Big Changes at Nicole Mills Photography | Rochester, MN Area Photographer

There are BIG changes coming to Nicole Mills Photography. I’m excited to tell everyone that the studio will be moving…about four blocks south! My husband I are purchasing a former church, and very soon, it will become several things….the NMP studio, a residential rental property (there’s an apartment attached), and additional office space and event area for rent in the lower level!

Phase 1 of this endeavor will be to pull out all the RED carpeting in the shooting room so we can refinish the hardwood floors underneath. I’ll also be painting the rooms I’ll be using as my office and a dressing room for clients. After those few things are done, I can get my studio moved in!

Phase 2 will be to fix up the entryway…hopefully paint, put in some new flooring, and jazz it up a bit with samples, a reception area, etc. to greet clients when they arrive at the studio. I will also fix up the bathroom to include new flooring & vanity, paint…and better lighting.

Phase 3 will involve fixing up two bedroom sized rooms in the lower level so I can offer those for rent to anyone looking for a bit of private office space.

Phase 4…Tackle the ugly exterior or the rest of the basement! Time and $$$ will dictate how and when I’m able to tackle those two beasts. Ideally, I would like to put siding on the building, and completely renovate the basement…we’ll see!

Here are the “before” images of the new space. I’ll be excited to share more images as we make improvements…and I’m already looking forward to an amazing grand opening party!! :)

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Rochester, MN Senior Photographer | Nina - Class of 2020

The 2020 school year has come to an end for many of the students in SE Minnesota…and boy, will it be one to remember! Who would have thought our kids would be doing distance learning for almost three months, and that our high school seniors would lose out on the pomp and circumstance of their final months in high school? All of the end of the year activities they’d normally see were either cancelled (prom) and/or seriously reduced to a lack luster event (a drive up graduation “ceremony”). There will be more milestones ahead, but it’s sad that this one…high school graduation, had to take a backseat to a pandemic.

I’m decided to get caught up on posting some of my 2020 seniors. I put them on Facebook and Instagram, but am not always good about blogging. But these seniors deserve every bit of fanfare they can get right now, so here is my blog post, dedicated solely to Nina! Nina is…or rather was…a 2020 graduate from Century High School. She’ll be attending the University of MN in the Twin Cities in the fall, major yet undecided. Smart girl…as I changed majors THREE times and it took me seven years to graduate. This summer, she’s working hard at three jobs…I’m guessing she’ll be ready to head back to school!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Image Evolution - Nicole Mills Photography

Image Evolution

Prior to yesterday, I was photographing my chickens during this crazy time called Covid. I could have dragged my kiddo into the studio, but I just wasn’t feeling motivated to do that. We have five grown chickens and got four more baby chicks about a month ago, so we spent our time at home playing with them…and of course, making tutus for them to be photographed in. :) But, yesterday, not only was I motivated to go to the studio to shoot, I decided to revisit a session from last fall. This 2020 senior was one of my favorite sessions to date! Her elegance, beauty, and movement was so inspiring to me, and I wanted to capture her in as many poses as I could before she left the studio. The images filled with movement were some of my favorite, but I also love her static poses because she just knows how to make sitting look so glamorous!

I never know where an image will end up when I start editing. It all depends on the mood i’m in, the music i’m listening too, the time of day, and of course the image itself. With Grace’s images I just felt a vintage vibe coming through and I let that lead my editing. I feel her images are timeless and I wanted to portray that. So, on the left is this image pretty much right out of camera…and the image on the left is where my edit ended. I love the rich, warm tones and think they compliment her outfit, the background, and her posing. She is an absolute dream to photograph.

The image on the left is unedited, with the final image on the right. Grace Lennon, Class of 2020.

The image on the left is unedited, with the final image on the right. Grace Lennon, Class of 2020.

