Mustard Flowers in Sonoma County- Santa Rosa Child Photographer
You know spring is coming when you start to see little yellow mustard flowers sprout up. It's like winter is saying, hang in here, almost done. I feel like living in Northern California it's a little mean of me to complain about winter. Though this year I am truly justified. We had so.much.rain. Then we had more rain, then flooding, and then more rain. I kept wondering when Noah was going to show up! What that rain gave us was an explosion of beautiful color from February though March. When the vineyards are all still bare, you have these yellow flowers sprouting up in between the rows. They just scream California wine county.
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon Lindsay of L Wink Photography and I teamed up to shoot some beautiful models in our local flowers. The girls were wearing custom gowns by Anna Traint Couture, Butterflys Closet, and Ella Dynae. They all looked so beautiful in shades of fluffy pink. Anna Traint rents her gowns for special occasions, which is a great option for your next photoshoot.
Hair and Make up was done by Natale Verdone out of Glen Ellen. We kept the girls very natural looking, like the sweet little girls they are. Natale did a wonderful job with our mini models.
Soon the mustard flowers will give way to poppies and lupins and we will have orange and purple to photograph! I can't wait for the lavender fields of June too!
Princess Katiana- Sonoma County Child Photographer Angelika Mitchell
I'll tell you what, I am really loving all the little princesses that have been adventuring with me to this gorgeous castle winery in Napa Valley. It is so much fun to see the bright eyes and look of wonder, when even the most seasoned model sees the real live castle. It's this magic, the wonder of childhood, that makes me so thankful that I get to do this. That my job is to capture the joy of little beings, and hold that moment in time for their families.
Katiana Upton has been modeling since she was 10 months old. She is such a professional, yet still a bubbly 6 year old at the same time. She was truly a joy to work with. Katiana had driven all the way from Los Angeles, and never showed a sign of it. She danced and glided all over the castle, with a giant smile whenever a passer by complimented her on her princess style.
Castello di Amorosa is in the heart of the Napa Valley wine country, sitting just between Calistoga and Saint Helena. It's such a wonder that is packed with tourists any day of the week or any time of day. They come from far and wide to see this castle, that is actually built with stones from Tuscany that were moved here just for the building of this castle. Luckily the patrons are all very gracious when it comes to little princesses having their photo taken.
Katiana is wearing a stunning gown by Anna Triant Couture. This gown is called the petal gown and it is available for rent. The floral broach and front ruffle are removable so you can wear the dress in two different ways. It's so lovely Anna makes this gown available for rent. Prefect for a special event, or having special photos taken without having to purchase a couture gown. I have many clients who choose to rent their gown for their child's photography session. It makes the session even more special for their children when they feel like a real princess, and these gown can't help but make you feel like a real princess.
As we get closer to summer, the winery will get more and more crowded. If you are considering booking a special photography session for your child with this Napa Valley castle as the backdrop, now is the time to do it.
Princess Grace- Sonoma County Child Photographer Angelika Mitchell
Princess Grace has been growing up before my eyes. When I first met Grace she was 6, and she came to me for a Glitter Session. I've since seen Grace as a fairy, and had the honor of doing photos for her birthdays too. This year Grace turned 9, and for her birthday session Grace wanted to be a real princess. We are lucky to have an actual real castle right here in Napa county. Castello di Amorosa is a winery in St. Helena that is built as a medieval castle. The stones were actually moved here from Italy! It makes the most magical backdrop for a princess photo session.
Princess Grace had so much fun dancing her way along the grounds of the castle. Dance is her passion, and it shows in her graceful movement. Grace is wearing a dress from Anna Triant Couture. Anna Triant is a talented designer who crafts the most exquisite high fashion gowns for children. The skirt of this gown was the lightest and softest silk, with layers of fluffy tulle underneath. It moved like the wind. Anna has been generous enough to provide many of her gowns on a rental basis. So if you only need something special for one photoshoot, or one event, you can share in a piece of the gown and then send it back. I've rented from her several times for my own daughters. Though I will forewarn you, often the little girls do not want to send them back!
For this year's photo session Princess Grace brought with a special guest, the Little Price. It was so nice to get a few sibling photos too! They now have a beautiful canvas in their home commemorating the young royals. This Napa Valley castle also has a lot of animals running around, which is especially fun for the kiddos. We saw sheep, and chickens walking around. Even peacocks wandering through the vineyards.
