Local Photographer Spotlight: Melissa Conn Photography

Pictures have always been very special to me. They capture special moments in time, giving you a way to cherish and remember these moments, a way to share these moments, a way to freeze a moment in time to always be able to look back on. Maybe I’m a little sentimental with my pictures but I guess that’s just part of who I am. I love to open my memory books and look back at all the pictures that tell the stories of my past. Fun times I spent with friends, trips I took with my students, special family moments, every one capturing a moment that I never want to forget. Since having Abby, my love for pictures has become almost an obsession lol I want to capture so many moments of her life not only to fill her baby books with so that I can share them with her when she gets older but also so I can share these moments with friends and family that don’t live close enough to watch her grow. I love to fill my house with pictures of her, to look back at certain ones and recall funny stories and special memories of that day. I love to send pictures to her grandparents so they can “watch” her grow although they can’t always come visit, plus I want to share her pictures with all my friends who are spread out all over the world. For me, a picture tells a story and helps me remember tiny moments that might not be as big as something like a birthday or holiday but are just as important in our busy lives.

I gave up long ago trying to capture professional like pictures of Abby, my camera simply is not fast enough to keep up with her! Don’t get me wrong, it’s great for fun trips to the park and playing around the house but for the more professional like pictures I just can’t seem to get the picture before she’s off and running again. Abby has never been one to hold still and when it comes to capturing her smile and adorable facial expressions you have to be fast or you miss it. So for special occasions (or just times I want nicer quality pictures done) I seek out a photographer to chase after my little toddler tornado. While I have several in the area I like to work with, I often always find myself contacting my friend Melissa to see if she’s available to take pictures for us.

Our first photo shoot with Melissa Conn Photography was in the Fall of 2010, just shortly after we moved to base. I had a friend recommend Melissa’s photography page to me and I discovered that Melissa was having a fun football mini shoot. Since hubby loves his LSU Tigers I thought it would be fun to do the mini shoot and I signed us up. I was more than a little nervous, I was joining a group of people that I had never met and working with a photographer that I had never spoken to besides signing up for the shoot. Before this mini session the other professional pictures of Abby were done at JCPenney when she was two months old…she was nine months for the football minis and I was the only one who had been taking pictures of her. Turns out, there was nothing to be nervous about. Melissa was so very nice and amazing with Abby (who, even that young, was as stubborn as can be when getting her picture taken). The football mini went great and those quickly become all time favorites for hubby. Yes, we’re all decked out in LSU since that’s his team.

After the football mini I became a huge fan of Melissa’s photography page on Facebook. I loved seeing new photos from her, loved seeing her creativity in the shoots and loved when she announced her monthly themed minis. I became inspired by her ideas and would make notes of different things she did during other shoots so I could ask her to do something similar for Abby.

As Abby’s 1st birthday approached I knew I wanted Melissa to take the pictures. As usual with me, I was running late even thinking about the pictures but Melissa fit me in and we met up for a real quick photo shoot. The pictures turned out…better than I could have asked. I actually teared up looking at some of them, she captured Abby’s fun little personality so perfectly (plus I couldn’t believe my baby was turning 1! lol).

Over the past year we have met up with Melissa several times for fun little photo shoots. Abby has gotten even more stubborn at having her picture taken and now that she’s a very busy little toddler, sitting still for even two seconds is asking too much from her when she has her mind set on doing something else. Working with Melissa so many times has been great for Abby, she has gotten to know Melissa, she likes Melissa and best of all, Melissa has figured Abby out! Melissa has learned that she needs to just let Abby do her thing, she sits ready with the camera to capture the smiles, the sweet expressions, Abby’s true personality and toddler curiosity and the priceless, beautiful shots as Abby runs, plays, explores and does her own thing. Abby likes to have her space, to do as she wants in a big open area while the photographer follows her and works with her instead of her working with the photographer. We learned this the hard way a few weeks ago when we took Abby to a photo session that was inside, where the photographer made her sit on a stool in front of bright lights expecting her to smile on command. Needless to say, we got one cute picture out of that. I’m not a big fan of the “posed” more forced looking pictures. I love outside shoots and love seeing Abby’s true personality shine through. So what if the pictures aren’t exactly perfect looking…a finger in her mouth, her tongue sticking out, etc…those little imperfections are what make the pictures perfect and really show who Abby is!

Melissa has also learned that Abby has a time frame, typically 30 minutes of happiness and willingness to do things before she gets stubborn and starts telling us “no”. Melissa is quick, getting in all the different possible poses and places and ideas in that short time frame. She knows little tricks to get Abby to smile, to look and to give us that adorable big grin. Abby has welcomed Melissa into her little life, she trusts Melissa and really likes her. This past weekend we joined Melissa for her Easter Minis and I couldn’t help but smile when Abby took Melissa’s hand as they walked to another little bridge to take pictures. Abby even followed Melissa to her car as if she wanted to go home with her! For Abby to take your hand, she really has to like you and know you. Yep, we have found a truly amazing photographer and friend 🙂 These Easter pictures are beautiful, I can’t believe how much my sweet baby has grown! I’m so glad Melissa was able to get us a time slot 🙂

Now that I have signed Abby up to do a little modeling, plus having her model clothing & accessories that I review, we will be working with Melissa quite a bit. Melissa is the wonderful photographer who took the pictures of Abby showing off the adorable clothes from mybabyclothes.com in this review. I highly recommend her to anyone that is looking for any kind of pictures. Her pictures are beautiful, truly captures the child’s personality, she’s patient and creative, she will go that extra step to get that perfect picture. I’m so thankful that my friend recommended Melissa Conn Photography to us and now I recommend her to everyone I know. Take a few moments to stop by her page, check out her beautiful work and if you’re in the area give her a try next time you’re looking for a photographer.