After working in the photography field for ten years in Rochester, Pittsburgh and now Buffalo, Melissa Parrish is moving her photo studio out of her Richmond Avenue house and into a storefront in The Granite Works. Lovely Day Photo (LDP) is expected to open in mid-July and will join Just Vino and Bloom Floristry in the historic Main Street mixed-use complex.
Joe Saccone of MJ Peterson Real Estate helped Melissa secure her new space. With the lease, The Granite Works has one remaining commercial storefront available.
“I have a love for downtown Buffalo and city life,” says Melissa. “I knew when it was time to grow my business into a retail location that I wouldn’t be happy opening in the suburbs. I first noticed The Granite Works building two years ago. It was love at first sight. The Granite Works was perfect for Lovely Day Photo.”
“First Amherst did a great job taking this historic building and giving it a modern look while keeping its original integrity,” she says. “This is an up and coming area with so much potential, I want to be a part of the growth and what’s great about Buffalo. The age and income demographic with the Medical Corridor and new residential buildings blend perfectly together with the style of LDP.”
“For the past two years I have kept my eyes open knowing that I would be moving into a retail location someday,” says Melissa. “Each time I saw a potential location I compared it to Granite Works and I found that there was no comparison both in potential and style.”
Lovely Day Photo was founded in 2007 with a goal of providing customers an extraordinary experience in both artistic photography and customer service. Melissa’s main area of focus is wedding and newborn photography. LDP also specializes in destinations weddings. Melissa just recently returned from shooting a wedding in the Bahamas. LDP also provides other services such as family and boudoir portraits.
Melissa says she strives to create a timeless blend that both younger clients want and mature clients can appreciate.
“I have been able to bridge the gap of today’s trendy photography style and the traditional photography that Buffalo has accepted for years,” says Melissa. “Today’s modern bride does not want her mother’s photographer.”
Melissa has received numerous awards in photography and customer service including Weddingwire.com’s Bride’s Choice Award two years running.
While LDP is a one-person operation today, Meliisa plans to expand in the future. She is working with Brooke Pelc from Nest Interiors to help maximize her new space.
Says Melissa, “The new space will mainly be used as a base of operations for the business. In addition, it will also provide LDP with a modern space to meet clients that will portray my style of photography. I want my clients to walk into my studio and know exactly who I am as a photographer. I will use the new space for initial consultations, view sessions & albums, as well as photograph newborns.”
Melissa is originally from Honeoye Falls, south of Rochester.
“I grew up in a small rural farm town as far from city life as possible,” says Melissa. “I received a portfolio scholarship to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and graduated in 2002. From there I moved to Buffalo after accepting a job managing a Rochester-based photography studio chain.”
After years working for someone else, Melissa decided that it was time to follow her dream of having her own business and in 2007 opened Lovely Day Photo.
Get Connected: Lovely Day Photo, 716.861.3459
Photos courtesy of Melissa Parrish.