FEATURE STORY
Where are they now?
Editor’s Note: In the Spring 2006 edition of Profile, we featured FSU student Kris Connor ’05 who was preparing to depart Frostburg with the hopes of making it as a professional photographer. Twenty years later, Profile caught up with Connor and found out his dreams have been realized.
Alum Captures the Spirit of NYC and D.C.
By Megan Knox '24
Celebrity photographer Kris Connor ’05 has journeyed from Frostburg State University to the galas of Manhattan and the hearing rooms of Capitol Hill. A two-decade-long career has seen him transform from a budding student photojournalist into a premier portrait and culinary photographer, but his roots remain firmly planted on the FSU campus.
While at Frostburg, Connor was a constant presence on campus. He served as the photo editor for The Bottom Line, was elected president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and worked for the FSU Annual Fund. His senior year provided a pivotal glimpse into his future when he secured an internship at The Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C., documenting the 2004 summer congressional session.
“All my photography classes were amazing, but the one that stood out was Digital Image Making,” Connor said. “Nikon had just released the first affordable professional digital camera, the D100. I bought one the summer before the class and worked that summer to pay it off.”
At the time, FSU’s program was centered on black and white film and fine art, but Connor was already focusing on the horizon. He convinced his professors to let him submit digital work for assignments which was a move that caught the attention of Professor Harlowe Hodges.
“He pulled me aside and told me he knew I would be very successful in the world of photography, as I was on the cutting edge of digital photography and had real-world photojournalism experience.”
Following graduation, Connor made a name for himself photographing the distinct faces of the East Coast’s most influential cities – including Washington, D.C. and New York. In D.C., his work focused on capturing celebrities testifying before Congress and the polished, business-casual world of embassy parties and the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kris Connor today
Kris Connor was a feature story in Profile back in 2006.
Images of dishes that Connor has photographed over the years.
“Washington D.C. is like working at Brooks Brothers and Vineyard Vines,” Connor said. “New York City is about finding a thousand unofficial stories in the chaos. You might show up to a high-end fashion shoot in a torn t-shirt with rock star jeans but also rocking a tuxedo to photograph high-end events like the Met Gala.”
Since moving to New York in 2016, Connor has established himself as a trusted eye for some of the biggest names in the culinary world. For five years, he served as the go-to photographer for Celebrity Chef Judy Joo’s columns in OK! Magazine and Us Weekly.
“It’s rare for us to be able to build a relationship with the writer where you start working as one,” Connor said. “I knew what Judy needed of me and she knew what I needed of her. As the years went on, I was able to push the limits of my photography more due to the progression of technology and knowing the likes and dislikes of the editors.”
This partnership allowed him to photograph over 30 world-renowned chefs including Carla Hall, Daniel Boulud and Missy Robbins inside their own restaurants. He has also worked as the on-set photographer for Food Network shows.
Despite his success with celebrities and corporate CEOs like Rob Speyer of Tishman Speyer, Connor approaches every subject with the same level of respect, whether it’s a Michelin-starred chef or a local street vendor. He draws creative inspiration from legendary photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Joey Lawrence, striving to make his lighting look so natural that the flash becomes invisible to the viewer.
Chef Hunter Evans, Ben Gollan from A Man and His Sandwich, and Chef Kristen Caroselli.
Looking ahead, Connor’s dreams are taking him back to his childhood as an “Air Force brat.” Born on an Air Force base to two officer parents, his earliest memories are of his father taking him to the flight line to see Air Force One at Andrew Air Force Base.
“After seeing ‘Iron Eagle II’ and ‘Top Gun,’ I had dreams of being a fighter pilot,” he said. Now, he is merging that passion with his craft through a personal project, traveling to aircraft museums across the East Coast to photograph static displays. He even has his sights set on obtaining a pilot license and exploring the world of aerial photography.
Connor encourages current Frostburg students to be “information sponges” and to never stop diversifying their skills. He also suggests they secure internet domains with their first and last names, as well as get a strong Instagram handle to brand themselves.
“Take full advantage of being a college student,” he added. “I had an amazing time at Frostburg.” 🐾
For more, visit Connor’s web site or Instagram page.
All images are courtesy of Kris Connor Photography.
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