a damn about the work and the people, push yourself beyond your own limits and manifest everything into reality. Once you free yourself from your own expectations and realize you create your own destiny, you’ll see your life start to change before your eyes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This might be my favorite question…My friends and colleagues have joked for years that I am the Mayor of Fort Lauderdale. I love to have my finger on the pulse of South Florida and absolutely LOVE the direction the area is going. With that being said, a few of my favorite places to eat are Heritage, TeeJay Sushi, S3, Big City Tavern and Takato. I love a good cup of coffee and usually hit Wells Coffee Shop, Sip Java and Grind Project as go-to’s. A few good places to have a quick hang session and/or catch up on work are JB&C, General Provision, The Dalmar Lobby and Ann’s Florist. You can usually catch me on the weekends on the beach in Lauderdale by the Sea, paddle-boarding the inter-coastal or shopping local at Wandershop, Flamingo Flea or Sunnyside Up Market. I love exploring and visiting new parks, too (especially when scouting for new photoshoot locations)!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout the small business community in Fort Lauderdale. I’ve been SO FORTUNATE to have a growing group of stellar entrepreneurs and collaborators who’ve helped me along the way, especially supporting me early along my journey.

Website: www.momentsbymel.com
Instagram: @moments.by.mel
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissasweredoski/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momentsbymelphotos