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Welcome!

Connor Studios is owned and run by Michael Connor and his beautiful wife Nicole and their little ones Grace and Jack. Named "One To Watch" as one of the best wedding photographers by the Washingtonian, Connor Studios is one of the leading providers of true wedding photojournalism in the DC area.

As one of the leading documentary wedding photographers in the Washington, D.C. area and a former photojournalist with over 10 years experience at The Washington Times, it is with great pleasure that we bring you some of the stories and photographs from our daily lives.

You will see photographs from my life as a wedding photographer, a photojournalist and a new father.  We LOVE when you leave comments!  If you have questions (either as a bride and groom or another photographer) don't hesitate to ask. We love sharing!

Michael grew up in Nebraska (Go Huskers!) and has lived in Sweden, Scotland, Indiana and now makes the Washington, D.C. area his home with his new family

Bookmark our RSS feed and check back often! 

You can now jump on the bandwagon and follow us on Twitter as well. Our Twitter link is also integrated in the menus at the top of the blog.

Amanda + Matthew | Wedding Photography | National Press Club, Washington, DC

Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 9:16pm

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We’ve never had a couple book us as far out as Amanda and Matthew did.  It was over 2 years in advance!  The early bird catches the worm…

I was looking forward to this wedding for a long time (a really LONG time).  Amanda is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet (you too Matthew!) and that makes for a wonderful experience on the wedding day.

I love the sequence of Amanda’s emotions reading the card Matthew sent her before the wedding.  One of the reasons we like to start early with the bride and groom is to give them these images that let them see what they other was doing during the part of the day they are apart.

Amanda ended up with two wedding dresses that she changed between half-way through the night.  The great part was that they had two first dances with the change.  One of the funniest parts of the reception came during a dance she had with her brother when one of the guests jokingly clinked their wine glass and Amanda’s reaction following it.

My absolute favorite portrait came at the end of the night.  I have to give credit to my second photographer Jonathan for pointing out the glass elevators and their potential when we entered the building.  From there, the idea of a pretty kick-ass portrait started brewing and I was so happy they were game for it.  The elevator just ended up looking like a diamond and it’s one of those shots you do a silly mental fist pump for once you get it!

Wedding 411:
Event Planner: Fabuleux | 301.455.1656
Ceremony + Reception: National Press Club  ||  Cake: Fancy Cakes by Leslie | 301.652.9390
Flowers: Bridal Flowers: DaVinci’s Florist | 301.588.8900  || Decor + Centerpieces: Fabuleux | 301.455.1656
Photography: Connor Studios | Michael, Jonathan + Whitney | 202.527.9768

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Posted in Ceremony, Details, Preparation, Reception, Wedding

by Michael Connor

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Melodie Woerman - Amazing photos of a wonderful wedding! You captured the love and fun of the entire evening. Thanks, Michael and crew.

Rebecca + Jason | Wedding Photography | The Hay Adams Hotel, Washington, DC

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 9:09am

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I’m not sure if you could even ask for a nicer or more chill couple than Rebecca and Jason!

We spent the day with them at The Hay Adams and it couldn’t have been a nicer wedding.  There were so many great moments throughout the day.  We loved their first look, her kissing Grandpa’s hand in the lobby and Jason and his dad cracking up before walking into the ceremony.

This is what we do.  The portraits and the details are important but when it comes down to it, what makes your wedding photographs different than everyone else’s are those small personal moments that you look back at and remember.

To Rebecca, Jason, their families and bridal party, we thank you so much for being so awesome throughout the day!

Wedding 411:
Event Planner: Elizabeth Duncan Events | Elizabeth Duncan | 202.243.9985
Ceremony + Reception: The Hay Adams | Alison Okobi | 202-638-6600
Flowers: Sidra Forman | 202.234.4598
Band: DC Fusion
Rabbi: Noah Fabricant | Washington Hebrew Congregation
Photography: Connor Studios | Andrew Harnik, Cliff Owen + Whitney Leaming | 202.527.9768

 

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Posted in Andrew Harnik, Details, Monuments, Reception, Wedding

by Michael Connor

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Sarah + Jarrett | Wedding Photography | Raspberry Plain, Leesburg, Va.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 10:00am

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Sometimes bad weather happens to good people…

Sarah and Jarrett chose Raspberry Plain in the countryside near Leesburg, Va. to get married.  The grounds are beautiful and I knew they had their hearts set on getting married outside so they decided to try and get everything in before the rain that was forecast.  Unfortunately, just minutes before the ceremony, it started to rain so everything got moved inside to the reception area.

Now, you won’t see a lot of crying bride photos on our site (unless it’s during the ceremony) but I just absolutely love the story behind this sequence of photos and it says a lot about Sarah, Jarrett, their friends and their relationship so I just had to post them.  Sarah spent a lot (a LOT) of time planning the wedding and getting all of the hand-made details just right.  The moments before you go get married are already filled with a lot of emotion and being told that there is a change from the place you spent months envisioning getting married can rightfully bring out some tears in anyone.  It’s the next photos in the sequence of Sarah’s bridesmaids rallying around her and then Jarrett getting in an making her laugh that says so much about their friendships and relationship.

I have been married for just over 5 years and what I can say is that helping each other through the high times and the low times is really what marriage is all about and they are definitely on the right track.