Children are only young and full of imagination for a short window of their life. It is my biggest pleasure and honor to capture the magic of childhood for families. That said, I am pretty sure if you asked me if I wanted to dress up as a princess and have my photo taken at a castle, I would not turn you down.
Let Them Eat Grapes- Sonoma County Portrait Photographer Fashion Editorial
I have another amazing fashion editorial to share with you! For this shoot the fabulous Lily and I took a trip to the winery Castello di Amorosa in the Napa Valley. The winery is replica of a 13th century Tuscan castle, and the materials and attention to detail are astounding. You really feel like you traveled back in time. There are even farm animals, like sheep and chicken and even peacocks wandering the grounds with you. This beaucolic castle provided the perfect backdrop to my Marie Antoinette inspired shoot.
Lily's hair and make up were done by the fabulous Ernesto Robledo of Graffiti Hair and Make up. Lily's hair is naturally waist length and curly, and Ernesto is able to charm those lovely locks like a snake charmer. Can you believe this hair? It's just so stunning. Ernesto is an award winning wedding and fashion hair and make up artist, and I feel so blessed we were able to collaborate on this project.
The California wine county is a treasure trove of magical locations. One could spend a whole year just shooting in the different wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Then you add in the redwoods and the beach, and it's no wonder so many people visit each year. I think it would be so fun to include a castle portrait session into a Napa Valley vacation. I alway wish I had more formal portraits of my family when on vacation. We are planning a trip to Hawaii this summer and I am definitely going to a add family photos to the top of my to to list.
This amazing gown was handmade in the USA by Ella Dynae Designs. She custom made this gown for us to Lily's measurements and in a color we selected. They were so accommodating and even rushed the order for us so we would have the dress before the rainy season hit. I highly recommend Ella Dynae to anyone looking for the perfect gown for an event or a princess portrait session.
Vineyard Family Session- Santa Rosa Family Photographer Angelika Mitchell
My favorite color is fall, and fall lasts a really long time in Sonoma County. We do eventually lose our leaves, but they can stay almost to Christmas. This family session was in early December, and while we were on the back end of the colorful vineyards, we still got stunning colors.
Dad is a winemaker, so when this young family thought about updating their family photos, they wanted the vineyards of Sonoma County to be the backdrop. Vineyards really are such a beautiful location, and they rival beaches for my absolute favorite spot to do family portraits. I feel so lucky to live in an area of such diverse beauty. We can be on the beach, in the forest, in the mountains, and in the desert all within a short drive. This particular Vineyard is right in my home town of Sebastopol.
Just like fall is my favorite color, toddler is my favorite child. So many clients worry that toddlers and young children won't cooperate for photos, and in some ways they are right! That's the beauty of the toddler though. Everything happens on their time and serves their needs. When we had our family photos done and my little one was 2, she decided the whole photoshoot was actually a hike, and she just kept going. What makes toddlers so magical, is that they infuse fun into every moment. I love the way their carefree energy lightens the mood, and how playing with them and having fun makes for the very best portraits. I am always thrilled to learn a new client has young kids. I just know that the adventure we have together will be infused with fun and the wonder of early childhood.
Now that the rainy season is upon us, I am longing for the warm colors of fall. We just took down our Christmas tree, and that time is always a little sad for me. Knowing that it will be so long before the fall and holidays are back. I know as soon as the flowers start to bloom in Spring, I will be so thankful for longer nights and the burst of new life. Such is the wheel of time.
Fashion Editorial Shoot- Sonoma County Portrait Photographer Angelika Mitchell
On of my favorite parts of planning a session, any session, is the styling. I love the details, and the idea, the making sure each part is exactly perfect. I am in heaven when a client wants help styling their family, or hunting down the perfect outfit for their daughter's birthday session. I have a real love of fashion, and costuming, and especially super sweet kids clothes. Becuase of my love of all things styling, I find teaming up with other artists to be one of my greatest joys.
One of my absolute favorite designers is Elizabeth Copeland of Bentley and Lace. They make the most stunning couture gowns, and every single gown is made with such attention to detail; truly art. When I was asked to photograph her Drew gown, I was as excited as a kid on Christmas.
A dress as beautiful as Drew called for a model who could make it shine. Lily Joy is an absolute dream to work with, and I knew this dress would be exquisite on her. Lily is so versatile, ranging from sweet and innocent girl next door, to glamorous socialite ready for a night on the town. It's amazing the maturity she has. Lily had so much fun finding and eating the grapes left on the vines!
