P. F. Conrey Fine Photography

Fall Family Portrait Special - Hurry, Ends September 30th!!!

2010-09-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's December 1st and it hits you: "I don't have a great photograph for my Christmas Cards!" So, you grab the kids, rush out to the park, try to get them organized into a reasonable pose, and snap a few pictures.

"Mom, what about Dad?"

"Daddy's working, Honey. Maybe next year."

You go home, upload the pictures you took to your favorite local drug store, quickly choose one that looks decent, find a cute little snowflake template, and place your order. Forty bucks!?

The next day you pick them up and the color's off, Billy's got mustard on his face (you couldn't see that in the little preview window), and there's a puppy going potty in the background (didn't see that either)!!

"Oh, well", you say as you make your way to the mailbox to send off your cards. You're cool with it, until you open the mailbox, and see IT sitting there; your sister's Christmas card. It's beautiful! No mustard, no puppies, gorgeous color, and everybody looks amazing! So you call her up and ask, "Hey, where did you get your cards?"

"We got them done by P. F. Conrey Fine Photography back in October. They were free with our fall family portraits." WHAT!?!?!?

Ok, so that was a little corny, but you don't want to be that girl, do you? Book your fall family portrait session between now and September 30th, and you will receive 25 custom-designed Christmas cards free when you order your portrait package. Don't wait until the last minute!

Contact us for the details

Happy Fall, y'all!
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Baby Jackson - Olive Branch Newborn Portait Session

2010-08-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, let's face it; all babies are cute. Being a Daddy, none will ever compare to the cuteness that my three had when they were newborns (of course, I'm severely biased). But baby Jackson comes pretty close. This little guy is just adorable; full of life and full of energy.

Yes, this little two-week old really did lift his own head up!

Unlike most newborns, Jackson just didn't want to go to sleep! We got a ton of great photos of him wide awake, but after a couple of hours, he finally gave up and let us get some sleepy pics.

If you or anyone you know is expecting, let us capture your memories. We are now offering our Memories and Milestones package. You get any 5 portrait sessions over the baby's first year for the price of 4! Choose from our maternity, newborn, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month and 1-year portrait sessions. As a bonus, you also get our 20 page 5x7 First Year Memories Book free with your final session and artwork order. Give us a call for the details!

Blessings,
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Jeremiah's 9-Month Baby Session

2010-08-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

You all met Christa last November when she was about to give birth to little Jeremiah. Well, we got together recently for a quick, impromptu session to capture a few shots of little J for his 9-Month pictures. This little fellow has one of the most perfect faces I've seen since my own babies ;). He's very easy to photograph; his mom takes a ton of pictures, so he's quite used to it.

Hope you loved 'em! Have a great day.

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Baby Jackson - Welcome To Our World

2010-08-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to take a moment to share a quick sneak peek of baby Jackson. This little fellow is so adorable, and he amazed us with how strong and alert he is for a two-week old. Congratulations, Michael & Brooke!!

Lots more to come. Stay tuned!!

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Ashley & Brent - Missouri Wedding Sneak Peek!

2010-07-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

I traveled to Cape Girardeau, Missouri recently to photograph Ashley & Brent's wedding. What a treasure this couple is; he's a medical student, she's a nurse, and they are crazy about each other. When Brent found out a couple of months ago that he'd have to move to Vegas, they decided to go ahead and get married. She managed to pull together every bit of this fantastic wedding in TWO MONTHS!!

Brent, Ashley, I wish you a lifetime of happiness and bliss. Here's a sneak peek of some of my favorite images...

Have to give a big shout out to two people here: my esteemed friend and colleague Kevin Barré who hooked me up with the opportunity to photograph this wedding, and Susan Prater, who braved our 4AM departure and the long drive to assist and be my second shooter for the day. Thank you both so much!

All images taken by Peter Conrey, ©Kevin Barré Photography.

Leah's West Tennessee Bridal & Trash The Dress Session

2010-07-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, so you all met Leah in yesterday's post, so I'll spare you all the formal introduction. During her engagement session, I was apologizing that I wasn't available to photograph her wedding, and she asked me if I'd like to do a Trash the Dress session with her when they got back from their honeymoon (Duh! Only an idiot would say no to that!). So last night we headed out to a remote area near Moscow, TN and decided to just let our creativity run wild. We had blast, and I think the images show it.

Originally, she just wanted to get her dress "a little wet" for some cool pictures, but when she slipped and got the whole thing soaked, we decided to go for the Nestea plunge...

Are you brave enough? Wanna trash the dress you'll never wear again and get some incredible memories to boot? Give me a shout!

God Bless,
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Leah & Chris - Downtown Memphis Engagement Portrait Session

2010-07-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have had the privilege of knowing Chris for almost a year now, and I've just recently gotten to know Leah. Watching the two of them together is a like watching a chemistry experiment; they're just crazy about each other.