This next image is of my beautiful niece, Delanie. She was gracious enough to come to my studio yesterday because I just needed to photograph someone. She’s a 2021 senior, so I figured we might as well get started on her senior images. The first outfit she modeled was a lovely vintage nightie set I purchased recently. It was just perfect for a few day light photos before the sun was too low, so I put her near one of my studio windows and she looked just stunning. Delanie has learned to relax in front of my camera and she is now one of my favorite subjects to photograph. Her face takes on this peaceful quality that I adore capturing on camera. After editing a few of her images, I decided to turn one into a digital painting. I’m still very much learning to paint in Photoshop, so this is far from perfect, but I’m happy with it. Sadly, from a distance I don’t know that one can even tell it’s a painting, so I do want to learn to paint with broader brush strokes. There’s always a goal for my next image! For now, I’m just so thankful I was able to get back into my studio. I’m hopeful that soon I’ll be able to welcome clients back to Nicole Mills Photography! :)

2021 Byron High School Senior - Nicole Mills Photography

2021 Byron High School Senior - Nicole Mills Photography

The original edit is on the left, and the digital painting is on the right.

The original edit is on the left, and the digital painting is on the right.

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complimentary consultation.

The Queen of the Market - Nicole Mills Photography

If you’ve been following Nicole Mills Photography on Facebook, you know that I like to create DIY fashion out of unconventional materials such as paper, coffee filters, etc. Well, when I ran into a HUGE box of artificial fruits and veggies at a garage sale last Summer…well, an idea for a dress was born! And what better place to photograph a dress like this than at the farmer’s market?? Add a stunning model, such as Kahla, and a kicky pair of red heels, and we had ourselves a fun photo shoot! Kahla received plenty of attention and she’s now in MANY the cell phone photo galleries. :)

The Queen of the Farmer’s Market - Rochester, MN

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complimentary consultation.

MN Portrait Photographer | Before and After

Rochester, MN Photography | Nicole Mills Photography

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I love Photoshop. If I had nothing else in life to focus on, I could happily sit in front of my computer learning more and more about it. I probably use PS to about 20% of its potential…it’s so overwhelming to think I’ve only scratched the surface in learning what you can do with it.

Yesterday, we had ANOTHER snow day, which meant the kiddo was home with me. While she was watching a movie, I logged on to a popular website that constantly streams editing videos and watched one…and wow, I learned so much in just an hour! So, today I worked on another image from our recent vacation to FL..and while I took the editing a bit far because I was having fun, I did some of what I normally do to an image in a more precise and efficient way. Yahoo !! Photoshop, if you don’t know, can be a total time suck. Hours disappear and before you know it, the hair on your legs has grown an inch and you notice a smell that may or may not be you! ;) The problem for me is…I’ve learned how to do things one way, and even though there are probably 10 other ways to do that same thing more efficiently, I cling to what I already know. Relearning is difficult for me - it takes time, and I never feel as if there is ENOUGH time! I’ve always got a zillion things on my “to do” list and slowing down to learn a new way of doing something…ugh, it’s frustrating. It’s silly, because if I think of all the time it may save me in the future…well, you probably understand what I’m talking about.

On another topic…kinda…we’ve moved into a 140 year old farm house recently. It’s beautiful! The previous owners purchased it in 1993 (for $15,000) and completely gutted it and restored the home. They did an amazing job bringing it back to life. They salvaged all the original trim and wood floors, added plumbing (there wasn’t ANY), and rebuilt the porches and exterior, etc. I’ll do a blog post about it one of these days…I have some AMAZING images from the past and during the renovation process. AND, of course, I have my own plans for the home! We’ve already tackled a few, and there are more on the horizon. Anyway…one thing I’ve decided is that I want to keep all the walls quite subtle (I’m a girl that likes to add color normally!), and I want my artwork to provide the pops of color I so love. I’m not sure which one yet, but one of the many beach images of my kiddo will be printed large and will be hanging somewhere in the house. It will be my much needed reminder that winter will end at some point…and that the ocean is waiting for me down in Florida!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | 2018 in Review

Rochester, MN Photography | Nicole Mills Photography

I know it’s a bit late to be doing a Year in Review post, but I’ve always been a bit of a procrastinator! And since I haven’t posted since last May (where DOES the time go??), I thought I’d better get to it.

