Booking sessions and Saving money!

I am booking for all sessions! YAY! 2023 will be here before you know it. Newborns, Milestones, 1st Birthdays, Maternity, Family and Extended family sessions. I only take a certain amount of sessions each month to ensure I have focus and time for each session.

Have you see my new program going on? I have a new referral program! Refer friend and family and get $30.00 off per each referral. How amazing is that? Essentially you could earn a free session! I appreciate all of you so much. I am so happy to create memories for you!

Also while I got you here, Did you know that Conner James Photography offers gift cards? You can buy a session for friends or family and show them how much you love them! You can even save money by being a part of my email newsletter. I post all my sales by email newsletter FIRST! You even get the chance to book your sessions at your desired session time first! If you are not apart of my newsletter, you are missing out!

Hiring a photographer? What about me?

Today picking a photographer isn’t easy. Photographers are everywhere. You can type up a IOS photographer post on a Facebook group and get hundreds of comments in minutes. How do you know who to choose? Well most of this depends on the type of session you would like and your budget. But just because they are in your budget doesn’t always mean that is the best professional photographer for you.

When I hire a photographer I want to see behind the scene photos of them working. I want to see them doing their thing! Yes, even photographers need photographers. I want to see where they work, how they taking safety precautions, experience, and their style! Style can be such a game changer! Each photographer definitely has their own style in terms of backdrops, props and editing! Some are light and airy, some moody and dark, some true to color, and some are bold and vibrant.

My style is true to color but colorful! I love color and the tone it creates. But don’t get me wrong, I like neutrals too! I love working in my in home studio. I have a 1 room studio. In my in home studio I can create loads of art & magic. I create memories for families and future generations. I have a prop room as well. The prop room has all of my props for sessions all organized and pretty. I have so many props that I had to create an extra room for all of it. Lol.

Here are some behind the scenes photos of me working in my studio! Safety is huge for me! Whether in studio or outdoors this is not something I take lightly. I am trained in newborn safety and posing. I have been a photographer for over 11 years. I definitely have experience. I also have an assistant for my sessions on the weekends and non school days. She is my beautiful daughter, Montanna. She has helped both in the studio and outdoors for going on 2 years now! Montanna knows how I like things in the studio and can work a camera in manual mode as well. She can look at a baby and in 5 seconds tell me if they are jaundice! She is 12 ya’ll. That is skill right there!

Let’s talk editing! You want a photographer who can edit well. Someone who knows Photoshop! A professional photographer who can if need be do a composite, cloning, edit skin, or a head swap on an image. I can do all this, but some photographers can’t. It is important to find a photographer who best suits your need as a client. Just because they are in your budget doesn’t mean they know everything, or can suit your needs. Do not be afraid to ask your photographer questions. That is what we are here for.

Being grateful and celebrating business

Hey!
I hope everyone has been doing well! It is busy season for me. I have loved being able to meet new families and watch little ones grow. Seeing all those sweet smiling faces brings me so much joy. I truly love my job and am so grateful. I was told to write more blogs, so I have been trying to do that.

Fall mini sessions have ended. I am gearing up for Christmas mini sessions. These sessions book early every year. I start booking for Christmas Mini sessions in July! This year I am only offering 30 sessions total! I realize last year that I too need time with my family. I was so busy, that I missed out on family time, we all know how precious that time can be. The Christmas mini sessions sold out quickly! I would recommend for next year that you book your session early, if you would like a session.

This year I made a few wonderful changes to what sessions I will offer, new props and new backdrops. I don’t need to offer every session type. I should offer what sessions I do well and focus on those. So that is what I am doing! If you need a Newborn session, maternity, milestone, 1st birthday & cake smash, family, or mini session, I am your gal!

This December marks 11 years I have been in business. For 11 years I have been posing newborns & capturing family memories. For me it’s quite hard to describe all the emotions I feel. I am in awe, amazed, shocked, honored, and grateful! Being in business so long is not an easy feat & is not for the faint of heart. There has definitely been a few tears, bumps, and bruises along the way. I am blessed though. Each tear, each bump, each bruise is worth it. We learn from our failures and rise up higher in our triumphs.

I am deeply grateful for every client, each session, and each day I remain in business. I appreciate everyone helping me to support my small business! Booking sessions, commenting on post, sharing posts, reviews, and referrals, I appreciate each one! From the bottom of my heart, Thank you! You mean the world to me & I am thankful!

New updates with Conner James Photography

Hey Everyone!

Life has been crazy around here. Crazy but good! I am so thankful for my family and clients! I haven't blogged in so long! I swear I sit down to write and then I realize hey,I forgot to do something. There have been lots of good changes going on for Conner James Photography Inc. Change is good for the soul!

