Melinda Lerner was born in the UK, daughter of Countess Maree Tarnowska and Arnold Lerner, the artist, photographer and cartoonist. Her parents met in an art school and maintained the creative atmosphere in their home in the UK. In London, Melinda would often accompany her father on shoots and ultimately became the subject of many of his photographs.

Melinda's work redefines the common perceptions of beauty and it is her love of people that is reflected in her photos. As in Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland", there is no telling what strange or silly thing is around the corner. Something is hidden in a smile or in a darting glance, or in an odd pose or a steak of shadow on a subject's face. Children become adults and adults become childlike. There is a spontaneity and playfulness to her images that is intentional. She rarely plans her shoots, but concentrates on allowing her models to reveal their inner selves to the camera. Her ability to make her subjects feel calm, relaxed and liberated often provides deep insight into their personalities for the final frame.

"What intrigues me is finding beauty hidden within perceived flaws. I like to change views of sensuality, intimacy and solitude 'Phototherapy' is how I refer to the process. My approach brings a one-of-a-kind result. It is instinctual. I cannot explain exactly how I work, but I love the way it feels when I am doing it."

There is an air of mystery to her photographs and many of her images leave the viewer questioning the story behind the scene, people rarely come away with answers, but they do want to see more!

Melinda now lives in LA with her husband John Powell, a handsome filmscore composer, her young son, Oliver, many cats and a couple of dogs.