2018 was a pretty good year for Nicole Mills Photography! I continued to explore my creativity in creating paper gowns, and seriously grew both my book and gown collection for such projects. When I latch on to an idea or a concept….I latch on hard. I now have about 40 used bridesmaid, prom gowns, and wedding gowns stored throughout my home and studio. And let’s not forget the books! Several sets of encyclopedia (people just GIVE those away!), children’s books, atlases, art books, and more. I hit estate sales throughout the summer, and our barn is full of my found treasures. Now, I just need to stop collecting and get busy making more custom gowns for the studio! No problem…who needs sleep?? Not this girl.

High school seniors kept me fairly busy throughout 2018, which was great. Mainly girls, but I had a few handsome guys sit before my camera too, which I enjoyed. They just want to be done pretty much as soon as we start…so they just sit, and do what I say, and pose how I tell them to pose. Simple, efficient, and they’re oh so happy when I say “That’s a wrap!” :) But, get a handsome guy in a suit, and it’s difficult for ME to be done. I always want just a few more shots…a few more poses. It’s the mom in me, I guess! The ladies…well, they’re always a blast to photograph because they ENJOY getting dressed up and primping for the camera. And I LOVE helping a girl to see her own beauty. The only rule is I don’t allow ANY fish lips or duck faces. Save those for your selfies ladies! ;)

In addition to my high school seniors, I had an assortment of other clients…each with their own reason to have portraits made. A queen celebrating her pageant title, TWO warriors at the start of their individual battles with cancer (I’m happy to report that both of these beautiful ladies are doing well), a family awaiting the birth of their first child, and a few families wanting to simply capture their family as a whole before the kids are grown and gone. Sprinkle in a few business head shots for those in need of an updated on-line presence, and a few personal projects for myself, and I’d say Nicole Mills Photography had a well rounded year!

Thank you to all those who took the time to sit before me and my camera. Truly…thank you so much. I appreciate the investment you made in your images, and in my business. I’m so happy that I get to do this…for you…and for myself. I’ve always believed that it’s sooooo important to LOVE what you do, as you’ll spend a fair amount of your time doing it to earn an income. I’d love to say that I love being a photographer so much that I’d do it even if I weren’t being paid, but the truth is, I couldn’t do it…not to this extent anyway. Photography is not an inexpensive endeavor! Between the equipment costs, the education required, the studio expenses, insurance, taxes…the list goes on…well, it can bury a person in debt, if one’s not careful. I’m learning to be careful (I can be a slow learner at times). Yes, I’m STILL a real estate broker (shameless plug for my other business there), but as Nicole Mills Photography grows, Knowing Home Real Estate has suffered a bit. As I once heard from someone…You can’t ride two horses with one ass. True enough. For me, anyway. I still work hard for my real estate clients, but they’re fewer and farther between as I devote more of my time to my photography. So, again…muchas gracias, mi amigos (just fyi..other than counting to ten, that’s the only Spanish I know).

Looking forward to 2019 (yes, I realize we’re already well into February), I’m excited to see what this year brings for my business! I’m again entering a design for Studs, Struts and Stilettos this year, which is coming up fast (April 18th, if you care to come support a great cause!), so I need to get started on that pretty soon. I also have plans to organize and revamp the studio a bit (a visit from Marie Kondo wouldn’t be completely unwarranted), and to work on some of my marketing materials. I want to sell BIG wall portraits this year, because you NEED them people! :) USB drives and a small print stuck in a frame on the book shelf JUST ISN’T ENOUGH. I firmly believe that. Don’t worry, I’ll convince you too. :)

Here’s to 2019! I hope it’s an amazing year for me, for you…and for a boy named Boo? I don’t know…a rhyme seemed appropriate there. I’ll stop now.

And oh…before I forget. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | Studs, Struts, and Stilettos

Rochester, MN Photography | Nicole Mills Photography

Studs, Struts and Stilettos is an annual event that benefits Habitat for Humanity.  The Rochester Area Builders, Inc. organizes and puts on the event and, in my opinion, does a spectacular job!  But, what is Studs, Struts and Stilettos??  It's a fashion show!  But, not just any fashion show...the entries must be created with the use of materials found in the construction industry.  How awesome is that?  Pretty awesome, in my humble opinion!