Chris was "introduced" to Leah through a mutual friend while doing missions work in Nicaragua. Upon returning to the States, and at the behest of their friend, Chris flew to Leah's home town in British Columbia to meet her, and according to Leah, it was "love at first sight". They began dating long-distance and within a few months, he flew back up to BC and popped the question.

After struggling with getting her visa so she could move to the US, Chris & Leah were finally married on June 12 of this year, and have been in complete bliss ever since. They plan to move to Nicaragua in 2012 and start an orphanage. To learn more about their future in Nicaragua, please visit the Misión Hispana website.

What a great little spot for photos:

I love the grungy look and feel in front of Earnestine & Hazel's on South Main. If you've followed my work at all, you've seen other photographs in the same location.

We caught a break in the Poplar Avenue traffic as we were walking away from the Cannon Center Monument...

The sunset light was really working for us that evening, and the chemistry between these two is unbelievable.

Hope you enjoyed them! Don't go to far away; we're doing Leah's bridal and trash-the-dress sessions tonight.

God Bless!
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Downtown Memphis Portraits With The Westons

2010-06-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

While this post will feature several of the photographs from our downtown Memphis portrait session, the primary focus of this article is to introduce you to a very special couple that I've had the privilege of knowing for nearly seven years now.

Meet Matt & Jennifer Weston, and their two adorable sons, Seth & Jonathan.

I met Matt & Jennifer just before they were married in December of 2003. Matt was the youth pastor at our new church, and he and I had gotten to know each other through the men's fellowship. For a short time after they were married, Matt also served as our worship pastor in conjunction with his duties as youth leader.

In 2005, the Westons moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and Matt began work as a coordinator for CentriKid Camps, a division of Fuge camps, hiring and training worship leaders and pastors for their youth and kids camps.

Jennifer has the most difficult and fulfilling job of all; she stays home and takes care of their two adorable little ones, Seth, who turns four today, and Jonathan, who turned two in March. I know from my own wife's experience that it takes a very special and talented person to be a stay-at-home mom. It's like working all three shifts seven days a week, 365 days a year. My hat's off to Jennifer for the work she does with her boys. I'm sure she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Recently, Matt & Jennifer felt that God was calling them to serve in the mission field. They began preparing for service under an organization called Church Resource Missionaries, which was targeting two specific areas where people were needed; Spain and China. After researching each country and praying about where God would have them serve, they chose Magala, Spain.

They had intentions on leaving for Spain when their house sold in Nashville. However, when the sale of their home was complete in December, they were not fully funded nor were their visas ready for their move to Spain. So, they are currently living with family here in Memphis until they are ready to begin their travels in mid-July.

If you would like to learn more about the journey Matt & Jennifer will soon embark upon, or would like to help fund their mission in Spain, please visit their website, Go Live The Dream.

In the meantime, enjoy a few more of my favorite photos from their downtown Memphis portrait session.

If you'd like to see all of the photos from their session, please visit the Weston Family Portrait Gallery.

God bless,
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Sweet Emotion

2010-05-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

Some of the most tender moments I've captured...

Michele & Paul's Intimate Memphis Wedding

2010-04-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Many of you who know me personally know that aside from photography, I love woodworking. I've made several pieces of fine furniture, and even made the cabinets for a house we built recently. There's a saying that woodworkers use that I love: "You want to make it look hand-made, not homemade". Well that's exactly what Michele did when planning and decorating for her home wedding here in Memphis. The decor, the styling, everything was very beautifully done. Even though the wedding was done at home, it didn't look homemade.

Here, finally, are the photographs from her and Paul's incredible event. Please enjoy, and don't forget to leave a little love in the comments. I'd love to hear what you think.

Thanks for looking, everyone!
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Sneak Peek! - Michele & Paul's Intimate Family Wedding

2010-04-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

I cannot thank Michele & Paul enough for letting me be a part of their wedding day. I've known and worked with Michele for many years, and having an opportunity to capture the memories of this day for her was very special. Surrounded by family and loved ones, they exchanged their vows in front of their fireplace at home, then popped open the champagne and started celebrating. Very relaxed, quaint and personal; simply beautiful.

Oh, and the southern white barbecue chicken was TO DIE FOR! (Thanks for making me stop taking pictures long enough to eat with you.)

Here are some sneak peeks of pictures I took of the two of them throughout the day. Enjoy!

I'll have more to post soon.

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Oxford Wedding, Part II - The Delightful Details

2010-02-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

In my last post I shared photos of Emily Blair and Brett's incredible wedding in Oxford, Mississippi. This was just an absolutely stunning affair; a classic southern wedding with all of the charm and style one could ask for. Today I'd like to show you some of the gorgeous little details from the day; the bridesmaids' bouquets, the delectable treats from the candy bar, the rings, the cake and much more.