The ceremony went beautifully with lots of great emotion.  The guests all sat around the reception tables which I thought looked great.  I think it could be a new trend!  I pulled Sarah aside after and let her know that her rain location was still more beautiful that most of the 1st choice locations we shoot for ceremonies.

The details for the wedding that they made were awesome.  From the croquet set to the “guest card table” of keys hanging on a painted door to the wishes that the guests could write and pin to the spokes of bicycle wheels, there were just little details everywhere!  I am a sucker for Father Daughter dances and this one was very emotional.

My favorite portrait came at the end of the night when the weather cleared and we did night portraits under the lamps.

Thanks again for having Daniel and I along to share your day – even with the rain, it was absolutely beautiful!

Wedding 411:
Ceremony + Reception: Raspberry Plain | Maria Guerra
Officiant: Divine Transformation | Rev. Terumi Culmer
Caterer: The Chef’s Table | Glennis Rosen
Florist: Fiore Florist
Hair: Jewel Hair Design | Julie Flury | 703.501.8677
Makeup: Susan Lim Makeup Artist
DJ: Michael Valenti
Photography: Connor Studios | Michael + Daniel | 202.527.9768

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Posted in Ceremony, Details, Preparation, Wedding

by Michael Connor

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Janet & Keith - What beautiful pictures 0f a perfect day x

Emily + Chester | Wedding Photography | DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC

Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 2:08pm

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When we first met Emily and Chester, they were a very sweet, low-key couple but they told us that their wedding, knowing their friends and family, would become a huge party.  And they were right!!  It was definitely a fun dance floor.

The wedding and reception were held at DAR Constitution Hall which is such a great space made even better by all the details (and I mean ALLLLLL the details) that Terri and her team at Bash created.

The ceremony had something we hadn’t seen before but we now think needs to happen at every wedding.  After the kiss, waiters brought in trays of drinks for everyone in their seats and they decided to have toasts right there.  It was just such a personal touch that gave the perfect transition from ceremony to reception.  (and let’s face it – drinks at weddings are alright by us!)

We also think every wedding needs this flower girl and this grandpa!!

Wedding 411:
Wedding Planner: Bash | Terri Eaves | 703.553.4412
Ceremony + Reception Location: DAR Constitution Hall | Peggy Martz
Catering: Occasions Caterers
Florist: Beehive Events | 434.286.4509
String Quartet: Da Vinci Strings
DJ: DJ D-Mac | Daryle Maciocha
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts
Makeup: Kim Steele
Photography: Connor Studios | Andrew, Toni + Pratik | 202.527.9768

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Posted in Andrew Harnik, Ceremony, Details, Monuments, Reception, Wedding

by Michael Connor

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Maria Russo - An absolutely enchanting storybook wedding! Blessings, love, patience, partnership and kindness are my wishes for your lives together. Congratulations. love Maria Russo

Leslie - Utter royalty! Absolutely storybook! Thanks for sharing! My favorite shot is mother of the groom holding Carl's hand....so touching.

Pat Trophia - An absolutely beautiful, 'picture perfect' wedding for a beautiful couple!!

Jennifer + Eugene | Wedding Photography | Union Station, Washington, DC

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 3:22pm

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I had been looking forward to Jennifer and Eugene’s wedding for a while.  The first time we met, I could only imagine how beautiful of a bride Jennifer was going to be and she didn’t disappoint!  Don’t adjust your monitors.  Jennifer’s hair really is that red and really is that amazing!

Jennifer and Eugene are your typical doctor/Harvard professor over-achieving sweet couple that we seem to specialize in lately.  All day, we heard stories and speeches about Eugene and all I can say is that my life seems pretty dull compared to his!!

We started out with them on Friday for their Rehearsal Dinner at the Folger Shakespeare Library.  Aimee and Cindy from A. Dominick Events made the place pretty over the top.  (In a future post, we are going to show the room with and without lighting to help people understand why a good lighting company is so important.)

We got fortunate that the rain that was forecast for Saturday didn’t come around until well after we were in Union Station so Jennifer and Eugene got to have their first look on the top of the Hay Adams.

The ceremony and reception at Union Station was beautiful – it’s such a great place to get married.  I have to give a special mention to the  Best Man for giving the best Best Man speech we’ve ever heard.

Wedding 411:
Event Planner: A. Dominick Events | Cindy + Aimee | 202.216.9557
Rehearsal Dinner: Folger Shakespeare Library | 202.544.4600
Rehearsal Dinner Flowers: Amaryllis | 202.529.2230
Rehearsal Dinner Lighting: Frost Productions | 703.866.5153
Catering: Design Cuisine | 703.979.9400
Ceremony + Reception: Union Station | Special Events at Union Station | 202.289.8300
Reception Lighting: Showcall | 202.443.7000
Reception Flowers: Petal’s Edge | 703.518.8488
Band: Amaretto
Photography: Connor Studios | Michael, Jonathan + Whitney | 202.527.9768

 

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Posted in Ceremony, Details, Preparation, Reception, Wedding

by Michael Connor

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New Little Babies

Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 9:40pm

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I have to say that some of my favorite calls and emails are from my former brides and grooms telling me they are having babies! It is just so amazing to be there at their wedding and watch their new family grow.

So I was very excited when Sarah and Richard called the other day to say they were making a trip from NYC to the Grandparents’ home in DC and wondered if I could come take photographs of baby Ryan.

This is one of my favorites as Ryan was trying to grab my camera straps:

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Posted in Baby

by Michael Connor

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