About Melanie
Ciao Tutti ~ I'm Melanie Fiander - the face behind the lens of Fiander Foto! (Pronounced F-eye-and-ER)
When it comes to photographing weddings and events, I’m not there to merely “take photographs” but to capture precious moments and deliver a collection of carefully selected and edited photos you’ll adore and enjoy for generations to come. With over eighteen years of photographic experience, I offer a professional, fun, and unobtrusive approach to destination wedding and portrait photography.
Born and raised in the Washington DC area, I now work and reside in Bermuda with my husband, Jim, and our three black cats: our three-legged fur baby, affectionately named “Tricycle”, our cross-eye beauty, named “Sheldon”, and our rescue cat, “Ziggy”. Along with working on the beautiful island of Bermuda, I also LOVE to travel the globe to photograph weddings and events.
Shot in both the candid and traditional styles, I capture the special and unique moments, which will be looked at and enjoyed for generations to come! Along with photographing weddings and events, I also capture events, proposals, engagements, maternity/babymoon, live birth, newborn, family, and vacation portrait sessions too! My main goal for all of my clients is to ensure that they feel relaxed and have fun while working with me.
To help ensure that each client receives a fabulous “Fiander Foto” experience and product, I not only work as a lead photographer but I also handle the bookings, personally edit my own photos, design my clients' wedding albums and photo books, and offer consultations.
My work has been featured in Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Abroad, New York Weddings, PDN, The Vendor Report, Scotland Wedding, Tie the Knot Scotland, Ländle Wedding's "Seasons of Yes", Whimsically Wed, Bermuda Weddings and Honeymoons, Bermudian Weddings, How They Asked by The Knot, The Gray Collective, Wedding Wire, United With Love, National Geographic, It Started With Yes, Glittery Bride, 100 Layer Cake, Lets Bee Together, The Newport Bride, Shoutout Atlanta, and Wedding Chicks.
I hold two Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Lynchburg University in Virginia; one in Studio Art with an emphasis in Photography and one in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. My photojournalistic approach was learned at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine. After which, I earned my MFA in photography and video from Maine College of Art.
Teaching photography has always been a passion of mine and directly after earning my MFA, I became a college professor. I am currently writing and teaching courses for The University of California - San Diego Extended Studies and Sessions College. I also offer photo tours, mentorships, and am available for workshops through Fiander Foto.
I’m also the Founder and President of the Professional Photographer’s Association of Bermuda (PPA BDA). This is a non-profit assisting professional full time photographers and videographers in Bermuda.
Outside of the “world of photography”, you can find me assisting Jim with his fishing & boating business - Early Bird Charters. When we’re both not working - you can find us under large straw hats - milling about in our garden - with our cats.
Meet the Team
I may be the face behind the camera, although Fiander Foto is very much a family run business. My photography business simply wouldn’t be what it is today without the help of my mom, dad, and husband - aka “the team”. Allow me to introduce you:
In the picture to the right, the gorgeous lady in blue is my mom, Joan Fiander - the “matriarch” of Fiander Foto. With 40+ years working her way up from a secretary to a regional manager at Social Security in the Human Resources Department, she knows a thing or two about administration. She does anything from processing payments to proof reading blog posts, articles, or promo items. As one of the kindest people on the planet, mom also helps to ensure that our business is run with good karma.
The gentleman in the tan suit is my dad, Joe Fiander. Dad’s family hails from Bocabec, New Brunswick and comes from a long line of fishermen. He has a good eye for art, color, and design. He inspects the wedding albums before they’re sent out to clients. From there, the albums are packed and shipped. Dad is an artist in his own right: a skilled painter and musician. He plays the guitar, mandolin, mandola, lute, and bouzouki. If the instrument has strings, he can play it.
Last but certainly not least, the striking young lad in the Bermuda Shorts is my husband, Jim. He is my “right hand man” and assists at weddings with lighting, carrying my gear (thank goodness), running the photo booth, and second shooting. Jim grew up in Bermuda and runs his own fishing business, Early Bird Charters!
Publications, Awards, & Affiliates
