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

Introducing Finnoula

Just like her mama, this firecracker is a force of nature.

Creative, outgoing, intelligent and charismatic, Finn has all the makings of a super star. She wants to be a model like her beautiful mother and we had a great time playing dress up at the studio. She was such a ham and ready for her "closeup"…..

 For information on bookings please contact Michele at

info@studiopaniz.com

More Industry Kids

I've been working a lot lately.

Building my portfolio, Holiday Sessions and the year round demand for newborn photography 

keeps me focused and alive. It is very refreshing after being a stay at home mom for the last 9+ years to be able to work while my children attend the most amazing elementary school in L.A. 

I'm bragging, I know…..I'll stop.

But seriously. 

I am blessed.

So here is a beautiful little girl I photographed over the summer. 

Erris.

Sweet and extremely intelligent, I have spent many days with this flower child. She is usually a bright light but on this day she was very mellow. She didn't really want to smile which I was completely fine with. She is a supermodel in the making. Laura, this one is a rare gem.

I love her dearly:)

For information on bookings contact Michele at

info@studiopaniz.com

Darling Ciaomhe

This young lady has my heart. 

I have known this little lady since her birth and her family for many years before

her grand entrance into this world.

Little C is the third in a ever growing family of red heads. Mommy is currently incubating one more to add to their brood of 4 (all girls) and I love them all so dearly.

We shot these over the summer but with life, a family and a business I fall behind on my postings occasionally. 

Ciaomhe (pronounced Kee-va) is a free spirit, wild and passionate. 

I can feel her personality in every photo.

How much fun do you think we had together??????

For booking contact Michele at

info@michelepanizphotography.com