Yes, it’s here – the fall portrait season has begun!  I’m sure fall has seeped into your life too – the crazy sports schedules and the school buses driving by and clogging traffic in town.  The nutty rain has started and it’s darker earlier.  It’s cooler at night and my AC hasn’t been kicking on quite as much.  Today my little guy showed me some leaves had changed color.  I told him, “SHHHH!  I don’t want fall to hear us, it might come soon and I love summer!”  He laughed and told me I was silly. “Fall will ALWAYS come, Mommy.”  Smart little man.

So with the Fall comes the Holiday portraits, and my schedule is looking full.  I’m currently booked about six weeks out, so this is not the year to procrastinate folks!  Pick up the phone, send me an email, text, smoke signals…  however you get in touch, please, if you are thinking about doing it – get on my calender as soon as you can.  I’m not saying this to be pushy (I swear!), it’s because every year I turn people away and I feel just awful.  People call me a week before Thanksgiving for holiday card pictures and I feel like a big old jerk for not being able to help them.  I’m just giving you a little nudge is all.  A little nudge to start planning!

Ok, so my update is over.  Back to the fun stuff.  An image.  ‘Cause a blog post is just so boring without one.

My God, I love this girl’s freckles.  Do you remember the book “Freckle Juice”?  When I was little I wanted them SO badly.   I will always think they are beautiful…  the way they dance across the nose and the hairline.  Just magical.  She was pretty special too.  I love that she is looking to the side, playing with her hair in a shy sort of way, and in thought.  I can’t remember exactly what I asked her, but so happy that she was thinking of something that made her smile.

This family is that sort.  Cape Codders through and through.  They live on the Cape year round and they are kind and sweet every time I see them.  I met them through my best friend and it’s been so nice getting to know them through the years we’ve been staying on the Cape.

The wind was not our friend this day.  It was crazy.  We didn’t see it coming because it was so calm by my house, then we drove the 1/2 mile to the beach and BAM!  Crazy, crazy wind! Hair EVERYWHERE.

I don’t care, though.  Hair everywhere or not.  I love this image.

This seemed like a good idea at the time – maybe too high of a jump for my heart…  it stopped a bit when he landed.

Their daughter is at that age…  I love that these are seconds apart and you can see two completely different sides to her!

I have the pretty posed family shot, but this so much more their real life to me.

Much love, C

Raphaelle and her family are French Canadian, and just moved here less than a year ago.  Both parents speak English perfectly, but their daughter being only three prefers to speak in French.  Which is a little bit of a challenge as I tend to get all silly with kids and with a language barrier  it takes a little longer to sway them to my side…  You all know by now I love a challenge.

I finally got through when I asked her what princesses she likes.  (Her reply, tout!  (all of them))  That and there were so many flies that day, me swatting them away became a little joke for us.

Raphaelle is one of those bubbly, happy sorts who just puts you in a good mood!  She was so sweet, as was all her family.  She’s due next month and I can’t wait to meet her little girl!

I loved this of the two of them.  Or three, depending on how you look at it.

After about an hour…

Can’t you just see how nice she is?

I love this shot of her eyes…

and have a happy heart with this one.

And one very french pout to end this little post.

To top off my pretend studio – I was lucky enough to get an adorable newborn and the sweetest 22 month old you could imagine to photograph.  Oh, and a baby nurse to soothe the baby while I photographed big sister.  It was a good day.

Introducing beautiful Micah…  he was nice enough to give me a little smile!

and a close up of his little profile.

His sister Shira and I were best buds by the time I left.  Mom and Dad were so sweet and knew to left us alone to play – this is what happens when you give me a little space with your kiddo – lots of real smiles and laughs looking right at me and no cheesy smiles for mom’s watching eyes.  Works every time.  Her smart parents heard the loud giggles and let us play!

Love this too!

Thanks for a great morning and welcome to Westchester!

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!

Had such a great time with this family.  I’ve seriously been so blessed with consistently amazing and cool clients and these guys were no exception!  Especially a margarita after our session was over – I mean, really – what’s better than that???

I loved that they were up for anything.  This was shot in their backyard and it just had perfect light at every turn – I love when that surprises me!

We’ll start with my favorite of the day.  One of the last shots – typical!  I love EVERYTHING about it – the holding hand, the yellow clothes, the sunshine peaking out the trees…  love.

My favorite shot of the day.  Wait, I said that already.  I can have two right?  She was so beautiful and her eyes are just incredible!!

And her little brother’s weren’t too shabby either…  Look at these things!  {swoon}

Ok, I’ll give your some color so you can see what I’m all gaga about…

Love this apple shot!!  Apparently she eats too a day, so it’s pretty appropriate to capture her personality!I had such a lovely time!  Thank you so much for being fun as anything and the yummy margarita!!

I’ve been a bit busy and my poor old blog has been a bit neglected.  I actually was away in Texas for a week for an AMAZING, inspiring photography class/conference/seminar and I feel totally refreshed and ready to hit the busy season!

So let’s start my new energy with these three – too cute and sweet for words.  It was a family gathering so it was a little different than my usual kid focused sessions.  After all, I don’t just play a game of football with just anyone now!

It was really fun meeting you all.  More to follow soon!

This little guy was SO over me by this point.  Which is why I love this image!

We were so lucky to get a BEAUTIFUL day on Friday, so Little O, his mom Jeannie and I met at his brother’s school for a mini session.  Jeannie is one of my favorite clients – she loves photography, she is fast to spread the word about my business and she is so nice to work with!

Just a few of my favorites from this little man – he is so darn happy!  Thanks again Jeannie!  For everything!

So, a little bit about me.  My name is Cristina Portale Coco, I’m a mom great kid I’ll refer to on this blog as J.  I am also a portrait photographer based in Westchester County who happens to be a shoe fanatic, a Starbucks addict, and a bit of a gadget girl.   That’s the basic stuff.

As for the rest of it – this blog will help give you a little insight into who I am and you’ll quickly see that I’m not the stuffy photographer type.  I’m really part tom-boy, part fashionista, and part clumsy geek.  I think the clumsy geek and tom-boy part are why I’m able to connect with kids through my camera.  I’m not afraid to get down to their level and be silly with them.   At one point in my life I thought this was a flaw, (most likely in a showroom in Milan where everyone was speaking Italian and I felt WAAAAAY un-cool) but now I realize it is an important part of what led me to do photography.  It’s who I am and it’s what makes me good at what I’m doing now.

So, enough of the serious talk.  For those who haven’t seen my old blog (www.cristinacoco.blogspot.com) – here’s an intro to little J.  I’m sure you’ll be seeing him a lot!  I also will be giving clients sneak peaks of their sessions before their viewing appointment (I know how hard it is to wait for that!) and also give show you some of my favorite “must have” things now and then.  I have a lot!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Please subscribe, leave me a note, say hello…  I’d love to know you were here!

Much love,

Cristina