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.

happiness is…

* a day off from my secretarial job.

* heading to the beach; a short 30-minute drive from my house.

* wandering the streets of Laguna Beach, camera in hand.

* the kindness of strangers… (I met a person who happened to be the window designer of a few local shops who pointed out a few great areas for photos that I might otherwise have missed.)

* cruising down PCH in the middle of December with the windows rolled down, blaring music from the New Moon soundtrack. (No laughing… it’s good music!)

*finding new beautiful places I’d never stopped to enjoy before.