Baby Owls Baby Boys

Meet little Owen. 

Just 11 days old when we photographed him a few weeks back.

His big brother Max was a super champ. Happy to entertain and so adorably sweet to his new baby brother.

With such  beautiful soft light and a sleepy baby we made some beautiful images….

Don't you think?

 As I plan my sessions I always remember to bring along a few hat and blanket options. I always have a basket or two available as well. Creative juices flow and we style as we go. This little baby bird worked out so beautifully. Owen was all snuggly in his blanket and we plopped the tiniest little owl hat on him. How absolutely sweet is this set of images?

 Thank you Michelle and Danny for the opportunity to meet and photograph your adorable family.

I hope you cherish these memories forever and ever.

Please share if you like what you see.

For inquiries into sessions and availability please contact Michele at

info@michelepanizphotography.com

310-936-1548

Skate Rats and Skate Punks.

It has been an amazing Winter Break with my boys. 

We had a full 3 WEEKS together and spent every day side by side (except when I was shooting).

We went to the beach, the park, we went for bike rides to grandma's house and did a ton of gardening. We watched movie marathons while they battled the flu and made delicious meals to share with daddy.

The most amazing times we had we were just hanging out. 

I love these two rascals and their individual personalities. I love spending time with them and getting to know each one more in depth every chance I get.

We ventured out a couple of times to the Culver City Skate Park. We had been there one other time but the teenagers really put me off so we haven't gone back.

Kingston's been begging me to take him, he is my dare devil child, the one ALWAYS willing to take the risk. So I figured while most other schools were back in session we could venture over and try a ramp or two. 

The first day we went the park, it was packed. Apparently the middle school and/or high school was not in session and all the boys were hanging out. I got into an altercation with a foul mouth punk (probably 14 or 15 years old) he didn't like that the "babies" were at the park. He wanted us to leave so they could skate.

F#@* that! 

I told him to watch his mouth or I'd get him kicked out of the park. I saw his mommy drop him off and I'm sure she would come back to pick him up. Most mom's don't appreciate their teenagers talking to other parents and kids so disrespectfully so I was happy to wait for her and see what she had to say.

He quieted down and stayed away from my kids. All the while security had his head in his phone.

We stayed, but the boys didn't like the energy so eventually we wondered over to the play ground and had a great afternoon. I saw punks mom drive up and I waved to him from the top of the bluff. He ducked into the car and they drove off.

Don't mess with my kids, brah!

We went back yesterday and had an excellent time. It was us and a couple adults working on their tricks. So much fun and so mellow. It was actually a great opening to our conversation on the drive home about how one bad attitude can ruin a whole lot of people's day and how being disrespectful to adults and even kids is not very pretty. Thank you punk kid for the lesson. I hope my boys are never as rude as you were.

I brought out my "big" lens though I wasn't allowed on the park because I didn't have a helmet.

Next time.

Here they are, my pride and joy. My two little rockers. My little skate rats.

All I can think of while I'm editing this is Avril Levine's "Skater Boy"

"I'm just a skater boy, I said see you later boy….."

New Years GOALS for 2015

GOALS for 2015!!!!
I'm putting it in writing this year to hold me to it.

* Spend more time outdoors

* Be a better listener to my husband and my boys, as well as a more emotional lover.

* Take more time for me.

* Start a new venture, already in the works but this project needs to be up and running ASAP.

* Open our home to Foster Care Youth/ Infants

That is what I want for 2015.

I want the kind of life that promotes awareness and nurturing, I want my legacy to be that I was healthy, happy, loving, aware, compassionate, empathetic, nurturing, a bad ass, sexy and kind. I don't always fall into those categories and rarely do I fall into multiple categories at once but I can honestly say that I am always evolving and working towards greatness. 

So now that I covered what I Want for the new year

Let's chat about what I Need to happen this New Year because honestly my needs precede my wants right now in life.

* I need to build an amazing TEAM. I'm so used to doing everything myself (a side effect of being home schooled) but as business speeds up I am quick to realize I can NOT do it all and I'm not good at doing everything.

*Furthering my education in Graphic Design. I am always looking for ways to improve my photographic skills and have found a love in Graphic Design.

* Someway to make our savings last longer during our jobless droughts. It can be tough with two independent contractors as earners.

* Enough time in my day to complete my tasks as a mother, wife, photographer and business owner, and not feel stressed out about what I can not do. This will most definitely be my most challenging goal.

* An amazing amount of patience to tackle not only what I want for this year but what we need as a family for this year and the many years to come.

What will be will be.
I can only control my efforts and focus.

I'm positive what is to come is the right move for our family.

I am confident in our abilities to not only provide for our children but for those children out there that have nobody to care for them.

I am confident in my abilities to be a good mother and wife.

I am confident in my husbands abilities to be a great provider and father.
My kids kick ASS.
So that is that!

