Bess Connell is a Houston based photographer who believes deeply in holding on to memories and honoring the quiet power a photograph can hold. Inspired by watching her father document family life with his camera, she began carrying one of her own as a child and never really put it down.

Her love of photography deepened in college, where she fell in love with the magic of the darkroom. She earned her BFA in Visual Art Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and developed a strong foundation in film photography and traditional darkroom printing. These skills continue to inform her careful, detail oriented approach today.

For the past twelve years, Bess has worked as a high school art educator in Houston, specializing in photography. Teaching has strengthened her belief in lifelong learning and sharpened her technical expertise. She is continually inspired by her students’ curiosity and thoughtful questions about the craft. She is the photography teacher at The Kinkaid School.

Known for her keen attention to detail and calm, friendly demeanor, Bess creates an environment where clients feel comfortable and at ease whether she is photographing one person or a gathering of fifty. She is drawn to people, connection, and the history within a family. Her work is rooted in the belief that photographs are not just images, but heirlooms. Photographs are tangible memories to be held onto for generations.