Peter Thomsen Photography

Katie + Jonathan

2011-12-06T17:36:00.001-08:00

Here is a slideshow and a few photos from Katie Knapp & Jonathan Segev's lovely fall wedding at Wente Vineyards in Livermore. They had an outdoor ceremony under a canopy of fall colors. It was short but very sweet. Yes, I fogged up my viewfinder when the tributes were being read. Their creative personal touches, like the stone & grass centerpieces and homemade jam favors, made for a simple yet elegant wedding. The DJ and band kept everyone dancing, and oh buddy could this crowd dance. Jon & Katie, I wish you two all the best as you start your married life together. I look forward to the next time our paths cross.

Thanks to the Wente staff for an amazing meal and to Mike Murrow for working with me for the day. You killed it with that parting crowd shot.

Click here to view their slideshow.

Katie + Jonathan Photo Booth

2011-11-30T00:01:00.001-08:00

Want fun photos? Set up a photo booth and turn the controls over to the guests. Here's how that plan played out at Katie & Jonathan's wedding at Wente Vineyards.

More photo booth photos can be seen here.

Renée + Gunnar

2011-10-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

"Come on Matthew, Come on Matthew," Gunnar called as he coaxed Matthew the potbelly pig out of the truck and into his front row seat/pen for the ceremony. That's more or less how the day started last Saturday at Kennolyn. This was a beautiful wedding and one full of firsts. It was my first time to shoot at Kennolyn, the first time there has been a pig in a tie and the first time the pet dog walked down the aisle in a wedding dress—it all just made you smile. I was glad Mike Murrow was there to help capture everything—he's money as a second shooter. Renée and Gunnar are both deeply spiritual people. Their love for each other, for their family and friends, and for all creatures was made crystal clear through their day. Congratulations you two. Peace be with you as you start your new life together.
Oh and one more first: a bridesmaid calling out the fellow by snagging the garter out of mid air and returning it to the groom for a re-toss. It was awesome.(see below. great capture mike)
Click here to see Renée & Gunnar's slideshow of wedding photos.

More images can be seen here.

Keri + Kyle

2011-09-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

Keri & Kyle couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to get married down at the Santa Cruz Harbor. They selected one of their favorite places, Aldo's, as the venue. It was the ideal setting for Keri & Kyle to celebrate their love for each other with family and friends. Congratulations you two. Thanks for giving Jana and I the best seats in the house. Cheers!

Click here to see Keri & Kyle's slideshow of wedding photos.

More images can be seen here.

Yael + Ben

2011-09-14T23:05:00.000-07:00

I still can't get over how much fun this wedding was. In a good way it felt like I stepped back in time. The Golden Gate Club in the Presidio was the perfect venue for this event. You could feel the history of the place, of which Yael & Ben are now part of the story. The grand ballroom, with views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge, was spectacular. The Klezmer sounds of Kugelplex kept the energy high the entire day. A big thanks to Dan Dawson for going the distance and helping me cover all the action. Congratulations Yael & Ben. Thanks for letting me a part of your big day. Mazel tov!

Click here to view the full size version of Yael & Ben's wedding slideshow.Here are a some of my favorite images from the day.

Click here to see more highlights from their day.

Yael + Ben Photo Booth

2011-09-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yael & Ben's wedding at the Golden Gate Club in the Presidio was the first Jewish wedding I've had the privilege to photograph and instantly one of my all time favorite events. It was great to have ace shooter Dan Dawson working with me. Here is a taste of the day in the form of a photo booth slideshow. The music is by Kugelplex, who provided the Klezmer spice for the wedding—they were super fun. Enjoy the antics. Stay tuned for photos from the rest of Yael & Ben's day.Click here to view the full size version of the slideshow.

Lauren + Tim

2011-09-08T23:03:00.000-07:00

As a tip of the hat to their time together in Yosemite, Lauren & Tim strategically chose their date for the full moon. Felton Guild Weddings' redwood grove made for the perfect backdrop the ceremony, which got off to a slow start. The officiant got caught up in some serious Santa Cruz beach traffic driving over Highway 17. However, he was totally worth the wait—he had me and everyone else laughing out loud more than once. Sarah of Pink Pedals crafted a gorgeous bouquet for Lauren to tote around for the day. I have to give Lauren & Tim the coolest "guest book" award for their creative alternative. They had a vintage typewriter and rubber stamps for guests to personalize a note card. Oak Tree Ristorante prepared an amazing meal. The salmon dish especially made me want to go back for dinner soon. It was a beautiful day in the forest celebrating Lauren & Tim. Everyone enjoyed great food & drink and dancing late into the night under the full moon. Congratulations you two. I hope we end up neighbors in Santa Cruz someday.

Click here for a full size version of their slideshow or check it out below.

Missy + Justin's Yosemite Wedding

2011-08-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

Wow. Missy & Justin couldn't have asked for a better day in Yosemite—the valley stunning simply stunning. We had really been looking forward to this wedding. First, because it was in Yosemite. Second, because we would get to see familiar faces from Justin's brother Jeremy's wedding we shot in Louisiana four years ago.

Missy & Justin did a great job with creative touches to make their day their own. I loved all the unique handmade items they scored off of etsy to put their own spin on a few wedding traditions. Two of my favorites details were their felt & cloth flowers and whimsical bride & groom deer cake toppers. They also brewed three batches of beer and bottled it with custom labels as party favors. Hanging out with these two for the day was a treat. Their love for each other and for life is clear. Missy & Justin, thanks for letting Jana & I be a part of your day. We truly enjoyed it. We wish you two all the best. Come see us in Santa Cruz sometime.

Click here to see the full size version of their slideshow.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day:

Chaminade Company Party Photo Booth

2011-08-17T01:38:00.000-07:00

Mahalo to all the Chaminade employees for a fun night. You guys know how to rock the photo booth. Nice work. Enjoy the photos.

Click here to view the full-size slideshow in a new window.

Click here to view additional photos and to order prints.

Click here for a loads of more photos and to order prints.

Missy + Justin Yosemite Photo Booth

2011-08-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

The Photo Booth is just plain fun. I love watching and capturing the clever ways people dream up to express themselves. Have a look at good times Missy & Justin, and their guests had in Yosemite National Park. The wooden wall mural in the lodge made for a super cool backdrop. Watch this space for more photos of their wedding day.

Click here to view the slideshow.

It's Always Sunny in San Francisco

2011-05-30T00:57:00.000-07:00

Well, not exactly. After getting rained out the previous week, we hit a beautiful day for Lauren and Tim's engagement shoot. We meet up at Dolores Park, then cruised around the mission a bit (including a stop at four barrel coffee) and eventually ended up down on The Embarcadero. It was a great afternoon of hanging out and creating some fun pictures.

Click here to see their slideshow.

Aliese + Keith

2011-05-18T22:59:00.000-07:00

Our most recent wedding was a fun family affair. My "little" cousin Aliese tied the knot with Keith at the Ridge Creek Golf Course. It was such a treat to be a part of their big day. Jana and my mom helped with flowers, while my dad, who got me started in photography, was my second shooter. The day was elegantly simple and perfect. Congratulations Aliese & Keith. Welcome to the family Keith. Best wishes to you guys as you begin your life together.

Click here to see the slideshow.

Aliese and Keith and the Photo BOOTH!

