Do I shoot weddings? I sure do!

While I do only a limited number of weddings per year, I do love the opportunity and experience of documenting one of the most important days of your life.

Why hiring a professional is so important

When it comes to your wedding day there are so many details to plan! The venue, food, flowers, clothes, invitations, etc. The list goes on and on! As a Mom of a son who will be getting married this Summer I am learning this in a personal way. While I did take their engagement pictures I will not be the wedding photographer. I will be the mother of the groom (MOG).  The wedding pictures will be taken by professionals and I will sit in my chair and watch them. 

What I do know from my experience as a wedding photographer is that when the wedding is over and all is said and done it is the pictures that will last. If you’re going to spend money on anything it should be the pictures. My husband and I have been married for 31 years. I’m so thankful my mom was able to hire a professional photographer for our wedding. I absolutely cherish those images! While I wish they were less formal and posed, it fits with the style from 1988. 

These days wedding venues are so fun and the opportunities for gorgeous photos are endless. I get giddy imagining all of the backgrounds as I tour a venue.

What do you want to remember?

As a photographer my job is to document your special day. I love the detail shots! The flowers, will die, the clothes will be stored, the food will be devoured and you will drive away from the venue. Photographing those details as well as those who have joined you to celebrate your amazing day are all of the details I will capture for you to have forever. 

Yes, wedding photography is expensive ( I know from recent experience) but if you hire the right photographer… One who helps you relax and does the job of documenting your amazing day… it is an investment in something that will last a lifetime. 

What I’m Reading

The Black Hand by Stephan Talty

I randomly chose this book while browsing at Powell’s. It appealed to the historian in me. If you think America is a violent place we are super calm compared to the early 1900’s.

At that time the Black Hand was actively bombing, kidnapping and murdering Italian immigrants who refused to be extorted.  Businesses and homes were exploding on a daily basis.

The level of violence happening at that time is so hard to imagine. This book is the true story of Joseph Petrosino. Dubbed the “Italian Sherlock Holmes.” He made it his life’s work to stop the organization which would ultimately take his life.

It was an interesting read but lacked the story telling to really grab my attention. 

At the Water’s Edge by Sarah Gruen

So far I hate the main character. She (Maddie) is a weak sniveling, prissy girl who has followed her lazy, spoiled, shallow husband (Ellis) from America to Scotland in 1945 – during WWII.  This is fiction but still I find it difficult to believe anyone would find passage on a ship to cross the Atlantic during the height of the war.  The reason? Her husband want’s to find the Loch Ness monster. 

As the story unfolds we do see Maddie transf_orm from spoiled rich girl to a woman who learns to serve others as well as herself. Ellis however does not fare so well.

Do they find the monster? He/she turns out to have a fairly minor role in the story. 

Goal check –

I’m wearing a shoe full time and I’ve said goodbye to that ugly sandal. The pain is with me every step which is discouraging, but I am taking more steps and wearing shoes so it is progress! I am now 8 weeks post surgery and it’s difficult to not be completely healed at this point. It is very encouraging to me to have the opportunities to get outside and do some of my favorite walks, even if they are abbreviated. I did try on my climbing shoe. It wasn’t a positive experience…

My magazine is really coming along I cannot wait to share it with you! I absolutely love the way my Thank you cards have turned out!

Aren’t they so cute! Check out http://www.thegladdestthingshop.com Mac Ford does amazing work. Her creativity is such a blessing. She has been amazing to work with during this process. Soon I will be able to share all of the gorgeous work she is doing for me! Even if you don’t have anything that needs to be designed she is an excellent resource for cute cards, prints and stickers as well as other items. Check out her site!

I have started Family Fridays and Senior Sundays where I feature a past photo shoot on my social media. I am enjoying looking through past shoots as I choose what to post each week.

Where am I?

Good Morning from Phoenix, Arizona!

Yesterday Jeff and I flew down to Phoenix. He has a work conference and I tagged along because I can! So my plans today are… I’m not sure. Next on my list is to figure out where to wander. I may uber out to a park that has cactus. I’ve never seen Arizona cactus up close. You can follow along with my adventure down here on my IG stories. https://www.instagram.com/shellyfryphotography/ 

Mostly I’m just excited to escape the rain!

Thanks for stopping by friends!

Shelly