I'm Mélissa, the creative mind behind Studio Hōla, where we capture beauty and lifestyle in a way that uniquely tells your story. My journey began after an unexpected layoff in 2021, which led me to carve my own path. Studio Hōla was born, and the rest is historia.
My passion for photography has always been there. I still remember when my grandparents gave me my first camera – a small Canon that sparked my love for images. Growing up between different cultures taught me to view life through a colorful lens.
While I like to keep life light-hearted, I’m a perfectionist in my work. No fluff or imperfection escapes my eye. Every image is a piece of art, created with attention to detail and quality.
Authenticity and honesty are my top priorities. I believe true beauty lies in sincerity, and you’ll see that reflected in every photo I take.
Ready to make the world a little more colorful and magical together?
Con mucho amor,
Mélissa
Hola muchacha
Studio Hōla [stu·dio] ['ola]
Studio Hōla comes from the Spanish word "hola" ['ola], which means "hello." As a global citizen with diverse cultural influences, including Spanish roots, it felt natural to choose a business name that reflects both my background and my personality. Warm, playful, open, and colourful – that's what I aim to convey with Studio Hōla.
what clients say
What a pleasant experience it was to work with Mélissa. She perfectly understood what my company stood for thanks to her own research. The photos turned out amazing and are truly brag-worthy!
dijana - divnoella studio
Wow, perfect! I LOVE IT! I just checked them out 😍 they're beautiful, just as I had imagined! Great job, I'm very happy with them!
isabelle - the hair extension expert
Thank you once again for helping me bring my project to life. I’m thrilled with the result. 😍 #keepingmemoriesalive
sofie d.w.
Oh my god 😱 they are stunning! Seriously, I'm completely in love with them! I can't wait to post them already! I'm a fan of your work 🔥
simon - district 360
We were at a Christmas market at start it@KBC on Thursday, and we had a large printout of one of your photos. We received so many compliments about how beautiful our branding was and how it really stood out! Once again, thank you so much for the amazing work!
laura - pōw nutrition
It’s going to be so hard to choose 😱 I’m so happy! The editing is fantastic. I’m truly thrilled with the photos 😍
anaïs - optiek withofs by an-eyes
behind the scenes
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Where is your studio located?My studio is located in Aalst, but I work with clients from all over the world. You send your products to the studio and I do the rest.
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How can I book you?Complete the intake form here for a one-off product shoot or for a content subscription (PS: you get a discount with a content subscription!) Once I have received your completed form, I will provide you with a customized quote. We can discuss these in detail together during a no-obligation call where we can also brainstorm about the photos. After your approval of the quotation, you sign the contract, you will receive an advance invoice and we will start pre-production once the advance invoice has been paid.
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How do I deliver my products to you?You can send the products by post to my studio or come and deliver them yourself. Make sure that all your products are photo-ready: correct labels, cap facing label, scratch-free, tear-free, wrinkle-free, ... Even when packing for the post, be extra careful that the products cannot be damaged.
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What are your payment terms?A 50% deposit and a signed contract are required to secure your shoot. The final payment must be made before your content is released.
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Will my products be sent back to me afterwards?I can ship the products back to you after the shoot at your expense. If possible I use the same packaging they came in. If you no longer wish to return the products, you may also mention this. I can also keep the products in the studio for 6 months.
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When will I get the photos?I recommend booking about 4-5 weeks in advance so that we can finish everything on time. Once the shoot has been completed, I will send you the photos after a maximum of 3 weeks.
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I don't live close to you, can I still book you?Certainly! The great thing about product photography is that everything happens in my little home studio. All you have to do is send in your products and I'll do my magic. :-)
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Do I have to pay for props/accessories?I already have a lot of props and accessories that you can use freely. However, it is often necessary to free up a budget for props. Think of fresh fruit or vegetables that you want on photo, specific props that are unique to your brand. These props are then specially purchased for your project and the costs are added to your invoice.
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Can I get the RAW images?Because I stand behind every piece of content I create, I can proudly say that I do not release RAW images. I want my work to be a true representation of my skills and your brand and this is achieved during post production.
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What about copyrights?The copyright of all images remains with Studio Hōla, but once the final payment has been received and the images have been transferred, I grant you the right to use the photos on the pre-arranged platforms.
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Why do I pay extra for commercial licenses?Commercial licensing has become an industry standard . It gives us both clarity about where and for how long you will use the photos. This will save us both from possible misunderstandings and legal difficulties. For example, a photo intended for organic social media posts and for your website will cost less than a photo intended for a sign on De Meir. The reason behind this is that the photo in De Meir gives much more value to your company and thus attracts tens of thousands of potential customers. You reach many more people and your sales are therefore higher thanks to Studio Hōla's photos. Compare it to buying a house. You bought a house 5 years ago at a certain price. In the meantime, you have made some improvements to your house, inflation, etc. Today you want to sell that house. Are you going to sell the house at the same price you bought it or are you going to increase the price? Right, that last one. The same goes for creative work. You can be a starter today and boom in 2 years and still use Studio Hōla's photos, only they are now worth much more than before (do you know the story of the Nike logo?). That is why you can extend the commercial license, for example when it is about to expire, with possibly new conditions. "But why aren't the photos mine? I pay for them, right?" When you purchase a song on iTunes, is the song yours? No, you bought the right to listen to it. The same goes for photography. The artist (Studio Hōla in this case) creates a creative work (product photos or videos in this case) and you pay for the right to use it on predetermined platforms and for a predetermined duration. “Can I then request a commercial license that covers all uses so that I can choose what to do with the photos?” When we talk about a commercial license for De Meir, for example, as mentioned above, we are talking about thousands of euros extra on top of the shoot costs. This will probably not be profitable and not applicable for you. That is why we always discuss in advance where the photos will be used. You cannot always know in advance what you are going to do with the photos, so you only pay for what you need. This solution is really the cheapest solution for your company. Suppose you pay for a license for online ads, social media and website and printing; After a while you will have the opportunity to advertise on signboards in major cities, please contact me at that time so that we can discuss all the details in concrete terms. In the event of infringement of the photographer's copyright, the photographer charges three times the usual license fee for such a case, to compensate for the damage suffered. Compensation does not entitle you to further use of the photographer's work. In addition, these works may not be modified with filters or any other operation.
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Do you offer a refund?Due to my services being digital, I am unfortunately unable to offer a refund. If you are not completely satisfied with the photos, you can request a reshoot for a clear reason. We can avoid this as much as possible thanks to the pre-production process. Aesthetic choices are not a reason for reshoots because this was clearly discussed during pre-production.