2011-05-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

You never know what sort of shenanigans will take place in the photo booth. Aliese & Keith's party kept this tradition alive. I nearly laughed coffee right out of my nose while processing the images from the most recent photo booth. Scroll down to see one of my new favorite photo booth captures. Ha! Classic.

Click here to view the slideshow.

Ok, that's funny.

Good Times

2011-04-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks for voting me Best Local Photographer in the Good Times Santa Cruz. I appreciate you taking the time to vote. Your support encourages and inspires me. Thank you!

Kelly + Tyler

2011-04-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

Kelly and Tyler shook up the traditional wedding schedule for a really fun and unique day at Ponderosa Lodge. It was intentional, simple and cool. You just have to smile when a high ropes course "Leap of Faith" is part of the program. Kelly and Tyler, thanks for letting me hang out with you two for the day—you guys are great. I wish you all the best as you jump into married life. Keep having fun together.

Click here to view the slideshow their wedding photos.

Kelly + Tyler Photo Booth

2011-04-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

Here's some photo booth fun from Kelly and Tyler's wedding at Mount Hermon's Ponderosa Lodge . A big thanks to Dan Dawson for all of the help with the booth and for shooting the rest of the day with me. Check back soon for more from the rest of the day.

Click here to view the photo booth slideshow.

Joe Big or Joe Home

2011-03-06T01:09:00.000-08:00

I had a sweet afternoon hanging out in the forest with Joe, Henry, Eli and Jeremiah for Joe's birthday ride. We headed to the local mountain bike jump park. Since I try to keep my wheels on the ground these days, I posted up with camera gear to capture the boys going big. And oh dang do they launch fearlessly. Check it out

Click here to see the slideshow.

Keri + David

2011-03-02T23:11:00.000-08:00

It was fun to be back at my old stomping grounds shooting Keri and David's wedding. Their lifelong connections with Mount Hermon made an already amazing venue extra special. I loved the video they played at the reception of the two of them as kids on stage in the Auditorium. Monday they stood in roughly the same places and said their vows to each other—pretty cool. The toast given by David's brother, Jono, was golden. There were no roasts or awkward stories of girlfriends past, just deep love and respect (future best men take note). Thanks to everyone at Mount Hermon for being such a pleasure to work with. A special thanks to John Ricketts for second shooting.

Keri and David I hope you enjoy your photos. I wish you all the best as you start your new life together.

Click here to view the full-size slideshow of their wedding photos.

Keri + David's Photo Booth

2011-02-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

Keri & David had a great wedding in the redwoods at Mount Hermon on Monday. Here's a look at their photo booth fun:
(click here if you are having trouble viewing)

Watch this space for photos from the rest of their day.

Matthew is a what?

2011-02-17T23:38:00.000-08:00

Matthew is a pot belly pig. Renée and Gunnar brought him along for their engagement photo session, as well as Avery the Bichon Frise and Bunny the, well, bunny. Now I haven't spent much time with pigs. It didn't take long to find out they don't like being told what to do. Trying to get Matthew to cooperate and pose ended up being fairly comical. Gunnar, you were a real sport for acting as swine wrangler. Renée and Gunnar, your love for each other and for your furry (does Matthew count as furry?) friends is apparent. I'm glad we all get to work together.

Here is a slideshow from the shenanigans (or here):

NYE Rollerskate Party Photo Booth

2011-01-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! We rolled in the new year at the Santa Cruz Roller Palladium. Here's a little slideshow of the photo booth fun. I hope your 2011 goes to eleven.

View the full size slideshow here.

Dana + Doug

2010-11-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Dana & Doug are such a happy couple. Their wedding was a day of true joy—they beamed with happiness. It was an outside wedding at Aptos Village Park. The canopies on the patio definitely saved the day, as the mist turned to sprinkles after finishing the formal portraits. One of my favorite moments was Dana sharing lovely words of thanks and gratitude with everyone during the toasts.

Dana & Doug, your love story is simply beautiful. I'm glad we had the chance to meet and work together. Best wishes as you begin your life as husband and wife.

Click here for the full-size slideshow.

Photo Booth: Dana + Doug

2010-10-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

The photo booth was big fun at Dana & Doug's wedding. I love seeing people let loose and act goofy in front of the camera. Thanks to Josh Bootz for keeping the photo booth party rolling. Click here for the full-size slideshow of the photo booth shenanigans.

Stay tuned for photos from the rest of Dana & Doug's day.

Jeremiah Kille Open Studio

2010-10-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

We had a fun weekend full of friends, coffee and art. It all centered around Jeremiah Kille's Santa Cruz Open Studios Art Tour exhibition. Saturday morning kicked off with Verve and helping Jeremiah with a few last minute details. Once things were rolling, it was back to Verve to meet up with Mitch, Amber & Viv.

Congrats Jeremiah. The studio looked great. Your new work is on a whole new level of "oh yeah." I'm really excited about having one of the resin pieces hanging in mi casa.

To those of you who missed it this round, be sure to check for the encore weekend, Oct 16 & 17.

We set up a photo booth with one of my favorite paintings as the backdrop. Have a looksie below or here for a larger version:

Katie + Mark = Kisses

2010-09-21T22:46:00.000-07:00

For the past 10 years every time Katie ate a Hersey's Kiss, she said a prayer for her future husband and added each little blue and white paper ribbon to a cedar box. She presented that box of prayers to Mark when they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day. As she explained the gift she said, "You are the one I've been praying for since I was 19." I am always so touched when I have the privilege to witness and capture a priceless moment like Mark & Katie shared under the redwoods in Henry Cowell State Park. That is how things got started before the guests arrived at Roaring Camp. The day only got better from there.

Katie & Mark, your love for each other could be no sweeter. Congratulations.

Here is a slideshow of their day:

Dana & Doug at Quail Hollow

2010-08-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

We first met Dana & Doug at Verve Coffee Roasters a few weeks back to talk wedding photography. It was inspiring to hear their story. Their love and wedding is a huge celebration on many levels. Jana and I left the meeting really hoping we would have the opportunity to work with them. Fast forward to last Friday. It was another beautiful sunny summer evening at Quail Hollow Park. Dana, Doug and I hiked around for a bit and made some lovely images. Here is a sample:

A Golden Day in Nevada City

2010-08-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

Since when is the weather perfect in mid-August in Nevada City? Well it was for Cara & James wedding. It was a great day in the mountains with a laid back, super fun couple. One highlight was a pre-wedding field trip to the historic Empire Mine with the wedding party—below are a few of my favorite images. One of the most touching moments was Cara's serenade to James before she walked down the aisle. Wow.

Congrats James & Cara! Life is more fun having friends like you. Keep smiling.

Here is a slideshow with some more images from the day. Click the play button below, or click here to view a larger version.

Laughter = Life

2010-08-24T00:22:00.000-07:00

The photo booth at James & Cara's wedding was full of life. Lots of smiles, kisses and wit. Have a look and check back soon to see their wedding photos slideshow.

Susie + Dave

2010-08-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

We love home-grown weddings. Susie & Dave's wedding last weekend in Happy Valley was a fun example of everybody chipping in with their gifts and talents to bless the bride and groom. From flowers, to homemade jam favors, to sweet handmade bridesmaids dresses, their day was full of personal touches with a fun vintage flair. Friends brought food and helped with everything from the set up to tear down. One of my favorite details was the circa 1920 ceramic bride & groom cake topper. Like an old-fashion barn raising, you could feel how excited everyone was these two found love. It was simply a lovely day.