I recently bought new backdrops for newborn sessions and milestone sessions. I just bought some new outfits for milestone sessions. I have had a few clients forget outfits so I thought why not have some at the studio just in case. Milestone sessions are so colorful now! I love it!

I also added a new camera to my family. I sold my old camera and I now own two Sony Cameras. They are both full frame and mirrorless! I want you to have the best quality photos possible so I make sure to upgrade, update, and buy the best. Your memories are worth every penny! I also bought two new lenses as well! You can't buy a new camera without a new lens, just saying! My cameras definitely get a work out each day.

I also got some new headbands for newborn sessions! Did I mention how hard it is to match colors to items I already have? I think I found the color, bought it & it is the wrong color. I would love to buy things in person, but it does not work that way. I also almost finished the prop room! I got all the shelves put up, new lighting, and just need to paint it. I will paint it eventually. I wonder if I keep telling myself that it will actually happen.

Christmas Mini Sessions are almost completely booked. If you want a Christmas Mini session, I would book very very soon! These sessions alway book very fast. I am currently booking for 2023 for all sessions. Well I have to go, I need to edit a session and send off a beautiful family gallery. Thanks for reading my blog!

Models Needed!

It has been a busy year. I am so grateful. I need models for 2 different sessions.

Maternity Model Needed.

Must be at least 35 weeks pregnant. Session will take place in my in home studio. Session includes 4 digital images (chosen by the photographer) with print release. Session will take place in August 15th, 2022.

Christmas Mini Session

I need a family to model for Christmas Mini session. Session includes 4 digital images (chosen by the photographer) with print release. Session will take place on July 28th, 2022.

If you are interested please click on the model needed page on my website and fill out the form.

Thank you!

What's in Store for Conner James Photography

Happy New Year! Conner James Photography has some exciting things in store for 2022 and I can’t wait to share them with you. Keep reading to find out how Conner James Photography will continue to be your favorite Edwardsville family photographer!

First things first, I’m building a new prop room! Because I have an in-home studio, storage space is currently limited and all of my props are beginning to take over the studio, reducing available shooting space. I will be hiring a local contractor (support small businesses!) to help construct this new addition to the Conner James photography studio as we plan to add shelving, new paint, and new doors to both the prop room and studio. These doors will be a great addition because they can also be used as a backdrop. The prop room will be able to store my growing collection of props for posed newborn sessions, including bowls, buckets, beds, boxes, stuffies, furs, and decorative wooden shapes. I’m also excited to be able to organize the multitude of different colored wraps, headbands, tie backs, sleepy hats, bonnets, animal sets, and newborn and infant outfits that I have at my disposal. Having somewhere to easily view and sift through all of these props will make customizing any type of session that much easier! Creating a separate space to keep all of my props will also open up more room for parents in the studio. Parents have the luxury of watching me photograph their little one as the images show up on the big screen in real time. This makes the experience of getting your baby’s photos taken that much more personal and intimate.

I am also ecstatic to let all of my clients know that I will be expanding my photography knowledge even further with the help of world-renowned newborn and maternity photographer, Ana Brandt. Ana is one of my all time favorite photographers and a personal role model and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to learn from her. Although I’ve been steadily growing in photography for the past ten years, I am a firm believer that there is always room to grow. Educating myself on all of the most up-to-date newborn photography styles and safety measurements is always at the top of my list; to be able to learn one-on-one from someone so established is a great start to the new year!

Some of my other goals for this year are to add to my collection of backdrops, which currently includes grey, white, creme, and wooden brown as well as to be able to give different lighting options when shooting in the studio. I’m also hoping that I will be given the opportunity to shoot more studio maternity sessions. The best part about these sessions is when a client comes in for their maternity session and the next time I see them, I’m shooting their newborn session! Watching this transformation in a mom’s life is magical, and being able to capture it on camera is even better. Remember, it’s never too early to book your session!

 Finally, I wanted to remind everyone that I am currently booking sessions for all of 2022! Booking your session locks in your allotted time slot along with the current price, so don’t wait any longer. This is your sign to book now! Thank you all for your continuous love and support of Conner James Photography. I truly would not be able to follow my dreams if it wasn’t for each and every client and I am so grateful. Here’s to another amazing year as your local newborn photographer in Edwardsville!

Why You Should Book With Conner James Photography

Welcome to Conner James Photography! My name is Christine, and I’d like to tell you a little bit about what I do. I am a Edwardsville photographer and I’ve been in the professional photography business for ten years, but I’ve been obsessed with photography for as long as I can remember. Having cultivated my newborn photography skills continuously over the years, newborn sessions are my main specialty, (check out my blog Why Hire a Newborn Photographer? for more information on why newborn photography is a specialized form of photography that requires advanced knowledge and specific skills). I recommend booking your newborn session with me as soon as possible! Newborn sessions tend to fill up fast, especially since I only book a limited number of newborn sessions each month so that you get my full attention and energy during your session. Additionally, babies have their own time frame, as some arrive earlier or later than planned. Spacing sessions out this way ensures that the session date can be adjusted accordingly. 

