Award Winning Photographer

Melissa Polk has won multiple awards from the Intermountain Professional Photographers Association (IPPA) and the Professional Photographers Association (PPA). Breaking through in 2018 with her piece titled ____, she won the IPPA Rookie of the Year award. 

In 2019 she placed in the Court of Honor (top 5 general photographers), won an IPPA’s Elite Photographer pin for 4 of her 6 submitted images earning merits, and 2019’s Best Male Portrait, The Real Deal. She is currently working towards her Master’s of Photography through the PPA.

Melissa’s work has also been published. She has an article for the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza in the January 2020 edition of Xposer Magazine. Her work The Blazing Buckaroo was one of a select few picked for the Cowboy’s and Indians Photo Contest 2017 (2018 published), and one of her fantastic action shots was chosen for the front cover of the Rodeo News for May 2019.

Melissa’s stunning image of sunlight sparkling through snowy mountains graces the front cover of M. E. Tudor’s Avalanche of Love (2019), and her coverage of Gladius The Show was published in The Sagebrush Rider in 2018. She was published again in 2020 by the Colorado Springs Gazette’s coverage of the 2020 International Gay Rodeo.

Veteran-owned and community-centered, The Cowgirl Camera volunteers its services once a month to charity. Melissa has provided professionally edited images for many charitable events. To see if your charity qualifies or to schedule an event, contact her.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY!

 Professional and willing to listen, Melissa always goes that extra mile to get the perfect image. She has shot many different types of events, from Woofstock at Waterworld to bands at Red Rocks, so there are few situations that she hasn’t experienced.

She takes great pleasure in photographing beloved pets and family. Melissa has a special love for dogs and horses—some of her favorite photos were taken while on horseback. She enjoys catching them in their element, doing what they do best.    

Contact The Cowgirl Camera today for more information on booking your wedding, an event, or portrait sitting.

TESTIMONIALS

Cowgirl Camera is the most amazing Wedding Photographer!! She went out of her way to study the landscape beforehand so when it came time for our photo shoot, she knew exactly what poses and what times of day would yield the best light for photos!

Rachel R.

Melissa is incredibly professional and really personable. Easy to talk to and work with. So, if you have any shots you want – animal or people – I cannot recommend Melissa enough!

Joann B.

I’ve been very fortunate to see Polk in action and see much of the finished results. Stunning, inspiring, and just plain exciting work.

Peter D.

Thank you so very much Melissa Polk!! Incredible pics, especially with the challenging lighting. Your work and talent is inspiring, my friend!

Brian M.

I just have to give a huge shout out to The Cowgirl Camera for sharing her talent. Time and time again she has captured some of the best moments on these unforgettable nights. As I scroll through the photos I can remember exactly what was happening in that moment. Melissa, thank you for what you do!

Cody C.

The Cowgirl Camera was the best choice in photographer for our wedding. Melissa was amazing in understanding what photos and moments were important to us to capture and delivered. When our venue closed areas without notice of the places we really wanted to get bride and groom photos, she told us ” you have to work with what you have.” We found even better places to capture us just being us, the silly goofy us without being over posed and faked.

Jennifer E.

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Email us at: [email protected]