Natural Light Lifestyle Portrait Photography in Orange County, California

Keeping it REAL…

I'm Michelle Carrillo... owner & photographer of the Suitcase Studio.

I think I see things a little differently than most people. I don't find beauty in perfection. I don't go for the perfectly posed photos, or smiles that have been practiced in the mirrors. Instead, I'm here to capture the REAL stuff... the moments that happen in-between those poses. The imperfect smiles, the nervous laughter, and even that crazy face you make when you think that no one else is watching.

To help keep it real, I shoot on-location here in Orange County, California. (No stuffy studio!) I travel to where you are... to whatever place showcases you and your style. My goal is to document real life, and thus, I primarily focus on natural light lifestyle portraits.

From pics of recent clients to thoughts & images of my own life, I'm here to share this journey with you. Keepin' it real... one moment at a time.

BECAUSE REAL LIFE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE BEAUTIFUL.

01.26.12

family FUN in the SUN

Let me just put it out there… I LOVE it here in Southern California for so very many reasons, one of them being the fabulous sunshine. We are so amazingly spoiled with amazing “winter” weather. With this in mind, I was grinning ear to ear when I met up with this fun-loving family the day after Christmas for some portraits at Cabrillo Beach.

The beach. In December. How awesome is that?!

The family was totally chill, too… totally up for whatever I suggested… which was pretty much just to wander the area and stop and play here & there. And play, we did.

click here to see even more of their session.

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Looks like FUN, right? Want to play, but still aren’t quite sure? I’ve got a FANTASTIC way for you to try out my portrait experience without investing a lot of time and money… with a fabulous MINI-PORTRAIT SESSION! Only $50 and ONE DAY ONLY. Click here for full details.

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lauren - January 26, 2012 - 12:29 pm

Great shots, Michelle! Love how you used color, light and context to create a unique and timeless series of images…

01.24.12

Feel the LOVE mini-portrait-sessions

Mini-Sessions are BACK, and just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Whether you’d like a fabulous gift for your loved ones, a new image for your social networking sites, or simply missed out on taking family photos for the holiday, NOW is the PERFECT time to take some new portraits…

For only $50, you will receive:

– 15 minute photo session

– 15 fully-edited images hosted in an online gallery for 2 weeks

– framed 5×7 print

And, as an added bonus, you will also receive a $25 credit towards a future FULL portrait session!!!

Additional prints and products will also be available for purchase.

CLICK HERE for full details and to BOOK your mini-session NOW.

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01.19.12

jasper + the dragon

Just another one of those wacky moments in my daily life that I thought I’d take note of before it disappears.

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Every night, it’s the same thing… Jasper will dig through the toybox, drag out everything he can, and spread it across the floor. If he does this while I’m working at the computer, I usually find myself circled by a ring of toys… making me feel like a giant in the village of “squeak-town.”

But no matter HOW many toys that accumulate (thanks to my mom & friends for spoiling my fur-baby)… there is ONE toy in particular that will always be his favorite.

His blue dragon.

This toy has been loved to pieces. Quite literally. (I’m incredibly thankful that it’s machine-washable… ick.)

And there is a specific routine that Jasper has with his blue dragon, too. It’s quite intriguing. Makes me wish I spoke the language so I knew exactly what was going on in that doggy-brain of his.

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Step 1: Grab the dragon and drag it over to a participant in his game. (If that person is not a willing participant, place dragon on their foot repeatedly until they get the message.)

Step 2: As soon as person grabs dragon to toss it, play tug-of-war with it instead. If person lets go too soon, shove the dragon back in their hands.

Step 3: Play fetch with dragon a few times.

Step 4: Shake dragon in mouth as hard as possible, bending and twisting in incredibly stretchy ways.

Step 5: …CENSORED… (And yes, Jasper is neutered.)

Step 6: With mouth clamped firmly over the dragon’s head, bob doggy head up and down while kneading dragon body with puppy paws.

Step 7: Take a break to lick the dragon’s face.

Step 8: Fall asleep with dragon’s head in mouth.

It’s actually the cutest, strangest, and funniest thing I get to see every single day. (And if someone could please tell me what the heck this ritual means, I would greatly appreciate it.)

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pssssst… have you signed up for my NEWSLETTER yet? The January issue is on its way VERY soon. Be the first to not only find out about cool new stuff, but also the first to be able to sign up for MINI-SESSIONS (hint, hint). To sign up, just click on the red tab on the left and add your info. Easy-peasy.

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Michele - January 27, 2012 - 1:33 pm

Love it! I have a crazy dachshund named Rueben who is a panty eater among other oddities. I love that yappy stink pot.

Michelle - January 27, 2012 - 2:26 pm

bwhahahaa!!! panty eater. that’s hilarious. So yeah… you totally get it. The cute little face and the wiggly butt is SO worth the frustrations the pups might cause. HOORAY for doxies.

01.17.12

project 365 (+1)

I received my first diary when I was around 9 years old. It was white with red borders, had an illustration of a teddy-bear, and a lock that could be picked with a bobby pin. But the engraved name plate on the front made me feel so incredibly special. I was smitten… here was a place to record my ever-so-important thoughts and share my incredible stories. And so I made my first entry ever… about how annoying and immature my brother was being.

So, while my stories (especially when that young) weren’t exactly thought-provoking works of art, it’s still incredibly neat for me to go back and READ these entries. These words give me a piece of MYSELF back… they remind me who I was, where I’ve been, and how far I’ve come.

I’ve kept diaries off and on ever since that time, and I continue to do so to this day. This year I’ve found the perfect way to combine images + words together, to capture my story even better.

Project 365 (+1).

Known as Project 365, it’s simply a decision to take one image each day of the year. (And since we’re in a leap year… there’s an extra +1.) I’ve always wanted to do this… to add daily imagery to my words, but it always seemed like such a huge undertaking. Till now.

With the help of my iPhone camera, instagram and blipfoto, I’ve decided to journal my year in a whole new way. Here is MY collection so far:

You can follow along here:

instagram: @chelbug (or HERE via webstagram)
blipfoto: go HERE

…or play along from home, yourself. And if 366 pictures seems like TOO much of a commitment, just start smaller. How about taking one picture a week, and creating a Project 52 for yourself? Don’t beat yourself up because you’ve already missed a couple weeks. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss another one or two. Just pick up your camera and capture what you can.

Because words + imagery = a FABULOUS way to remember it all.

And if you DO play along… let me know where you’re doing so. I’d LOVE to follow YOUR stories, as well.

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01.12.12

& baby makes 3

It was the night after our annual softball game. Usually both Sean and Van play the part of umpires, but in 2011 it was just Sean while Van watched on. We gathered after the game at their house for our celebration, where “awards” were handed out: the best player, the one who dropped the most balls, funniest play of the day, etc. And then a final award (a Baby Ruth candy bar) was presented to Van for the best reason for NOT participating in the annual softball game. The group of us were momentarily puzzled. Then Sean turned up the song he’d cued on the radio: “She’s having my baby…”

And the room exploded into celebratory noise and commotion as we all rushed to the two of them with congratulatory hugs and squeals of joy.

Surrounded by friends and family, this couple made it through the pregnancy and was presented with the greatest gift of all… baby Ethan.

We could not stop laughing as this next picture was taken. I think Ethan might have been born a rockstar, because he struck the perfect little guitarrist pose and then held it for the longest time.