    Although newborn sessions are my specialty, I love doing all sorts of other types of sessions as well. For instance, my milestone sessions offer a perfect way to watch your little one grow as we can set up several sessions over the course of their first year. In addition to newborn, I offer 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months sessions; these are usually the important milestones in your baby’s first year as they are quickly growing and changing. Each milestone session is purchased separately, allowing you to choose one or all of them as you wish. My personal favorite milestone session is at 6 months old, when the baby can sit up on their own and they are usually very happy and giggly! 

        I also enjoy doing one year sessions, which include portraits and a cake smash. I recommend booking these sessions at least two weeks before the child’s birthday to ensure you will receive the edited gallery by their birthday. In my experience, some little ones love their cake while others want nothing to do with it, (Pro-tip: try having them taste some a few days beforehand to get them a bit more used to the sweetness) but, either way, these photos always turn out adorable!

Not many clients know this, but I also offer maternity sessions. They are so wonderful. Maternity sessions capture a beautiful time. Maternity sessions are usually photographed around 32 weeks or later. I offer in studio maternity sessions or outside as well.

    Family sessions are also one of my favorite sessions to shoot. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new families and being able to capture the unique love that each family has for one another. The main goal in this session is to create a photo that accurately documents the specific personalities and dynamic of the family in a way that expresses the fun, playful, and loving feeling that the family has when they are with each other. From a multitude of styles and locations to choose from, ranging from Glen Carbon & Edwardsville, to St. Louis, to Collinsville, if you’re looking for a family photographer, I’m your girl!

    If you’re looking for something a bit less formal and more affordable, I also offer a variety of different types of Mini sessions throughout the year, such as themed Spring Minis, Fall Minis, and Christmas Minis, to name a few. Christmas Mini sessions & Spring Mini sessions are definitely my most popular. Christmas Mini sessions start booking in July and are typically filled very quickly. Mini sessions offer a great way to receive a small gallery of high-quality, memorable photos at a great value.

Shop SMALL this year!

I’m sure everyone has been hearing the term “shop small” lately, especially with Christmas coming up just around the corner. You may be wondering what shopping small means, or why it’s so important. Allow me to tell you!

 Shopping small is a nationwide movement that celebrates and supports small businesses by encouraging people to purchase services from small, local businesses rather than large corporations and retail stores. The day that commemorates shopping small this year is November 27th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Although, I recommend shopping small year-round! Shopping small inspires a thriving local economy and a more vibrant, connected community. 

My name is Christine Kelly and I am a professional newborn and family photographer, trained thoroughly in my industry for over ten years. As a local small business owner and St. Louis photographer, people who shop small are my main source of income. All of my valued clients literally support my livelihood! I am newborn certified and specialize in newborn and family portraiture, but I also enjoy doing milestones, first birthdays, maternity, and mini sessions. I own Conner James Photography, a Glen Carbon newborn photography studio, and I love every minute of it. Conner James Photography is more than just a side hustle for me, it is my life and sustenance. My photography business helps my family. I know that I’m not the only one who relies on my small business to pay the bills and feed my family, and that’s why shopping small is so important.

Just as I want the best for my children, I want the best for my clients. To me, all of my clients are a part of an ever-growing family. I always strive to provide the best quality images and customer service, because you deserve it! Due to small business owners having much more invested in their business than large corporations, we value our customers much more. I strive to provide my clients with the most personable, hands-on, and detail oriented experience when they work with me. There are countless hours and immense amounts of energy that I personally spend on each session, as it is my goal for every family to be ecstatic with their results. I want to show each client how grateful I am for their service, and keep them coming back!

I also recommend shopping small because it aids in the support of your local community. Not only does it directly benefit us as business owners, but when small businesses pay taxes to the city in which they reside, those taxes are used to fund public services such as schools, parks, roads, sidewalks, and service workers. By shopping small, your tax dollars go directly back into your neighborhoods, further enriching the local economy. If you’re ever unsure of what local small businesses are located near you, try searching online with the keywords, for example, “photographer near me,” and many results will pop up. If you're in the Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, St. Louis, or Alton area, I’ll be there, too! Overall, there are many reasons to choose a small business when spending your hard earned money. Support your local community this holiday season and shop small!

How to Prepare for a Newborn Session by Conner James Photography Inc.

