Dollars spent on advertising this year: 0

Updates to the website this year: 0

Updates to the blog: too embarrassed to count

A year that far exceeded all my goals and expectations, 100% due to word-of-mouth and client referrals: PRICELESS!

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Thank you, thank you, thank you! Because of our wonderful clients, this year has been huge. We've become known for our wedding photography and it's all due to our wonderful clients - THANK YOU! It has brought us to the point of go big or go home. And after much thought and prayer, we have decided to go, or in our case, STAY home.

So, what does that mean? It means that we are not accepting any more 2010 weddings. If you're a bride and would like a photography referral, shoot me an email and I'll hook you up with some of KC's best known (and sometimes unknown-but-will-be-big) awesome photographers.

Thank you to all of our clients. We'll still be around, and hey, I might even update the blog and website once in a while.

Wow - I didn't realize it had been since October since I last updated the blog! Unbelievable!

Well, it hasn't been because I've been sitting around twiddling my thumbs. :) After an overly busy holiday season, and not much of a break in January, I'm happy to hit the photography slow-season. I have lots of behind the scenes work to catch up on.

For today, I want to share with you some very special people. Shan and I went to high school with the groom, and we can't imagine a better bride for him. She's absolutely beautiful on the outside, and even more gorgeous on the inside. She has a heart of gold. And yeah, the groom is pretty cool, too. (Just teasing you, T!) These are some of my faves from their special day.

The day started out nicely, but by the time the wedding got started, the ice storm had moved in. I love this shot of the ice forming on the trees. It's like the whole world started glistening and sparkling for them.


My husband, the rock star, pulling out his rock star poses for the guys. Unfortunately, due to the weather, we weren't able to get the girls outside.


Running for the limo... it was a total snowstorm at this point!


You know I'm going to have to throw in a shoe shot!


The beautiful bride in classic black and white


Okay, I debated to show this one or not, but showing it won out. I knew the moment I took this image that I would want to age the photo with a texture. It's probably my favorite image of the entire day, but I almost didn't show it because it needs some extensive photoshop work first. I won't point it out to you, but two points for whoever sees what I need to remove before it's printed. :)


LOVE it...


Details of the cake - I love cake, I love taking pictures of cake, I love eating cake


I love watching the bride's face as she walks down the aisle to meet her husband.


The reception site and the very last shot of the day - took it from my car window... hehe! It was slippery out, and I knew that I'd end up on my bottom if I tried to walk down the hill to get this shot.

Check out this little cutie-pie! He's 7 months and on the go! He's a fast crawler and is already starting to stand. Isn't he a heartbreaker?

Photographically speaking, this was a challenging shoot. First, it rained. And then poured. We stuck it out under the gazebos, but then it began to get cold. And then colder. And then dark clouds rolled in and it rained more. But Little S was such a trooper. He hammed it up for the camera and made for a great session in the end!

Enjoy your sneak peek, Mom and Dad. You'll be hearing from me on Friday!

I barely finish up one couple before the next couple is queued up and ready to go! We're actually going to skip over my October bride - more on her wedding next - and go to the engagement shots of our November bride and groom. I have to tell you, I wasn't so sure about her. Since we drove out to Manhattan, I wasn't quite sure where to photograph. She suggested an apartment complex. Ummm, not my usual location, for sure. But wow! When we got there, I was blown away. This was nothing like the rinky-dink apartments I lived in while in college! Fabulous light, gorgeous setting, beautiful landscaping. This bride has an eye for the beautiful! I can't wait for her wedding!

Meet K & C! I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. Shan & I had a blast - we can't wait for your wedding!

Rockin' the sunflare!


Yep - we hopped a plane for a gorgeous beach and island light.


Moving in for a smooch


Shan got this shot of them playing while I messed around with the other camera. This is one of the Top 5 for me!


I love cool architecture.

I sat down to blog a bit about our most recent wedding. I've been sitting here staring at the screen for quite some time. Everything I typed seemed silly and failed to describe the beautiful, thoughtful day that A & R put together for their family and friends to celebrate their marriage.

