I can’t thank you enough for your support of Cristina Coco Photography.  This year brought me three times the clients as last year, a new employee (thank God for Kelly!), and a connection to this craft that I only dreamed of.

Enjoy the video.  I think you’ll like it.  I know I could watch your kids’ beautiful faces all day.

(p.s. – if you would like to see it bigger, go directly to the youtube page – YOUTUBE LINK TO VIDEO – it drives me crazy that it is so small on here.)

Much, much love and a wishes for a fantastic 2012.

Cristina

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDYyUwa-xno

I don’t have many sessions planned for the next month, just newborns and a baby or two so I can spend some quality time with my family after working like crazy for three months.  I miss them!

I do however want to show you what I’ve been doing so you’ll be seeing some beautiful fall images even though it’s going to be cold and dreary outside.  I hope it will warm you up a bit and get you through the next few months of chilliness!

I loved this family.  Mom rocked the outfits from Zara kids, one of my FAVORITE places to send people to shop for their session.

This is one of my favorite sibling shots of 2011…  what you see is what you get – after a little over an hour with them I feel like this shows each of their personalities to a “T”.

For example, this guy could not NOT smile if you paid him a million dollars.  Sweet as could be, this one.

Mr. Handsome.  His mom is in T-R-O-U-B-L-E with all the girls that are going to be stopping by when he’s 16…

Cute as a button and very inquisitive little man…  this one cracked me up.  I think I told him there was someone in my camera lens and asked if he could him in there.

This lady LOOOOVED the camera.  It loves her right back.

and the light.  oooooh, the light.

Thank you so much for playing with me!

Just taking a second to show you what I’m working on today…  editing this beautiful family session.  They drove an hour to come see me, thank you so much!  I love this image of them.  Those slice of life images where it’s like no one is watching.  This whole session was sun kissed and I love it…

Everyone got a little mommy and dadddy time…

And we had a ton of fun with some of the toys I brought to play with…

Your gallery will be up super soon Jen!  Thanks for a fun time – so much more to see!

I seriously needed PriceWaterhouse Coopers to help me out!  I can’t believe the response to this contest – it was so amazing to read all your comments, your kind words, and your fantastic support of the moms who asked for votes.  Each vote was appreciated from the bottom of my heart.  Your words meant more than you will ever know!

So without further ado, here is the first place winner of a beautiful canvas!

#1 HEADSTAND!!!!

Second and third place winners of an 11×14 print:

#2 (by a slim margin!!) TWINKLE, TWINKLE

#3 – HOLIDAY FUN:

4th and 5th place for $50 off their next session fee:

#4 GRASS PRINCESS

#5 MINI CHRISTY B

Now the fun part – for those who entered in new client BONUS ROUND!

Watch this video to see if you (or your friends) won!!!  I had a little elf help me pick the winner.  He’s a good little helper.  Yes, bribery was involved and only one attempt!  What a good boy!

So I wanted to give back to you.  For being so supportive and spreading the word about my business.  Because of you my business has doubled this year and I love all of you for having such big mouths!

I decided to have a contest to say thank you.  After talking to my good photographer friend Stephanie of Bellini Portraits in Mass, (thank you so much for being a great friend to bounce ideas with girlie!) I decided to give back with a little present and a little fun.

Who had the best portrait of 2010????

I went through my files and picked out my favorites.  Now it’s your turn to help me decide who was the favorite this year!

SO HERE’S WHAT YOU WIN:

1st place : (1) 16 x 24 Gallery Wrapped Canvas of the winning photo

2nd & 3rd place : 11 x 14 styrene mounted print of the 2nd & 3rd place photos.

4th & 5th place : $50 off a future session!

HOW TO PLAY:

1.  Each individual person may vote for one photo, one time only.  I have tracking on my site and I’m not afraid to use it.    Seriously, cheating is so not cool.

2. To cast your vote, just leave  a comment in the “add a comment section below”.  Make sure you leave on this “Let the Games Begin” post only!

3.  TO GET AN EXTRA VOTE!!! — If you are not already a fan on Facebook, head over to my FACEBOOK PAGE and become a FAN! People that LIKE my page, and only those people will get and EXTRA VOTE!  Make sure you tell me when voting that you have “liked” my page!

4. Forward to all your friends and family to get them to vote for you too!

-NEW CLIENT BONUS ROUND –

One lucky client-to-be will be drawn out of a hat (by my little guy!) and will win a FREE WEEKDAY SESSION!!  If you are not a client yet, but would like to be, when you cast your vote please write “I WANT TO BE A CLIENT TOO!” before voting.  Your name will go in the hat!!!!  (PLEASE NOTE, NYC, WESTCHESTER and LOWER FAIRFIELD COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY!)

5. VOTING ENDS AT 11:59 PM on DECEMBER 12th!!!

So here are the entries!!! (in no particular order, that would be like picking a favorite child!!)  Numbers are ABOVE coordinating picture.  I’ve named them just to help a bit so there is no confusion!

