​Staying creative during these times, surely has dampened my ingenuity and artistic spirit. I feel this is the perfect time to start a project that I hope can spread some love through our nation. I am proud to be apart of the human race because we can all come together and overcome one of this country’s most difficult times.

How do we start coming together worldwide?
We see and feel it every day, and one can become discouraged, as we all have. We’ve been on an emotional roller coaster and we are all exhausted. ​Its clear that social distancing and wearing a mask has become our new norm. 

WE MUST STOP BEING AFRAID and stop living with this blanket of fear that is hanging over us.  

Today I would say: “Listen, we are a world made up of diverse people, states, counties and beliefs, but we are primarily one planet. So lets come together and spread some love so we can start to heal our universe.

There is HOPE, ​let's turn this experience into something positive and something beautiful. It's time to take back our happiness that this Pandemic has robbed us of. 


Forbidden Flowers was a project I started about 4 years ago, unfortunately it was cut short. One of my favorite locations was ripped out by the City due to our on going issue with the homeless. This was a project that was well thought out and it took me a year to shoot the beginning of series 1 & 2. I never was able to complete series 3, so I'm hoping to start a new project call Forbidden Flowers-COVID19 edition. The concept of this project is geared towards healing, and once we start to do that this virus will bloom into flowers. I will be turning regular face masks into works on art with a variety of different flowers and leaves. Safety precautions have been made during the production of these masks. They are on a mannequin and I wont be using live models until there ready to wear.

If you would like to be apart of this experience and help spread some love into the universe, please contact me.

​It has been a few months since our county put a SIP in order, good news is we made it through and we are now in Phase 3 meaning most businesses are able to open. I will be scheduling appointments as of now, but they will be limited. All correspondence will be over email and phone.

​As we all know the world has declared a pandemic due to the Corona Virus, I know this is scary and all new to us. Unfortunately Connie L. Barnes Photography will be temporarily closed due to COVID-19. My clients are my top priority. The City of Hollister has issued a Shelter in Place, but I will be here to answer any questions and re-schedule any sessions made.

Stay safe everyone and keep cool. See you soon.

​A few months ago, a fellow photographer and friend ask me if I wanted to help her with an exhibit that San Benito County wanted to put on for all the local photographers in Hollister, so of course I agreed with excitement. We squared away details and my first thoughts were, “What am I going to show”?  I figured I could show a few projects I shot, but that work wasn’t recent and as I pondered on the idea even more, I started to get discouraged. As an artist my mind thinks big and I was running to many ideas. I had 2 weeks to shoot my idea, edit it and send it out to print.

The one person I would run to for advice wasn’t here and then it came to me, why don’t I do a piece on my mom......

Of course, I shut it down because that meant I would have to relive everything all over again. I wanted to quit, back out and let them know I wasn’t going to do it, but after a few days of crying it out I knew I needed to do this for myself, I was scared and nervous of what everyone would think. Somehow, I found the courage and my mind was clear, I knew what I needed to do.
​I asked a friend to be my model because she had experienced loss herself. I told her this was not going to be a cute photo shoot and she really needed to dig deep down and feel everything that happen to her loved one. We both shared stories and cried, she knew my mom so I knew she would be perfect for this. The idea was to split the shoot up in two days, so I would have enough time to be creative, but unfortunately it didn’t end up that way. We ended up shooting everything in one day and it was a long day emotionally and physically.
I knew this was going to be hard and I did my best to get through it, but shooting certain scenarios brought me back to a place I didn’t want to be, and I just broke down. I pushed myself to continue, because I knew it was part of my healing process. As the day ended, I was excited to see what I had came up with. The arts council had a few restrictions, so I had to tame it down a bit, and if you have seen my art you know I like things loud!
I had 3 days to edit everything and send it for print so I would get it back in time to frame. I told my story in 10 images and a lot didn’t make the cut due to the time crunch. Friday afternoon I received everything back from the lab, and every time I see my work in print it’s just an amazing feeling. Of course, I started criticizing my work and wishing I had done a few things differently but all in all I am pretty happy with it. I accomplished something I was afraid of and I’m glad I did it, because it really has helped me with my journey.

​​Thank you to everyone who has been here to support me and push me everyday to keep moving. My story isn't over, its just different and I finally found the courage to share it with all of you.
I'd also like to give a special thank you to Tori Rowe and Hayley Coulter for there efforts and involvement in this project!


If you would like to see my work here is the information:

FRAMING A STORY a fine art photography exhibition that will be displayed at the Annex in downtown Hollister, 240 5th St. from June 24th-August 4th, 2019.

Reception is July 12th from 7-9pm there will be food, drinks and music.​Thank you to everyone who has been here to support me and push me everyday to keep moving. My story isn't over, its just different and I finally found the courage to share it with all of you.
I'd also like to give a special thank you to Tori Rowe and Hayley Coulter for there efforts and involvement in this project!

​I wanted to share what I was thankful for. The last two years have been really hard for me and I have been through the ringer. I separated from my children's father of 8 years and became a single parent, left a job of 7 years and not by choice, lost my mom and my cat who I had for 14 years.  I have been in therapy for a year and a half and I have learned so much about myself. I'm not perfect, I get mad a lot and I shut down when I feel I'm being attacked or hurt. I don't know how to communicate and instead of talking, I get quiet.  I'm learning how to be the best single parent I can, and I'm learning how to be vulnerable and raw. Which is the hardest thing I have had to do, next to losing my mom.

Im thankful for my therapist because she not only listens but she has taught me how to work through my struggles and what they mean. She’s an angel in disguise. Im thankful for god giving me another day to live and spend with my children. Im thankful for being able to continue to work through my heartache of losing my mom. She was my everything, my support, my best friend, my nagging mother, and my cheerleader. Im thankful for being strong enough to not let all this spiral me into a deep depression. Im thankful for having work and doing what I love. Having a home, having family that loves me, kids that are active and healthy, having the kids father in their life,  a car to get around in and awesome weather!  We sometimes forget what we have while were whining about the things we WISH we had. Remember to be thankful for what is right in front of you because you can lose it all without warning.

HELLO EVERYONE I JUST WANTED TO KEEP YOU UPDATED.Ii KNOW THINGS HAVE BEEN SLOW, BUT I WILL BE POSTING SOME BAD ASS IMAGES IN ABOUT A WEEK. 

IF YOU HAVEN'T JOIN MY "AFTERDARK" GROUP. YOU SHOULD!!!