I can’t believe my little boy is going to be one on Monday. A year ago today I was finishing up a month-long stint in the hospital on bed-rest, and preparing to meet our child a whole four weeks early. We didn’t know whether we were expecting a boy or a girl – we’re old fashioned and wanted it to be a surprise. We just prayed that whoever our child was that he would be healthy, and we’d both be safe. He was tiny… only 4 lb 12 oz, but healthy and beautiful and a BOY! We were thrilled. This image is from earlier tonight while he was playing on the couch.

Since it’s Leap Year this year, I have decided to have a special sale on Wall Portraits until February 29, 2008! Leap into 30% savings on all portrait prints 16×20 and larger! Save from $100 to $300 or more on your order! Free pick up is available in San Carlos or San Francisco, or have your order shipped to your workplace or home address for only $25. The code for this savings is WALL2008, and you just enter it at the end of the shopping cart process. All galleries have been relaunched so you can take advantage of this incredible sale, but remember the offer expires on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 5PM. Feel free to share this discount code with friends and family as there is no limit on how many wall portraits you can purchase for 30% off!

Visit the Gallery Listing to find your gallery. If you have forgotten your password, just email the studio.

Maryann and Dan were married last October in Palo Alto, and I was the associate photographer with my great friend Kristy Hardy. We love to shoot together, and our birthdays are one week apart… great Leo friends forever.

Remember to snuggle the ones you love today and every day!

The cottage was built in the late 1800’s, and was quirky and romantic, and we loved it right away. We shared many deep conversations that week, and it was where Ray decided he was ready to marry me. We also spent the first week of our honeymoon here in 2001, after we got married in Sonoma at the old Mission (always have a soft spot for Wine Country Weddings because it reminds me of our wedding!)

I am always ultra-creative when I am there, and I sketched out my business and marketing plan during a trip the following year, dreaming of the day I would quit my day job and work for myself. We made plans for our future, and even visited while I was pregnant with our son, Josh.

There is also an old story of the ghost of a sea captain, searching for his lost love. His name is Samuel, and you can feel his sadness sometimes. He is also known for his love of mischief, which is chronicled in the diary guests write in during their stay.

Through the mist and fog, where the Russian River meets the mighty Pacific Ocean… Where seals play and cavort in the waves… Nearby ancient Redwood Cathedrals in Armstrong Woods… After a nice long hike, or a day spent on the beach tide pooling, or just being together, the Mill Cottage is the perfect place to settle in by the fire and dream of the magic to come…

The name to choose for my studio was obvious, and this is how I want my clients to feel with the “Mill Cottage Photography” experience. Warm, cozy, lush, secluded, romantic, soothing, and in love. A photograph of the actual sign, which sadly is no longer there, became my logo, and I embarked on the most wonderful chapter in my life – sharing in the love stories of my clients!

Sounds like the perfect recipe for wedding photography to me…

I had the pleasure of photographing Ann with her mother and brother in the fall of last year, and made sure to take some portraits of just her as well… She gave them to her boyfriend, Joe, and just contacted me recently to say they were engaged over the holidays!!! They are so cute together, and we had fun at our beach engagement session! You guys were so great to brave the chilly waters in your bare feet!! Happy Wine Country Wedding Planning, and I can’t wait to show you the rest!

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 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

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.