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.

Get the most out of your newborn session by hiring a professional

Between all of the excitement and anxiety that comes with having a baby, you’ve probably been thinking about having photos taken of your newborn in order to capture the tiny ball of joy that you just spent the last nine months creating. Well, it just so happens you're in the right place! It’s common to think that a newborn photo session is just like any other photo session but this is actually not the case. When thinking about getting photos taken of your newborn, it’s extremely important to find a photographer that specializes in doing newborn photography for your baby’s safety and well being. For this reason, I’ve detailed the four main reasons why you should go with a professional photographer who specializes in newborn photo sessions.

1. Safety

The first, and most important, aspect of a newborn photography session is ensuring the safety of your newborn during the shoot. Newborn posing is much more than just laying a baby down in a basket. Your photographer must be newborn safety certified to know how to pose the baby correctly in order to prevent unsafe movements, blocked airways, and overheating. When a newborn is posed correctly, by a professional, this session is completely safe and unharmful. That being said, this is why newborn training is so important. Photographers must have knowledge of how to handle newborns with gas and medical conditions, and be able pose them correctly in order to avoid unwanted wriggling and unsafe positions. As someone with over nine years experience in photographing over a thousand babies, trust me when I say that knowledge of human anatomy and a newborn safety certification is essential! I am a part of multiple photography education organizations, such as Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International, Ana Brandt Baby Belly School, and Finding North Educational Resources for Photographers.

  2. Experience & Skill 

In addition to a thorough understanding of safety precautions, newborn photography also requires skill, knowledge, and a lot of patience. Newborn photography has become an expanding field of the years. From new photographers trying to start a side gig to established photographers trying to expand, there are alot of people making an effort to earn your business. However, photographing a newborn is not for the faint of heart! This business takes patience, training, and a ton of editing knowledge. Many times, the best newborn photos that you see aren’t just one image at all, but a composite of several images which are edited together to create one cohesive photo. This is done because posing newborns requires constant support of the baby’s body in order to create the beloved poses that everyone loves while also maintaining safety measurements. Because of the skill that this type of photography requires, it is important to hire a professional who understands the high level of safety and hard work that this type of session requires.

  3. Legalities

Another reason why it is important to hire a professional for your newborn photography session is to ensure that the session is legal and covered by insurance. A professional legal business photographer will have insurance that covers their business and your rights as a consumer. Many times when a parent chooses to have a freelance photographer shoot photos, especially newborn photos, not only is the quality of your photos and experience not going to be as good, but there is no type of liability insurance in case something goes wrong. Because the safety of your child is so important, particularly in newborn shoots because newborns are so fragile, it is usually a good idea to make sure that the person you choose to handle your baby is licensed and insured.

  4. Getting the Most Out of Your Session (and Money)

Newborns are only little once and they grow up so fast! The precious time of having a newborn is quickly fleeting as they transition to toddler and then child; for this reason, you want to make sure that your newborn session is worth every penny spent. Newborn sessions can take a really long time. Posing, reposing, taking multiple shots to create composites, making sure every pose is safe, creating a comforting environment for your baby, and reposing AGAIN, all takes time, energy, patience, and a lot of hard work. By hiring someone who has done this for as long as I have, you're more likely to get a variety of poses in a shorter amount of time because we know how to maximize our workflow. In addition to supplying you with the best possible service, hiring a professional ensures that you will get some amazing images of your little one, enabling these fleeting memories to be captured and kept forever. I personally love working with newborns, creating memories to last a lifetime and for generations to come. If you’re looking for an Edwardsville photographer or Glen Carbon photographer, consider contacting me for your newborn and family photo needs!

 P.S. If you’re an aspiring photographer, I now also offer newborn photography classes. Keep up with your safety, shooting, and editing knowledge and contact me to inquire about learning how to properly photograph newborns.

