Ivy Studios, Gilbert

Shelly Ivy's parents probably figured they were indulging a passing phase when they bought their 8-year-old daughter a blue camera with a flash bulb. As it turns out, that gift steered Shelly toward a career in photography that fully manifested when she opened Ivy Studios Photography with her husband Brandon. The duo specializes in wedding and portrait photography, and their work regularly graces Wedding Wire's Bride's Choice awards. Sharing a fondness for rock 'n' roll, they bring an enthusiastic energy to their clients' photo shoots, which commemorate occasions ranging from happy nuptials and momentous graduations to the fire walk that closes out every family reunion. When they're not focusing lenses on brides or setting up surveillance on ring bearers, the pair stages introductory and advanced photography classes that help students fluently maneuver around their digital cameras.