With my experience in both real estate and home remodeling, PLUS my recent interest in designing gowns out of unconventional materials, I was excited to submit an entry.  So, Nicole Mills Photography signed up, found a sponsor (thank you Associated Bank!), and got started creating a design entry.

I started taking long walks through both Menards and Home Depot to find inspiration for materials, and I have to say, it was more difficult than I thought it would be.  I knew that I wanted to create a ball gown, with a similar "flavor" to those I'd been designing for my photography studio, but I didn't know what materials would lend themselves well to my style of design.  I came across drywall tape and was hopeful.  I also found window screen (a good replacement for tulle??), and my brain started ticking even more.  But then, I found a toilet flange (yes, a toilet flange!), and all of a sudden, I envisioned a crown for my creation!  (Spoiler alert...the toilet flange ended up being too wide as the base for my crown, so it was scrapped two days before the event.)  I bought a few other random items I thought might make it into my design, and brought everything home.  I spread everything out on the coffee filter and started playing with the drywall tape.  

The base for my design was a used wedding gown I'd purchased of FB Marketplace.  I put it on a mannequin and started hot gluing drywall tape to it.  It wasn't working for me.  I kept playing, but it just wasn't coming together.  Finally, while sitting there, staring at my wedding dress, I remembered that I had this beautiful wallpaper down in my basement.  I'd put it in the kitchen of the last home I remodeled before Phoebe was born.  I had four rolls left that I'd saved for another project...and decided this was it!

Nicole Mills Photography

The wallpaper was what I needed.  Once I started hot gluing pieces on to the gown, I knew this was the direction my design needed to go.  I added some of the black window screen for ruffles, remade the crown just before event day, and then quickly found my scepter materials during a last mad dash to Home Depot.  After combining one shower curtain rod, a small clamp work light, a flashlight, our required design material (a wood dowel), and some jewels to bedazzle it, I was ready to go to Studs, Struts and Stilettos!

Nicole Mills Photography Custom Gown

After having a wallpapered wedding gown sitting in my living room for two months, I was ready to have it be somewhere else...anywhere else, really!  I will admit, I'd gotten a little tired of staring at it.  Thanks go to my hubby and daughter for not complaining that it'd seemingly become a permanent part of our decor.  Thanks too, to my friend Joan, for helping me with the design.  She came over throughout the process to offer help with design trouble shooting, design details, and she graciously acted as my assistant at the event...thanks Joan!  AND, last but not least...my gorgeous model, Kara.  She was a trooper!  Besides coming over for multiple fittings, she was game for a photo shoot up at my studio in Pine Island, once the gown was done, and she spent almost the entire day and evening at the event...on her feet.  The poor girl.  This gown was not designed for sitting, sadly.  We did finally manage to sneak a stool under her skirt so she could sit for a bit, but it was a long day.  And once the gown was on her, it pretty much had to stay on, so she was on fluid restrictions...if you know what I mean. :)

Behind the scenes - Nicole Mills Photography

The judges

doing their thing!

It was a LONG day, but what fun it was all together.  The design entries were INCREDIBLE, to say the least.  My firs thought after seeing all the other designs?  "Wow, I'm really going to have to up my game if I do this again next year."  My jaw dropped at the creativity I saw around me.  Granted, I'd been staring at my own gown for about two months, so I was getting a little tired of it, but still.. these other designs were just incredible in their detail and materials used.  A combined TON of time, talent, and hard work goes into this event!  And thankfully, it's all done for a great cause...raising funds for Habitat for Humanity!

The only thing I regret about the day is that the designers are not able to actually watch the runway show.  We're asked to stay behind the scenes with our model.  I've yet to see a video of the entire event, but I hope to see one soon.  Thankfully, I had friends and family out in the audience watching, so they took plenty of video and photos for me.  And to top off the entire awesome experience, Habitat for Humanity chose the Nicole Mills Photography design entry as their favorite!  I was NOT expecting that...and the photo of my mouth hanging open when it was announced proves that, I think.  ;)

At the after party, the models and designers got to show off their designs "up close" and answer questions about their pieces.  A gentleman from Habitat for Humanity came up to speak with me and he told me that they'd raised over $10,000 just in on-line bidding for the design entries, which is again...awesome!  I'm so glad that I was able to be a part of the event, and am already looking forward to next year.

