About Melyssa

Melyssa St. Michael is a documentary and editorial photographer based in Bentonville, Arkansas. Her work spans Northwest Arkansas, the Ozarks and its surrounding regions, covering the rural communities, extreme weather, and evolving landscapes that shape life here.

With a photojournalistic approach and sensitivity to place, she blends real-time reportage with composed environmental portraiture that explores the layered connections between the people, the land, and the inextricable forces that define them both.

Education

Melyssa’s commitment to ethical storytelling is anchored by immersive, ongoing training in visual journalism and documentary practice. She is known for her impartial, sensitive approach to complex subjects and works to build trust in every story she tells.

2025 - International Center For Photography : Documentary Practice and Visual Storytelling
2024 - Mountain Workshop 49, Willamsburg, Kentucky : Team Blue, led by Coach Victor Blue
2022 - Missouri Photo Workshop 74, Excelsior Springs, Missouri : Team Chapnick, Coaches Gabrielle Lurie and Sarah Leen

Published Work

Since attending the Missouri Photo Workshop in 2022, Melyssa has worked as a freelance photojournalist while developing long-form documentary projects focused on climate change, extreme weather, and consumer culture. She has covered assignments for:

2025 ProPublica - The State Medical Board Has Evidence This Doctor Was Hurting Patients. It Renewed His License — Twice.
2024 Montana Free Press - Why has Montana renewed Dr. Thomas Weiner’s license despite harm allegations?
2024 The Financial Times - How a resurgent Walmart saw off the Amazon threat
2024 The New York Times - G.O.P. Candidates Distort Records on Women, Seeking to Blunt a Liability
2024 The Seattle Times - Abortion Rights, on Winning Streak, Face Biggest Test in November
2024 The New York Times - Abortion Rights, on Winning Streak, Face Biggest Test in November
2024 The New York Times - Organizers Say Abortion Access Is Headed to the Ballot in 3 More States
2024 The New York Times - Election 2024: Four Takeaways From Biden’s Post-Debate Interview
2024 The New York Times - Abortion Rights Supporters Put a Winning Strategy to the Test in Arkansas
2024 The New York Times - From Texas to Michigan, a Punishing Month of Tornadoes
2024 The New York Times - ‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like It.’ Tornado Devastates Arkansas Town.
2023 The New York Times - Turkeys Were a Marvel of Conservation. Now Their Numbers Are Dwindling.
2023 The New York Times - At University of Arkansas, a State Law Stifles Pro-Palestinian Speakers

What Melyssa Covers (and Where)

After more than 20 years living in Northwest Arkansas, Melyssa knows well the rhythms of the region, from fast-changing skies to bumpy rural backroads. She works throughout the Ozarks, (a highland region that stretches across northern Arkansas, southern Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, and southeastern Kansas) a rugged, weather-prone area that sits within Tornado Alley and is home to tight-knit communities, unique ecosystems, and layered histories.

With deep local ties and a practical understanding of the terrain, Melyssa arrives expediently to cover breaking news, including tornadoes, extreme weather, and environmental events. For planned assignments, she covers a 12-hour driving radius and is fully equipped for multi-day field work without needing hotel accommodations. Whether covering a breaking news event or documenting a long-term story, Melyssa approaches every assignment with an intimate understanding of the people, culture, and landscape, brining a respectful, grounded perspective that defines rural reporting.

Journalistic Ethics

Melyssa adheres to the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Code of Ethics and approaches every story with fairness, respect, and care. She works to understand the issues behind each assignment deeply and does not participate in political activity.

Personal Work

Outside of editorial and documentary work, Melyssa creates evocative, story-driven imagery for individuals, brands, and organizations that share a desire for meaningful visual storytelling.

Get In Touch

Melyssa welcomes all inquiries, please reach out: