I love this next image probably more than any other editorial family frame I’ve ever shot. These two sure do know how to laugh, and it’s quite clear they share a very special bond.Story-time is one of their favorite activities together. This girl sure can spin a great tale. Sometimes they include photographers, cameras, and maracas. (I know, right? She comes from really smart stock

I think this may be baby’s official “first portrait.” Momma is just beautiful, isn’t she? Congratulations and much love! Good luck this month!!!

Tech Specs: these belly and family images were captured at home in Seattle using a Nikon D700, Nikon 24-70mm, and Nikon 35mm.

Order Deadlines: December 7th is the last day to have print orders in from your sessions in order to have timely holiday delivery. We will still be taking print orders after the 7th, but won’t be able to guarantee delivery in time to place your gift under the tree (or menorah, or….).  >>>>view your shoots here<<<<

Holiday Portraits: We are fully booked for custom lifestyle sessions for the holidays, BUT we DO have one option so you can still have something under the tree :: The Holiday Swift Sessions!!!! Here’s how it goes:

• Appointments are available in select one hour time slots on Sunday December 5th.
• Arrive ready to go (lipstick on, hair gelled, and shoes shined!), and for 20 minutes we’ll shoot simply and beautifully in our little modern, white studio
• Your proofing & ordering session will be right there, right then! You may choose one digital file as part of your package that you can make your own prints and holiday cards from.
• Any prints, additional digital files, or accordion album stocking stuffers you’d like for holiday delivery can be purchased at this time, too, so have your gift lists ready! See print prices and accordion albums here: http://www.bit.ly/LMPcatalog
• These mini sessions are $150 (plus tax). A non-refundable retainer of 50% holds your date, and the rest is due by the 5th.

You can book your session by inquiring here with your preferred time (morning, midday, afternoon, or evening). Please complete the portrait agreement we send you right away to hold your spot. >>>>Book Your Swift Session<<<<

Non-holiday Portraits: We can still shoot in December, we just won’t be able to have your fully edited proofing site and print orders to you in time for Christmas. Inquire here for more information on a custom lifestyle session.

We thank you humbly for your years of support and business, and sincerely wish you each warm memories and full tummies this winter season!!!

We’ve kept under wraps the exciting news about what Laurel McConnell Photography’s donation would be for this year’s bridal & breast cancer charity auction Get Hitched Give Hope. And with GHGH 2010 ONE WEEK away, it’s time for the big reveal!

Oh, we’re so excited!

Drumroll please………..

So so excited. We can’t wait to tell you! (wow!)

{continue drumroll}

Here it comes. Get ready.

{cymbals clash, big bang, a little boom}

The auction gurus have put together a fabulous LIVE AUCTION PACKAGE called “A Brand New You,” and have included my photography services alongside fashionista Laura Cassidy and beauty stylist Erin Skipley!!!!! (wow!) A little more about this package:

• First, go shopping for some new digs with fashion expert and Seattle Metropolitan style editor Laura Cassidy. I mean, have you READ her style blog?
• Then, get all prettied up with a pre-wedding makeup and hair consultation over at the super in demand Bellatrix Studio with Seattle’s sweetheart Erin Skipley. One word: airbrushing.
• Your final destination is a photography session with yours truly! Engagement portraits. A Swanky Couple Shoot. A Baby session. BUSINESS PORTRAITS. We’ll even finish things up with a studio credit or high resolution file so you can go make some save-the-dates or have a new headshot. You choose what fits you best since it’s for such a great cause, and we want to have a GREAT time during the live auction (they’re so exciting!). This is your chance to get some AMAZING fashion advice, high end beauty styling, and some fun professional photography at a GREAT deal and a great cause.

To read the full details on this package and pre-shop some of the other AMAZING things that will be up for bid on Thursday October 28th, head on over to preview the BRAND NEW e-program and don’t forget to get your tickets now! This year is bound to be the best yet with more sponsors and a few surprises all at the Four Seasons Seattle (wow!).

See you with your party shoes on!!

p.s. sorry for all the buildup, excitement, and exclamation points. It’s 2am. Friends shouldn’t let friends write articles in the middle of the night.

