Deborah and Kwong

March 26, 2009

'Tis the season for portrait and engagement sessions! I had a terrific time photographing Deborah and Kwong in preparation for their wedding! Although it's the slow season for weddings and I'm having a blast doing all these portrait sessions, I'm looking forward to three weekends in a row for weddings! Yippee!

Gabriella!

March 20, 2009

A couple of years ago, I photographed Madeline's maternity session and we FINALLY did a photo shoot of her little girl Gabriella. She was such a sweetie!

Welcome Matthew!

March 16, 2009

Former wedding clients, Lisa and Josh (September, 2007) welcomed their son Matthew into the world! He's so gorgeous and was only a little more than two weeks old when we photographed him. He was a great sport! Grandma was there and was baking cookies the whole time I was shooting and we were all rewarded for our hard work with a cookie at the end of the shoot. I love when I get to spend time with clients over and over again! Here are a few of my faves:

So alert for two weeks old!

He has his dad's feet!

Adoring parents.....

The Regency Center

March 7, 2009

Holly and Gilbert E-session

February 24, 2009

This e-session was bittersweet (well, sort of literally). Holly and Gilbert wanted to choose a location that had meaning for them. They ended up choosing Scharffenberger Chocolate factory in Berkeley, not only because they love their chocolate, but also because Hershey's is closing down the Scharffenberger Factory in April. So sad! We had a lot of fun shooting here even though there ended up being loads of restrictions and it was a very gloomy and rainy day. I think we got some fun stuff and here are just a few of my faves:

Kirsten and Alex

February 11, 2009

I have had the honor of photographing several weddings for Lisa Lefkowitz of Lisa Lefkowitz Photography and Kirsten and Alex's January wedding was the latest. Kirsten and Alex were so very sweet and I love shooting at both of their locations! Their wedding was at Calvary Presbyterian and the reception at the James Leary Flood Mansion in San Francisco.

Sara's Maternity Photos

February 11, 2009

I love maternity photos! This one is for my dear friend Sara. Sara was willing to also take some nudes and partial nudes which for privacy reasons, I wont post, but encourage anyone who is planning a maternity shoot to consider it. The body is beautiful! Sara is due in April:

Re:Design

February 11, 2009

I also sometimes photograph home interiors. If you read my bio on the website, I got my start in photography over 20 years ago photographing home interiors and gardens for the national interior design magazines and every once in a while am asked to photograph an interior. Here is one I shot for Julie Brown of ReDesignsSF:

The Eames Family

February 11, 2009

You have probably guessed from the last couple of posts that I'm catching up and also posting portrait shoots for the first time. I primarily shoot weddings, but once in a while I'm asked to do a portrait shoot. It's fun and when I have time, I take some on! Here is the Eames family:

Miranda!

February 11, 2009

You may recall Angela's maternity shoot (check it out in "maternity" on the blog). Well, here's Miranda!

Wedding Style Book

January 7, 2009

Susan and Trevor

December 5, 2008

Another Stephanie Beer, Covenant Coordinating wedding, Susan and Trevor's was at Stryker Sonoma. Their outdoor wine country ceremony ended up being indoors because of a downpour, but Stephanie and Stryker were completely prepared. The ceremony took place in the tasting room which was lit by a fire in the fireplace and lots of candles. The dinner was absolutely breathtaking in the barrell room. What a warm and cozy wedding! View their slideshow here: Susan and Trevor

It's a Date Hair and Makeup:

Wine Country Flowers:

Catering by Pacific Connection....

Annie and Ryan

November 7, 2008

Wow! You know, the weekend I photographed Annie and Ryan's wedding, I photographed three weddings in a row. I've never done this before and I'm not sure why I did. I think because Annie and Ryan were such a great couple and I really wanted to shoot their Cornerstone Vineyard wedding. In any case, I was a little fearful that by the time Sunday rolled around, I would be exhausted and creatively spent. Obviously I would have given it everything I've got no matter what, but amazingly I was just as invigorated as I was for wedding number one and I left the wedding that day reaffirming that I absolutely love what I do. Annie is so incredibly creative (she's a designer) and her creativity showed throughout the day. Her own mother did the flowers and Annie did all of the lovely paper cutouts. A perfect fit for the quirky and lovely Cornerstone.

Vanessa and Bryon

November 7, 2008

Vanessa and Bryon have been such fun to work with. They brought their adorable beagles to our engagement session and then had such fun on their wedding day. The wedding was at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links with the ceremony looking out on the wonderful Pacific ocean. I love the new trend in patterned table linens for the reception tables and absolutely adored Vanessa's cheerful wedding dress.