Here are about a million behind the scenes, entry design "in-progress" photos, and a little video from the event, if you're interested.  Enjoy!

Nicole Mills Photography

Here we are...

up on the big screen!

Nicole Mills Photography

The Queen

of Construction!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | Evolutions in Design

Rochester, MN Photography | Nicole Mills Photography

I just got home from an amazing photography workshop called After Dark.  It was three full days of learning, shooting and socializing!  But that's a different post.  After leaving our hotel in Wausau, WI this morning, we headed downtown to an amazing store called Evolutions in Design.  Hands down, the COOLEST store I've ever been in!  I could have spent an entire day in there looking at everything.  Words can't even describe what an amazingly beautiful space this is.  I would LOVE to do a photo shoot there.  If you're ever in Wausau, WI, be sure to stop and check it out!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | Portrait Master Awards

Rochester, MN Photography Competition | Nicole Mills Photography

I'm just starting to get my feet wet in the world of photography competition, and it's been confidence building so far! I'm a member of several photography organizations that offer image competitions, awards, and certification. Through the Professional Photographer's Association, I'm working towards my CPP (Certified Professional Photographer) and my Master of Photographer degree. Both will most likely take me a handful of years to accomplish...but, that's OK. Both are goals that I'm anxious to achieve and I'll keep working diligently to improve my work and meet the required criteria.

Through the PPA you can earn merits towards your degree through photography competition, but you're also required to earn merits through education and attending events.  I went to PPA's annual conference, Imaging USA, for the first time in January.  It was an eye opening experience!  Seeing all the great photography work displayed was both encouraging, and to be honest, a little intimidating.  There are some completely AMAZING photographers in this world!  I hope someday to see some of my work hanging with theirs, so I'll keep plugging away at my craft.

The image below was entered in to the 2018 Portrait Master's competition. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that not only did my image receive a bronze award, it was chosen as one of the top 20 children's portraits, which I DID NOT expect. Almost 7,000 images were submitted over 7 different categories, so the competition was steep.  Now that I've seen my name "up in lights," there's no stopping me! ;) Next, I want to be a category winner! I'm also super happy that I gained entry into the top 20 with an image of my favorite little model...she may not enjoy being in front of my camera much anymore, but she'll always be my #1 subject. She is THE reason I invested blood, sweat and tears (& a substantial amount of $$$) into photography.

Thanks to all that continue to support my little photography business! I LOVE what I'm doing, and am so happy when people put their trust in me to photograph them.

Phoebe_Bronze_2018.jpg

Here are the other images I've submitted to both The Portrait Masters and those I've just entered into Districts for the PPA....I can't wait to see how they do!  Hopefully, I will have earned a few merits towards my degree.

The following images received the bronze award in the Portrait Masters accreditation program.

And here are the four images I've entered in to Districts for the PPA.  I don't know yet if they will merit, but fingers crossed one or more will! 

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complementary consultation.

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | Little Golden Book Gown

Rochester, MN Little Golden Book Gown | Nicole Mills Photography

I was at an estate sale over the Summer and came across a few Little Golden Books, and the idea for a gown popped into my head.  I knew I wanted to make one for my daughter to model for me...and of course, I knew it would be a good addition to the wardrobe at Nicole Mills Photography after that!  So, I got busy keeping an eye out for these wonderful little books, and started planning the gown.  Being a frequent shopper for studio wardrobe at Goodwill and such, I knew I had the perfect flower girl dress to be used as my base for the Little Golden Book gown.  It had a beautiful teal colored bow that went around the waist and hung almost to the floor in back.  Luckily, it fit my daughter perfectly!  I set to work tearing out book pages (ouch, I know...tearing up books...it feels wrong!), and then got the hot glue gun out.  About 25 books, and a few hot glue burns later, I had this amazingly precious dress ready to photograph.  My daughter graciously agreed to give me a few minutes of her time to model it, so we loaded up the car and headed up to Nicole Mills Photography in Pine Island to have ourselves a photo shoot!  We asked a few of her best buds to participate, and we ended up with some images that I LOVE.

