So, when I showed him the studio space and told him what I had in mind, fully convinced that it would only take “a day or two”, he just nodded and quietly loaded up the back of the truck with power tools. One month, lots of heavy lifting, and way too many hours spent at Ikea later, I finally have the studio space I’ve always envisioned.

We still have a bit to go: the floors need to be refinished, some trim work needs to be added, and the new lights need to be hung. We’re working on it (and by “we” I mean “Michael”). In the meantime, I had my very first client in the studio yesterday morning – a beautiful newborn baby boy – and Saturday is the first beginner’s photography class. I was going to wait until it was completely done before posting any pictures, but I’m not that patient, so here is a sneak peek …

Don’t forget that I am running two in-studio specials through March 31st! If you are expecting in the next couple of months and are planning to have newborn photos done, contact me to schedule your session ASAP. If your baby is a bit older and is just starting to roll over or sit up, you can also take advantage of the mini session special to capture those once in a lifetime milestones.

The space was perfect, and definitely had all of the charm and character that I was looking for, but of course there was a minor glitch (isn’t there always?): The building is for sale and the space needed some work. I went back and forth about it for a while. After all, I didn’t want to sink a ton of money into a space that might not be available long-term. Also, I have a pretty large client base in Fairfield County, and, let’s face it, Canton is not exactly close to Fairfield. I hemmed. I hawed. I discussed it ad nauseam with anyone who would listen. I decided to go for it!

This past weekend we began the process of fixing it up. It’s definitely not going to be an overnight transformation! Have you ever painted the trim on a window? Holy tedious! And there are 14 of them. And they are about as tall as I am. And that’s just the windows. We still have to do the walls and the floors, and there is a big, ugly bar near the entrance that I have NO idea what to do with … but it will all come together in time. I’m so excited to see what the end result will look like. I’ve been told that the building has been for sale for quite some time, so hopefully I’ll get to stay a while!

And if you’re reading this and thinking, “Wait, what about all of your on-location work?” – don’t worry! I will still be doing plenty of on-location sessions. After all, you can’t do a beach session inside of a studio! I love outdoor work, and I will never give that up. I just wanted a home-base, a space that would give me the option to do more creative work, especially with newborns and babies, and a place to store all of my gear. (If you could see the amount of newborn props that I’ve amassed over the years, you would know how important a storage space is. Keeping it in my trunk is just not cutting it anymore!)

Another perk to having a studio is that I can finally offer workshops. Not workshops for other photographers (there are plenty of great ones out there already), but workshops for ordinary moms who just want to take better pictures of their kids. Reading your camera’s manual will tell you how to operate the camera, but that isn’t the same thing as learning how to take a good picture, and I know from experience that finding a good photography class isn’t easy. There are plenty of online resources, too, but all of that technical information can be daunting. My classes are designed to cut through the terminology and make the learning process fun. Click here for more details.

Session specials coming soon, too!

-Kelli

The studio is closed until Monday, January 2nd. Have a great New Year!

Due to the storm, most of northern CT is without power (including us). My office is without heat, internet, etc., so I am working remotely as best I can. Please bear with me until we can get things back up and running around here. Lots of great galleries to edit and post, but the turnaround time is going to be a bit longer than normal!

For the remainder of 2011 I will be taking newborns only. I have a few spots left, so if you are expecting a baby in November or December (or any time in 2012) call or email ASAP to get on the calendar.

And now onto the photos! This session was shot at Mystic Seaport in September. When my client suggested the location, I must admit that I was a little apprehensive. Not only was the location unfamiliar, but it was a crowded, public place. I envisioned lighting issues, and random strangers walking through the background of my shots, among other challenges. Thankfully, my clients had after-hours access and it turned out to be an amazing location to shoot at! Plus, the kids (and their parents) were so much fun to work with. One of my favorite sessions this season.

Children and Families
Outdoor sessions are done through October 31st, with the first two weeks of November being reserved for delays due to weather and/or illness. If there are no make-up sessions, I will make any openings available to those families on the wait list.
September is fully booked.
Fridays and weekends are fully booked.
Limited weekday availability in late October.

Newborns
September is fully booked.
Limited availability in late October.
Booking for November and December, as well as 2012.

And here are a few images from a recent newborn session. I love working with this family and was honored to photograph baby girl number four! Meet Evelyn …

The busy fall season is about to kick into high gear. I never did get around to sending out my annual newsletter announcing fall and holiday session availability. Over the last month I have been getting a ton of inquiries, and as a result, fall is almost fully booked. I have a few weekday openings left for September and October, so if you would like to grab one please email me to reserve your spot! I will respond to inquiries on a first come, first served basis, but there may be a bit of a delay over the next week or so because (and here is the big news of the summer) …. we are moving!! Don’t worry – we’re staying in Connecticut This move has been in the works for what seems like forever, but we’ve finally found a house that we love, and we hope to close in a few days. In the meantime, life is a bit chaotic! In light of the move (and the fact that I won’t have internet service for a few days) Kelli Dease Photography will be closed until Monday, August 29th.

Wish us luck! I hope to be backup and running ASAP!

-Kelli

On a side note, all newborn sessions will be done on-location after August 24th since there is no studio space in my new home. I do plan on finding a retail space once we’ve moved, but I don’t anticipate having the time to do that until after the busy fall and holiday season is over with.

Congratulations, Jayme and Marc. I can’t wait to meet your baby girl in September!