Welcome!

Thanks for finding my photography journal! My name is Cristina Coco and I am a portrait photographer in the Westchester and Fairfield County area.

I love what I do. I love what I do so much I left a very cool, high paced, world-traveling job in fashion to photograph kids. I know, I know, I must be nuts, right? Well I hope this blog will give you an insight into why I left what some might call a dream job to run after a bunch of munchkins with my camera.

You'll notice that a lot of my images capture those kiddies looking straight at me, straight through the lens. That is the shot I aim for at every session I do. I love that moment when everything else fades away and that child really sees me. Only a kid can naturally look at you like that - most adults can seem posed or even look away in embarrassment. A child can look straight through you and capturing that moment for parents - that look that they know so well? Well, that is why I love to do this so much.

So enjoy my little neck of the web - I hope that it helps you get to know me a little better and makes you comfortable about choosing me to capture your memories.

Giving is Awesome – The Russo Family

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 Posted in Coco Chatter, Coco's love list, Pic of the week, Sessions

After a great year with my business, I decide to run a little contest in December to give something special to a family who might need a little pick me up. I didn’t have a lot of rules, I just asked that people nominate someone they thought could use a little joy in their lives, someone who they thought needed a little photography in their day.

One of my blog readers, Eileen van Hoek, nominated her friend Annette Russo with a beautiful letter. Annette – an inspiring woman who should get supermom of the year award! After her own battle with Lymphoma, Annette and Anthony got news no parents ever should ever have to – their only daughter had been diagnosed with Leukemia. Samantha is in her second year of chemotherapy, and is finishing up in November 2010. Expect a party. BIG.

Samantha (or Sam to her mom’s chagrin), is one of those 13 year olds going on 30. She is as strong as her mom, beautiful inside and out, and just as sweet as can be. I’d really encourage you to take a look at her blog, written updates by Annette, to see all they are going through and how much this family stands together. They are truly amazing.

Samantha’s BLOG

Meeting them, you would never know what they are going through. I tried to keep our session as casual as possible so it would be fun and the kids would look back on it as a good day.

Here are some of my favorite images Russo family. It was an amazing honor to photograph you all!!

My favorite of the day – Nicholas didn’t really want to take another picture, but to his credit he did it for Sam because when I told her my idea she thought it would be fun. It was! (well, to me anyway!)

westchester family photographer

Beautiful mom and dad – I really wanted to get them laughing and had to make them do a bunch of ridiculous things… still got my laughing shot even though I had to embarrass them!

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