If you have a little girl you'd like photographed in this, or another custom gown, please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography!  I'd be happy to create a gown based on the interests of your daughter, if this dress doesn't fit or suit her.  Do you have tons of drawings & artwork tucked away in a binder somewhere that your daughter has created over the years?  I can scan and print her artwork and turn it into a truly unique one-of-a-kind creation for her to be photographed in...and you'll have an amazing portrait to cherish forever!  

I hope you enjoy these images.  First...a little video showing some behind the scenes prep!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complementary consultation.

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | Music Dress

Rochester, MN Music Dress | Nicole Mills Photography

Ever since I caught the bug for designing one-of-a-kind gowns for photo shoots at Nicole Mills Photography, I've been on the lookout and finding inspiration everywhere!  About six months ago, while hitting an estate sale, I came across an entire set of music books.  I snatched them up and starting planning a music dress!

I found the perfect wedding dress at my local Goodwill to use/recycle for this music gown. And of course, the cat was standing by to test the softness of the pages after they were properly crumpled for fabric like softness!  I used a product called Wonder Under to adhere the music pages to the gown.  It got more difficult the further up the dress I was working, so some hot glue and glue sticks came into play also...and the cat continued to provide her assistance with quality control.  The last photo in this group is a background I attempted with music sheet covers. 

After the dress was finished, I was on the hunt for a lovely violinist to model it for me.  Savannah is in the orchestra with my  neighbor's son, and she happily agreed to come up to my studio in Pine Island to model it for me, complete with violin, of course!  She looked absolutely beautiful in the gown, and brought it to life while playing her violin.  Thank you Savannah!

I still have this gown in my studio and have plans to add a short cape for it, and will then photograph it again...hopefully soon...although I've already been distracted by designing a few more additional gowns!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complementary consultation.

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | Valentines Day Event

Rochester, MN Valentines Day Event | Nicole Mills Photography

Due to an extended vacation in Florida for the month of January, I hadn't planned any photo shoots to celebrate Valentines Day.  So, I put out a call on Facebook for ladies that wanted to come on up, and boy, was Nicole Mills Photography a happening place on Saturday!  I think we had a total of 12 girls & ladies come up to have their portraits taken, including a baby, and a ballerina!  There were lots of gorgeous red and black gowns, red lips and blowing hair everywhere!  I have many, many more images to go through...picking my favorites won't be easy, but here are a few I've managed to finish editing so far.  Happy Valentines Day!  I hope you get to spend it with those you love...your friends, your family, and anyone else that makes your heart beat and swell with love!

Here's a little behind the scenes video!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complementary consultation.

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | Ally

Rochester, MN Photo Shoot | Nicole Mills Photography | Ally

Ally has been gracious enough to model for me several times over the past few years.  I first met her in 2016, when Nicole Mills Photography was still an in-home basement studio.  At that point, I was all about tulle (OK, I still am....kinda.  I think EVERY girl/woman should be photographed in tulle at least ONCE in her life!), and I'd made this big black and gray tulle skirt...and needed a model.  Ally was the choice, with her dark hair, dark eyes...and totally serious, intense stare!  She'd recently gotten braces, so wasn't keen on doing any big open mouthed smiles...and that was just fine, because she's absolutely gorgeous, regardless of the expression she's wearing!  We mixed her glam look with her volleyball, and we got some amazing images that I feel show multiple sides to this lovely girl...her fierce, competitive side, and of course, her absolutely charmingly beautiful, feminine side.  I'm a firm believer that girls can do anything, be anything, and of course, wear tulle while they're doing it...if they want to!  And as usual, if there's a mom watching in the wings, I like to include her in at least one photo, even if she wasn't planning on it...luckily I keep a huge wardrobe on hand for just such an occasion...thanks for participating Mama!