So what do I want to be in 2015?

Everything!!!!

 that my family needs and 

Everything!!!!

 that I want to be!
That seems about right.
Hello, my name is Michele and I'm a Sagittarius.

What is your most important New Year resolution for 2015?

Foster Care/ Resource Parent Update

This has been a very slow process. Months had passed without word from our Social Worker. I called, left messages, left messages for her supervisor, assistant, assistant's assistant. All with no response. I finally received a phone call from C, our Social Worker. She was retiring.
TOMORROW!!!! 
Uh, WHAT?!??!?!?

She hoped that someone would come and take her cases but she wasn't sure what was going to happen. Good luck she said as she hung up the phone.

I was so bummed. So much work and effort for that?!
Now what?

So I called and called, supervisors, assistants, people who had no idea who anyone was. I kept calling. Every month, every week, every day
Until….

I got a call from Christina. Our "temporary" Social Worker . She was going to finish the process with us and get us to the finish line.
Woo Hoo!!! FINALLY

Because she is doing this as "overtime" on top of her normal position with DCFS we had to schedule our interviews for once a month.
No problem.
Months have gone by and we are finally on our final interview for our "Home Study". Basically she has spent about 14 hours with us interviewing and observing us as a family and as individuals. I feel like she know everything about us.
Probably not everything but enough to know if we are stand up people with honest intentions.

I am excited to fill the empty crib that has been set up and ready since April. Play with the toys and read the books I collected from my friends when I had to show we were "ready" to accept a child.
WE ARE SOOOOO READY!
Let's do this!

Until then we are busy here at the studio packing up Holiday Orders and wrapping Christmas presents. My husband gets the full two weeks off and he needs it, we need it. We miss him so much with his long hours.
We will be home with our families and I couldn't be more excited.

Happy Holidays to all and a Blessed Holiday Season full of Love, Laughter and Amazing Memories.

Happy Returns,

Michele

It's the Holidayzzzzz

It is that time of year again.

The time of year to search for that perfect gift.

We go out from store to store, parking lot to parking lot, Amazon.com…you know what I'm talking about. Dealing with traffic, packed parking lots, stressed out workers and tired kids in tow.

Well look no further.
 I have a the Perfect gift just for you!

Extended Family Portrait Sessions
Booking Now for December 27th-30th

If you have family visiting from out of town or you want to give your "local" family something amazing, than look no further. Book your
"EXTENDED FAMILY PORTRAIT SESSION"
with me & have fun while making memories?

It's a 3 in 1.

Let me tell you why…

1. It is a gift that keeps on giving. Memories for a lifetime made in an afternoon of fun, sun and    laughter.

2. You don't have to wrap it, ship it, bake it, make it or think about it any further.

Leave all the planning and details to me.

3. It'll be FUN!!!!! Guaranteed.

Here are some fun local things to do…..

* Going to Disneyland??? Have me tag along and capture your memories at the Merriest place on earth.

* Spend a morning at the beach in search for dolphins and exotic seashells.
* Visit L.A.'s historical botanical gardens and museums with me in tow.

* Go on an adventure hike with a waterfall and a view of the ocean. 

Grandparents and parents alike will enjoy this unique and personal gift.

*The joy will last longer than that Gucci bag you were eyeballing at Neimans.

December 27th-30th

Limited number of sessions available.

Call 310-936-1548

or email

info@michelepanizphotography.com 

for package pricing and details.

Have a Happy & Safe Holiday Season. 

May Your Days be Merry & Bright.

Playing with Bokeh

A new term in my home

"Bokeh"

1. In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".

   Thank you Wikipedia

    I love playing with light, so does my husband. He is my most inspiring supporter, after all he is a Cinematographer and though currently on CSI he is a powerhouse when it comes to creative inspiration. He makes me a better photographer every single day of my life. Pushing, challenging, disagreeing, he is my ying.

   
   

   So when I wanted to play with my christmas lights for our Holiday Mini Sessions this past week, Nikhil gave me an earful on what I was doing wrong. I set up my studio for 4 hours and couldn't get my light the way I intended to. It was frustrating.

   Niki came home after a 13 hour day and a 60+ hour week and at 11pm helped me finesse my stage.

   I enjoy spending my time with him. In all marriages there are frustrations but we figure a way through it. This particular evening I was frustrated, tired and grumpy. He was tired, calm and cool. 

   We put our heads together and built a great space, one I was so proud of I forced my kids to get in for a picture.

   
   

   Here is what we came out with.

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   I really hate taking pictures of myself, especially with NO makeup on.  BUT I am so happy I got a few shots of me and my boys…..

   
   

   
   

   Happy Holidays to you from the Paniz Family!

   
   

   For booking contact Michele at

   info@michelepanizphotography.com

   310-936-1548