Meet your Photographer

Hi, everyone! My name is Christine Kelly and I am a newborn and family portrait photographer in Southwestern Illinois, mainly surrounding the Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, and St. Louis, MO areas. My interest in photography started at the age of eighteen as I was constantly reading books about photography and teaching myself all of the ins and outs of the craft through my own extensive research. When I was blessed with the ability to start my own family, my children became my first muse and they have acted as my inspiration ever since! Through years of practice and continuous education through workshops, classes, and photography summits, I was able to tremendously expand my own knowledge about photography, which is an ever-growing field that I am still consistently growing in! Along with being newborn safety certified, I am also a part of multiple photography education organizations, such as Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International, Ana Brandt Baby Belly School, and Finding North Educational Resources for Photographers. 

I have been with my spouse, Ira, for fourteen years now and we will be getting married next year on our fifteenth anniversary. Together we have four amazing kids, with my oldest being Jodynne, whose passion is reading. My second child is Conner James, who unfortunately passed away at three months old. Conner James is the reason that I started my photography business because I now know how important capturing lasting memories through a photograph is. He made me realize that life and all of the beautiful moments that come and go so quickly deserve to be remembered forever, and now it's my mission to help others realize and actualize this too!

My rainbow baby is my daughter, Montanna. She is currently in love with photography (whoot, whoot!) and likes to help her momma with outdoor sessions sometimes. My youngest is my son, Dylan, who is all boy and enjoys playing video games on his tablet or driving around his little Hot Wheel cars.

I also have a precious fur baby who is a five year old service dog named Buddy. He is a forty pound Australian cattle dog (blue heeler) who does a great job helping me control my anxiety and being there for me when I need him. As a one year old rescue dog, Buddy was trained to remind me to take my medicine and calm me down if needed and he is now also my best friend.

In addition to photography, I also love to read and go swimming. I’m a big Harry Potter fan and I love watching Disney movies with my children and bingeing Grey's Anatomy in my down time. My favorite holiday is Christmas because of all of the extra time I get to spend with family (along with all of the yummy food traditions). I’m also a coffee addict and really enjoy good mexican food.

My favorite thing to do in life is my photography work, which I consider my life’s purpose. The best part of this rewarding job is being able to work with babies and children and learning all of their different, fun personalities in order to capture their authentic selves on camera. My children are my pride and joy and if you're anything like me, you believe that the little moments that make parenthood worth it deserve to be captured and kept forever. To be able to not only have great photos of your kids to show off your good genes to others, but also to have a physical memento of the most formative and fun years of your kid’s lives, is a blessing and should be available to everyone. Being a photographer is truly the most rewarding job, in my opinion, and I feel so honored to be able to practice this trade of creating lasting memories that you can hang in your home and cherish indefinitely. 

Family Sessions! Mini Sessions! Yes, Please!

It’s been a long year. Now that everything is almost back to normal, it is time to get portraits updated and get out of the house! Conner James Photography Inc has clients in Edwardsville, Collinsville, St.Louis, OFallon, Troy, and surrounding areas. I specialize in family and newborn photography. I love working with families and children. Amazing families and beautiful children. Yes, I love my job!

When it comes to family picture day, a lot of stress is typically associated with days leading up to the session. We’re here to help you relax and be prepared all at the same time. Here are some tips. Find the outfits you want everyone to wear a month in advance and set them aside somewhere safe. Then try them on a week ahead of time to ensure everything still fits comfortably and that you did not miss any stains or holes that you could not see until they were being worn. As soon as your family changes out of their photo attire, make sure it is clean and pressed to be ready for the big day. Set the clothes together (sorted by person) and place them somewhere free from harm and dirt. Be sure to tell everyone that these are picture clothes and not to be worn until picture day. This will help to be sure that no articles of clothing go missing. Do not forget about shoes, jewelry, belts, and other accessories. About three to four days prior to the session, start talking with your husband and kids about the session and what will happen and how they should behave. If you plan to use a bribe, now is a good time to set that in place. Continue to talk to your children daily to prepare them for the session. Two days prior to the session, pack a bag of everything you will need on picture day – snacks, props, bribery, etc. and put it somewhere you can grab it and go. Be sure to include wipes in case things get messy, an extra hairbrush, and other “emergency” items, such as bobby pins and a backup lipstick. On the day of the session, make sure everyone is well fed, but not overfed. We do not want sick little tummies from overeating, but we don’t want anyone getting “hangry” (angry because they are so hungry) either. Do not get your family dressed in their photo clothes until after they have eaten and brushed their teeth. This will prevent spills and other messy accidents. If you have young children, avoid any colored drinks the day of the session until after we are finished. Also, if they drink anything on the way to the session try to avoid spills to save their shirts from wet spots or stains. Once you get to the session, try to relax. If you have set a bribe, please let me know so I can use that throughout the session if the children get restless. I will also have something to bribe as well. Try to stay positive. If you are positive the kids will be more likely to smile and be happy. Trust your photographer - know that I will take care of things and will deliver amazing photos of your family.

