Mill Cottage Photography Love Stories

Ralston Hall Wedding | Lisa & Ruben

When I first met Lisa & Ruben they had already booked me to photograph their July 2010 wedding at Ralston Hall… They graciously volunteered to model for a workshop I was teaching, and it was a very rainy day! They did a fantastic job modeling (not an easy task to be “relaxed” in front of so many pairs of eyes, not to mention the camera!) and I knew we’d have a great time together on their wedding day! The venue is spectacular, and Lisa & Ruben worked hard to make every detail magical! Their family and friends had a great time, and um, so did their photographers!! DJ Purple had karaoke in the house… and there were many memorable performances! Here are a few of my favorites from the day!

Posted in Laura and Al, Ralston Hall Wedding, romantic portraits, vintage, wedding gown

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Romantic San Francisco Photography | Au Revoir Ma Cherie…

Ok, I have been promising this session for quite some time… it’s been a busy summer, so I am glad you had time to wait with me! View our photography styling and inspiration board for the shoot here, and the rough draft of some of the finished images in a slideshow

Posted in Carrie D. Mader, Holga, San Francisco, fashion, jewelry, lifestyle, location photography, model portfolio, personal, romantic portraits, scenic, travel

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Artistic Collaboration | in the words of Monty Python… and now for something completely different

I had a bit of a cranky day today… no patience, not enough sleep, who knows what else. The afternoon rolled around and I headed out for my session with Spencer knowing that it would be great to see him again, but feeling a bit tired, still grumpy, and wondering where my inspiration would come from. You know how you just click with someone creative and then you just keep bouncing new ideas off of theirs… well, that’s where we got down and made some art… Spencer is someone I am very glad is in my life! There have been rough waters, jagged rocks, a guiding light, and always love for and from his family (our family, since he’s my second cousin), and all together he’s an incredibly strong, talented person. He survived the storm. Some people he knew weren’t so lucky. We talked a lot about life, silly stuff, and serious stuff, and it was one of the best days in a long time. He shared some lyrics from a song he wrote, and this piece was crafted from that visi0n. Spencer, this is for you… hope you like it (and if you don’t like it, bring it back… to the apple store… but you won’t…) Peace, cuz! Love you!

Posted in Environmental, artwork, custom design, location photography, model portfolio, vintage

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V. Sattui Wedding | Crystals and Light!!

Slowly but surely catching up with blogging of summer weddings! As you can imagine, I am crazy busy over here, and sorry to make you all wait for new images!! Here is some eye candy from a wedding that I shot with my friend Shannon of Shannon Stellmacher Photography! Incredibly gorgeous day in St. Helena for a wedding, and the details were just over the top! Emotions ran high for this lovely blended family, and crystals sparkled from every surface! Funny that the bride’s god parents are wedding photographers back in the midwest… He obviously thought we were crazy with our “antics’ but hey, we don’t shoot the same way here in beautiful California… The bride’s infant niece had the cutest special dress, and LOVE, LOVE the bling at this beautiful affair!

Posted in Shannon Stellmacher, Wine Country Weddings, romantic portraits, vineyard, wedding photography

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San Carlos Baby Photographer | Studio Baby Session for Zach!

This baby is a big sister now!

The latest Ellison Addition, Zachary!

Has it been 5 years??? really?? A warm August day (the day before my birthday!) 5 years ago, I photographed Ross and Jessica’s wedding at Mountain Terrace! It was beautiful, and we all had a great time! Jessica chose cobalt blue glass bottles filled with bright gerbera daisies, and their first glance photo is still one of my all time favorites! the smile on Jessica’s face was so adorable! I was happy to hear from them a few years later when Emilia was born, and when I saw them with brand new baby Zach today, I was amazed at what a lovely young lady she has become! Here are couple of my favorites!! Jessica, I think she looks just like you!

Posted in Studio Portraits, babies, baby portraits, children's portraits, high key, mill cottage kids

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Sonoma Mission Inn Wedding | Beautiful day in the wine country Fairmont for a wedding!!

A couple of weeks ago I had the great fortune of shooting this wedding with my great friendtographer, Shannon, of Shannon Stellmacher Photography, and it was an amazing day!!! The bride was supremely lovely, and every detail spoke of the couple’s relationship, and was beautifully crafted by their florist and coordinator. Simply put, this wedding belongs in a magazine, but it was real, I swear!! Thanks for letting me come along, Shannon! Shooting with you, and you with me, is a perfect combo… xoxo

Posted in Shannon Stellmacher, Sonoma Wedding, Wine Country Weddings, romantic portraits, wedding gown, wedding jewelry, wedding photography

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Creative Love Photography | San Francisco Styled Shoot | Inspiration Board

What an amazing time we had creating this styled shoot! My incredible stylist, Carrie D. Mader, pulled together exactly the right mix of things to convey exactly the sentiments of the session… this is the inspiration board… actual images coming soon!