We photographed the gown in the gorgeous fall vineyards of Napa Valley. Napa never fails to offer the very best backdrop for photos. Each vineyard has it's own style and flair, and they are all manicured to perfection.
Lily's hair and makeup was expertly styled by Ernesto Robledo of Graffiti Makeup Artistry. Ernesto has a way with Lily's hair. It seems to listen to whatever he says. Ernesto was voted San Francisco makeup artist of the year in 2011, and can be found making brides perfect on their big day, and women all over feeling their most glamorous.
If you are looking for a dress for your special occasion please consider Bentley and Lace. You will be as giddy as I was just holding one of these stunning gowns. The gown Lily is wearing can be rented here.
I am dreaming of a glamorous Mommy and me photo session in one of the stunning Napa Valley vineyards. Bentley and Lace takes custom design orders, so if this Mommy and Me session of my dreams is also your dream, let's plan it!
Capturing the Magic Of Christmas
Every year I make a calendar, like many of you, to give to the grandparents and great grandparents, aunts and uncles who all live far and wide. This has been my tradition for 5 or so years, but as my business had gotten busier, the calendar has gotten harder. Right in the middle of the busy season I am trying to scrounge through the catalogs of my year looking for photos that are calendar worthy. Lately, I find that I don't have enough photos of my own family and it makes me a little sad. Now let's be clear, I have THOUSANDS of phone photo. And if you count child taken selfies, my middle child alone once logged 5,236 selfies on one iPad. (so not kidding) I do include cell phone shots, especially from fun family outings and trips to Disney when suddenly Mickey appeared. I also try to fill the calendar with some of my favorite more formal photos; as an artist I am not as drawn to the beauty of everyday moments as I am to the magic of special moments.
One of the hardest months to fill has been December. I have amazing summer beach photos, great fall family photos, and special Halloween shoots. Spring saw flower swings and blooming fields of mustard. December though, is hard. So this year I made a promise to myself to try to capture the magic of Christmas. I am a bonafide Christmas junkie. You know the movie Elf, totally me. I really truly believe in Christmas magic, and I believe in Santa. I love lights and sparkles and huge trees right in the middle of living space. (why can't that be an everyday thing?) So why is it that I was failing to capture this for my family? Honestly, it seemed like too much work to add one more thing onto the list of the EVERYTHING I do to make the holidays magic for my three little people and extended family.
So here is a little Christmas Magic for you. The photo on the right? If you zoom in on the lower part of the window you can see the outline of Santa on his sleigh. I swear to you there is nothing in my house that would make that reflection. Nothing in the yard, no possible answer as to where it came from. Crazy, right?!? Magic.
Once I set my mind to it, I captured these magical Christmas photos for my family in under 10 minutes. Yes, under 10 minutes! I started with the youngest and then added them in order of age. My little one actually loves having her photo taken. My oldest, well let's just say he was bribed. All these photographs were take with a 35mm lens on a Nikon D600. Neither of which I use that often. I am, generally, a long lens gal. 200mm being my preferred focal length. The reason I tell you this, the 35mm lens is generally one of the most affordable lenses to branch out with when you have a new DSLR camera. If you don't have one, a 50mm will do, you will just have to place yourself further back. I find the 35mm to be the best lens for taking pictures inside the house. You too can absolutely capture photos just like this of your family!
In order to get the tree lights looking their best, place your subject a few feet away from the tree. I you want the lights to blur out and give you nice big balls of light, use an aperture around f1.8, or as open (low number) as your camera can go. I had my ISO at 800, which is the highest I go with this camera. All of these were hand held, with me laying on my belly on the floor. Spot meter to your subject and adjust the shutter speed until you have enough light. You can also get little flares on the lights by moving your focal length closer to f15. It's a totally different, and also fun look.
I can't tell you how happy I am to have these photos. They really capture, for me, what is magical about Christmas. The tree with sparkling lights, the togetherness of family, the magic of waiting for Santa. The book the kids are reading is The Night Before Christmas, and it's one of those books where you record your voice to read each page. My Dad made it when my oldest was a baby. Every Christmas eve, we gather around and let Gramps read us the Christmas book before we tuck in and wait for Santa. It really is Magic.