1. BLISS BLANKET

2. HEADSTAND

3. FUN FAUX FUR

4. GIGGLE GIRL

5. A LITTLE GREEN

6. MINI CHRISTY B

7. MOM KISSED ME!

8. OH HELLO!

9. SUNNY DAY

10. SHOULDER PEEK A BOO

11. PRIVATE ISLAND

12. ROCKIN’ PINK

13. SMILE BABY!

14. LADIES IN RED

15. TOMMY BOY

16. PURE LOVE

17. HUGS

18. CITY BABE

19. BABE IN THE GRASS

20. I SAW MOMMY KISSING DADDY

21. SURPRISE!

22. HOLIDAY FUN

23.  FIRST KISS

24. UNDER THE TREE

25. SWEETNESS

26. YELLOW FIELDS

27. UP

28. GRASS PRINCESS

29. MERRY AND BRIGHT

30. BENCHED

31. TWINKLE TWINKLE

THE FINE PRINT:

Anyone caught with multiple voting from the same IP address – your votes will not count and will be removed.

Cristina Coco Photography reserves the right to change contest at any time.

Voting ends at 11:59 on Sunday, December 12th.

Prizes will be shipped in January.

Contest winners cannot change the image that was chosen for the contest.

New client bonus round winner is limited to NYC, Westchester and Lower Fairfield residents only.  (Westport and all points south)

If you do not see your image here it’s because I didn’t have a signed web release or didn’t place an official order yet.  If you would like to participate, please let me know!

Good luck to all the entries!!!!!  Have fun!

When a client calls to book a New York session I am always extra excited to go – especially when it’s a stunning new family, happy as can be and completely relaxed with their new addition!

Their apartment was BEAUTIFUL and even better was the roof deck that we used because it was so perfect out!  There are a bunch of black and whites in this preview as mom and dad love black and white photography.  Always happy to oblige!

Showing off the rooftop with a little New York skyline – she is a city girl after all!

The crazy beautiful family!  I told you!

This is a little different for me.  I really love it though!  Their apartment was a the tiniest bit modern and I was borderline obsessed with this couch.  I have a thing with grey and yellow…  And yes, I do see this as a canvas hanging on that blank wall near the couch! 

Thank you for a great morning on a rooftop!  You guys are already great parents!!

xo

Which is why when I saw the clotheslines and big red picnic table I KNEW we had to use them. Angelo’s grandmother thought I was a little ‘matto’. (If I remember my Italian from way back in my travel days, that means crazy. Then again, my Italian is just stinky, so I could be saying something waaaaay different….)

This is what the clothesline brought us, Nonna. I love it!!

Here is he is all his one year old beautifulness.  Hmm, not sure that’s technically even an English word?  Oh, well.  You know what I mean.

He was just the happiest little man.  Loved to dance and clap!  SO cute!!!

Ok, one last attempt at sophomore year of college Italian class – it’ll be a simple one…

Che bella famiglia! Grazie, Francesca!

Custom portrait photography is much different than your average simple studio session.  I love looking for unique locations, helping style your clothes and make you feel like VIP’s for a couple of hours.  It also means I’m yours for a while – completely accessible by email, phone, skype, facebook, you name it!

This session is a good example of what you’ll get from an on location session. I totally understand why people love sessions at their house, but there is something to be said about a different location!  I love that this session was completely organic and this family is a happy one!  Hope you like it!

Winter is a bit slower with the big kids photography.  I think it’s a mold that should be broken!  Outdoor sessions can be so much fun – playing in snow, big furry hats, snowball fights and rosy cheeks…  It’s a fun way to think outside of the box when it comes to family portraits – especially if you’re an outdoor type of family!

Here’s a few to show what I mean.  This one is a tough subject – he’s mine!  Always a challenge for photographers to do sessions with their own children.  They know all our tricks and have a love/hate relationship with the camera for sure.  He’s getting better though – a LOT can be accomplished with promises of lollipops!

Hope that you’re staying warm but getting outside to enjoy the snow!

An expression only a mom could love…

my favorite…

and a throwback grainy one for you…

Valentine’s Day has never been a favorite of mine.  I know, bah humbug.  My hubby is in a business that means he has to work that day – we usually celebrate it the night before or after so I’m no too sentimental about it.

So how to get in the spirit?  I thought it would be nice to do something for Valentine’s Day and help Haiti out the only way I know how.

Book a Valentine’s session before January 31st and I will only charge half my sitting fee.  That half sitting fee will go directly to Haiti.  You can match it if you wish (hint, hint) but your still getting my time free – the half session fee is now a donation that will make your heart feel all warm and fuzzy.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day!  Perfect!

The details -

Normal fee of $150 is reduced to $75 and ALL OF IT will all go to a Haiti charity (I am still checking to make sure the money goes to a good one, leaning towards Red Cross right now)

1 hour session booked between now and Feb 14th of you and your honey.  Maybe you just got engaged, celebrated an anniversary, or just because you haven’t had your portrait done in a while!  Session must be shot before April 10th and will include 10-15 images in a online gallery.  Valentine package is $500 and includes 10 gift prints, and an 16×20 print.

To re-cap – you’re getting a session for $75 bucks and that’s going to charity.  Cool!  Then, $650 worth of prints for only $500?  That’s a pretty sweet deal, if I do say so myself.

Book today!  It’ll be so much fun I promise.  Plus, you won’t have to think of a Valentine’s gift this year – it’s all done for you.

xoxo!  (I’m getting in the spirit -see???)