Au Revoir Ma Cherie by millcottage featuring Rebecca Taylor dresses

Posted in Environmental, Holga, fashion, lifestyle, vintage

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Wedding on Santana Row | Shannon and Steve tie the knot

The beautiful Shannon on Santana Row

Sunday I photographed the beautiful wedding of Shannon & Steve on Santana Row at the amazing Hotel Valencia! I felt like I was on vacation!! Warm, balmy day… Pinkberry Yogurt before we started to work, courtesy of my wonderful BFF Jacki of Jacki V. Photography (her hubby, Vince, was the minister for the wedding… talk about a dream team!) Jacki & I go all the way back to the beginning of my photography career, when we met at a workshop almost 10 years ago. Even though she lives and works in Minnesota most of the time these days, she still gets out to exotic locations to photograph destination weddings (like Maui, Jamaica, and sunny San Jose!) and we love to shoot together every chance we get! Shannon and Steve met on the dating site, eHarmony, and started out as good friends, then dating, and now married… all in the course of the past 3 years! Steve is a pastor, and quite a musician/composer, and he shared some of the music he had written for his lovely bride throughout the day at the ceremony and reception. Pastor Vince did a wonderful job weaving the stories of Shannon and Steve together along with scripture, making it a lovely experience for all of us! I really loved it that Shannon and Steve administered the communion for all their guests… a very moving and personal touch! What can I say about Santana Row… such a lively, fun place for wedding photography, and I can’t wait to shoot there again! It was a completely perfect day! Here are some of my favorite images… All the best, Shannon & Steve!

Posted in Hotel Valencia wedding, Jacki, Silicon Valley Wedding, Weddings on Santana Row, wedding photography

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Sonoma Wedding Photographer | Ramekins Wedding | Kim and Derek

Just finished a custom Love Story Album design for Kim and Derek’s gorgeous Sonoma wedding in April at Ramekins! This was a fun book to design, and I love how it tells the story of the day… even the bit of rain we had in the beginning, which was magically whisked away by the weather gremlins and replaced with sunshine at the perfect moment in the ceremony… We had a great time sneaking off from the party in Granddad’s classic Cadillac, and narrowly escaped the law… (just kidding… we didn’t do anything WRONG…) The wood fired pizza, wonderful hors doerves, and great service from the exceptional staff at Ramekins made for a wonderful wedding!

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Posted in Album Design, Ramekins Culinary School and Events, Wedding, Wine Country Weddings, wedding photography

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San Jose Newborn Photographer | Sweet as a Rosie!!

in daddy's comfy chair...

Every photographer has someone in the very beginning of their business who takes a chance on knowing you will do a good job! Someone who knew you could do it even if you hadn’t done it before… someone who believes in you and chooses YOU! Christy and Matt were those clients for me. When I met them I knew I wanted to photograph their wedding more than anything, and after interviewing quite a few photographers they chose me to do just that… They were married at the beautiful Carmel Mission, and their reception was at the Marriott, and it was a wonderful day! I love both of their families (and photographed Matt’s sister, Bridgette & Darren’s wedding a few years later) and so the time has come… Christy, Matt and awesome-hound Indiana have a beautiful baby girl who was born just 10 days ago. I could have just snuggled her all day… Here’s a couple of favorites… Happy First Father’s Day Matt!!

Newborn sweet baby Rosie

Posted in Carmel Mission Wedding, Father's Day, babies, baby portraits, lifestyle, location photography, newborn portraits

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Palo Alto Newborn Photographer | Justice the adorable!

Newborn babies are just the best to photograph! I don’t know how many times I have said it, but I LOVE it when my wedding couples call me to share the good news of the arrival of a new addition to their family!!! Shannon and Tim came to me from a previous wedding couple, Michelle and Ted. It was great to see them at the wedding with their kids too! Now Shannon and Tim have a beautiful little boy named Justice (LOVE his name!!) and he wants to tell everyone “hi!” He was wide awake for most of his session, until the end, when we managed to get him to sleep on his daddy’s grandfather’s guitar…

newborn baby photography by Mill Cottage Kids

Posted in babies, baby portraits, newborn portraits, window light portraits

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San Francisco Hip Modern Family Portraits | the dynamic duo of delicious studios

Just under a month ago my wonderful colleague, Alameda maternity, newborn and family photographer Anna Myers, and I launched a collaborative venture with delicious boudoir | intimate artisan portraits. It was received with such a warm welcome that we have decided to collaborate on some other areas of photography as well! Hence the birth of delicious studios | portraits that feed your soul. We have photographed several lovely families so far, and wanted to offer you a sneak peek into the kind of work we’re making together! If you are interested in an exciting, artistic portrait commission of your family, please contact us, and we can arrange for a consultation. The delicious experience is fun for everyone in the family, and our goal is to show your family as you truly are, not just what you look like! Choose a meaningful location that you will all remember together, bring along a couple of outfits for everyone, set aside some time to just be together. We will handle everything else… We shoot from multiple angles, take turns providing gentle feedback to enhance the look and feel of the portrait, and in the post-consultation, we show you a set of images that will completely amaze you. We’ll guide you through the creation of a completely unique work of art that you will be proud to showcase, and giddy to look at every day in your home! From maternity to newborn, and family portraits… delicious studios will feed your soul!

