One year ago Matt Eich, 20, and Melissa Turk, 19, were typical college students. Then, everything started changing. Matt won the prestigious College Photographer of the Year contest, Melissa found out she was pregnant, they got married and moved from Ohio to Portland, OR, for Matt's summer internship.
In Love in the First Person, Matt and Melissa, with help from their friends, document their life together as they share their thoughts and fears on the sudden changes in their future. They come to realize that, as Matt says, "Nothing good comes without some sort of struggle," and that beginning a life together is as much about faith as it is about commitment.
In the span of a year, Matt Eich, 20, won College Photographer of the Year, Melissa Eich, 19, discovered she was pregnant, they married and moved to Portland for Matt's internship.
Note: Not all comments will be posted due to space and time constraints.
Dhekra -- Tunis- Tunisia
Sep 12, 2009 at 9:46 PM
c'est trs touchant...mme so l'histoire peut sembler "ordinaire" mais le fait que cela soit celle de matt
angie -- glenside,pa, us
Aug 28, 2009 at 10:14 AM
this was a very heart warming movie. i cried alittle. the photography was absolutely gorgeous. matt definately deserved his award. gorgeous. loved how candid it was. you guys were very cute. baby even cuter. very impressed with the makin of this film. moving. jealous that i could never make such a beautiful story.lookin forward to a update film . it would be nice to see how everything turned out..
Alex -- Rome,Italy
Aug 23, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Love this, the video is so cute. I wish you all luck in the future!
Kelly McLeod -- New Zealand
Aug 20, 2009 at 6:36 AM
Absolutely beautiful.
Jose Carrillo -- A Corunna Galician (Spain)
July 20, 2009 at 10:30 AM
La fotografia me encanta los encuadres, los momentos , todo es fantastico, pero sin duda la historia es fascinante. Felicidades...
Geoffey Hiller -- Dhaka, Bangladesh
May 3, 2009 at 2:13 PM
As part of the final exam today my students wrote an essay about their favorite multimedia project of the semester. I showed a variety of work including some of the classics like "Becoming Human" and several of the Magnum in Motion projects. In the beginning of the semester we saw "Love in the First Person" (by Matt and Mellisa Eich produced by MediaStorm) that turned out to the clear favorite. The class was moved by the raw honesty of the piece and really identified with Matt and Mellisa who are about the same age as most of the students. This comment from Monica sums it up: "From my point of view the word love is a gift of God but depends on the kind of person you are in love with. Love is all about caring and having faith and this exactly what I saw in Matt and Melissa's relationship. They were young but mature enough to make the most important decision of their life." Life is beautiful but as Matt stated "nothing good comes without struggling." Interesting comment especially in terms of the differences between East-West, and Muslim-Christian cultures. After all, for many in Bangladesh arranged marriages are the norm. It's clear, we need more work like this that skillfully portrays our real-life stories.
Taylor Yves -- Chicago
Nov 1, 2008 at 9:42 PM
I can't imagine going through all of that and being able to so bravely document. I'm very impressed with the good that you both have made out of a situation that sometimes feels wrecking. This shows me that our generation isn't completely devoid of dedication and care. I'm very impressed with Matt for realizing that another award means nothing if he is a bad father. And Melissa, it's amazing that you were able to think of Matt among everything. Selfless love can be a n awful tangle but, it looks like both ends are willing to give to the other which makes it all work. God Bless!
Christine Moody -- Washington State
Sep 11, 2008 at 9:57 AM
This was done so very well. I really felt like I understood the emtions that the both of you, Matt and Melissa, went through. I am very interested to see Phase two, especially sense your little one must be almost a year old now. My little guys turns a year on the 13th of September. Thank you so much for sharing your life. What a beautiful story.
I had to cry when I saw this... it's minimalistic, but WOW. fine, really really excellent thing, like it.