A couple of high points:
- A's best man was his Dad. One of the photos below is Dad getting ready. The set of Dad's jaw sets off the emotion of that photo.
- R and her bridesmaids. I'm pretty sure they're all beauty queens and the best of friends. I wanted to go hang out with them rather than do my job... LOL!
- The ceremony was lit with hundreds of candles. They were all across the stage, behind the bride and groom, and down every aisle. It was soooo beautiful!
- And on a purely selfish note, I got to show a slideshow during the reception. On the big screen. Of the ceremony. It rocked! I was an editing fool, pulling together images moments after they were captured, to process into a slideshow. It was a complete blast! Huge thanks to my wonderful husband, Shan, and to my 3rd shooter, Ron Grant (www.rongrantphotography.com). Yeah, so he also happens to be my Dad. :)


Sharing a moment right after the kiss.


The cutest little ringbearer!


Getting ready to walk down the aisle with Dad.


I want these flowers in my home.


Best man and Father.


The gorgeous bride and her attendants.

Enjoy your sneak peek, A & R. I'll most likely have the images in your hands sometime next week.


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OFFICE MATTERS

I'm in the process of rearranging my work schedule. I'll be answering emails, taking phone calls, and scheduling ordering sessions on just a few days per week (most likely it'll be Monday, Wednesday, Friday). If you don't hear from me right away, give me 48 hours. I promise to be in touch. Brides, if it's an emergency, you have my home number. Feel free to use it, just ignore the four children playing in the background.

Also, I'll be out of town this weekend meeting with and photographing our newest bride. It's a destination wedding! MANHATTAN

Okay, not NYC, but Manhattan, KS. :)

Welcome to Babyland!

I have some precious curly little people to share with you. First, I'm so excited to introduce little E. Her Mom and I are good friends, and I couldn't wait to get my camera on her beautiful little squishy face.



I love it when they are still curly.


And I had to make a collage of her room. Her Mom has mad home decor skills.


Next are not one, but TWO beautiful babies. My very first set of twins! I was quite pleased with the final result. I admit I was pretty nervous - I know what to do with one baby, but posing two, focusing on two, highlighting two of everything was a fun challenge.



My favorite snuggly face images




I love these types of images


All my newborn sessions are on location only. The last thing you want to do is take your newborn out to a studion that has had who-knows-how-many-kids coming through it. I bring my camera, some props, and my magic pop-up backdrop. And I clean everything after every session. Once you have a newborn session with me, you'll understand why. Diaperless babies and all. :) I recommend that you call your photographer (me, of course) as soon as you get home from the hospital. Newborns grow very quickly and it is best to get those first images within 14 days of birth.

NEXT: More weddings. Oh my gosh, I love weddings!

I promise I'm still here, even though I'm not updating as much as I'd like. I have a lots to share today.

First up - a sneak peek! I'm so excited to photograph this couple's wedding. They are the kindest, stylish, funnest couple! Enjoy your sneak peek R & A. Just a few weeks to go!



Next - another engaged couple! Shan and I become friends with all our couples, but the cool part is that we are already friends with K & Q. K has babysat for us on many occasions. (Warning: nerdy photographer-speak - check out that backlighting! The texture practically jumps off the page!)



Check out this little guy! He is adorable, and I'm not just saying that because he's my client. This session was a blast. We ended up with so many fantastic shots, we had to put together an album for his Dad. From cover to cover, this book was a celebration of the energy and youth of little E. We also had his gorgeous Mom jump in for some precious images of the two of them together.



Last for today, a super-fun family that traveled from Southeast Kansas to have me photograph them. I'm truly honored. Let me tell you a little bit about the L Family. They are all super-fun, super-cute, and super-smart (I like the word super today). I tried to get some parenting tips from Mom and Dad, because they have obviously done a great job with their three children!



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Please allow me to get all fuzzy and gooey for a moment about photography. Each of the images above is why I love photography. I'm excited about my clients viewing their images when I first create them, but I get done-right all teary when I think about my couples pouring over their wedding photos 25 years from now; little E's parents thumbing through the pages of his album when he graduates from college; and the L's family having a keepsake of their family as their children leave the nest. If you haven't taken the time for professional protraiture, this fall will be the perfect time for you to capture those memories. I know we're all busy, but I promise, you won't regret it.

NEXT UP: Babies! Little, itty-bitty, squishy newborn babies! I'm headed off to a newborn shoot tonight, and then twins this weekend. After that, it will be weddings and families. My fall is booking up quickly. For my own sanity, I will only take on one more wedding this fall. I do have some slots available for families/children sessions. Oh, and I'm throwing a maternity session into the mix as well.

And yes, there are some VERY BIG CHANGES coming up for J Conner Photography. It's all good! I can't wait to share with everyone.