Cootchie-cootchie coo!!!

Don't you just love baby laughter?? I could listen to my son giggle all day long, and I firmly believe there would be no war in the world if we could just pipe that sound everywhere... but that's a whole other matter...

Here is Malin's baby sister, Eiley, being tickled!

Malin's Turn!!

Here is sweet Malin as a newborn at 5 weeks old, and here she is in all her tu-tu glory today! Stay tuned for her sister's portrait... Their mommy, Amy, get a big shout out for venturing out in the rain to the studio with two little darlings under the age of two... Amy is also the one I blame for my diaper bag addiction... she's responsible for my Fleurville and Petunia Picklebottom purchases... LOVE the new bag you have Amy! I feel another is in my near future... :^P

Ellen's Turn!!!

Let's do a bit of "then and now" for the next two posts... I photographed Chris & John's wedding on 7/24/04 at Wildwood Acres, and I still get chills when I remember the moment they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day... so romantic! I think I have now done at least 4 weddings among Chris' friends and co-workers... they are just like family to me! So the images here are of their wedding, Princess Ellen in November 2006, and again today.

Studio Day!!!

So much fun... Today we had a Studio Day for some impromptu Valentine's Portraits, and several friends joined in on the fun! This time I have to let Josh go first... This is him practicing his speed crawling. He was quite the handful today!! I love my little boy!!

Ahhh.... Relaxation!!

Boy, babies sure know how to do it well... Adults like me, however, need some coaxing. I have just returned from a wonderful massage at in-symmetry with Beth, who is a massage goddess. Who knew you could find a place in San Francisco that has easy parking and is a great sanctuary!

Is it tacky to talk price? Let's just say it's a superb value and leave it at that... :^)

I'll say it again... ahhh...

Ok, the rain is kinda bummin' me out... so let's go somewhere in our minds, shall we?

I feel like I haven't been able to leave the house forever. This silly rain is giving me cabin fever! I know we totally need the water, and that's wonderful and all, but I miss the sun. Even the brief sightings of it have been too infrequent. It made me go back through my files a bit to a warmer, sunnier locale... :)

In January of 2006, I flew to Kauai to photograph Heather & Clark's wedding. We were able to stay a week on island, and it was so beautiful! The Carrions and Mortons treated us like family, and the wedding was so beautiful! Happy 2nd Anniversary Heather & Clark!!

Ugh... sometimes you need to remember how it feels...

... to be in front of the camera! When my good friend, Jeanne de Polo came along with me to shoot Joel and Laura's wedding in Twain Harte at the Lazy Z Ranch last October (more images to come from that one soon!), she "made" me agree to go to Yosemite... for my first time ever. Wow, it was spectacular. When we rounded that first bend where you can see El Capitan and Half Dome, well, I just cried. I got out of the car and didn't bring my camera. I just wanted to feel it all around me instead of looking through a lens. When we didn't find any deer to photograph (inside joke Stefanie...), we were forced to turn the lens on each other at the Awahnee Hotel (BTW, wouldn't I love to photograph an Awahnee Wedding sometime!).

It's so important for us photographers to remember what we put you guys through when you're in front of OUR cameras, and the best way to do that is to face your fears fellow photogs and step out of the shadows and in front of the lens! I think this captures my fun side... as well as my new hat! Thanks Jeanne!! ... and who's to say you can't use all the tools available in Adobe Photoshop to make yourself look your best :^)

Babies grow so fast!!

Had the pleasure of having dinner with great friends last night... Alex and Deanna and baby Jack. The dinner was superb - freshly made pizza with a great wine and yummy milk and cookies for dessert! It's so amazing how much Jack has grown. I photographed him for his birth announcements when he was only 5 days old, and now at almost 9 weeks his little face has changed, and he's even cuter! I am always after my clients to have me photograph their babies when they are newborns, and so far, no one has regretted it! Deanna and I ended up having the same doctor during our pregnancies, and have a funny story we love to tell about how we ran into each other at the medical center and were chatting for a while before we realized we actually knew each other! We are so grateful to have them in our lives!

Casie & Colin's San Francisco Wedding

Over the next few days I want to share some of my favorite weddings from 2007! The first one is Casie & Colin, who married on November 10, 2007 at Sts. Peter & Paul in San Francisco. The church in and of itself is one of the most beautiful in the US, but the flowers and decor designed by Leighsa Smyser, AIFD of Branch Out Flowers, made it spectacular. The reception was held at the world famous Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel on Nob Hill, and Leighsa worked her magic there as well - she is truly amazing with all things floral!! Colin & Casie sure know how to have a good time - they hired Wonderbread 5, and they got us all dancing!! Lilly, Colin's oldest daughter sang a Journey song with the band, and brought down the house!

Happiness always to Casie & Colin!

My Heart... My San Francisco

Ahhh... Josh and I just returned from our morning walk, and the weather is glorious. Chilly, but sunny, which always puts me in good spirits. It also made me re-visit my love for San Francisco. I have lived here for almost 15 years, and it is "home!" Having come from hot, humid Florida, the chill in the air, the romantic fog, and the blue sky make my heart sing! Corny, I know, but I love San Francisco!

My poor friend Jacki V, had to shoot a wedding in way sub-zero conditions yesterday in Minnesota. I can't wait to see the images. This was the kind of weather when the weather man says, "Do NOT go outside for any reason! Skin exposed can get frostbite in a matter of seconds!"

Very happy to be in San Francisco, indeed!!

Brand New Boy for Russ, Renee & Nicole

One of my favorite things is photographing the families that grow out of the weddings I photograph! Russ, who happens to be my favorite wedding dj, married Renee on 4/23/2005 at St. Vincent's in San Rafael.

They had a daughter a year later, and just welcomed a baby boy a couple of weeks ago! Here are some of my favorites from our session on Friday! Enjoy!

Congratulations to my good friend and brilliant jewelry designer, Carrie D. Mader, on her recently successful bridal show booths at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Four Seasons Hotel. She previewed her new estate jewelry line, and there will be many more sparkly brides in 2008!

New Year, New Blog!

Happy New Year!! We have been so busy through the holiday season, and now are enjoying a welcome break! Meeting with new couples about their wedding plans and photographing new babies fill most of the days that I am not hanging out with Josh.

Josh is 10.5 months old, and is growing like a weed! He has his own website!

Speaking of websites, Mill Cottage Photography finally received a much needed update to include some new images from last year! These are a few of my favorites, and there will be more to come! Stay tuned to the blog and the website to see our exciting new portrait products.