Posted in Family Portraits, children's portraits, location photography

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San Francisco Photographer teaches Children’s portraits | Renegade Pie Fight workshop!

Those of you who follow my blog know that I love to teach other photographers, and regularly schedule time to offer workshops to help out the profession! In addition to it being possibly the best weather I have experienced in San Francisco since I moved here 15 years ago… Sunday was the perfect day to teach a kid’s portraiture workshop with my friends from the Renegades. Special thanks to Martha Blanchfield, freelance PR person, and regular contributor to Rangefinder Magazine for professional photographers, who organized a gorgeous bunch of kids to come and model for us on a bright sunny day in the Tulip Gardens! The highlight of the day (probably for both the photographers AND the kids) was a pie fight between a group of best friends who will love these images as they grow up together! It was Memorial Day weekend, so some of our small patriots also paid tribute to the gool ol’ USA with their fun outfits! We hosed down the kids, wiped down the cameras and headed into the Beach Chalet for a nice snack and some Photoshop and Lightroom lessons, and before you know it, it was time to go! here’s some of my favorites from the day!

Posted in Cottage Industry, Golden Gate Park, Image Processing, San Francisco, children's portraits, education, lightroom presets, location photography

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Colorful Atherton Wedding Images | Justin and Eliza’s Gallery is up

View our wedding gallery!

Happy 4 week-i-versary toooooo youuuuuuu! I know you can’t wait to see these images and without further ado…. here is your gallery of colorful, wonderful heartfelt wedding images! Please share with anyone you choose, and feel free to leave comments on the blog! much love, Kim (and Jill & Carrie from the Mill Cottage Photography team!)

click the image to go directly to the gallery! or follow this link: Atherton Wedding Images for Eliza and Justin Enjoy!

Posted in Atherton wedding, wedding photography

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Napa wedding at Silverado Country Club | Stephanie & Matt

Last Saturday started out just wonderfully for me… first getting to see Kim & Derek, and Kim’s parents to show them their wedding images for the first time at the Napa Valley homestead, and then just up the road to the beautiful Silverado Country Club to meet my wonderful friend Jill of Jill Doherty Photography, to photograph her sweet clients, Stephanie and Matt — such a beautiful day for a wedding! Steph’s shoes were just amazing (we all know how obsessed I am with fabulous wedding shoes…), and every detail of their black and pink themed wedding sparkled and shined! The sun shined brightly on their ceremony in the grove, which was performed by my favorite wine country wedding officiant, Reverend Blane Ellsworth, who is so much fun to work with… it was my second time in his congregation for a wedding, and I honestly just want to hug him a million times! After they said “I Do!” Steph and Matt grabbed their golf clubs and whacked one down the green for good measure! Here are my favorites from the day…

Posted in Jill Doherty, Napa Valley Wedding, Silverado Country Club wedding, Wine Country Weddings, romantic portraits

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Atherton wedding photos | more fun and images from Eliza and Justin Smith

A beautiful wedding for Eliza and Justin

After the ceremony, guests were treated to an amazing fare of appetizers and signature cocktails, and everyone flocked to the games and our Celebration Photo Station. Styled by the amazingly wonderful Carrie D. Mader, whose talents are unending… guests posed for portraits with cute signs and well wishes. To view the images and order your own, please visit the photo booth Gallery here and laugh along with the crowd!

Everybody had fun at the photo booth!

Posted in Atherton wedding, Carrie D. Mader

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Atherton Wedding Photographer | Backyard in the Family Home

When I first spoke to Justin on the phone, I knew I wanted to be the wedding photographer he and his lovely bride, Eliza, chose to photograph their wedding! They were referred to me by my wonderful clients, Krista & Brett, who were married at Nestldown last August. They were in the same marriage prep class! Eliza’s mother grew up in the family home at which she and Justin planned to marry, and married Eliza’s dad in the same spot where the ceremony was to be held. Sadly, Eliza’s parents are no longer with us, so this was such a special tribute to them. Eliza placed special tributes around the wedding, and flowers to honor her parents. There were games, and a signature cocktail, the “CosmopoliJim” that let us know about the special people they were.

Eliza gets ready

invitation, rings and chairs

Eliza's tribute to her parents

Both Eliza and Justin are the kind of people everyone wants their kids to grow up to be… smart, funny, lovely, and with a passion for helping others and fighting for social justice. They are very cherished by their friends and family, and had a record 18 people in their wedding party, which just shows how much they are loved!

Backyard Atherton Wedding | Justin and Eliza Smith

Posted in Atherton wedding, Wedding, wedding gown, wedding photography

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San Francisco City Hall Wedding | Shannon & Pascual’s wedding images are ready for viewing!

Here is the link to the gallery for Shannon and Pascual’s intimate San Francisco City Hall wedding! Click on the picture to go to their gallery!

: Intimate Wedding at San Francisco City Hall Image Gallery Password: city hall

Posted in San Francisco City Hall weddings, Uncategorized, intimate wedding coverage

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