Back in the saddle

With summer in my rear view mirror, I take a deep breathe of fresh california air and focus all my energies on the slow process of getting back into 'photography' mode. I have taken the summer off for fun in the sun. We traveled to India as a family and had the most amazing time. We ate, we drank, we bonded with new family members. It was so heart warming watching my boys develop close relations with their "Indian" cousins. Aside from meeting family we were able to visit some monumental palaces and tombs along our route. We started our journey in New Delhi, where Nikhil's aunts and cousins live. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family that opened not only their homes to us but their hearts and love as well.
We hoped into a bus, 10 of us total, and traveled to Agra, Fatepur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ranukpur, and finally Mumbai where the party really picked up.

For the next few weeks as I edit the daunting 8700 photos that were taken on our iphones, digi cameras and my 5D I will post a few of my favorites for you to see. Enjoy!

 

First stop on this photo tour is the town of Agra. Located about 200 miles south of Delhi, Agra is situated along the Yamuna River. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a dedication to his favorite wife upon her dealth delivering her 14th child. It is a symbol of love and honor. Photographs do not do it justice. The tomb was breathtaking.

 

Monkeys are everywhere in Agra. They have taken over homes and businesses. I imagine they can be quite a nuisance but they sure were cute outside our bus window.

 Cows are all over India in general. I found this quote regarding the cow:

In Hinduism, the cow (Sanskrit: go) is revered as the source of food and symbol of life and may never be killed. Hindus do not worship the cow, however, and cows do not have especially charmed lives in India. It is more accurate to say the cow is taboo in Hinduism, rather than sacred.

There was major construction happening all over the place in Agra. The railroad being repaired, flood control from the Yamuna River (Monsoon season) and basic upkeep keeps a lot of people busy at work. These people carried baskets of rocks over to a truck for some unknown construction project .

 I can't help but think of the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" in this photo it sure looks like that is the truth.

 More manual labor. I am not sure about the labor laws in a country like India but I sawa  lot of children doing some heavy lifting all over the country. I hope my children understand what a privileged life they live.

This view was from the Agra Fort across the Yamuna River to the Taj Mahal. This was Shah Jahan's palace and when his son imprisoned him to his death this was the view he had fro his window of the beloved Taj Mahal.

Kid's followed us everywhere we went.. These two were on our heels for an hour or more.

The "Taboo" Cow

I imagine that this blog will be about India for the remainder of 2013. Until then

Namaste.

It's been a while. Again.

So apparently I am NOT a very good blogger. It's been something like 4 months since my last post and I'm o.k. with that. My life is busy, as is all woman with children. I just don't like to rush through life, I try to enjoy every moment. So, things like this blog, get put on the back burner. It gets placed behind: editing, returning phone calls, cleaning the vomit off the kitchen floor, picking up Matchbox Cars off the floor and maybe even a shower but mostly it gets dumbed underneath family time. We all want more of it, so I take more of it. My kid's are growing so fast as are most of your. Hold them tight and put off those dishes until later. They need us now. We need them now. Love them.

My motto for 2013

Live Simply

Love Generously

Care Deeply

Speak Kindly

On that note, this in NO WAY is going to stop my momentum in the photography business. I'm enjoying this ride to the fullest. Every session, hiccup and tantrum I encounter, I am learning and growing. Cheers to a great year. A year full of love, laughter and most of all children.

This is my crazy family.

Self Portrait Holiday Card 2012

Mini Holiday Sessions Booking NOW

I have finally figured out dates and schedules for the 

Annual Holiday Mini Portrait Sessions.

These sessions are ideal for those families who 

want professional portraits for the holidays but at a competitive and affordable rate.

Each session lasts 20 minutes, includes retouching of up to 10 images and delivery of images on a disc 

in a 5"x7" format. (Allow 3 weeks for delivery)

You are free to make as many 5"x7" prints as you wish

as well as use the images for your own holiday cards.

Fine Art Prints at 8"x10" and larger are available through the studio. Prices start at $30.