 I like to offer Mini Sessions throughout the year. I offer Spring Mini Sessions, Fall Mini Sessions, and Christmas Mini Sessions! Sometimes I also have Quick Mini Sessions. I like to offer Mini sessions to treat my clients extra special. I think it is so wonderful how you can get your family photos done a couple times a year at an affordable price. Christmas Mini sessions are my biggest seller. I start booking for Christmas Mini sessions in July. These sessions tend to sell out quickly.  This is the backdrop for this year! It’s so gorgeous! The Christmas Mini backdrop is large for the family. Be on the lookout for the bookings to be released in July.

What's new with Conner James Photography Inc ?

There are a lot of new things going on with Conner James Photography. All good things! I am so excited and grateful. The studio has been updated once again. For newborns and small clients I have bought white neutral backdrops. Also do have some white props to go along with the white backdrops. It will still create that classic clean style I love.

I have also added a flat screen in the studio. It is definitely an added bonus. Clients who have been to the studio recently have loved the new addition. With the flat screen you can view your images while I take them! I think it will be a big hit with the Christmas Mini Sessions this year.

Speaking of Christmas Mini sessions, They will be be release for booking in July like always. I will release them July 1st, 2021 in my Facebook Client VIP Group. The group will be the first to get the desired times and dates. I will release the Christmas Mini Session booking here on my website on July 15th,2021. These sessions will go super fast. I will be photographing these session in November. This way you can have your images back quickly. Sanitation precautions will be taken between clients. Here is this year’s Christmas backdrop. You can join my Facebook Client VIP group too! Just email me and I will get you added to the group.

I am now working with the Edwardsville Living Magazine. I photograph the featured family. My work will be on the cover and inside pages of the magazine. This magazine is delivered by mail in the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area. The Edwardsville Living Magazine is a local community magazine. I am thrilled to be apart of this magazine. I really enjoy meeting new families and creating memories with them. If you would like to be a featured family please contact me. It is free of course!

Thank you to all my amazing clients and supporters. I truly love my job and love meeting your wonderful family! You guys are the best!

Newborn Sessions - Why to hire a professional photographer?

Are you about to have a baby? Or maybe you have a little newborn and need some beautiful photographs taken? Let’s be real. Having a baby will change you. From being pregnant to giving birth your whole life is forever changed. You see your baby for the first time, you hold them and look into their sweet face and you melt. You know they have your heart and soul. They have you wrapped around their tiny finger. You want to protect them and keep them safe. As a parent of four kids, this does not change even as they get older.

Newborn in multiple poses.

Newborn photography over the years has been an expanding field. There are lots of new photographers trying to learn newborn photography to start a business or established photographers are trying to expand their business. But photographing a newborn is not for the faint of heart. It is a hard job. It takes a lot patience. It takes training and even editing know how. Some poses require composite editing. A composite is an images made up of multiple images. This is done in Photoshop. By using compositing the newborn is never left unsupported and is safe at all times.

Newborn composites using Photoshop.

Newborn posing is more than just laying a baby down in a basket. It is knowing that the baby is safely posed and is in a good position to not block airways, move incorrectly, or over heat. Believe it or not there are actual newborn poses that are safe for the baby when the baby is posed correctly. This is why newborn training is so important. What if the baby has gas? What if the baby was not settled enough and the photographer just laid the baby down? What if the baby has special medical restrictions? What if the baby is older than 2 weeks old? Most photographer do not like to photograph a newborn older than two weeks. What if the baby does not sleep? What if ? What if? This is why it is so important to hire a photographer who specializes in newborn photography.

