hi there! i'm michelle, southern california based photographer and curator of the coco gallery.

welcome to my blog where i share my life, my latest adventures, photo projects, random nuggets and the occasional stray thoughts.

for clients: to view my portfolio just click on this link - theCOCOgallery.com. to book sessions please send me a message through theCOCOgallery.com or contact me via michelle@thecocogallery.com | 949.734.0604



Wednesday, February 16, 2011

mila | giddy!

next week is wppi week.  i'll be in vegas for what is pretty much one of the largest photographer conventions annually.  SQUEAL!  it's my first year so i'm extra excited.  in '09 i was in the philippines and last year i was due to have kaya so while all my friends were busy tweeting about the fantabulous time they were having i was pacing at home eager to have a baby but pouting about missing out on all the fun.  to add salt to the wound my photographer friends from the philippines were also tweeting about being in vegas for it!  now it's my turn!  la-LAaaAA!!  i'm looking forward to meeting a bunch of fb friends, hearing some platform speakers and partying with my heels on!

some images i took at the last workshop with scott robert.  i think my craft is definitely evolving.



Monday, February 14, 2011

michelle | v-day

i actually don't celebrate valentine's day ... coz i usually celebrate my birthday and today i turn 38.  it's officially the 24 month countdown to 40.  how the hell did i get here?!  actually, single or not, you should celebrate v-day everyday.  love yourself!  and if i did celebrate ... this is what i would do.

what did YOU do for your valentine today?






 to view my portfolio just click on these links mila|weddings by michelle or mila|portraits by michelle. to book sessions please send me a message through milaPhotography.com or contact me via michelle@milaphotography.com | 949.734.0604

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

mila | my family

i know people think that photographers must have loads of family pictures.  it's actually not true for me.  i mean... i have tons of kaya pictures.  i used to have a lot of curtis pictures too.  but all of us together?  or even better, all of my family together or curtis'?  nope.  it's effort to get the gang gathered, setup a camera to include me, keep everyone calm and collected... etc.  it's like organizing a christmas dinner.

typically when i do family portraits for my clients we set aside an hour to get the full family and fun moments.  with my own it seems that the collective party can't handle more than 15 mins of attention from one of their own. it's hilarious.  it's like watching a session on fast forward.  thank god the pictures come out good.

curtis' parents will be celebrating their anniversary this month so we brought the troops together (as many as we could gather in one day) and did the shoot.  sad to say we're short 3 of his siblings but altogether it was a fun 15 minutes.  then off to dinner!


the brothers (less 1) and yes... they are all different colors.  trust me.  they are brothers.




the eldest.  the one who ALWAYS bugs me about pictures.  the one who LOVES to see his pictures... but needs more practice getting them taken.  lol.  we love him and all his quirks.

four out of seven