Upcoming Announcement....

I've completely neglected my blog!  In all honesty, life has been just as crazy as usual; just not enough to sit down and write/post about it.  I'm about to incorporate my real estate photography in a way that showcases my love of photography and my real estate business.

Not quite sure I'm ready to let the cat out of the bag,  but in the meantime here's a picture of a bunny with a pancake on its head.

Adios,

Dawn
Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

For Sale

All kidding aside, I took my 12 year old son to DC for a whirlwind 6 day trip.  There were many reasons for this trip and all of them completely selfish.  Well, learning more about American history isn't necessarily selfish but wanting him to learn from me could be construed that way. 

Real estate photography seems to be trending right along with the real estate market ~ I'm not surprised.  I will post more real estate photos later while I gather myself and get back into that groove.  Vacations are so good but can also be so counter productive to my motivation level.  

Happy first week of November!

Dawn

Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

Photography vs Real Estate

My goal when stepping into photography was to create wonderful images for my real estate clients which in turn would help improve my business.  It worked!  My clients have all benefited from my long and expensive journey; however, the time I spent learning the craft took away from continually building my real estate business.  Now what do I do?  It was an easy decision.  There ain't no money in photography people!  It's time to refocus on what I do best ~ real estate and real estate photography.

Why am I telling you all of this?  Because I need everyone to know that while I enjoy portrait photography, and appreciate the opportunities to practice in an area of photography I rarely go, I am first and foremost a realtor that has a business doing real estate photography.  I have children that need to eat, go to the doctor and someday off to college (prayerfully with scholarships) and once this crazy real estate market recovers I want to be in it to reap the benefits of hanging in so long. $$$$

If you're in the market for a wonderful photographer for your family (must have a child 12 or under) please do not hesitate to contact Carmen Carver with CC Photo Design.  She's an incredibly talented photographer that has been in the industry long enough to know exactly what she's doing ~ unlike me that kind of, sorta, somewhat thinks that maybe I know how to catch that kid that never stops moving while the other family members pose like models.  My subjects, solid structures that don't move unless the earth and mother nature decides it's time for them to do so, are so much easier!  I will continue to practice on my own family (God help them!) in the hopes that maybe some day I will venture into the world of portrait photography.  For now, I'm sticking to all things marketing.

This family is an exception to my "No Portrait Photography" rule ~ yes, there are special people in my life that warrant exceptions but on very rare occasions.  I had a great time during the shoot but was a complete basket case in the editing process - gnashing of teeth, head banging, hair pulling, hysterics.  It was ugly and it was at this time that I said to myself, "Make a decision gurl and stick to it!"

                                    

      (Little Miss Sassy in the photo is going to give her poor father a heart attack some day!)

If you like this photo then you'll love Carmen with CC Photo Design ~ I got this location and idea from her.  If you don't like this photo then I've done the poor girl an injustice and you have to visit her site for redemption purposes only.

In the meantime, if you need to list your home with a realtor that has mad real estate photography skillz, give me a call.  Or, if you're a realtor that needs someone that does real estate photography then you really, really should give me a call.

Thanks for stopping in and have a wonderful day!

Adios,

Dawn Conners
Kansas City Real Estate Photographer
Email

Down For a Count of 1......2.......

There's nothing worse than when "mama" goes down.  Yep, I got hit.  Hit hard and fast last weekend by an unfamiliar thug better known as Mr. Virus.  Mr. V threw a sucker punch, left hook that was followed up by Mrs. Bacteria's upper cut to the throat.  I beat them both back with a couple of days in bed, massive amounts of ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and a dose of antibiotics for the sneaky throat abscess that tried to take me down mid week.  Mother's aren't allowed to get sick but when they do their poor families are left wandering in the wilderness, praying for rain, mana, the promise land, etc.  I ALMOST felt sorry for them. 

With fever induced hallucinations, I was able to finish a big job a day early.  I may regret editing under duress, but the job has been sent and I refuse to open the file to see if I totally screwed up or if it actually improved my work.  I will post the outcome at a later date ~ maybe.

For now I'm going to post an architectural picture of a door.  Take from it what you like.  There's no hidden meaning, nothing spiritual, only ones own interpretation.  To me it's just a cool green door with iron spindles and stone encasement located in Kanas City, Missouri, and not For Sale.     

My real estate photography business is chugging right along.  I'm thankful my calendar this week wasn't as busy as the previous week, which allowed me to take care of myself instead of introducing Kansas City to the thugs that temporarily took down two in my house.

Have a fantastic weekend and start loading up on whatever it is you take to stay healthy.  Getting sick in September is a bad, bad sign in this house. We're laced up and ready for the fight!

Cheers,
Dawn
Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

Poo!

We've all had one of those weeks.  You know, the week that keeps you so incredibly stressed that you find yourself wishing you could finish those two opened bottles of wine that were left over from the previous weekends celebration (Happy 73rd birthday Granddad).......at 1:00 in the afternoon.

None of my stress necessarily stemmed from Real Estate Photography, although there was a large portion of my business model I had to change ~ one step forward, two steps back.  

Nope, I had two trips to the ER and one to Children's Mercy South.  Having a sick or injured kiddo can send most parents into a tail spin and I'm certainly no exception.  I'm happy to report the child in question is on her way to being healthy and big brother has promised to not practice his golf swing within 100 yards of his sister's head ever again.

I was able to volunteer my services at our local animal shelter, taking photos for their website, in hopes it will help get these adorable animals adopted.  This little pup and her photo summed up my week perfectly, and also made me laugh.  

My kids are healthy, the weather is perfect and there are two empty wine bottles in the trash. ;)

Thanks for stopping by and if you know of anyone looking for a real estate photographer please share my name and contact info with them.  

Cheers,

Dawn

Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

Underdog!

Everyone loves an underdog......right?

When the real estate market tanked I began searching for new, better ways to market my listings.  I found myself on line in the wee hours of the night, and what kept popping up were these amazing real estate photography pictures. After researching the expense to hire a photographer I realized I'd have to shell out a rather large chunk of my commission, which was downright silly.

Plan "B" started to evolve.  "I have a DSLR camera.......certainly I can create photos like that for my own listings.......can't be that hard, right?"  I'm either sufficiently determined or extremely stupid. Probably both!  Either way, the mixture of the two characterization has evolved into this new title of:  Kansas City Real Estate Photographer.

Over the course of my real estate career I've had numerous homes that would be considered an underdog.  I call these my financially, conditionally, locationally or square footage challenged homes.  They could suffer all of the above conditions or just one.  Either way, they're just as worthy of good marketing photos as the high priced "Beauty Queens" on the market.  And that is how this real estate photography business began.

Here is an ADORABLE underdog.  It's small but has massive potential.

Contact Kelly Meyer at 913~206~4608 or kellym@reeceandnichols.com with Reece and Nichols for a complete list of upgrades.   

Go ahead.  Admit it.  There's just something about an underdog that make us smile and secretly wish them to be awarded the prize in the end.  So, to the 8 people reading my blog........go buy this house.  ;)   

Have a safe and happy Labor Day!!

Dawn 

Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

  

 

Stuff, Stuff and more Stuff

It has been a week of technology stuff.  I know, stuff is not really a big, fancy word to pair with technology but my fancy-word brain capacity is full today.  In an attempt to move forward with the real estate photography business, I must put one foot in front of the other and start marketing. This means more money spent (I'm a patriot, helping where I can) and more time learning about the stuff I don't particularly care about but must in order to get where I want to go.

With all this time buying and learning new stuff this week,  I haven't done a lot of real estate or photography.  Don't get me wrong, I've been on a listing appointment (got it!) and am working on photos for ongoing jobs, just no new stuff to post on my blog.  However, my cameras are never too far away and my shutters are busy capturing life; my life with my family, neighbors and friends.

My family and I took a trip to the KC Zoo this past weekend.  I have a lot of photos I could share but won't due to the content.  Let's just say, I resolutely refuse to believe I ever evolved from a chimp!  Absolutely disgusting animals, and yes, I stood there and took pictures of the nasty stuff that chimps do.

I hope everyone is enjoying the stuff they're doing and busy gettin' where they want to go.

Blessings,

Dawn Conners
Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

Universal Design

I've been working on a project for a client that has been extremely enlightening, and given me the charge I didn't know I needed to change my business model.  In this particular project, my client has built a home that is not only handicapped accessible but so universal in its design that anyone could live comfortably in the home.  Let's face it, most accessible homes are not going to end up in the pages of Martha Stewarts Living.

Considering our current economy, real estate is rapidly changing to fit the demands and needs of the people.  We have soldiers coming back from overseas with life altering injuries and a generation of people taking in their parents due to high assisted living cost and medical care.  I have clients now that have taken in a parent for no other reason than financial.  It just makes sense.

 


Real estate and real estate photography affords me opportunities to meet wonderful people and to tour/shoot amazing homes.  This KC home is not for sale but will end up in a book about universal design being published in the next year. If I'm lucky one or more of my images will be published as a case study for this home.........so take that Martha Stewart!

Dawn Conners
Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

 

Blogs, Content, Web Searches.....

My head is spinning!  I just got off of the phone with my web designer and I got a lecture about content in the blog and how important it is to mention stuff like, Real Estate Photography, Reece and Nichols Real Estate, For Sale in Overland Park, Lee's Summit, Olathe, Keller Williams Realty Platinum Partners, Photography, For Sale in Kansas and Missouri, Real Estate, HDR Photography and anything else that can be picked up in a search.

Now that I've mentioned those words I'd like to tell you that today is my daughters 5th birthday and even though I should post a picture of one of the gorgeous homes I've been shooting and editing this last week I would rather post a photo of her watching the guys put up her water slide last Sunday for her family birthday party.

There's a home in the background that's in Olathe, Kansas but is not For Sale. However, it's in a new neighborhood that has a lot of homes For Sale in Johnson County.  Said neighborhood should consider using me for their Real Estate Photography needs in the future........Ahem, Cedar Creek Realty.  Will this work, Hugh? ;)

Dawn Conners

Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

Summer Is Almost Over

Even though a gazillion years has passed since I've been a public school student, I still get the urge to go and buy new clothes, school supplies, get a haircut, an eye exam, teeth cleaning, physical, etc.  It is all so exciting until I realize that it's not me getting on the bus at 7:15 am, but my new middle schooler ~ I'm a bit anxious.  So off we go......  starting the madness of making the appointments and purchasing the items on the list.  A little shopping therapy is good for the soul (and anxiety).  Who says I can't have new school clothes either?!

Within the chaos of it all I was fortunate enough to do a job for the amazing Julie Prudden with Keller Williams Realty Platinum Partners.  If you'd like more information on this gorgeous property located at 461 Riven Rock Place in Lee's Summit, Mo. please contact Julie at the information below.

www.julieprudden.com, julieprudden@att.net or call (816) 582~1132

Dawn Conners

Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

Back To Work.......Trying Anyway

Vacation is over.  Summer is in full bloom.  I have a cold.  Seriously, what's worse then getting sick in the middle of summer?!  Blowing your nose constantly, walking around with tissue stuck up your nose, sneezing so hard that you knock yourself over or wet your pants ~ all my mommy friends know exactly what I'm talking about, and if you don't you will soon enough!

Thankfully the work on my calendar this week was all real estate related (well, hello old friend) and I was able to hide behind closed doors, in the AC and away from the public, until today when the deal was signed, sealed and delivered.  Now I go through the process of gradually letting go, helping in small ways as they're moving in and then all of a sudden.......they're gone.  It makes me sad.

Up next is a short week of photography and a visit with Grandma.  But for now I must pass along an important technique to my 4 year old little girl.   "Sweetie, it's easier to let the tissue dangle from the nose then to make an actual tissue bullet, like big daddy."  And is one too young to learn to cross her legs when she sneezes?!

Here are more pictures of that crazy, cute baby nephew.

Thank you http://juliegrahamphotography.zenfolio.com for putting up with my ditzy, medicated head last night.

Cheers,

Dawn
Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

And We're Off........

I guess it's really, truly official now ~ my website and blog are up and running. I've done a lot of work in the last 2.5 years that includes reading, classes, workshops, observing, falling on my face, becoming beyond frustrated, and on occasion creating something so beautiful that I was inspired to keep going.  I think if I'd known exactly how much money I'd spend, the time in front of my computer, and how much ravioli my children would eat, I'm not so sure I'd have taken on this endeavor.  However, my pocket book is bit leaner, my backside a bit wider and my children are as healthy as Chef Boyardee.  I'm very happy to be where I am today and with no regrets.

My photography business will be an entity in itself, always evolving and changing to fit in where I am and what I'm doing.  At this time I'm focused on real estate photography.  I have a heart for realtors and builders, and know all too well how difficult it is right now.  I'm also aware of the ever changing ways to market a home and build your business at the same time.  I am still licensed to sell real estate in Kansas and Missouri.

I'm sure you thought I'd post a photo of an amazing home for my first blog post, didn't you?  Nope, not so.  Meet the newest addition to our family (no, no, silly.....not me and big daddy), and what better way to introduce my new website and blog then with a cute, cuddly little baby?!  This little guy is Tyler Ross Williams, aka, "Ty", aka, "Nephew Extraordinaire".

Thanks for taking the time to read my first post, visiting my website and/or referring some business. :)


Dawn
Kansas City Real Estate Photographer

Stay Tuned.......

Still working on getting the blog ready......