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



Monday, May 17, 2010

mila | my first mother's day my second blue box


we've been engaged for over nine months and haven't planned a thing.  there's so much going on financially that i can't even begin to wrap my head around a wedding.  we've got kaya.  we've got a move coming up.  we've got a few trips planned ... and no wedding.  we were thinking we should just have a civil ceremony then throw a backyard party, order up the koji taco truck, have a blast ... then fly to indonesia.  but even that takes planning and some cash.  ah... maybe next year.  although, i have to say, the old skool in me still squirms that we have a kid and curtis and i aren't officially married.  i cringe at the doctor's office when they ask what kaya's last name is (ford) and what mine is (cunningham).  i cringe even more when i remember that cunningham isn't even my name.  it's my ex-husband's.  surprised?  yeah.. i know.  it was just too complicated to change my name at the time so i just let it be.  actually it was as complicated as my maiden name -- aenlle.  mmm hmmm... try that tongue twister out.  


if you guys remember on my "we are engaged" post, we opted out of an engagement ring since we just got back from a 9 month trip to the philippines and couldn't really justify the expense.  in lieu of the traditional rock i've been sporting my grandmother's gorgeous ivory carved buddha ring but the setting has been difficult to wear around the baby.  last week curtis surprised me with something to soothe my old skool conscience.  he brought home my second blue box ever!  (blue box = tiffany's in case that needed some explanation).  inside were matching bands for us to wear.  sigh.  it was the bestest sweetest present.  the rings are squarish but a little twisted.  it's just like us!  non-traditional.  i wear it with pride on my right hand coz in the philippines, that's where the wedding ring goes and that's how i roll.


my first mother's day started out well already and quickly followed up with a gorgeous pitcher full of tulips from kaya.  i think she kept crying till my sister bought them for me.  and all that... made me cry too.






kaya chillin w her dad and uncles to watch the laker game.





Wednesday, May 12, 2010

mila | seduction



my buddy kevin invited me to a shoot he was having out on the sand and it promised to be hot and steamy.  the models asked specifically for a calvin-klein-esque feel for their shoot.  armed with sultry suits and inked arms we laid in hard on the shutter.  i may have turned the fire up and moved from sugah N spice into seduction ... all in the name of art of course.  btw... noon is the absolute worst time to do a shoot but for this it was purrrrrfect.  do ya feel the sizzle?!?!





Monday, May 10, 2010

mila | graduates . tia

my lil bean keeps growing!  every morning when we i get up for the a.m. feed i wonder... who the hell is this?!   i swear someone steals her every night and puts a new kid in her place.. one that's bigger than the kid i put to bed.      after we lock eyes i'm reassured that this bigger lil thing in my arms is still my lil kaya.  she's 8 weeks old now.  gawd 2 months goes by so quickly!  pretty soon she'll be 12!!!!  just like the girls i took pictures of last weekend.  tia and her band of girlfriends are graduating from elementary school.  their moms shake their heads wondering where the time went.  that's soooo gonna be me 12 years from now.


the girls and i stormed the beach.  powowing about different school subjects, favorite TV shows and posing till the day turned chilly.  ah the energy of youth!



 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

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

mila | spring 2010 promo

have you gotten your mother's day gift?  given any thought to your father's day present?  what about senior photos or a gift for that fresh graduate?  can i offer a solution?




mommies, daddies N graddiesa spring 2010 photo promo from milaPhotography
these special prices are only available thru the month of june so hurry and book your session now!

$250 package inclusions:
  • 1 hour session in a location of your choice
  • your top 5 fave images edited - full resolution files good for printing included
  • private online gallery to share with friends and family
  • $50 print credit


$350 package inclusions:
  • 1 hour session in a location of your choice
  • CD of all edited images - full resolution files good for printing included
  • private online gallery to share with friends and family
  • $50 print credit

sorry but studio sessions are not available for this promo

to book your sessioncall michelle at 949.616.0105 or email at michelle@milaPhotography.com