Melissa Gaug -- Chicago, IL USA
Aug 27, 2008 at 3:21 PM
As a photographer and as a best friend of someone who had a "surprise" pregnancy when she was young, I am so impressed and moved by this amazing media production. I would love to see an update on the couple - the video really makes you feel a part of the lives and really feel for them. Great job!
Almedin -- Vienna, Austria
Aug 19, 2008 at 4:31 PM
lovely, because it's so simple. and because it can happen to everyone. a nice non-fiction story and even something to learn from you both.
Thorsten -- Cologne, Germany
Jul 31, 2008 at 3:51 AM
This is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. And good luck for the future.
Brittney Fosbrook -- San Francisco, CA
Jul 23, 2008 at 1:21 PM
This video is great.
brainer -- UK
Jul 9, 2008 at 7:39 PM
God bless the three of you. I wish you long and happy lives together. Thanks for sharing and making such a beautiful video.
ash -- san francisco, ca
Jun 26, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Thank you Matt and Melissa for sharing your beauty with the world. I miss you two, and wish you all the best!!
Pattie McNab -- NYC, NY
Jun 5, 2008 at 7:01 PM
This is a really beautiful piece of story telling. Thank you Matt and Melissa for being so dedicated to document your life and share with others.
Ruby -- Los Angeles, California, USA
Jun 1, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I would like to address "John -- London, UK." I think the length of this film is fine. It seems like many people are losing their patience and/or attention spans. Three or five minutes would have been an extremely short amount of time to capture the full range of the couple's emotions and experiences. It was beautifully done and we would not have otherwise been able to adjust and allow ourselfs to truely appreciate the art in this.
Ben Kilpatrick -- Tallahassee Fl
May 29, 2008 at 10:47 PM
This is one of the most beautiful videos I have ever seen. I had tears in my eyes the whole time. Thanks for sharing and I hope all is well.
Kristin -- Porterdale, Georgia, USA
May 21, 2008 at 8:58 PM
First I would like to address su in beijing and say that real life is beautiful! That is what photography is all about. It is taking the everyday, ordinary stuff and capturing the beauty in it. It is trapping the emotion in that moment in history and freezing it forever in your image. Thank you Matt and Melissa for sharing your lives and emotions in such a beautiful way. The images are poignant and magnificent!
Troy Duran -- St. Louis, Missouri, USA
May 16, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Melissa and Matt, that is a BEAUTIFUL story! Amy Belisle of Oregon, it looks like you never learned control after all. She's angry because she doesn't have a life with true love like yours. Life happens, and I'd venture to bet that most pregnacies are not planned. But it looks to me like you two are doing a fantastic job of living yours to it's fullest!
Marta Rosella -- Alcoy, Alicante, Spain
May 16, 2008 at 5:19 PM
Simply...great!!Thanks a lot for that explosion of feelings...
Amy Belisle -- Silverton Oregon USA
May 5, 2008 at 1:37 PM
This story makes me angry on several levels.!.The importance of birthcontrol. I don't like the opening shot, tow lives are thown askew because of losing control.2.It's all about HIS photography bull, doesn't she have any sort of life other then the one that she didn't plan???!!! JEEZ.3. The line she states, my dad put my hand in Matt's, like WHAT she can't take care of herself???? She has to handed over like some property!!!This video makes my mad because I was a teenager when I got pregnant (16) now 41. My life would of been alot different if I would of used some bithcontrol or control periord!!!!Boo on the message- and the photo's aren't that great either. Girl make sure you GET A LIFE before you just give it away. Don't wait until your 40!!!!
Mo -- Chicago, IL USA
Apr 6, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Thank you for sharing your story. I wish you both the best. (I only wish there had been more! I would love to see an update in a few years.)
Ermiyas Mekonnen -- London, UK
Mar 31, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Hi both, I first found about Matt through PDN student section (Carry Me Ohio), the body of work is moving. It is also nice of you to share about your personal life with Melissa, I hope all the best in your fututre.