Beach Family Session- Santa Rosa Family Photographer Angelika Mitchell
Do you know what my favorite part of photography is? Seeing children and families grow over the years. There is a special place in my heart for the families who come back year after year, and share their journey with me. One family that blessed my lens this fall is our Masto Wyatt Warrior family. I have had the pleasure of working with the kiddos several times, but this fall I put Mom and Dad in front of the camera too.
Mom has always been someone who I greatly admire. She is the best fundraiser I have ever seen, rallying for research into Wyatt's rare skin disorder. I have never seen such grace under pressure, with an enduring attitude of gratitude and hope. Wyatt is a treasure, that's for sure. The big kids are SO much fun to photograph, they are naturals in front of the camera.
While we may live hours apart from one another, we found a beautiful beach in the middle to meet at. Rodeo Beach in Sausalito, Marin County, provided the most picturesque backdrop to our family photo beach adventure. The family was impeccably styled, as usual, with no coaching from me at all. We tested our luck with the fall coastal weather; hello fall rainy season-which came out of nowhere! We ended up with the perfect day.
I really love beach photos. The Sonoma and Marin coastline can be tricky, so we don't attempt these sessions as often as my heart would like. The summers tend towards foggy sunsets, and the fall and spring are pretty cold and windy. It's really such a glorious synchronistic moment when you get a beautiful family, a beautiful beach, and nice weather all at the same time. God smiled on us that day, for sure.
Halloween Vampire Session- Santa Rosa Child Photographer Angelika Mitchell
Happy Halloween from Angelika Mitchell Photography! We actually do a lot of costumes over here. We have a never-ending imagination and lots of clients who are keen to see their favorite story come to life. I am often asked if I can pick a favorite, and the answer is a resounding NO! I really truly can't. There is nothing I love more than a fantasy world come to life.
I think that often times boys feel a little left out when it comes to photos and styled storybook photos in particular. They don't need to though! Boys have just as much fun dressing up and love to see their fantasies come to life. Superheroes, or magicians, or Peter Pan and Pirates. The opportunities are endless. In honor of Halloween I had a very special boy play dress up with me. (my boy, so I am biased) He actually loves dressing up. We never get rid of his Halloween costume as you just never know when a ninja is going to show up to do homework. I once got a text from my husband while doing laundry that read, only our son has a separate laundry pile for costumes. He is terrible at going out to take portraits with me, but if I ask him to dress up and do a concept shoot- he is amazing! So, noted.
This year he picked this gothic Vampire costume. He wanted to be a vampire for Halloween, but was super clear it was NOT the count Dracula kind of vampire. This costume comes from Chasing Fireflies and is called the Vampire of Versailles. I think it's perfect. So we dressed up for a costume party this weekend, but right before we stopped by an old cemetery and made a little vampire magic.
Have a super safe and fun Halloween tonight! And if you live locally, sorry about the rain. (but it's a drought, so we can't actually complain)
Mommy and Me Session- Santa Rosa Family Photographer Angelika Mitchell
On Mother's Day this year we had a contest. To enter, Moms commented on a favorite thing about Motherhood. Reading the comments was one of my personal favorite Mother's Day treats. It was so heartwarming to see all the different ways women cherished their role as Mom. This gorgeous Mom was the winner of the contest, and I am so excited to share her photos with you. I know her daughters will cherish these memories forever.
Often, as Moms, we get a little lost in the shuffle. We are the ones with a phone full of photos of the kids, and probably our kids and every other member of the family, from Dad to grandparents. What we don't have, is enough photos of ourselves with our kids. (awkward selfies with the kids aside) We either don't love the way we look, don't think we are photo ready, or don't even think about it. The thing is, these kids of ours, who we cherish so much, need to see us loving on them in their lives. One of the comments during the contest was a young woman who had just lost her own mother, and she was so sad that she had so few photos of her Mom and her together. It's heartbreaking.
So ladies, please be in the picture! Even with no make up and a messy bun. Wear those yoga pants and tank top, which you might even have slept in, and take that photo. Because the truth is, that is a version of you the kids want to remember too! Once in a while, get dressed up in whatever makes you feel awesome, and have some photos done with the little people you love most. By doing so, you show them how much you love them, and how much you love yourself too.
In my bedroom I have 3 framed photos hanging on my wall. One with each of my children when they were around 2. I LOVE looking at them every night before bed! Even though I can see myself aging over the 7 years, I can also see how I have grown as a woman, how I have really started to get the hang of being a Mom, and how much I love my children.