I am Merrilyn Romen and I am Nico Moon Photography.
I live in Malibu, California and photograph maternity, newborns, babies and children, families, pets, and graduating seniors as well as engaged couples. And, yes, I do photograph weddings, but only a very limited number of them.
I have 2 gorgeous daughters who are the light of my life.
I am also a mother of all children, a lover of the designs made by nature, by people, by God, by chance.
I am obsessed with all things design from old telegrams to new clear packaging.
I crave color, and am sensitive to change with an eye for how “classical” changes with it.
I love fashion as wearable art and a means of self-expression.
I crave the sound, the smell, the taste and the feel of the ocean.
I am drawn to Light - hyper-aware of its subtle changes, shadows and effects.
I am mesmerized by the big, round, inquisitive eyes of a child and in awe of their pre-formed lives.
I fly in many of my dreams. I am a dreamer, a visionary, an imaginer of possibilities. I see what could be as clearly as I see what is.
Sixteen years ago, I was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. My children were young and I watched them through every phase of their experience. I saw their sadness, their fear, their fatigue and their sudden bursts of joy in the midst of it all and I watched them through eyes of Love. Years later, they have grown up to become the most incredible, beautiful women, bursting with a multitude of emotions and experiences many children never have to face. (And I am in perfect health!)
Now, it is through the lens of love that I aim to capture every emotion, the true essence of each person. I look for and almost always discover authenticity.
I have been a creative director for the entertainment industry for the last 25 years and a photographer of celebrities and news events. I’ve spent many long days by the side of photographers directing and styling the shoots. My personal venture is to photographing new beginning - babies, children (whose lives are new everyday), birthdays, relationships, graduating seniors setting out on their own, engaged couples, weddings, pets and more.
I have love and tenderness towards childhood, because it is so temporary. I have love and tenderness for our lives because they, too, will not last. Time is not only short, it’s fleeting and we all know that photographs are some of the most valuable items in our lives. Imagine what you would grab if your house was on fire and you'll see how precious these portraits really are.
I would love to photograph you and your family! Contact me today to schedule a time to play together and let's celebrate the stories of your life!