Session Dates: October 20th Studio Sessions. (children only)

Bring your child's Halloween costume and their best Christmas dress for some fun 

and outrageous character portraits. Your little angel likes to dress up as a Princess? bring it along. Your little boy is obsessed with Spiderman? Let him play and dress up.

Let's capture this

adorable time in each child's life with some silly and zany

images.

$169 one child (20 minute session)

$249 two or more children (45 minute session)

November 17th Outdoor Location TBD (families)

Shot at an outdoor location.

Bring the family along for some natural and carefree

family portraits. One outfit per family (up to 4 people, additional people $25)

Retouching of up to 10 images included in a disc in a 5"x7" format. Same allowance as mentioned above. You may make 5"x7" prints and use images for your holiday cards.

Fine Art Prints to be ordered through the studio.

$169 (20 minute Session)

$249 (45 minute session)

Sessions are limited to 6 per day so hurry and reserve your time now!

Contact Michele today to reserve your desired date and time.

(310) 936-1548

First Moments in life....captured

It is no surprise that I love capturing the first

moments of a child's life. When they are so new and pure. Full of fuzzy hair and silly faces.

I make no exception with this little beauty here. 

Olivia.

She was two weeks old and had a head full of hair. So alert and ready to be a part of her special day. Along with her mother and father, her grandparents were with us so I got the amazing opportuntiy to capture some great shots with all three generations.

Thank you Graves Family.

Enjoy the images courtesy of

Michele Paniz Photography

Maternity Models

I had the privilege to shoot some amazing images of one of my past 

co-workers, if you can call her that :) and friend Kelly.

A devoted wife and soon-to-be mother of Twinsies.

One boy and one girl.

How amazing is that?
Kelly has one of the most genuine and loving hearts out there.
No doubt in my mind she will fall into motherhood with grace.

 Kelly came to me with some great ideas for our images. A fellow model herself,
she poured over tear sheets and Pinterest boards in search of the right look for her maternity session.

We met for breakfast and shared our ideas. A 

few short weeks later we were creating some 

one of a kind imagery that she and I were happy to share with you.

 Kelly is a fellow Blogger herself.

Visit her blog at

Oh Hello Mommyhood

Family Portraits in Malibu

  What good is summer without a day spent in the surf?

Paradise Cove

Every year I donate portrait sessions to the local schools for their annual fundraising events.

This wonderful family won the auction of a Family and Pet Portrait Session. They happen to go

to my son's school as well so we all knew each other. Needless to say it was a very energetic and extremely fun filled session.

 Are they not the most photogenic kids ever? And Paradise Cove is never one to upset.

We got lucky and had an extremely overcast day so the kids were able to run, jump, climb, play and get messy without a care in the world.

I think the images came out fantastic, what do you all think?

 Thank you K Family:)

It's been a while.....

As I have done every summer since having my children. I went in to hiding. My boys and I played all day and all night. Built forts, lit fireworks in our backyard (daily:) went to museums (all museums in the metropolitan LA area), watched movies, took day trips (in the car) as well as week long vacays in the car and most importantly went to the beach every week. As awesome as our summer vacation was, and it truly was EPIC, I am so happy to go back into my boring old everyday routine. How much I have missed my schedules and lists, I love schedules and lists. This summer I through my legal notes out the window and partied till I dropped but I miss my order. I did mention boring in my last sentence, let me reassure you, my life is anything but boring.

Kingston starts Preschool on Monday. Yay!!! I am a HUGE fan of preschool. Kid's learn everything they need to know through play so why not be somewhere that it's totally cool to play, like all the time. There is nothing more unfun than having to beg your mom to get off the computer to play K'nex. But his preschool starts so late. Don't get me wrong, I love the quality time I've had with him. He's only 4 for so long and it seems like everyday is a new discovery with him, I'm just ready to work during the day and not into the weeeeee hours of the morning.

On that note I wanted to say hi. Hi from the tail end of my summer vacation. I am almost finished and soon I will be here once again dazling you with the most amazing photo sessions I have shot yet. Yes, I still photographed the most amazing women I just haven't blogged in FOREVER! I apologise. Life is crazy, life is full, life is awesome and I love every crazy second of it.

Peace out
Michele