The next time I photographed Ally, we decided to head downtown Rochester.  I'd made this fun and funky paper skirt and knew the city lights and colors we'd find downtown would be the perfect background for this photo shoot.  I called on Ally again, and she was all in, thankfully!  We met downtown, got her changed into this Nicole Mills original and she proceeded to get lots of attention from just about everyone we passed on the street!  Ally did great, even with all the eyes on her, and this time, I got plenty of big smiles, as the braces were off finally.  This was great, because this paper skirt made out of encyclopedia pages, was all about fun and laughter, so I'm happy that she was able to bring out the big smiles.  This skirt was super simple to make, but yet made a huge impact in these photos...it will remain one of my favorites, and in the Nicole Mills Photography studio wardrobe, I'm sure!  And again...we got Mom in a photo or two.  :)

I try to remember to hand over my phone to Mom (if she's willing to act as my assistant!)  for a little behind the scenes action!  Thanks Mom!  :)

And just before Christmas, I asked Ally to come up to Nicole Mills Photography in Pine Island to model a kind of silly Christmas skirt I'd made.  I'll admit, I lost inspiration on this creation shortly after I started on it, but I wanted to see it through, as I'd decided it would make a pretty good display for my studio front window, and it did! I had also made an interesting head piece that I had her model...and that, I was quite proud of.  24 hours earlier, it had been a swag on my front door.  But, after taking it apart and rebuilding, we had a beautiful head piece for her to wear in a few photos.  I love being able to take the time to let my creativity flow.  Sometimes it works (the head piece), and sometimes...not so much (the Christmas skirt!).  Ally was a good sport, though, and let me drape this extremely heavy skirt on her and she did the best Christmas tree impersonation I've ever seen. 

The Christmas skirt sat proudly in my studio window for the month of December and all of January (while I was down enjoying the Florida sun), but now she's heading to a new home!  She's too big to keep in the studio, and honestly, I've already got ideas for a different skirt or gown for next Christmas!  Stay tuned...

First, a little behind the scenes action fun.

Thank you Ally!  You'll always be one of my favorite models! 

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complementary consultation.

Rochester MN Portrait Photographer | Dance Photography

Rochester MN Dance Photography - Olivia

In an effort to avoid things this photographer SHOULD be doing, I decided to look through some older images for a few I thought would be particularly beautiful turned into paintings.  I'm just starting the long journey of learning to paint in Photoshop, and it's actually quite a bit harder than I thought it would be (of course!).  There are many tutorials and classes on-line that can help me master this, but I've started to play around a bit on my own...which is probably not the best idea.  There's nothing like learning how to do something, getting habits in place, and THEN learning the correct & more efficient way to do something, right?  :)  That's me...pretty much with most things I do, or at least it seems that way!  Then I get a case of old dog/new tricks...and I keep doing things the way I do them.  I probably shouldn't have admitted that, but there you have it.

Ballerina in white tryptic - Nicole Mills Photography

Olivia was a complete DREAM to photograph.  The beauty, grace, poise & elegance of a ballet dancer is just so inspiring when you're behind the camera.  It's funny, because when I photograph women & girls that aren't ballet dancers, I tell them, "soft hands...ballet hands" ALL THE TIME.  Needless to say, I don't think I had to say that to Olivia once.  She came in, put on her pointe shoes, and I just said, "do something graceful & beautiful."  Done.  :)  Really, photographing dancers takes quite a skill set, as a good dance photographer really needs to know proper positions, etc., which I do not, but honestly...I'm willing to learn, because just being around this beautiful ballet dancer made me want to learn about ballet.  I can't imagine the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to master this dance form.

I photographed Olivia before I opened my studio up in Pine Island, so she was photographed in my home studio, which sadly, only had seven foot ceilings.  When she was up on pointe, she wasn't able to put her arms in the air without hitting the rafters, so we were somewhat limited in our poses.  For that reason alone, I want to get this lovely girl up to Nicole Mills Photography in Pine Island to photograph her again, as I now have 15 ft ceilings...let's see how high she can jump! ;)

Here's one of my favorite images from Olivia's session.  The first image is obviously straight out of camera, the next is my original edit, and the image on the right is another attempt at doing a painterly edit (it's a work in progress!).

