Medina teacher opens photo studio in downtown
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Alexandra Peracciny, left, and her daughter Emilia stand in Alexandra’s new photography studio above the Book Shoppe in Medina. Gloria and Fred Fierch, the new owners of the Book Shoppe, are Alexandra’s parents.
MEDINA – Being in business in the Medina area is nothing new for Alexandra Peracciny and her family.
Peracciny’s parents, Fred and Gloria Fierch, recently purchased the Book Shoppe, while other relatives, including aunts and uncles, are involved in Lyons Collision, McCauley Canvas and Rudy’s, to name a few. Peracciny’s grandparents were owners of the former Silver Dollar on Main Street. Alexandra’s sister Robin Cramer is a hairdresser next door in the new Revival Beauty Salon.
That is one of the reasons being in business for herself is so special for Peracciny, who just opened a photography studio above the Book Shoppe.
Peracciny was born in Medina and grew up in Middleport. She loves to travel and has had the opportunity to take pictures of such things as the Eiffel Tower and open air markets of Spain. So becoming a photographer was a natural fit.
She was looking for a summer job when she opened her first business, Alexandra Peracciny Photography, in 2007, specializing in wedding photography in the Western New York area. She had completed a program of study in film/digital photography and thought weddings were a great place to start.
She soon realized there was a need for family, senior, maternity, sports and special event photography.
She often brought her young daughter Emilia Peracciny along to help, and later Emilia, a fourth-generation member of the Medina business community, joined her mother working at weddings and sometimes booking her own clients.
Sunflower field sessions and lavender field photos, taken near Sanborn, and other mini sessions became very popular, Alexandra said. She also soon realized there was a need for an indoor studio.
When the family purchased the Book Shoppe in December 2019, they saw the space above the store as a perfect fit for an indoor studio, and Alexandra opened for business in February.
Then the pandemic hit and she was forced to close down temporarily. The studio has reopened and appointments are being taken for fall/winter shoots, newborn photos, and holiday time sessions, along with any outdoor or on-location photos, such as senior portraits and family portraits. Headshots are also done in the studio for professional portfolios and social networking. Appointments are available evenings, weekends and throughout the summer.
Alexandra Peracciny Photography is a full service studio that offers not only digital services, but also professional prints and other photo merchandise.
In addition to her photography business, Alexandra is a full-time teacher of Spanish and French at Medina High School. However, she stresses she is very serious about her dedication to both professions and is careful to keep them separate.
Emilia is also a student at the University of Buffalo, studying marketing, and is employed at Aldi’s and TJ Maxx.
Alexandra said they are thrilled to be vested in the Medina community. They can be contacted at (716) 735-7381 or aperacciny@yahoo.com. They are on Facebook and further information is available at www.alexandraperaccinyphotography.com.