Philipp -- Freiburg, Germany
Mar 28, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Unbelievable well done. I am in my early twenties too and can only try to imagine what that sort of changes matters to someone. Best of luck for the three of you!
Katia -- seattle, wa
Mar 27, 2008 at 7:48 PM
nice... i feel for the both of them. it all just seems like a recipe for eventual resentments . i hope they can make it work.
Nicole -- US
Mar 12, 2008 at 6:27 PM
I love this story... very meaningful to me. I would watch it over and over.
su -- beijing
Mar 5, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Could it be more lame? I watched it expecting something to happen but it turned out to be a story that happens to everyone, and is usually more of story than this.The cover pic is misleading, I thought it was a story involving love but not child induced love, now I can start to make my own show about trying to let go the shoes that are worn out but I loved for so long.good photography tho..
John -- London, UK
Mar 2, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Nice. 5 minutes would have been plenty, though. Far too long. See the "Wedding Stories" documentaries on BBC Three, however, for something more thought-provoking and less trite, even though they are 60 mins long...Mind you, even those are just too much after a couple of episodes; and they have somehow managed to make 3 series of them! Does no-one know when to stop?! :-)
jowie -- Philippines
Mar 1, 2008 at 8:54 AM
He captured every "verb" in the scene. I am deeply impressed with what I saw. His photographs prove that the past is real and is worth remembering.
lili -- GUANGZHOU CHINA
Feb 28, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Beautiful...It's wonderful to grow and learn how to love with another person.I think it's a present from God for both of you and your little girl as well as those who have been touched by your story..
mehri -- Tehran.Iran
Feb 23, 2008 at 3:44 AM
It was so good...I enjoied it
Rajat G -- mumbai, maharastra, india
Feb 21, 2008 at 10:59 PM
very well put togather , very emotionally stirring .all the best
Susie Lin -- Honolulu, HI
Feb 3, 2008 at 8:50 AM
Thank you for sharing your life with us. Truly beautiful.
Mary Angelica -- Colombian (South America) woman in Toronto, Canada
Feb 1, 2008 at 7:20 PM
Hi Melissa,and Matt :My husband send to me your video.Then ,everything was smiles and tears .Que bella familia !!!! ( What a beatiful family !!! )The best for you guys and your bella baby girl, every day.
libby -- chico, ca
Jan 28, 2008 at 2:24 PM
I love it, thanks for the great piece, best of luck to you both. I loved the last quote, kudos to you for hanging in there and making it work. Not an easy road, but well worth it. Life is not easy for anyone. Great job.
john brown wayne -- san jose, ca, usa
Jan 11, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Sorry, not a very interesting POV or a very compelling story. I found the plot dragging after only the first minute but I did watch the whole piece.
Joao Sousa Pinto -- Gaia,Porto,Portugal
Jan 9, 2008 at 5:57 PM
beautiful. a nice vision of your personal live.love it ;) congratulations
ANEES -- WILLOWBROOK
Jan 6, 2008 at 9:18 PM
AMAZING work- I cant say it any better it meets the 4c's to a T..... Content, craft, commitment,creative. Good luck to the both of you . I reflected on my own like and marriage as well...
Eddie -- Osaka, Japan
Jan 4, 2008 at 11:30 PM
This is nice. Probably a much better long term family project here. On the journalistic terms, it is a little flat. I honestly would have liked to see the original color images, if they were desaturated, I think love and color have much to lend each other, and it would have been a brave and interesting choice to see another photographer's take on the two of you. It takes that special third eye to really extract the richness and relationship between two people behind closes doors. See Larry Clark.
Maykol Arancibia -- Sao Paulo, Brazil
Dec 17, 2007 at 9:52 AM
Simply beautiful!
Skip -- Virginia Beach, VA
Dec 14, 2007 at 9:14 PM
Powerful! A pleasure to view! It can be done. Take the family with you...
Ben -- Baltimore , MD
Dec 12, 2007 at 11:49 PM
As a 19 year old college student , who is also a photographer, this just blew me away...
