I might be mildly regretting my recent Instagram poll that overwhelmingly requested more about me and behind the scenes at Lovely Day Photo. Because, here I sit…a blank screen in front of me, not really knowing what to say and realizing I haven’t blogged since April 2016. YIKES. You see, I am more of a behind-the-camera person so this is waaaaay out of the “Melissa comfort zone”…but when I realized that I don’t even have the same name as 2016, I figured it was well past due that I reintroduce myself.
Portrait by Afterglow Images
So, HELLO! I’m Melissa Sorrentino. You. Read. That. Right.
I have finally changed my name from Parrish to Sorrentino, so I am literally a different person than when I last blogged. Funny story about that…
While on a vacation in London, my husband and I walked into our hotel lobby where he was promptly greeted with: “Hello, Mr. Parrish! What a great English name that is!” He graciously accepted the compliment, but I noticed the side-eye glare he gave me and the sense of disappointment he felt since I had booked the entire vacation for his birthday, and it was all in my name…my maiden name. Jimmy really wanted me to take his name after we married in 2011, but I figured “I’m a business owner…people know me as Melissa Parrish…it would be silly and a pain to change my name.” Well, MR. Parrish didn’t find it so funny and I finally realized just how much it meant to him. I started my name change process after we got back. I definitely cried in the car at the Social Security office, it’s seriously so hard to change your name! It’s been my identity for my whole life. But, here I am – Melissa Sorrentino – BLOGGING again and loving my last name. Who would have thought?!?!
And, here’s a fun little-known and related fact:
I started my business in 2006 as MSP Photography (my initials) but everyone thought my company was pronounced as “Ms. P Photography” (turns out Parrish didn’t lend itself well in this instance, either) so I set out to find a new name. Remember your fifth-grade days when you’d doodle your classroom crush’s name on your notebook??… I did that with business names. And, Lovely Day Photo was born.
Portrait by Afterglow Images
The name fits me and my business perfectly. I’ve chosen a career where I have the opportunity to celebrate my clients’ happiest life moments…engagements, weddings, maternity, newborns, growing families…these are all such magical times. I love bearing witness to these moments and having the chance to watch my clients grow in so many different ways. I still have a few clients from when I started my business and they have kids who are 10+ years old now. It’s amazing! Sounds cliché, but it really is a “lovely day” every single time I pick up my camera.
So, who is Melissa Sorrentino…beyond the camera?
My husband, Jimmy, and I live downtown and have two dogs – Oliver, a rescue dorky (Yorkie and Dachshund mix) from the city shelter and Magdalena “Maggie” our English Bulldog pup. If you ever stop by the studio you may find Oliver hanging out under my desk. He’s only at the studio when I don’t have any scheduled appointments, but is always happy to entertain visitors, so let me know if you’d like to meet him when you come by!
I have a scooter and Jimmy has a Harley. We look absolutely ridiculous riding next to each other but love every minute of it. Beep, wave, and laugh if you see the black motorcycle and tiny yellow scooter coming your way – it’s us! And, we’re probably on our way to one of Buffalo’s great restaurants because we are serious foodies. We even plan vacations around restaurants and chefs we follow on social media.
When I am not photographing, I absolutely love being active. You’ll find me kayaking on the lake, running, cycling, hiking at Devil’s Hole (a favorite spot of mine!)…basically, anything outside during the warmer months, slathered in SPF 100 because, well, red-head. Proud ginger, here! And, to keep me sane in the looooooong winter months, I am one of those crazy Peloton spinners.
Most of the images above taken by my crappy iphone. ;)
Jimmy and I are a no-kid family, not by choice, but life doesn’t work out perfectly, right? And, that’s okay. We have so much to enjoy and be thankful for. Plus, I get to snuggle babies and play with kids every week. It’s a pretty sweet deal.
And, there you have it. A 2019 re-introduction. More to come, promise! And, if you made it to the bottom of this post, thank you – I truly appreciate it.
