Photographer, Mellissa Kibsey, Pays Homage to Horror Genre in Her Work

Photographer, Mellissa Kibsey

Photographer, Mellissa Kibsey

Mellissa Kibsey is anything but your typical Instagram photographer. While most present a picture-perfect, happy-go-lucky feed, Kibsey takes a different approach.

“Blood, gore, horror, demons, vampires, paranormal entities, the dark side of humans…all inspire my art,” Kibsey said.

After a decade of photography experience and a personal transformation, she found her calling for creating dark art.

The Vancouver-based artist is completely spellbound by the creative process involved. Not only does it allow her to use her imagination, but to also escape into a dark fantasy world that she has complete control of.

Kibsey concocts her creations with a Dr. Frankenstein-like precision for her business, Mellevolant Productions. Her photos preserve the bold and daring moments she helps bring to life.

But she does much more than just take pictures. Kibsey immerses herself in the entire process — from designing sets and setting the appropriate mood to deciding which outfits and props to use.

As with any sort of growth, she experienced some trial and error to get to the point she’s at now.

For many years, Kibsey did what others in her life considered “normal” photography i.e. maternity shoots, portraits, couples photos. She acknowledged that time in her life “served a wonderful purpose”, but she never truly felt fulfilled taking those types of photos.

“I loved meeting different people and capturing their moments for them. However, there is a certain expectation that comes with commercial photography,” Kibsey said. “People want to look their best and have amazing images for their portfolio, social media, or to hang above their fireplace.”

The creative control associated with her current work has empowered her to explore different methods she didn’t have the artistic freedom to try before.

“I don’t have to worry about how beautiful I am making someone look, or if I am capturing something at the right angle or getting that ‘perfect’ shot,” she said.

Kibsey’s shift in photography happened after getting out of what she described as a “very dark, painful relationship” in the beginning of 2019.

Desperately wanting some sort of creativity back in her life, she picked up her camera once again after years of feeling uninspired.

Kibsey was admittedly unsure of where her new journey would take her. That is, until she met model, Anya Gorre, at a friendship gathering.

After expressing how she wanted to get back into photography and asking if Gorre would be interested in working together, Gorre made a suggestion that would change everything.

Doing a slasher-inspired shoot.

“When I say the light bulb went off, it went off. I have always loved horror movies and had a penchant for the dark side,” Kibsey said. “Many of the creations in my head were always dark in nature, but never did I imagine putting that type of art out there based on what sort of judgment I may get.”

Kibsey felt “completely alive” after their first shoot knowing she was in creative control and could bring her stored-away visions to life.

They soon teamed up with another model, Andy Rose. It was then that the trio began making magic.

As Kibsey expected, her content and its intention have been misinterpreted. So much so that people have asked if she’s struggling or in a dark place. It is very much to their surprise when she tells them she’s the happiest she’s ever been.

“It’s a form of fantasy, an escape from reality. It has nothing to do with my personal life,” Kibsey said. “I am literally sitting on a Paw Patrol blanket right now. I don’t dress goth nor am I bathing in blood by the moonlight.”

The real intention behind her art is to invite people into her brain, she said. It, along with her child, have given her a sense of purpose. That’s why being able to enter a fantasy she creates and take the photos she does is far more important to her than a social media following.

“I have always felt a little out of step, always with my head in the clouds. So, to have this outlet for those thoughts means everything to me,” Kibsey said.

Born on leap day in 1984, it could be said that Kibsey’s deviation from the norm started at birth. She has been a daydreamer and horror fan for as long as she can remember.

As a child, she loved giving herself the creeps and was captivated by the emotions anything horror-related evoked. This was obvious by her fascination with graveyards and sneak watching of movies like Child’s Play and Pet Sematary.

“I just remember always being that kid sitting up in my bed at 2 a.m., looking out my window into the darkness and being captivated by it — always wondering what else was out there, what creepy things lurked,” Kibsey said.

Some of her favorite horror films include: The Exorcist, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Evil Dead, Scream, Saw and Cabin in the Woods.

Ironically enough, Kibsey’s shoots are not so much influenced by movies, but rather, music and the filmmaking process.

She enjoys listening to dark ambient music, 1920s music and classic oldies while she conjures up her ideas. As for the filmmaking process, she pays careful attention to all the subtleties in how a movie is filmed and uses this knowledge to incorporate a movie set feel to her content.

“If out of all the photos I have ever taken, one person sees one photo and goes, ‘Wow, that one made me feel something,’ then my intention has been met,” Kibsey said.

Dark art has acted as a source of light for Kibsey. She has overcome challenges of all sorts as a mother and as a female in this particular genre of photography.

“I have spent so many years playing it safe and doing what was ‘appropriate’ for a mid-30’s year old mom to be doing. This is what I love. At the end of my life, I want to look back and say, ‘Yes, I went for what I truly wanted,’” she said. “…I always remember why I am doing what I am doing and drown out the outside noise.”

Kibsey is currently working toward her goal of breaking into the film industry.

But that’s not all.

She, Gorre and Rose have a number of projects in the works.

The trio has started a behind-the-scenes page (The Midnight Trinity) that gives a little more insight on who they are and on-set shenanigans. They plan to start a podcast that will cover a vast array of topics from horror movies to mental health. They also anticipate releasing a calendar for 2021 and to have merchandise out by mid 2021.

“This doesn’t just end at photography for me, it has just been the gateway into building something bigger.”

Consider yourself a fan of slasher films and tired of seeing the same ol’ kind of photography on Instagram?

Give Kibsey a follow: @mellevolant_productions

Yvonne Villasenorphotography, horror, art, empowerment1 Comment