Lee -- Washington DC
Nov 5, 2007 at 11:58 AM
EXCELLENT ! It is a pleasure to see a story that focuses on the joy in life. Death, tragedy and pain have become the only subject that seems to be celebrated and awarded.
Paulo Santos -- Oporto,Portugal
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:36 PM
very good..i like so much for the project very intersting!Congratulations
jade rosier -- brooklyn new york
Oct 29, 2007 at 9:01 AM
melissa,do not just get "taken with him"! raise the kid for a few years, and then go be your own photographer!
bqchen -- xiamen,fujian,china
Oct 29, 2007 at 7:25 AM
well,i like this program very much.Looking forward to see more ....
Dave Fairey -- New Plymouth, New Zealand
Oct 29, 2007 at 5:16 AM
Congratulations. I enjoyed your story and your images.All the best .Hope you are both enjoying parent hood.
Missy Wilson -- Columbus, OH
Oct 26, 2007 at 6:55 PM
This was such a wonderful story in it's original form the first time around via the Soul of Athens Project. The original left you with such a haunting feeling. I don't quite understand why this needed to be redone. I'm quite disappointed really. Why tinker with something that was already made beautifully? What was so evocative about the original was that it was left so unresolved. If your team thought this was a great piece to have as your own, then it should have been renamed as some kind of follow-up. I personally didn't feel as moved with this as I did with the original one.
Cat Sparks -- Ft. Smith, AR
Oct 23, 2007 at 5:01 PM
I was deeply touched by this project. I stumbled across a link to it on a friends blog and I couldn't be happier that I did! Congratulations to you all. You have such beautiful personalities and I know you'll do great things.
Eric Blumer -- Lakewood, CO
Oct 20, 2007 at 1:10 PM
Photojournalism is too often about hate, conflict, sickness and death. Of course these are all real. But do not neglect telling stories of the good, the happy, the joyous, the beautiful, the healthy...and in this case, the love. God Bless you both in your marriage, and in your career. On a personal level, this touched my heart and soul. It made me reflect on my life. Your "communication" succeeded. On a professional level, it is a very nicely done essay. The "Four C's" of Video Journalism - content, craft, creativity and commitment - were all met. Nicely done.
Chris Macri -- Kodiak,AK
Oct 18, 2007 at 4:45 AM
Matt and Melissa, I want to congratulate you both on youre beautiful family. you both are wonderful people and deserve the best. Congatulations on you marriage and your beautiful baby girl. You guys will be fine, like you stated "nothing good comes without some sort of stuggle" but I have to add that in the end that you will never look back at it as a struggle but a blessing and that the love you feel for these two (which will probably become more) human beings is more than you could have ever imagined. Matt, keep up with the great work, I hope to see your work soon. Take care.
Jessica -- Los Angeles, CA
Oct 17, 2007 at 6:55 PM
Wow, really great.
David -- Culver City, CA
Oct 17, 2007 at 3:39 PM
A beautiful moment of regular people just beginning their lives together. Thank you.
Bill -- Washington DC
Oct 17, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Nicely done. Poignant and engaging without trying too hard. I was worried a bit in the beginning if it would become precious but I found the couple to be very sincere and endearing. Good mix of video and quality stills. This is what reality TV should be.
mike zacchino -- portland, oregon
Oct 17, 2007 at 3:03 PM
I met Matt and Melissa when they were working in Portland. To be around them is to feel joy and hope, and realize their bond is a treasure. Congratulations.
Additional Photography: Kainaz Amaria, Yoon Byun, Chris Capozziello, Pamela Chen, Noah Devereaux, Andrew Henderson, Nathan Rapheld, Dana Rieber, Michael Rubenstein, Kacey Sellers, Lacey Sellers and Johnny Simon
Video: Kainaz Amaria, Rob Finch, Tim Gruber and Chad A. Stevens
Producer: Chad A. Stevens, Diane Cook and Eric Maierson