So, you’re ready to book your first newborn session, congratulations! After so much love, time, energy, and labor, you finally get to hold the bundle of joy that you’ve been creating the past nine months. There’s no better way to remember this wonderful time in you and your child’s life than to capture their sweet, new faces in images that can be cherished forever. You probably want to ensure that your newborn photo session runs smoothly so that you can receive the best photos possible. They're only a newborn once, after all! As a professional newborn photographer of nine years, I’ve gathered all of my best tips into a handy Newborn Photo Session Prep Guide, detailed below, in order to guarantee that you get the most out of your newborn session.

1. What to Bring. 

When packing for your newborn session, make sure to bring extra diapers and wipes, extra formula bottles for feeding, and a pacifier. If you do not use formula, be prepared to feed the baby up to several times throughout the session. A full baby is a happy baby. Even if you choose not to use a pacifier all the time, bring one just in case the baby gets restless, as pacifiers can help calm them in a pinch. The studio, located in Glen Carbon, IL, will be warm to ensure the baby is comfortable when being photographed, but you can still feel free to bring extra blankets if needed. 

2. Prepare Your Babies

Making sure that your baby is happy before bringing them to their newborn session is essential in ensuring that we are able to get great photos. It is a good idea to keep the baby awake for at least 1 hour before the session so that they are more likely to be sleepy during the photo shoot. You can also give them a bath and put lotion on their skin before bringing them in so that they are clean, refreshed, and relaxed. If you or the baby’s siblings are also being photographed, make sure to clean their face and nose of all dirt or bodily fluids. Dress your children that are being photographed in neutral, solid colors, neon colors and patterns do not photograph well. Newborns will be wrapped in a coordinating color wrap upon arriving, so don’t worry about putting together an outfit.    

3. Have Fun

One of the most important things to remember when arriving for your session is to be positive and excited. This session should be a fun, intimate experience between baby and parents, so don’t stress! The better attitude that you and I have during the session, the happier and calmer your child will be, resulting in the best possible photos. If you know what makes your small child smile, please tell me ahead of time so that we can time the shots just right, making it easier to capture their beautiful, little smiles. Additionally, please arrive up to 15 minutes early for your session so that we can prepare accordingly to any issues that may arise before we start shooting, such as diaper changes and feedings. Arriving late will cut into your allotted session time! 

Welcome to my Studio!

Welcome to Conner James Photography! My name is Christine, and I’d like to tell you a little bit about what I do. I am a Edwardsville photographer and I’ve been in the professional photography business for over nine years, but I’ve been obsessed with photography for as long as I can remember. Having cultivated my newborn photography skills continuously over the years, newborn sessions are my main specialty, (check out my blog Why Hire a Newborn Photographer? for more information on why newborn photography is a specialized form of photography that requires advanced knowledge and specific skills). I recommend booking your newborn session with me as soon as possible! Newborn sessions tend to fill up fast, especially since I only book a limited number of newborn sessions each month so that you get my full attention and energy during your session. Additionally, babies have their own time frame, as some arrive earlier or later than planned. Spacing sessions out this way ensures that the session date can be adjusted accordingly. 

    Although newborn sessions are my specialty, I love doing all sorts of other types of sessions as well. For instance, my milestone sessions offer a perfect way to watch your little one grow as we can set up several sessions over the course of their first couple years. In addition to newborn, I offer 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months sessions; these are usually the important milestones in your baby’s first year as they are quickly growing and changing. Each milestone session is purchased separately, allowing you to choose one or all of them as you wish. My personal favorite milestone session is at 6 months old, when the baby can sit up on their own and they are usually very happy and giggly! 

        I also enjoy doing one year sessions, which include portraits and a cake smash. I recommend booking these sessions at least two weeks before the child’s birthday to ensure you will receive the edited gallery by their birthday. In my experience, some little ones love their cake while others want nothing to do with it, (Pro-tip: try having them taste some a few days beforehand to get them a bit more used to the sweetness) but, either way, these photos always turn out adorable!

    Family sessions are also one of my favorite sessions to shoot. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new families and being able to capture the unique love that each family has for one another. The main goal in this session is to create a photo that accurately documents the specific personalities and dynamic of the family in a way that expresses the fun, playful, and loving feeling that the family has when they are with each other. From a multitude of styles and locations to choose from, ranging from Glen Carbon, to St. Louis, to Collinsville, if you’re looking for a family photographer, I’m your girl!

    If you’re looking for something a bit less formal and more affordable, I also offer a variety of different types of Mini sessions throughout the year, such as themed Child Minis, Fall Minis, and Christmas Minis, to name a few. Christmas Mini sessions are definitely my most popular, as openings start in July and are typically filled very quickly. Mini sessions offer a great way to receive a small gallery of high-quality, memorable photos at a great value.