Patricia of "A Perfect Look" was really sweet and did a great job with hair and makeup:

Erin and Mark

October 30, 2008

I can't believe I forgot to post Erin and Mark's Vashon Island, WA wedding! Mark is one of the first people I met after my move to the bay area from Chicago and although he now lives in Seattle, we've remained in contact over the years. I was so thrilled when he and Erin called me to ask if I could photograph their wedding at Erin's parent's home on Vashon Island/Seattle, WA. I love "at home" weddings and this one was so beautifuly done given that the key players are all architects and have a great sense of design!They had a pig roast and although it poured rain on and off, the rain always came at times when the guest could escape it. By the time dinner rolled around it was a gorgeous evening!

This is the downpour that happened right after the ceremony. Thank goodness it waited until after!

Cri and Lloyd

October 30, 2008

Cri and Lloyd were so sweet. So sweet that when they found out I was getting married they brought along a bottle of champagne for my husband and I to their engagement session! Riva and Joe did the same thing. I love my clients! In any case, Cri and Lloyd were married at the pretty St. Patrick's cathedral across from Yerba Buena Gardens. I love shooting here, not only because it's a pretty church, but also if there's enough time we can go across to the gardens for a photo session. The reception was at the always fabulous Julie Morgan ballroom at the Merchant's Exchange in SF. I love this ballroom. I'm pleased to say that the catering manager, Linda, has chosen my photos from Shevaun and Harrison's 2007 wedding to use on their website and marketing materials. A great honor given how gorgeous and historic this ballroom is. Thanks to Cri and Lloyd for choosing such a gorgeous location and man, did this party rock!

Flowers: The Prim Petal

Catering: James Stanfield Catering

Ken and Hannah

October 30, 2008

My very good friend Akemi's (the person responsible for my husband and I meeting) brother got married to the lovely Hannah in August at the Carmel Mission with the reception at The Monterey Plaza Hotel. Carmel Mission brides, I would LOVE to photograph there again so pick me, pick me! What a gorgeous church AND their bride's room is so gorgeous, I highly recommend getting dressed there! Ken and Hannah are such a great couple and I really enjoyed photographing their wedding. This lucky couple lives in Hawaii, so I'll miss seeing them in person again, but maybe can take a trip to Hawaii to visit.

Flowers: Fleur Du Soleil

Riva and Joe

October 23, 2008

Now that Grace Cathedral has relaxed its photo restrictions a little, Riva and Joe provided me with two of my favorite SF locations! Their ceremony at Grace was gorgeous. Although I've photographed many weddings in the chapel (see Sarah and Matt, 2007 for the last), it was the first time I've photographed in the Nave. I was a little concerned about intimacy, but it's so spectacular that it didn't matter! Then we were off to the Green Room and the War Memorial building. I LOVE the Green Room for it's architecture, yes, it's color, the outdoor terrace and it's spectacular view of City Hall. Riva and Joe have good taste. And wow! look at her shoes. Hot! Thanks Riva and Joe, you were such fun. PS - I've promised Riva that I would figure out how to post their slide show. This is next on my to do list and I'll get it up ASAP!

Catering: Patrick Davids

Flowers: In Water, SF

Cake: Cakemaker

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME!!!!

September 16, 2008

I WAS RECENTLY NOMINATED FOR THE SF CHRONICLE'S "A" LIST! IF YOU THINK I'M DESERVING OF BEING ON THE LIST, PLEASE GO TO THE SF "bAy" LIST WEBSITE TO CAST YOUR VOTE BY THE 26TH OF THIS MONTH! To vote for me, please follow this link and click on the "vote" button:

http://baylist.sfgate.com/julie-mikos/biz/110260

Michelle and Elisa

September 15, 2008

What a gorgeous and emotional wedding! Michelle and Elisa were married in the Redwood Grove at the UC Berkeley Botanic gardens. A magical site for an historic event. Their reception immediately followed at the Julia Morgan designed Berkeley City Club. Always a joy to photograph. Michelle and Elisa incorporated the signing of their marriage license into the ceremony to demonstrate the importrance of this event in our history as a nation. It was a highly charged and emotional moment for everyone present. It was even hard for me to hold it together behind the camera given the significance of the recognition of same sex marriage and love. As I photograph these unions, I'm touched by the universalness of love. It doesn't matter where you're from, how much money you make, what sex you are or even how old you are. Love is love and a vow is a vow and it is beautiful when two people commit to each other.

The florist was Soul Flower: