Conversations with Michele Paniz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Paniz.

Hi Michele, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began working at the age of twelve. While the modeling industry can be a demanding and often unforgiving environment for young girls, I was drawn to the excitement and discipline of the runway. Early success led me to travel extensively throughout my teenage years and early twenties, though I always returned to Los Angeles for the comfort of home. Having grown up in Orange County, LA felt like a natural place to establish roots and create a life of my own.

I met my husband while working on a job in Jamaica. As a crew member on major music videos and commercial productions, his career aligned seamlessly with my own. We married and welcomed our first son in 2005.

After the birth of our second son, I made the intentional decision to step back from my modeling career to focus on raising our family. While I valued that time deeply, I soon realized I needed a creative outlet and a sense of community beyond full-time motherhood. Photography found me during that season and quickly became my devotion.

I have now been a newborn and motherhood photographer for nearly two decades. Through my lens, I am able to slow the pace of life, become fully present, and preserve fleeting moments in time—both for myself and for the families I work with.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
What fun is life without a few bumps in the road?
This journey has been full of bumps and quick left turns. Being a creative means so many things: one of those things is that you have to learn to go with the flow. You have to be efficient at budgeting, and you have to have a thick skin.
I like being prepared in every situation. An over-thinker, if you will. That is not always possible in the photography world. You can have all the answers and then add a newborn baby to the mix. What a wild ride it has been.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a photographer specializing in newborn and motherhood portraiture. In a nut shell, I photograph women and their beautiful families, collecting beautiful moments along the way.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I have an amazing mentor, Ana Brandt. She is a wealth of knowledge and one of the kindest most talented women I know. I am so lucky I met her years ago. She has not only taught me so much on this journey but she is my biggest cheerleader.
The photography industry can be tough. It can get competitive, especially major cities like Los Angeles. But it does not have to be isolating.
We are changing the game over here in Westlake Village, Ca with The Arlen Studio Collective. A place where photographers and influencers can come create and collaborate with others. My business partner Natalia and I wanted to create a place where others could come and be part of a collective space. Made by photographers , for photographers. We plan to host masterclasses, styled shoot outs and meet and greets with the best in the business.
Finding a mentor should not be as daunting as it seems. Most humans have a desire to be of service and to guide the next generation into greatness. I would love to be your mentor.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michelepanizphotography.com and www.thearlenstudio.com
• Instagram: @collecting.beautiful.moments , @thearlenstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelepanizphotography

Image Credits
All images owned by Michele Paniz.