Nicole Mills Photography

Nicole Mills Photography

And here are some more images from Olivia's session. It was difficult to narrow down my favorites!

If you live in the Rochester, MN area, and have, or are a ballet dancer in the making, get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography.  A dance portrait session is a great way to create a lasting heirloom of this time...and this absolute beautiful dance form!

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complementary consultation.

Nicole Mills Photography

Rochester, MN Portrait Photographer | DIY Map Gown

This past summer I made my first DIY fashion gown, and I'm so proud of it.  I've always considered myself a creative person, but certainly not in the area of fashion!  If you know me at all, you know I'm no fashionista and have never claimed to be.  But, give me a stack of encyclopedia and a hot glue gun, and who knows what I can come up with!  I've got the bug now, and this photographer has a new passion...custom DIY gowns for portrait sessions.  I'm finding inspiration everywhere for new gowns.  Now, I just need to find the time to create them.

Alexis was an amazing model for me to photograph in my map gown.  She drove up to my studio in Pine Island, and we spent an hour or so getting her into the dress and ready to shoot.  She's no stranger to the camera, and she knows how to work a look, so I had no doubt I'd end up with some stunning images.  Sadly, the gown was too big to keep in my studio, so a few weeks later, I deconstructed the gown to make way for another.

When looking for a photographer in the Rochester, MN area, please consider what it is you want from your portrait session.  If you're looking for portraits that stand the test of time and will become family heirlooms, then I'd like for us to meet!  I'm invested in what I do and the art I create, and very much look forward to providing you with the best portraits you've ever seen of yourself!

Here are some images of the construction of my map gown...and of course, my beautiful model Alexis wearing it.  

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complementary consultation.

Rochester MN Senior Photographer | Byron Class of 2018

Rochester MN Senior Photographer - Hallie

I've watched this beautiful girl grow up, and the time has gone by amazingly fast.  And I say that even though she's not my own daughter.  She's is, however, one of my beautiful nieces. 

Hallie graduates this June with the class of 2018 from Byron High School.  Being able to photograph her over the years has been a pleasure as she has a bubbly personality, is always ready with a smile, and was always willing to model for me while I was first trying to grow my Rochester MN photography business.  When the time came to take her senior portraits, it was an honor to be her photographer, of course, but it was also a bit bittersweet for me as a mom.  My own daughter will be a senior before I know it (10 short years!), and watching my niece grow into such a smart, beautiful woman that's about to venture out in to the big world is a little surreal.  I can't imagine what it will be like when it's my own daughter graduating from high school.

Hopefully, even though Hallie will be leaving the Rochester area to go to college next fall, she'll be back in front of my camera again before too long.  Congratulations Hallie...and thank you for always being willing to model for your old auntie.  :)

Nicole Mills Photography specializes in photographing girls and women of all ages. If you live in SE Minnesota and are looking for a photographer that is dedicated to her craft and will provide you the most amazing portraits you've ever seen of yourself, then please get in touch with Nicole Mills Photography to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Located in downtown Pine Island, the Nicole Mills Photography studio offers everything you need to make your portrait experience one to remember forever.  You'll find a full studio wardrobe to choose from, including beautiful gowns, casual separates, and even unique, custom designs created by Nicole for a one-of-a-kind portrait you and your family will treasure forever.  

Nicole Mills Photography offers fully stylized sessions both in her Pine Island studio and outdoors in Rochester, MN and surrounding areas. Whether you're looking for senior photographs, maternity, business head shots, or simply some beautiful images of you and/or your family, Nicole Mills Photography provides unparalleled service, quality of work, and unique artwork you'll want to hand down for generations to come.

Now serving: Rochester, Pine Island, Byron, Kasson, Mantorville, Oronoco, Stewartville, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Eyota, St. Charles, Elgin, Plainview, and more.

Contact Nicole for all questions, inquiries and to schedule a complementary consultation.