Here are few favorite photos from the day, with a slideshow of images at the bottom.

Click the play button below to view more images from Susie & Dave's day (or click here to view a larger version):

Anna + Ben

2010-08-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

Beautiful. The energy and emotion of Anna & Ben's wedding was unparalleled. From crying to wild laughter, the wit, creativity and love was overflowing. We want Ben & Anna to be our new best friends. You two know how to have a good time! We were also wondering if you could teach us a few of those dance moves? Amazing! If you ever need to escape the Fre"yes" heat, our casa es su casa.

Love Makes the Fog Go Away

2010-08-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

This summer's never-ending fog is no match for Katie & Mark's joy and love. The sun came out and the fog stayed away for a fun evening portrait session at Wilder Ranch. I've known Katie & Mark for a number of years through Mount Hermon. It was a real treat to hang out with just the two of them for the evening. Mark & Katie, it makes me smile to see you together. I'm honored to be your photographer.

jenn + nick

2010-08-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest blessings in our life is the community of people surrounding us. Jenn has been a close friend of ours for the past 11 years. She is a dear, loyal, and favorite friend. Nick is one lucky guy to have landed such a quality gal. We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Nick these past years and are thankful he is now officially in the fold. The two of them together will make this world a better place. We couldn't be happier or more excited for you both. Let's have dinner soon!

Take a peek at their engagement portraits

Some highlights from their wedding

Wedding Photo Booth slideshow

Sunshine like Summer

2010-07-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

Dave & Susie have one of those love stories that simply makes you smile. They've known each other for years and years and then finally, one day, see one another in a "different" light. You have to love how life works sometimes. Peter met up with them at Quail Hollow Park one evening. The results…stunning and beautiful. Check out their engagement slideshow here:

A Sunny Day in the City with Cara & James

2010-06-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Cara and James know how to have fun! We meet up with them in San Francisco, where they live, to shoot their engagement photos. We hit a few spots around the city and finished up at Crissy Flield with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. The weather couldn't have been more perfect or the couple more in love, which made for some of our favorite pictures yet.

Gillian, Jerry and the March of the Garden Gnomes

2010-06-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

The sun was shinning and the garden gnomes were smiling for a Gillian & Jerry's colorful garden wedding. Everyone loved the cake and candy table with loads of MacKenzies Chocolates and gummy goodness of all shapes and sizes. Falafel of Santa Cruz provided an amazing spread. A very sweet touch was the fun handmade cloth napkins Gilian's mom stitched just for the reception. The creativity of this couple was evident in the details and made for a unique wedding.

Congratulations Gillian & Jerry. Your day couldn't have been better. Thanks for letting us be a part of the celebration.

Red Sweater, Blue Sweater

2010-04-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

Gillian & Jerry weren't sure they were into the whole "engagement photo" deal. Pre-wedding shoots are always a fun way for everyone to get to know each other, so we encouraged them. The four of us met at Kelly's Bakery on the westside, then headed out of town to Wilder Ranch. Gillian & Jerry's good sense of humor was cracking me up. For being less excited than some about their photo shoot in the first place, they were completely animated and natural in front of the camera. After spending the evening working with them, I know their wedding is going to be a blast. In the end, even Jerry was saying it was a good idea. Thanks Gillian & Jerry—I'm glad you had a good time. We are looking forward to your big day in May.

Click here to view the full-size version of their "pre-wedding" photo slideshow.

Lydia & Aaron

2010-04-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

Lydia & Aaron are adorable. They are one of the most joyous couples we've had the privilege to work with. We were all grateful the rain stopped and the sun came out for their day—they deserve every warm beam. Their love for each other and for life is contagious, and set the tone for the day. The ceremony took place at Mission Springs, literally just down the street from Lydia's parents home. Once again it was great to have Josh Bootz in the house shooting with us. The celebration moved from the redwoods down to the beach in Santa Cruz for the reception at the amazing Dream Inn. If you haven't seen their relatively recent remodel, it's worth a look. One random funism of the day was to end up at a table with two other couples we've photographed. Congratulations Lydia & Aaron. May all of the happiness and joy of your wedding day last a lifetime. Keep smiling.

Click here to view the full size version of their slideshow, or watch the mini-player above.

Animals in Bloom

2010-03-05T23:43:00.000-08:00

Thursday night I rallied to San Francisco with Jeremiah Kille. We headed up for the Big Light Animals in Bloom album release show at The Independent . They definitely turned the energy dial up to 11. It was the best show I've been to in a while.

Jeremiah created an original piece the band commissioned him to do for the cover art. It turned out killer. Here's a photo of the parking lot unveiling to the band back in January at their Moe's Alley show.

Bradly, Fred, Steve and Jeremy—Thanks for super fun night and for your hospitality. It was nice to hang out for a bit before you guys rocked it. Best of luck with the new album, the upcoming New York tour and SXSW. See you when you back in CA. Cheers.

Davenport in Full Bloom

2010-01-25T11:31:00.000-08:00

In between rain storms, I headed up to Davenport with Lydia & Aaron for their engagement photo session. There is an amazing field of yellow flowers I noticed a few weeks ago on a bike ride. The three of us dashed north up Highway 1 to spend the last light of the day tromping around fields and watching the sun set on the cliff of this old coastal town. Lydia & Aaron are sweet sweet couple, so in love and working together to make the world a better place. We've known Lydia and her family for many years. Jana was actually her summer camp counselor back in the day. It's always fun having these connections going into the big day. Thanks for choosing us Lydia & Aaron.

Click here to view the full size slideshow or watch the mini version below.

365 Days, check

2010-01-02T20:06:00.000-08:00

Wow, where did the year go? Last January 1 I casually embarked on a year long self-portrait-a-day project conducted on flickr. I wasn't sure how long I'd last in the throes of a rough 2009 new year, but 365 entries later I made it. Ok I have to fess up, I fell asleep on the couch one day, so there is a blank image one day. I figure that is a self portrait of some sort, like the pure minimalism sort. Anyway, it was a cool experience. Sure, I punted more than I hoped to, but I learned a ton about shooting and processing. It's been rewarding to have wedding clients ask to have some of the specific portrait styles duplicated in their photography. Here at the end of it all, I'm amazed how quickly a year can pass, one day at a time.

My 2009 365 Days Experience flickr slideshow

Capes & Bling

2010-01-01T23:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! This year to ring in the new, we reserved the classic, Santa Cruz Roller Paladium and had big ol' roller skate party. There were about 80 skaters, decked out in capes & bling and a handful of fans. As you'll see from the photos, there was an abundance of fun and smiles that night. Sure makes me grateful for the cool community of people we get to share life with. Check out the photos below, and be sure to catch Mike Murrow's photo booth images—they're hot like lava.

Big Light at The Crepe Place

2009-12-17T23:42:00.000-08:00

Big Light puts on a mighty fine show. I found out about these guys through their drummer Bradly, when we shot his wedding this summer. They did a quick west coast tour in December. Lucky for Santa Cruz, they played The Crepe Place on the 17. It was a fun night hanging out with Kristi, catching up with Rae & Bradly, hearing the band, and shooting these photos—boy do I love live music:

PS-Be sure to mark March 4 on you calendars for Big Light's CD release in San Francisco.

Emily Wells

2009-11-05T18:36:00.000-08:00

Emily Wells is one of my favorite artists to stumble across in 2009. I first heard her hanging out with Jana, Jen, and Nick at the Hotel Cafe Tour stop in San Francisco. Before the show started, I was most excited to hear Rachael Yamagata. As great as it was to finally hear her in person, that night Emily stole the show for me. Hearing this child violin prodigy live as she melds her classical training with hip-hop style, has the magic of a polaroid developing. Go see her when you can. Here are a few photos from her show at The Crepe Place in Santa Cruz. Enjoy.

Rae & Bradly

2009-09-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

Rae & Bradly's love for each other and their friends and family is highly contagious. They make us want to smile and greet everyone with a big hug and kiss! Getting to know with them has been a real treat—truly two of the most genuinely sweet people we've met, with equally wonderful families. Their wedding took place in the Santa Cruz mountains at the amazing Nestldown. The setting and venue is simply fantastic. Josh Bootz was in the house for this shoot—always an added bonus. Rae & Bradly are a creative duo. From their pink invitations, ice cream sandwich dessert, Bradly's band Big Light playing at the reception, incredibly thoughtful vows and toasts, herb centerpieces, Homeless Garden flower creations, to the cute custom button party favors, this wedding was original and clever. We loved it and we love them! Thanks you two for having us. It's been an absolute pleasure.

Click here for the full size version of their slideshow.

James & Gaea in Sunny South Lake Tahoe

2009-08-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

We hit the road for Tahoe for the second time this month. This trip we headed to the South Shore for James and Gaea's wedding festivities. We met Gaea a couple years ago while photographing her sister's wedding. It was really fun to see a number of people from that wedding again. We love when we have the opportunity to catch up with past clients. It's a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and hear about life a few years down their wedded road.

We had an amazing time watching the very much in love Gaea & James say their "I dos". The setting was gorgeous and simple on the beach of Lake Tahoe. The weather was perfect, and the couple completely adorable. All of the makings for a beautiful day and lovely pictures. Gaea and James are two of the most likable people—huge smiles and so kind. Their intimate ceremony took place at the private Lake Tahoe Spa and Resort, followed by a reception at Harvey's Casino. Thanks Gaea and James for including us in your celebration!

Click here to view full size slideshow

Meet Elliot Owen Smith

2009-08-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

Elliot Owen Smith was born to our good friends Brad & Karen this morning (8.20.2009) at 5:12 a.m. Weighing in at 10 lbs. 7 oz., 21 inches, he is an adorable chunk of a little guy. This evening Jana & I headed over the hill to meet Elliot at the hospital. I'm happy to say everyone is doing great. Congratulations Brad & Karen!

Click here to view a slideshow of more pictures.

Midnight Special

2009-08-12T23:29:00.001-07:00

8.11.09, originally uploaded by peterthomsen.

The 365 Days self portrait project is now in the middle of month 8—time flies when your making pictures. This image is me—vintage VW and up late.

I've owned a vintage VW of some sort for the past 20 years. Our current 1963 ragtop bug has stuck around the longest. I purchased it on Cinco de Mayo, 1995 as a better commuter than the 1969 Westfalia I was driving at the time. You see, I was spending a fair amount of time on the road between Davis and Sonoma State to visit a certain Jana Lu VanPykeren. The rest is history.

If you are interested in checking out my portrait project, the link is below. Thanks for looking.
365 Days

Annie & Scott's Tahoe Celebration

2009-08-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

You know when the bride & groom's parents, and family kick off the reception with a dance routine to "My Humps," it's bound to be a good party. Annie & Scott's wedding celebration at Northstar-at-Tahoe was just that. They are an adorable couple with a huge group of great family and friends. I got to know Scott through Mount Hermon—he is truly a good guy, with a heart as big as their guest list. Annie is absolutely lovely. I couldn't be happier for this sweet couple.

Summer in Tahoe is amazing—if you haven't been you need to. This unique mountain wedding was the perfect fit for couple saying their "I do's." The ceremony and reception took place mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe . The ceremony got rolling with the Annie, her dad, and the bridesmaids riding the chairlift down the mountain. I can now say I've taken wedding photos while riding a chairlift—too fun. The whole day was spent outside under the canopy of the summer sierra skies, slight thunder showers and all. Kelly from Northstar did a wonderful job with the meal. The DJ kept the dance floor packed all night, even after Scott & Annie made their getaway. I won't soon forget this fun filled weekend.

Annie & Scott—Jana, Josh and I had a fantastic time photographing you. Thanks you two for including us in your celebration. It was a blast being your shadow for the day. Blessings to you as you start your life together.

Enjoy this slideshow of the fun (click here for full size version):

Prints from the slideshow may be order here: Annie & Scott Slideshow Photos Full photo galleries to follow.

Gaea, James & Roxy

2009-06-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

I met Gaea a few years ago when we photographed her sister's wedding. I was touched when Gaea contacted us, and said, "You did a fantastic job with Joanne and Neal's wedding...we can't imagine anyone else doing ours." To get things started,Gaea & James joined us with their dog Roxy for a fun engagement portrait session down by the lighthouse in Santa Cruz. We all laughed lots and made some sweet images together. Take a look at their slideshow and smile too.

Love Handles

2009-06-04T23:43:00.000-07:00

In honor of National Donut Day tomorrow, I've designed a poster. Support your local donut establishment today.

Hot at the Boardwalk

2009-05-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

Rae & Bradly cruised down from San Francisco for Rae's birthday—and one of the hottest days of the year. We all met up at the Boardwalk to make some fun images for their engagement photos. It was the perfect setting for this adorable couple.

Rae, thanks for letting us hang out with you on your birthday. We are all the more excited to shoot your wedding after getting to know you two a bit more—you guys are great.

Click here for their slideshow.

PS—I must say I'm a bit jealous of Bradly's sneakers.

365 Days Portrait Project

2009-05-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Picking up where I left off...

January 1 I casually embarked on a flickr based, self-portrait-a-day project. The year started off pretty dang rough as far as life in general goes. I wasn't sure I'd get very far on this endeavor. 5 months later I've managed a portrait every day but one. Cool. It's a goofy little project, but it has been a good discipline to make at least one image a day. We'll see where is goes. Thanks for all of the comments and encouragement.

Check it out on flickr. Or view it right here:

100 Miles of Fun

2009-04-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 26 we pedaled for 100 miles in the Chico Wildflower Century—the day couldn't have been better. About 20 of us rode the ride as a fundraiser for Young Life Adventures. It was so fun spending the day in the saddle with such a great group of friends, old and new. The jersey's I designed with my brother worked out sweet, and made it easy to find our crew amongst the 1000's of other riders. I believe everyone finished at least what they set out to ride. Some people even stepped up from the 60 mile option and rode the full 100 miles. Nobody left any skin on the road of Chico—always a good thing. All in all the day made me thankful for a healthy body and good friends. If you missed it this year, be sure to join the fun in 2010.

Here's a slideshow of photos from the ride (4:19):

burrrr

2008-12-21T22:40:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. This past week it was a balmy 29 degrees when I went to hop on the scooter. I know my brother James in Truckee would give me a big "whaaah," but a frosty scoot at 55 mph is cold. This week was the first time I've ever had ice boogers riding the Vespa—I think I'd like to save those for the slopes. Earlier in the week we were awoken by the sound of hail failing around 3:00 AM. It was cold enough to still have a white deck when we crawled out of bed. Later that day I ran into an old friend at Mount Hermon who was taking his cross country skis up to the top of Felton Empire Grade to go make some fresh tracks. Fun times.

I hope the Christmas season is treating you all well. Stay warm.

Lissa & Corey

2008-11-30T00:22:00.000-08:00

Two days after Thanksgiving, Lissa & Corey said I DO. Saturday was a prefect day for a fall wedding in my old stomping grounds of Kingsburg, CA. It was a real honor to be a part of this ceremony, as I've known the Sander family many years. Lissa's parents were some of those influential people in my formative years and beyond.

Lissa & Corey's wedding was a great celebration of their love and a fun joining of the two families. They are such a sweet couple. Best wishes to you, Lissa & Corey, as you start your new life together. Thanks for having us—Jana and I had a great time being a part of your day. Peace.

Click here to see the slideshow of the day.

Conner & Aiden

2008-11-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

For the past few years, I (Jana) have had the pleasure of hanging out with Conner and Aiden. They are two great kids. Conner is a super smart kid, he constantly amazes me with his 9 year old brain. Aiden is FULL of energy, every time I see him he has a big hug for me. I think we really captured their personalities and had a fun time doing it, along with the occasional Jelly Belly bribe.

Here is a slideshow of the fun.

Hollie & James

2008-11-22T21:55:00.000-08:00

Yippeee! A wedding we got to attend as guests. It's been a while since we've been able to sit back, relax, and have a glass of wine at a wedding. We had a BLAST at the rehearsal, wedding and post-wedding party. Here are a few pics from the weekend. We couldn't be happier for James and Hollie!

Bryce Bryce Baby from Peter Thomsen on Vimeo.

We are Family

2008-10-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

Jana and I have been part of an Amish style work group with a bunch of our friends this year. We convene at someone's house every six weeks or so to bust out whatever projects need busting. Since we've been busy shooting weddings on a number of the work days, we wanted to do family portraits for the crew as a thank you. It was really fun to have our nephew Sam (he's a 13 year old photographer in training) shoot with us for the day. Here is a slideshow with some of the photos of the day.

Canela & Shannon

2008-09-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

Canela & Shannon. It was a warm summer day at the historic Ainsley House in Campbell, CA. Plenty of sunshine, wood-fired, hand-tossed pizza appetizers, fun dancing, one of a kind cake and wonderful people . We got connected with Canela & Shannon through Joanne & Neal—it was cool to see some familiar faces from their wedding at this one. Our friend Mike Murrow joined us for the shoot. Canela & Shannon, Jana & I truly enjoyed working with you. We wish you all the best as you start your new life together.

Click here to see the slideshow of the day.

ps-Thanks for smiling Shannon ;-)

Lauren & Rob

2008-08-30T23:54:00.001-07:00

Saturday, August 30, was finally the big day for Lauren & Rob. Their wedding was in the hills of Saratoga at the spectacular home of Lauren's brother, Sean and his wife Lacey. It was a perfect summer wedding, complete with a butterfly release during the ceremony. Lauren & Rob were relaxed and very much in love. They each have a great sense of humor, so it was especially fun to work with them. Their entire family was really sweet. They were even kind enough to have us over for dinner the Wednesday before the wedding.

The other vendors were some of the coolest we've had the privilege of working with. Parsley Sage Rosemary Thyme did a fabulous job catering. Ron Grandia is definitely, "a different kind of dj." I was also impressed with the videographer, Mattieu Meynier—I look forward to seeing his production.

Thanks Lauren & Rob for letting us share in your day. We are so glad we got to work with you and get to know you a little. Have a great time honeymooning in our neck of the woods. Until next time.

(...and yes if make it out to Florida for a visit, Mac will get a photo session ;-)

Click here for their SLIDESHOW of the day.

Scott Halverson

2008-08-27T22:50:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend, Scott Halverson, has been battling cancer. A few weeks back I had a voicemail from Scott. He said, in an understandably shaky voice, he had been given 50/50 odds by a leading oncologist and that he would like me to do some family portraits for them in case he didn't make it. I was truly honored he invited me to join their family for a photo session at this difficult time. His family of origin was in town and everyone was in good spirits for the shoot. While Scott had a little energy, we worked through a few different shots set in their garden. This shoot is part one. We all look forward to part two at the beach when Scott is back to health. If you are the praying kind, please pray for Scott and his family.

Click here to view the photos as a slideshow

Libby & Matt

2008-08-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday August 10, 2008, Libby Folkert & Matt McKinley said "I do" at Lake George Church in Colorado. Libby has been like a little sister to us, so being a part of her celebration was extra special. After shooting her brother Tim's wedding a few years ago, we already knew much of her family—they are a fun bunch . We were all stoked the rain stayed at bay and the overcast skies made for divine light. The ceremony was sweet with both Matt and Libby's fathers conducting the ceremony—there weren't many dry eyes by the end. The party moved onto M-Lazy C Ranch for the reception, complete with amazing BBQ, lassos, horseshoes, hayrides, campfires, and other "ranchy" fun. Congratulations Libby and Matt. Thanks for letting us share in your day. We can't wait to see you in California!

Click here for a slideshow of the day

Annie & Dan

2008-07-27T23:27:00.000-07:00

This time last week, we were enjoying a wonderful sunny weekend on Catalina Island for Annie & Dan's wedding. I've known Dan for the past few years—it was a treat to see him so happy and a real honor to be a part of their big day. Catalina has been a special place for Annie's family for years. A pretty cool new chapter was written in that history book last Saturday. The wedding took place at the Catalina Country Club on a warm southern California afternoon.

Congratulations Annie & Dan. Jana and I loved being a part of your wedding. Thank you for including us. We look forward to hanging out in Santa Cruz when you get back.
Click here for slideshow of the day.

The Lammy Lives!

2008-07-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

Ryan's 125cc Lambretta has been resurrected and is now a beast of a tuned 200cc. When this things hits its powerband it really screams. Sunday morning I received and early text from Ryan, "DoHNut ride @ 8?" Heck yes I'm in! Check out this sweet scoot.

Canela & Shannon

2008-06-18T23:59:00.000-07:00

It's time to get back on the blogwagon—I needed a break there for a spell. In my best Michael Scott impersonating Arnie voice, "I'm baaack." Watch this space for more binge blogging to follow. In the meantime, if you haven't seen this slideshow yet, check out Canela & Shannon in the golden fields of Quail Hollow Park.slideshow

Ku-ri-su To-sa (Chris Tozer)

2008-06-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

I'm still smiling from our evening in San Francisco with Chris Tozer, New Zealand Trade Commissioner and Consul in New York (yes, the real Murray). It was such a treat to see him again for the first time since Jana and I left Hagi, Japan about 10 years ago. In honor of our time together in the land of the rising sun, sushi was in order (the toro was wicked good). Catching up and reminiscing about Japan was blast. Life is grand.

Happy National Donut Day!

2008-06-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

It's that happy time of year once again—the first Friday in June—National Donut Day. In honor of this momentous occasion, we started the day at Felton Donuts. The day is young, make sure you enjoy a tasty treat from your local favorite.

Lucky 13

2008-06-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

Thirteen years ago today Jana and I said, "I do"—today we still do. We were married on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Sacramento. Life's been a good adventure for us, with lots of laughs. I'm truly thankful we get to do life together Jana Lu—you make me smile. I love you.

Album of the Day:
Counting Crow—August and Everything After

Vancouver with Seagate

2008-05-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

The buzz about Vancouver is true. Jana and I had a blast hanging out up there with the Seagate crew. They were holding their Worldwide Finance & Human Resources meeting at the Four Seasons. We were invited to come along and photograph the event. It was great. We got to meet so many nice people from all over the world. Seagate must be doing something right, as many of the people we meet have been with Seagate for 10, 20, and more years.

Jana & I arrived a day early to scout things out. We were able to connect with our friend Ryan Wheemhoff for dinner at the Irish Heather—best pot pie ever.

The Amazing Race was a team building adventure on Tuesday that had all 130 Seagate employees running all over Vancouver. We hired local photographer, James Moes, to shoot with us. He captured some sweet images and is our new pal. I look forward to the next time our paths cross.

The last night we presented a slideshow of "The Amazing Race" and a tribute to Charles C. Pope in honor of his retirement announcement. After the closing festivities, Duane kept the party rolling by treating a handful of us to his skills on the keys.

Thanks for having us Karen.

Slideshows:
Amazing Race slideshow
Charles C. Pope tribute slideshow

Photo gallery:
Click here

102

2008-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Yeowza, it's hot (and no I didn't take a trip to Fresno on the scoot to snap this photo). According to the Vespa dash, it was 102 degrees hot in the parking lot yesterday. That calls for a round of orange 50/50 bars.

Things will cool down in some ways and heat up in others in a few days. Saturday Jana and I take off for Vancouver to cover an international corporate event for Seagate. We are looking foraward to a great time of meeting people from around the globe, hanging in Vancouver and getting to make images. I'm excited to have James Moes join us as another shooter for the big team building event. Stay tuned.

Skanking to the Beat

2008-05-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

Friday night turned out to be quite the adventure. Jane Sovndal called last week about a, "possibly exciting opportunity." She was hosting a show at the Boom Boom Room with Monica Maduro, to benefit CSAW (Community of Sudanese and American Women/Men). It was a warm-up party for her 20-year high school reunion featuring The English Beat—perfect. I played their cassettes in jr. high and high school until the little felt square fell out, so I was stoked to donate my time. After a great show, the night wound down around 2:30. Josh and I packed up and walked across the street to the garage. When we saw the black steel doors rolled down, Josh said, " I think we missed an important sign." Sure enough. The truck was going to be safe and sound until 6:30 am. We decided to have fun with it, so we headed off in search of some late night snacks. Mel's Diner was open until 4 am. From there we moved onto Bob's Donut shop for a great crueler and some gnarly coffee. After we had our fill of the Marvin Gaye VH1 behind the music segment playing on the tv, we went in search of another 24-hour spot. Van Ness Bakery had left a light on for us. We bailed there around 6:00 to walk back to the garage. It was still a few minutes early, so we grabbed some Peet's for the drive home. By 8:15 or so I was home and in bed for a nap. Jane & Monica, thanks for having us. Josh thanks for a sweet adventure (in a sort of fun disaster kind of way).

Click here for a slideshow of the show.

Vespa Fever

2008-04-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

It's spreading. Orbie seems to be infected with a bad case of Vespa Fever. Yesterday we had a great photographers lunch in the sun with the Santa Cruz usual suspects at Live Oak Cafe. Afterwards, Orbie, Rebecca, Jana and I stopped in at il Motorino in Santa Cruz for some test rides. Do it Orbie and come ride with the "Mosquitoes"

Here's what happened:

Conspiracy Surfboards

2008-04-24T00:13:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning's shoot with the Conspiracy boys was a kick. Jeremiah Kille, John Ricketts, and I meet down in Santa Cruz (getting there was a cold scooter ride). We piled into Jeremiah's truck and rallied straight to Whale City Bakery for the world's best almond bear claw—Mmmmm hot right out of the oven. After that we figured the day was already a success. From Davenport, we headed north to connect with surfers Peter Garaway and Ryan Grable. These guys are so fun to watch—they make going big look easy. Click here to check out the slideshow of the day.

It's coming

2008-04-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day is almost here. "This is an international event created to promote and celebrate the art of pinhole photography." Hurry, there is still time to get a pinhole camera together if you don't have one already.

Here are a few I've used:

Dirkon DIY paper pinhole camera that uses 35mm film.

PinHOLGA
Hack your HOLGA into a PinHOLGA or buy one from HOLGA Mods

Zero 6x9 Beautiful hand-crafted, medium format, wooden pinhole camera. It's as cool as the images it makes. (f-stop: f/235)

IPanorame Simple to build DIY medium format panoramic pinhole camera.

Get cracking and share the images you make. If you have any favorite pinhole tips, share them in the comments below.

Apple Care Rocks

2008-04-20T22:59:00.000-07:00

48 hours after admitting my MacBook Pro to the Apple Genius Bar, I got the call it was being released. Cool. All $461 of parts and labor was covered by Apple Care. Phew. The Fujitsu hard drive transplant was a success (aside from loosing everything on the old drive.) I was lucky, actually well planned for with backups and a safe workflow, and didn't lose anything critical. Had this been my main Mac with no backups, everything would be gonzo. All of my photos, projects, email, music: gone I tell you, gone. Please take heed and backup now (this means you Jen.)

Another One Bites the Dust

2008-04-20T00:09:00.000-07:00

Singing Queen about my MacBook Pro. Friday I had to take a dead Mac to the Apple Store Genius Bar for the first time. I went through all of the trouble shooting I know how to do, called Apple Care, and then got the first available appointment. I hopped on the scoot, with my ailing MBP in my backpack and cruised over Highway 17. It's most likely a fried hard drive, but could be a logic board. Either way, I'm so stoked I went with Apple Care. This Mac is about a year and a half old. These repairs would have cost about as much as an entirely new machine. With Apple Care everything is covered by Apple. Back up often and buy Apple Care with your next Mac.

"There are two types of people. Those who have had a hard drive crash and those who will."

Be safe out there.

1800 miles

2008-03-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

We made it. Our week in the southwest was a blast. The first desert stop after Kingsburg was the Mojave Preserve. The wild flowers were in full bloom and quite amazing. I couldn't help but play a little U2 as we rolled through the miles of joshua trees on our way there. We pulled in and went for a quick hike on the rings trail—the desert is like a different planet. After a chilly night we packed up and headed for Prescott, AZ.

That morning we stopped for gas in Needles. The chump at the gas station said our rear wheel was wobbling and it looks like we need a new tire. Hmmm? Strange—didn't notice anything. We checked things out, made a few phone calls, put the truck up on their rack, determined they were trying to sucker us and moved onto Costco in Prescott for a second opinon and new tires if needed. The tech at costco said, "You're fine. These will go to 50K easy." Thank you much, we'll be on our way. So when in Needles, watch out for roadside weasels. Now with a bit more confidence our tires weren't a ticking timebomb, as the boys at Shell would have liked us to believe, we went looking for Newt and The Raven. Eureka! Thanks to the Garmin, we drove straight to The Raven. It's a very cool hangout. Newt and crew did an impressive job restoring the classic downtown building and creating a sweet hub for the community. Be sure to stop in if you ever find yourself in Prescott.

The next day we spent the morning in the old hillside mining town of Jerome. It felt like stepping back in time. In the early afternoon we made our way to Sedona. Wow! Driving into Sedona reminded me of driving though the tunnel and popping out at the south entrance to Yosemite—spectacular. The town was more touristy than we envisioned, but the surrounding landscape is unbelievable.

Thursday morning we punched the South Rim of the Grand Canyon into the gps and hit the road once again. That is some hole. We spent the sunny but cool day cruising the stretch from The Village to Hermits Rest. Next trip we want to plan on enough time to hike down into the canyon.

On the way home, we cruised much of the historic Route 66 (now I want to see Cars again). There are still some great signs from a bygone era out there. Jana pulled a marathon read of The Glass Castle and read nearly the entire book to me between Williams, AZ and Kingsburg, CA. It made the time pass quickly by. We rolled into Kingsburg, showered for the second time since we left, and headed to a late dinner with my parents at Sal's Mexican Restaurant for a Fancy Burrito. Mmmmmm.

The trip was great, but it's always nice to come back to Santa Cruz and our friends and family here.

I have a few snapshots from the trip posted on flickr

ROAD TRIP!

2008-03-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

The Tacoma is loaded and we are hitting the road. We might make it to Arizona and the Grand Canyon, or we might not. Either way we will be out on the road for a week of fun. Ciao!

Gator & Tuesday

2008-03-22T01:14:00.000-07:00

Former Mount Hermon Day Camp counselors, Gator & Tuesday (a.k.a. Dan & Annie) are tying the knot. Today we went back to Mount Hermon to make a few images. I've had the privilege of getting to know Dan over the past few years. He's a brilliant and funny guy. I can just about track with his sarcasm by now. We finally got to hang out with Annie a bit. She is a real sweetheart (Dan, I don't know how you pulled that one off) They are getting married this summer on Catalina Island. Annie & Dan, thanks for having us as your photographers and for smiling lots.

Click here to see their engagement photos slideshow

WPPI 2008

2008-03-22T00:12:00.000-07:00

WPPI 2008. Check. We are just about caught up on lost sleep from a few eventful days in Las Vegas.

Highlights:
• Getting to hang out with Jana this year
• Lots of time with the Santa Cruz peeps (Danielle, Jeff, Orbie, Rebecca, Ron and Lori)
• Staying with Ron & Lori Fulmer
• Blue cheese burger and frites at Mon Ami Gabi Wow!
• Blu Domain party at the Parisian Palace (you have to take a look at this place)
• Seeing Carl and the primo Foto Cabina
• Hanging out with Gary Sikes
• Connecting with Dane—that guy is en fuego.
• Dinner with the becker, Jessica, Tim, Scott, Gary, Dane, Leigh, Vu & Lan Bui
• becker's [b] school party

It was an eventful year at WPPI. The police swarmed the blu social as we pulled away. I lost my phone and had it returned by a real life hero, Stephen, who ran down the street to catch the shuttle we were on. THANK YOU! The power went out in Vegas during our dinner Tuesday night, when a transformer caught fire. It was a bit eerie seeing all of the emergency vehicles and helicopters and not know what was going on. Becker was stuck up in his suite with no lights for about an hour while we waited for the main power to come back on.

WPPI Here We Come.

2008-03-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

Jana and I just rolled back into town after a super fun weekend in the snow. After a grueling drive to Tahoe (11 1/2 hours from Santa Cruz) we had a great time hanging out with friends and family at the Sierra Club's Claire Tapaan Lodge.

Tomorrow we head out for the much anticipated WPPI Convention in Las Vegas. Last year was great. I'm stoked Jana is joining in this year. In the morning Danielle Gillett is flying out with us. In Vegas we'll connect with Ron & Lori Fulmer of Shoot 2 Send . Woohoo. Let's have some fun.

Our good friend Dane Sanders launched a killer brand spanking new site. Gary Sikes and the crew at elevation rocked it. These guys know branding—check them out. They also have the best album proofing system since sliced bread with their Album Exposure. All you photographers out there definitely need to give this a look.

Safe travels everyone—see you in Vegas.

You are Awesome!

2008-03-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

It's March 10th and time to celebrate the International Day of Awesomeness. "No one's perfect, but everyone can be awesome." We'd like to give a shout out today to all of our awesome friends and family who make life awesome. Smile and know you are loved. You are awesome!

Happy 30th Zach Brown!

2008-03-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

A group of us joined Zach for a great ride up the epic Eureka Canyon Road in honor of his 30th birthday today—it was perfect. We rode up out of the redwoods into the sun on the ridge. Then we turn around and bombed the hill back down to meet the non-pedaling crew for pizza at Big J's in Coralitos. You are a good man Zach Brown. I'm glad you were born. You make the world a better place. I look forward to getting out on another ride with you soon.

Rainy day fun

2008-01-27T22:26:00.000-08:00

Saturday we got to hang out with our nephews Sam and Henry. We thought it would be fun to let them create their own animations using this super slick application called iStopMotion by Boinx. It was as easy as downloading the demo and plugging an external Apple iSight camera into the MacBook Pro. Viola!—instant animation studio in the living room. Check out their creations.

Jen & Colin

2008-01-12T21:51:00.000-08:00

Our kick-off wedding of 2008 couldn't have been better. Jen has been a dear friend ever since we moved to the area about 8 years ago—to be a part of her big day was super fun. We met Colin when he joined Jana, Jen and myself for Lesley & Jeremy's wedding in Louisiana last year. It was apparent early on they were a sweet match.

The community of friends and family that came together to support Jen & Colin was truly amazing. Everyone pitched in and pulled-off a great event. Jana traded her camera for a wedding coordinator's clipboard on this wedding. My man Josh Butz was the second shooter. As usual, he created some fantastic images.

Congrats Jen & Colin. All of our love to you as you start your new life together. We are stoked for you. Thank you for sharing your day with us. Click here to check out their wedding slideshow.

Jasmine & Avery

2007-10-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

This year has been amazing. Saturday was our fourth wedding in the past 14 days. So yes, we've been busy having fun. We had the pleasure of working with Nick McKay on this event.

Jasmine & Avery were the couple on the other side of the lens. They are great. We've had a good time getting to know them. Jasmine started the day off in style at the recently restored, West Cliff Inn in Santa Cruz. There was a huge marching band review taking place just down the hill in front of the Boardwalk. That made getting over to the Our Lady Star of the Sea, well, shall we say, "exciting." Everything worked out and Padre Alberto performed a beautiful ceremony. One thing that really stood out to us, was the special connection Jasmine & Avery have with their families. We saw this in Jasmine dancing with her grandmother, Avery dancing with his two adorable goddaughters and many other sweet moments. They also honored their family heritage by making their traditions a big part of the day—we got to see "jumping the broom" for the first time. Congratulations Jasmine & Avery. We look forward to seeing you around town. Hopefully we can join you at Whale City one of these Thursday nights.

Marci & Danny

2007-10-18T23:33:00.000-07:00

We packed up our gear for round two of our double-header wedding weekend. After hanging out with Joe & Nicole on Saturday we headed over to Mount Hermon to photograph Marci and Danny's special day on Sunday. Danny and Marci are friends from Mount Hermon. It's always fun being a part of the celebration when you've been friends with the couple. Marci looked absolutely stunning and Danny had the most adorable smile on his face all day. They chose a beautiful outdoor location surrounded by redwood trees and nature. Their ceremony was very symbolic of who they are. Communion and a foot washing were the first acts they did as a married couple. A crane kept passing by over-head at the reception! We joked it was a stork visiting them early. Some of the special touches were the Kern's sodas (their last name), the yummy fondue fountain and a super cool guestbook. Congrats Danny and Marci! Thanks for choosing us to photograph your day.