Enjoy the photos, and if you haven't already done so, please visit P. F. Conrey Fine Photography on Facebook and become a fan! Also, if you like to keep up with the latest from right hear on our blog, be sure to subscribe to our feed.

God bless,
pc

Oxford Wedding, Part I

2010-02-20T16:46:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I've been shooting along side Kevin Barré for some time now, and I would like to give props to him for giving me the opportunity to photograph some of the most beautiful wedding in the mid-south area. We were down in Oxford, Mississippi recently for the wedding of Emily Blair & Brett, a fantastic southern affair held at two of northern Mississippi's most charming and historic places. We started our afternoon at the Castle Hill Resort, an elegant antebellum bed and breakfast just east of town where Emily Blair, her family and bridesmaids were getting ready. I can honestly say this is one of the prettiest venues I've photographed in, and the afternoon light was the kind photographers dream about. We were able to get lots of stunning pictures of the ladies and their family.

Later, we drove over to the historic Oxford University United Methodist Church on the edge of the Ole Miss campus, where the couple exchanged their vows in a quaint, traditional ceremony. Afterward, the bride had plans to have the wedding party driven back to Castle Hill in a double-decker bus. When we realized the bus wasn't coming, we learned just how nice of a couple we were working with. Seemingly without concern, and un-phased by the missing bus, Emily Blair & Brett hopped in the car with us and rode to their reception, laughing and joking the whole way.

Back at Castle Hill, the fun picked up as the DJ kicked up the music and some of the best lighting I've ever seen at a reception. The chill in the air and dew on the dance floor didn't keep anyone from having a wonderful time, including Kevin and me.

Enjoy the photos, and please be sure to visit our fan page on facebook.

More to come.

God Bless,
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The Creativite "I"s

2010-02-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

For some time now, I've been pondering about the process by which artists build and develop their creativity. As I began to gather my thoughts on this process, I wrote down different phases that creative people go through during their artistic development. Below is the list that I came up with.

Introduction: I the introduction phase, an artist is introduced to an art form. This phase assumes the student has little or no knowledge of the structure and style of the creative form.
Initiation: During initiation, the student gains a formal understanding of the form and begins to gain a broad, high-level understanding. It is at this point that the subject knows whether or not he or she would like to pursue it further. During the initiation, the artist is introduced to the different media available to them within the chosen form.
Inundation: Inundation involves the "saturation" of the student in the academics, history, and mechanics of the creative form. During this phase, the subject soaks in as much knowledge as possible and begins to gain facility in the basic techniques necessary to create work within the form.
Imitation: It is during the imitation phase that the student begins to create work in his or her chosen form. Initially, all work is an imitation, or re-creation, of existing historical works within the form (regardless of how recently or expertly the existing works were created). Several different media may be explored at this point to give the artist a range of facilities on which to build.
Illumination: After imitating the works of established creators, the student begins to "see the light" and understand the underlying style and function within the form. This is the "lightbulb" moment which every artist goes through, and it answers the one fundamental question that must be answered before mastery can take place: "why?".
Improvisation: Once an artist gains the requisite physical capabilities to produce work, and understands the reason why that work must be created, the artist begins to use the framework of exiting pieces (either his or her own, or the works of others) and elaborates, or embellishes, those piece to create new and distinct works. These works are often called "derivative works"; they are new assemblies that have derived from existing pieces, with characteristics unique to the artist creating them, but still retaining the flavor and feel of the creators of the original. Jazz musicians employ a great deal of improvisation when embellishing existing works.
Inspiration: It is during the illumination and improvisation stages that an artist lays the foundation for the next phase, "inspiration". During this phase, the artist's mind and heart become drawn to a particular flavor or style within their form and they begin to foster and grow new ideas and desires for their work. It is in this phase that the artist begins to "fall in love" with what they do. During this phase, an artist often chooses to limit the scope of their work to one or two specific media, so as not to become the "jack of all trades, master of none".
Imagination: Once an artist gains full facility, has a love for the form, and desire to continue growing creatively, they begin to imagine completely new and uncharted territories within their medium. It is in this phase that mastery begins. Here, completely new and unique works are formed and the artist begins to be recognized as an individual creator with a distinct style or flavor all their own.
Innovation: Building on imagination, the artist then begins to explore ways of stretching his or her form to new levels. He or she begins to use the knowledge and skill gained to create new forms within their medium, or use new mediums to create familiar forms. Artists in this category are considered to be masters of their craft.
Invention: The final step in the creative process is the invention of completely new forms and mediums within their chosen craft. This phase may even be considered a step in bridging the gap between two different crafts altogether. These artists are the virtuosi; the true masters of craft that all creative individuals aspire to become. They are the cream of the crop. Most artists never reach this point, and many lead very successful careers and fulfilling lives having never attained such.