We’re pleased to announce The Swift Session: a miniature portrait shoot event designed specifically for really cool really busy people.

WHAT in the….?  Engagement portraits. Family portraits. Bump portraits. Kid portraits. Social media profile pictures. One day, any purpose. $150 will get you a fun and fast-paced 30 minute shooting session, a proofing gallery with 30 edited images, & one high resolution digital image to use as you wish (or $50 to use toward prints in your shopping cart).

WHO, you ponder. Bring your family, pet, beau, or just yourself.

WHY in the world would I do such a thing? Because it’s summer and you’re beyond due for some professional portraits to mark this time in your life. No more of this point-and-shoot sit-on-my-harddrive eyes-are-closed-double-chin malarkey.

WHEN, you ask? Here are the remaining available session times (this will be kept updated as sessions are booked):

August 8th (Sunday): 1:00, 1:40,   2:20,   3:00,   3:40,   4:20,   5:00,   5:40, 6:20, 6:40,   7:20

WHERE, you wonder? I’ll disclose the secret location closer to our shoot date, but it will be a beautiful park-like location easy to get to, park at, and shoot around, and in Seattle!!

HOW do I start? Contact us HERE with your time preference and we’ll send you to our booking website. Once you’ve signed the contract and purchased your session, we’ll also send you a guide with tips on how to maximize your portrait experience with us!

Rules of the game:

• We’re going to schedule sessions back to back, so they’ll be swift. We’re gonna cut to the chase and make some fun and classic images, so don’t be late!
• If it rains, we’ll move the sessions indoors to the Greenlake studio.
• Sessions are non-refundable unless you have a REALLY good excuse, in which case you’ll have a studio credit toward our regular Lifestyle Sessions (pricing starts at $350).
• These aren’t for commercial use. We have a whole separate type of head shot and business portraiture shoot, let us know if you’d like one of those instead!

Update!!!!! Update!!!!!! We’ve got some exciting things coming down the pike in the next few weeks, one of which is an opportunity to represent Nikon at the hot-ticket blogging conference, Blog Her, in New York!!!! It just happens to be this same weekend, so by the grace of my super supportive clients, we’ve rescheduled everyone for a full session and will not be offering any more Swift Sessions on the 8th. Don’t fret, though, we WILL be offering one  just in time for the holidays!!!! Stay tuned, and please contact us if you’d like to schedule a full custom lifestyle, engagement, baby, or professional portrait session this summer! xo, Laurel

I love your goofiness.

I love your willingness.

I love your sense of style.

I love the way you both laugh.

I love your fanatical tendencies.

I was first introduced to Keenan and Dave a couple of years ago when they were looking for their wedding photographer for their SUPER fun New Year’s Eve wedding. Now that they’re expecting their first baby, Dave and Keenan wanted some maternity photography that wasn’t your fluffy-white-nudelet-dreamy type of imagery, but silly and casual just like them. Boy was I on board…. I love a good assignment! We scooted down to the cute coastal town of Edmonds, Washington, just a few miles north of our Seattle studio for some fun and atypical belly portraits. We roamed around the sleepy little town and made some fun portraits to document their little family pre-baby before their Seahawks-themed bridal shower at Glazed and Amazed, which was catered by the yumtastic Cameron Catering.

Thanks for inviting me along for a fun morning, you two!!! I’m so excited to meet Logan, and MAN are you guys going to be the COOLEST parents ever. I mean it. Seriously.

See you at Dave during Labor Day weekend!!! xo!

After photographing some beautiful nearly-nude form images of Audrey at her home, we scooted out to Greenlake for some brightly colored and whimsical fun for a twist to the second part of Audrey and Matt’s maternity session with every kid’s favorite item- giant lollipops!

You know that line in Goodnight Moon…. “Goodnight room. Goodnight moon. Goodnight cow jumping over the moon. Goodnight light, and the red balloon…”

Congratulations T&K. You guys are gonna make one heckuva parenting team, and if your little Boom King (hahahaa) has cool specs and the same sense of humor, well, best be fighin’ off the girls!