Little Baby Kai is in good hands!

Ahhhh newborn teenie-tiny babies… I just love them so much… So much in fact that I will photograph a newborn in the family home (or studio) in the first two weeks of life and waive the session fee!! I know what it was like to be a new parent… completely in love with this little person, and bleary eyed from lack of sleep!! That’s why I come to you! It makes it so much easier than trying to get out of the house, and less pressure dealing with feeding, changing and the challenges of parenthood! I also have a great baby plan for the first year which includes 3 sessions at key developmental milestones, and gets a collection of images worthy of your child’s first year life volume!

They change and grow so quickly (I write this as my cranky, tired almost-four-year-old just won’t drift off to sleep…) and you do want to remember each new moment! Here is one from Kai’s newborn photo session. Please feel free to tell any of your friends or family who are expecting to contact me about the newborn special session and Mill Cottage Kids baby plan!!

Wedding shoes by Jimmy Choo and Via Spiga

What is that squeal of delight you hear??? We walk in to start photographing this weekend, and everywhere we looked there was something amazing. I look at Shannon, and we both say at the same time, “She. has. Jimmy. Choos.” I have seen the most beautiful shoes at weddings in the past couple of years. Many brides are choosing elegant footwear with style, color and sparkle. Let me go on record here about it. I like it. Just sayin’… I even let the groom’s shoes (Via Spiga) play in this shot… never let it be said that I was only obsessed with bride’s shoes… Enjoy!

sleepy little Liam

Seems like yesterday you saw Matika’s gorgeous baby bump in her San Francisco Urban Maternity Session, and newborn baby Liam came just a few days later… Oh, he’s a yummy little guy, and I am so glad I got to hold him, and get my baby fix… Here’s his first professional family portrait in his home… So wonderful to see you guys today, and can’t wait to show you all the images soon!

Family Portrait at home

sweet baby Abby

oh, the sweetness of a brand new life… As I said to her mommy, there’s not a better way to start my day than photographing a brand new baby! Welcome to this little miss, and congratulations to her family, especially her wonderful big brother, who is getting so big!

Remember all you future mommies out there… your newborn session (within the first 14 days of life) is in your home, easy, all about the new baby, and my baby gift to you! If you have a friend or loved one expecting a baby, please tell them about this San Francisco bay area newborn photography special offer!!

Lovely!!

I love fashion & boudoir photography, and love to teach, so we put together a workshop for photographers this past weekend in San Francisco, and WOW, it was fantastic! Thanks to all our attendees, our beautiful models, the fantastic makeup and hair by Armando Sarabia,  a spectacular Presidential Suite at the Wyndham Canterbury Hotel in downtown San Francisco, our assistant Anna Myers (you were indispensible!!) and my teaching partner, Joerg Lehmann, CPP, Cr.Photog. I know there will be more to post, but here’s a few favorites before I finally get to sleep tonight…. if you catch the thief that stole my extra hour of sleep last night, slap him for me…

Love this 1940's look created by Armando Sarabia

fashion and feathers!

Two Lovebirds & a Chihuahua...

Many of you may know that I received my Photographic Craftsman degree last year, which is one of the highest recognitions for speaking, writing, or mentoring on photography; & positions the photographer as an authority in the industry. It is awarded in recognition of service to the profession as an orator, author, or mentor. I love to teach… a wise friend of mine once told me that the best way to really know something is to teach it to another. Today was the big day for a fantastic seminar called a Day with the DivAs, and I and three of my very best friends and colleagues gave a whole day workshop through the Professional Photographers of the Greater Bay Area to share some of our expertise in image processing, workflow, retouching, sales, pricing and presentation, as well as an afternoon of photography demonstration! We were so pleased that it sold out, and enjoyed meeting all of the partipants! It was down & dirty, nuts & bolts information designed to share some of the things that have made us sucessful San Francisco photographers… Here is one of my favorites from my part of the demo… Mischa & Brianne are one of the couples that has what we all want from love… a playful passion for each other that really makes you smile! I am crazy for this retro style photo. Love you guys!

Retro Love Portrait

Woodland Series Portraits on February 15, 2010

I am feeling the spring time, and am so pleased to offer a special portrait mini-session in and around my San Carlos children’s photography studio on Wednesday and Friday, February 10 and 12th,  just in time for Valentine’s Day!!! Only $95, which is a savings of almost $200 from our regular session fee! Reserve your 30 minute studio or outdoor session today by calling 415.515.6370, or sending an email to inquiry@millcottagephoto.com. Sessions are available between 10AM and 4:30PM on those two days only!!! We also will be having a special Woodland Series portrait event on Monday, February 15, and are accepting only three clients for that day for an on location session in the Los Altos Hills. The times available are  11:30, 12:00 noon and 12:30, and sessions will be 20 minutes, 1-2 children only.

All new clients will receive a special $25 gift card with purchase of a session, and current clients will receive a complimentary 5×7 print of their favorite image from the session as well as a $25 gift card! Images will be shown in your own personal, password protected web gallery, and will be available for purchase on-line for 3 days after they have been posted, so alert the grandparents, friends and family to be ready! Reposting your gallery after those 3 days will incur a $100 fee, which will automatically be applied to your order!

Adorable children's portraits of Alana & friends

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful comments on the portraits of Alana from her party and from my children’s portrait studio in San Carlos! I am so glad especially that family and friends who weren’t able to attend the celebration are able to see how happy everyone was for Alana’s miracle! I know everyone is clamoring for more! So here’s a little video for you of all the images from the party! Enjoy!

Right around the corner from my San Carlos photography studio is a wonderful park where I have done many portrait sessions! Today I had the honor of photographing a 4 year old’s birthday party, and you might think that was all in a day’s work… Well, let me tell you why this little lady is especially incredible! I photographed Alana, and her parents and their doggie for their holiday cards when Alana was about 9 or 10 months old. She took her first steps in my studio, and then the following January her mommy brought her back to do a one year session with CAKE!! (one of my favorite things to do!) To this day I have two big canvases of that session in my office, and her smiling face and adorable blue eyes greet me every day! Fast forward to a few months ago when I was devastated to hear that she was involved in an accident that almost took her life. Thanks to the amazing first responders, the emergency team at Lucille Packard Hospital, and an amazing staff at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, as well as so much love and devotion from her family and all of us who love her and prayed for her, she was running around, enjoying her party, and everyone who was there couldn’t be happier! I came to document the celebration, and we even set up an impromptu portrait station, and my lens was focused on a non-stop parade of adorable children! Just wanted to share one of Alana for everyone to smile, and be so thankful for every day we have with the ones we love! Happy Birthday special girl! I can’t wait to see you and your family again soon!