Where are you in your creative process? Can you think of any other steps or processes that creative people go through that you may be able to add?

God Bless,
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Mary Beth - Bridal Portraits

2009-12-16T13:31:00.000-08:00

Finally go my sister-in-law married off, so NOW I can show everyone her bridal portraits. It was a beautiful wedding, pictures of which were taken by my good friend, the incredibly talented Kevin Barré. You'll be able to see those in a few weeks, but in the mean time, please enjoy the bridal portraits of this lovely young lady.

God Bless,
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Michele & Paul - Engagment Session

2009-11-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

On April 24th, I will have the distinct pleasure of photographing Michele & Paul's wedding. This past Saturday, November 7th, I had the honor of doing an engagement session with them. What a fun couple!! Enjoy the pictures!

Check out the rest of the shots from this session on Flickr. If you like what you see and would like us to take maternity, newborn, portrait, engagement or wedding photos for you, please contact us and we'll schedule a session for you.

God bless,
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Christa's Maternity Session

2009-11-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

I had the very distinct pleasure of taking pictures of two of my good friends, Christa & Paul, just before their baby, Jeremiah, made his grand entrance on November 5th. Christa wanted to do some shots outside around sunset, so we met up at Shelby Farms in East Memphis, TN to do the shoot.

Christa was such a great sport, with Paul and me asking her to stand her, turn this way, lay here, do this, do that, walk over here; all while she was VERY pregnant. She was so patient.

Here is a sampling of the shots we took. Hope you enjoy!

Check out the rest of the shots from our session on our Flickr stream. If you like what you see and would like us to take maternity, newborn, portrait, engagement or wedding photos for you, please contact us and we'll schedule a session for you.

God bless,
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Mary Beth & Jeremy - Engagement Session

2009-08-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

I recently did an engagement session for my sister-in-law and her fiancé, Jeremy. They will be married on December 11, 2009, and wanted some really cool shots to share with friends and family. If there's one thing I've learned since I started photographing people professionally, it's that shooting someone you've known for years is much more difficult than shooting someone you've just met. With strangers, you can fill time with "getting to know you" stuff if you're not sure what to do next. But, with relatives, they know everything about you, and they know when you're just trying to cover or come up with something. To boot, I hadn't had a chance to scout the area we'd be shooting in, so I was going to have to wing it when it came to finding good locations to shoot in. Lucky for me, downtown Memphis, TN is chocked full of gritty, raw, urban spots to put a couple and get great pictures.

Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot. Hope you enjoy them!

If you'd like to view the rest of the pictures, you can see them at www.pfconrey.com/love

You can see the rest of the pictures from this session in Mary Beth & Jeremy's Proof Gallery. If you'd like to schedule an engagement or family portrait session, please contact us via our website or call us at 901-488-5986.

God Bless,
Peter

Santibanez Family Portraits

2009-05-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

It had the opportunity this past Saturday to photograph Manny and Tammy Santibanez and their adorable 13 month old little boy, Brayden, at Cameron Brown Park in Germantown, TN. This is a beautiful family and I wanted to share a few of the shots with you.

I hope you enjoy them. You can view the rest of the portraits on my flickr stream. If you'd like to book a portrait session, please contact us via our website or call us at 901-488-5986.

Best Wishes,
Peter

Snowin' In Memphis

2009-03-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

On the night of February 28, it snowed in Memphis. For those of you up north, that doesn't sound like anything special, but to those of us here it's a big deal. We're lucky to get one good snowfall each year, and some years we get none at all. So, when we got 4-6 inches in one day, I was thrilled. So were my little ones; they had the time of their life throwing snowballs at their mom and me.

Of course, all I wanted to do was take pictures. I had been suffering from a bit of photographer's block, so this was just the spark my creativity needed. I grabbed the camera and followed my kiddos out to front yard and started snapping. Needless to say, nature, and my babies, provided all the subject matter I could handle. Here's a sample of some of the shots taken.

The pine trees along our driveway looked absolutely beautiful in the morning sun.

The scene on the street was no less stunning.

This was Annie's first foray into the snow since we adopted her last year.

Tricia will be the first to tell you that she doesn't like to get her picture taken, but she looked adorable in her new hat, and she loves the snow, so I was able to catch a beautiful smile while she was outside having fun.

View the full slideshow from our snow day on my Flickr Stream.

God Bless,
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Welcome to P.F. Conrey Fine Photography

2009-02-26T20:17:00.001-08:00

Well, here I am. I finally got my website and blog set up. Stick around to learn more about us and see sample of our favorite photography!