Lunar Eclipse

This is what happens when your arm me with a Canon 5D Mark III, a Canon 70-200mm lens and a 2x extender on a cloudless night with a lunar eclipse.  I've seen many eclipses in my lifetime, at school at home but never with a "super" camera and a "super" lens to my eye. It was quite a fascinating sight.

The final "Blood" moon image was shot at 25K ASA. The moon was completely in the earths shadow and dark to the naked eye but not to my 5D, it picked up the moon as if it were glowing with hot lava.

Family L.O.V.E.

I love family sessions…..

Getting everyone together to run and laugh and play.

I am so very lucky that most of my family clients come around every year to get their photos done. I get really excited having now known the family and their dynamic, I am able to better fit the location and styling to the personalities of each member of the family. The kids are older and more capable of being spontaneous and silly and fun, usually:)

I've photographed this family 3 times, each time gets better and more creative. 

We went for a Gorilla Style shoot throughout the streets of Culver City.

Couldn't be happier with the outcome.

Can YOU feel the LOVE???

Photography by Michele Paniz Photo

Styling by Michele Paniz

my husband is home my husband is home

Ahhhhh the sweet sound of the love of my life in bed with nowhere to go. Yesterday was his first day of hiatus. He works brutal hours for about 10 months out of the year than gets to so nothing for 2 months. That day has finally arrived and I can't wait to wake hime up, I'll let hime sleep for another hour just to be nice:)
Last year during this time we were hustling to get ready for India. get the kids through school and CST testing and get everything in order to leave for a month. This year we have no plans except a small jaunt to Colorado in the near future and Palm Springs for a fabulous wedding but this year we get to prep for our home inspection, yay!!!!!
My Honey-Do list is LONG but I really like working side by side with my man. We make a great team. Design, build, paint and decorate, we are pretty strong and confident in our abilities to make our home just right for our little family.
First things that need to be done.
-get crib and set it up
-pick up donated goods from our AMAZING friends
-buy new fire extinguisher for the house
-check all smoke detectors
-check all security bars on our windows (we live in LA)
-re pack all Earthquake Prepardness kits for the home. With an addition to our household we need more survival goods and all that canned food rots eventually.
-Get Nikhil First Aid & CPR certified
-Paint ALL door jams, it's amazing how dirty little kids really are.
-Redo Kingston's room- Some exciting news on this coming soon!!!
-Plan Kingston's 6th birthday
Did I just say 6th birthday? OMG that flew right by me. My baby is going to be 6 this month. Yep we need some young life in this house, we are all getting too old:)

Now off to get things done…..and wake up the hubby.

ReMoved...

I came across this video this morning on Facebook and feel that it is so very powerful and speaks directly to me and the reasons I was put upon this earth. My husband and I are working our way through the LA Foster Care process with hopes to help those children who need a safe place to live and love. As I am full of anxiety of the unknown future we have I am so strong in believing that I can make a difference in this world. Please share this video and pray for these young children and their families and for us that we can stay strong in the face of the unknown.

Written, Produced and Directed by Nathanael & Christina Matanick

Where there is love there is life

Mahatma Gandhi said it best. Where there is love there is life and I am so very proud to show off my latest compilation of images of a beautiful mother-to-be.

I met Krista many moons ago, we were heading to Las Vegas for a week long job and I was the new little one in the group. I had a horrible car accident the night before the flight and was not in great shape. I was also fighting with my then-boyfriend which made me a ball of emotions. Everyone remembers me, the young model sitting alone in the crowded airport with tears in her eyes. I was overwhelmed and felt isolated but they tried to welcome me in. Needless to say that was the beginning of many amazing friendships, hers included, and many trips to Las Vegas, San Francisco, New Orleans, Chicago, Minneapolis, Miami, New York and so on during our glamourous lives as models.

Time went by and I got married, had my children and left the glamour, lights and runways of the modeling scene and headed towards where I am today. Krista moved on as well with her devoted fiancé Dan and their life in OC. We don't see each other often but we get to keep up via Facebook, thank goodness for that!!!!

When she contacted me to capture her baby belly I was so excited. She was always my "girl crush" and I couldn't get over that she wanted me to shoot her at this amazing time in her life. We discussed ideas and settled on a date. Than we made magic.

Dan and Krista I am so very excited for you and this journey to becoming a family of three. Take each day slow and calm and cherish every moment together. 

Mom in Mumbai #TBT

During our family vacation last summer we traveled many miles through India eating everywhere we stopped. Indian food is by far my favorite food, I can eat it pretty much every day and when my mother-in-law visits us from Napa it is all I eat.

Our final two weeks were spent in Mumbai, home to my husband's family and 

home to the most amazing food and vegetable stands I had seen. 

I kept asking errr begging my mother-in-law to take me to the market so we could capture some shots for her new cookbook she had been working on. It is complete and expected to be out in early Fall, I'll keep everyone posted. She is also a Chopped winner, just in case you wanted to know that.

On our final day in Mumbai, and I mean final day, we lugged ourselves over to the Pali Hill Market. It was 9000 degrees at 10am and so muggy my camera and lenses kept fogging up but we with stood the uncomfortable climate and shot some cute images of her grabbing what was to be our lunch for the day.

In India the head of the house or their servants go marketing every morning. They don't freeze chickens and refrigerate produce like we do, they buy only what is needed and use it that very day. My kids, hubby and I all lost a total of 30 lbs. while we traveled through this majestic country and I give all the credit to the fresh food we ate daily. And we ate a LOT of food daily. I'd say I miss it but I've become quite a good Indian Chef over the years. Maybe that's what I'll be when I grow up, a gourmet Indian Chef…..until then you get to enjoy my photography:)

The ever fabulous and always beautiful Neela Paniz

There is no Monsanto in India and there really isn't an "Organic" movement as everything is grown locally.

Doesn't it all look soooo yummy.

She's thinking "Hmmm Okra, Ghia, or Toori for lunch? I always vote for Ghia, it's my absolute favorite, she'll vouch for that.

 I love Indian Boys, haha I married one but they always seem to find me. I think they are absolutely adorable. This kid stopped in front of my lens and did a few poses, then they all giggled away.

They truly are a happy people full of family, love, food and laughter.

For those of you interested in learning how to cook Indian Food check out my Mom's old cookbook The Bombay Cafe Cookbook.

You can purchase it here  and here

and if you are looking for an Indian grocery in LA this is where we shop. India Spices and Groceries

The new cookbook will be released in late 2014. Stay Tuned!!!!!

Happy Eating:)