Newborn at 8 weeks old.

You want to have a safe and happy experience when creating memories for you to remember your precious newborn baby. You want to remember how little he or she was. All the details and little smirks. Whether you want Conner James Photography Incorporated to be your photographer or not, I do have some recommendations. I recommend that you hire a photographer that has training in the field of photography you are looking for. Wedding photographer for a wedding, Newborn photographer for newborn photography.

Newborn little details.

I recommend hiring a professional legal business photographer. By hiring a legal business it will ensure that the business has insurance. Also your rights, and your investment will be legally covered as well. Its important to have a photographer who has insurance to make sure that in case anyone would get injured or some equipment would break, you and/or your family will be covered. Its always better to be safe than sorry. By hiring a professional you will also get high quality work while receiving professional services.

Family poses, sibling poses, and newborn poses.

Newborn Sessions can be long. It takes time and a lot of patience to pose the newborn in the poses correctly. Each pose takes time. Sometimes the baby will move out of the pose and you have to start over with the posing. By hiring a professional we know how to maximize our poses and workflow to get you a variety of poses, in a shorter amount of time.

I truly love working with newborns and families. I love creating memories to last a lifetime for generations to come. I have been photographing newborns for 9 years. it will be 10 years in December. I have photographed over 1000 newborns and counting. I also mentor/teach other photographer in the field of newborn photography. I would love to be your photographer!

Now booking for 2021 !

I am now booking for 2021! I so excited for the new year. I have updated the studio and am ready for all the babies! I offer Newborns, Milestones, 1st Birthday’s, Maternity, Family Sessions, and Mini Sessions.

You can now view my availability on my website and book your session on my website as well! I am following Covid 19 guidelines. You can view the guidelines on my website. If you have any questions regarding bookings or guidelines please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I recommend booking your session, as soon as you can. I tend to book up fast especially for newborn sessions. I only book a limited number of newborn sessions each month to ensure my time and focus for each session. Babies have their own time frame. Some babies arrive earlier or later than planned. We can certainly adjust the session date if needed.

Milestone sessions are so much fun. They are a perfect way to watch your little one grow. I offer 3 months, 6 months, and 9 month sessions. Each milestone sessions are separately purchased. You can book all 3 milestone sessions or just one of them if you wish. I recommend 6 month sessions as they can sit up on their own and are usually very happy at that age.

1st Birthday sessions are amazing! They come with portraits and a cake smash. I recommend booking these sessions at least 2 weeks before the child’s birthday to ensure you will get the edited gallery back before hand. Some little ones will love their cake and some want nothing to do with it. But either way, they are still super cute!

Maternity sessions are booking too. I will usually have you book for 32 weeks. We can do in studio portraits or outside in natural light. These sessions can be for just mom or the family. If you have any questions please contact me.

Family sessions are one of my favorite types of sessions. I love being able to meet new families and seeing the unique love each family has for one another. I offer outdoor family sessions. I have different locations to choose from. If you need a family session, I am your girl!

Mini sessions are my jam! I offer different types throughout the year. Child mini sessions, Fall Mini sessions, and Christmas Mini sessions just to name a few. Christmas Mini Sessions are my most popular. Mini sessions are typically priced lowered than a regular session. They are a great value.

I am so excited to meet you and your family. Thank you for taking the time to not only read this blog post but also for visiting my website. I truly love my job and appreciate all of my Conner James Photography clients and supporters.

Christmas 2020 Sessions are booking!

I am booking Christmas Mini sessions! These sessions are going to be so much fun. The background is gorgeous! It is big enough for families. Sessions will take place in my studio. Christmas Mini Sessions are on Friday November 20th, 2020, Saturday November 28 2020, and Sunday November 29th 2020. I have very limited amount of session spots. If you are interested I would book soon! Only 15 open session spots left!

These sessions are perfect for Christmas cards. I know I can not wait to make mine. Just magical! I hope to see you and your family. You can book your session on my website under the Investment page on my website. www.connerjamesphotography.com/investment Book your session today!