Click here to see the slideshow from their day.

Nicole & Joe

2007-10-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

Nicole & Joe, and their families were exceptionally sweet to work with—they all treated us so well. We kicked-off the day by meeting Nicole and her crew at Bliss in Aptos. Nicole was super relaxed and her fun, easy-going self. After hair and make-up by Ben Rush, it was off to the Sesnon House. This classic house makes for such a great wedding setting—it's definitely one of our favorite places to shoot. Jana and Josh were already capturing Joe and boys, along with some family, when we arrived. We were all relieved the rain from the previous day was gone. The sun shining on the ceremony made things warm and perfect. One of the sweetest parts of the day was Joe playing guitar and singing to Nicole at the reception. Joe has chops.

Joe and Nicole, your eyes were so full of love for each other on your day. Hold onto that and express it to each other often. Congratulations on tying the knot. We wish you a life full of love as you take off on your new adventure together. Thanks for including us in your celebration. Peace.

Click here to see a slideshow from their day.

Michele & Dan—Perfect weekend in Cambria

2007-10-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

This weekend's wedding was extra special to me, as the groom, Dan Dodson, is one of my best friends. Jana and I had a blast being part of their destination wedding. Michele & Dan planned a super fun weekend for their friends and family, starting Friday with golf and spa treatments.

Saturday, the ceremony and reception took place in the garden at Robin's (my mouth is watering thinking about it). It was small, intimate and full of joy. One of the sweetest deals of the day was having Gary Sander officiate. He has been on of the most influential people in my life and in Dan's. It was great to see him and his wife Mary Lou. As the reception wound down Michele, Dan, Jana and I walked around Cambria a bit, before heading to Moonstone Beach for some photos. It couldn't have been better—the sun was out and the wind was mild.

That evening most of the wedding party headed down to Oceano to see a live performance of "Frankenstein's Bride" at the Great American Melodrama. What a kick.

Sunday was a mellow day. Jana and I walked from one end of Cambria to the other and back before grabbing breakfast. On the way home, a handful of us stormed the Eagle Castle Winery for a tasting. From there we moved across the way to Castoro Cellars for some different sips. My favorite quote of the day was (and I won't embarrass anyone), "My problem is I don't drink enough. Ha ha ha ha..."

Michele & Dan thank you for a wonderful weekend. We are so glad we could celebrate with you. Thank you. Much love and peace to you as you start your new life together. We look forward to hanging out again soon. Aloha!

Check out their slideshow here.

Jen & Colin

2007-09-21T02:02:00.000-07:00

Jana and I had a fun afternoon with Jen & Colin while we shot their engagement photos down in Santa Cruz, CA. To back up a bit, Jen is a long time friend and one of the first people we met when we moved to the Santa Cruz area. Jen and Colin joined us on our Louisiana wedding in the spring when they were at the DTR (determine the realationship) stage. We had a blast road triping with them across the South. Congrats you two—you are great together. Click here to check out their slideshow from yesterday's shoot.

Dirty Wheels 007

2007-09-21T02:01:00.001-07:00

My brother James and I just finished hosting the 4th Annual Thomsen Brothers Cycles Dirty Wheels Weekend Mountain Bike Extravaganza. It was a kick. We had about 25 brave souls join us this year for 3 days of riding in the Tahoe area. Ryan "Chef Boy Am I Hungry" rocked the food again—we ate well. Sunday we road one of my all-time favorite trails, Hole In The Ground. We had the honor of hearing from Nobie Hill and Tom Ritchey. Check out the cool stuff Tom is doing with Project Rwanda. I want to be like those guys when I grow up. Thanks to everyone for joining us. Again that was one of the highlights of my year. I've posted a few images on my flickr site.

We will miss you Zac.

2007-09-21T01:18:00.000-07:00

Late Saturday night I received one of those phone calls you hope you never get. Jana called to let me know our friend Zac Johnson had been killed in a motorcycle accident Friday. Zac worked with Jana when she was doing Outdoor Science School at Mount Hermon. He was one of the nicest most helpful people I've known. He was a master mechanic and was always willing to share his skills with a friend in need. Zac, you made this world a better place. We will miss you.

Christyn and Paco, Ole

2007-09-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

Christyn and Paco tied the knot today in one of the most spectacular places I've had the privilege to shoot. Their celebration was a Mexican Fiesta in the hills of Woodside, CA, complete with a Mariachi Band—too cool. We saw a bobcat on our way to the wedding and heard and saw a hawk circling the ceremony. The fog stayed away and sun wasn't too hot. Instead of tossing the bouquet and garter, they put them into a pinata and let the guest whack at it. What an amazing day it was. Christyn and Paco, your day turned out perfectly. Thank you for sharing it with us. Jana, Josh and I had a great time spending the day with you and meeting your family and friends. I look forward to the next time paths cross. Vaya con Dios.

Click here to view their slideshow.

Heather & Josh

2007-09-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Woohoo! Heather & Josh said their "I do's" today at Roaring Camp. It was a beautiful sunny hot summer day. Josh & Heather, thanks for including us in your celebration. It was a real treat to see you again and to be a part of your day. Congratulations. I wish you much love and happiness as you begin this new phase in life. Remain in love as you are today. Here is a slideshow from the day.

Three Little Birds

2007-08-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

It was tattoo time again this afternoon. My buddy Ryan Thompson was the recipient of needle pricks from Mac at The Gilded Lilly. Ryan's new art is sysmbolic of the three birdies in his life, Tanith, Madison, and Lauren. Mac runs a clean no attitude shop in the heart of Felton. If you need some birdies of your own, give him a shout. Check out the slideshow of the fun. click for slideshow

A Day In Davenport

2007-08-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a super chill day with a cool couple, Jasmine & Avery. Jana & I had a great time taking in the "locals only" tour of the Davenport area. Jasmine is a Davenport native, so she had the "in" on a number of sweet locations. After the shoot, when we hopped into the truck Jana said, "That was so fun...I feel like we should invite them up for dinner." Jasmine & Avery, you two are great. Thanks for being such fun, mellow people to hang out with and shoot—that was a good time. We are excited to be working with you and we look forward to getting to know you better. Enjoy your engagement slideshow. (click to view)

Stephanie & Kevin

2007-08-11T23:29:00.000-07:00

I am continually amazed at the cool people I get to meet and hang out with through photography. Stephanie and Kevin are two of the sweetest, most thoughtful people I've come accross. It was a real treat to be a part of their day today. They were married on the lawn at College 9 on the UC Santa Cruz campus. It's a beautiful spot tucked away in the redwoods at the top of the campus. Kevin and Stephanie, thanks letting us be a part of your celebration. Josh and I enjoyed hanging out with you and meeting your friends and family. I wish you two much love and happiness as you start your new life together. I truly look forward to the next time our paths cross. You two are great. Have fun chillaxin' in the Cruz.

Here's a slideshow from the day.

Pantone "Color Kill"

2007-08-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Pantone color systems is having a "Color Kill" contest to destroy old color formula swatch books. This system is the industry standard for the creative arts and beyond. The most creative destruction scores an iPhone. My buddies Dan Meyer and Josh Butz helped put this entry together. My 2007 Vespa GTS 250 plays a star role. Check it out. Your rating is appreciated.

Cheers!

Fresyes

2007-08-05T23:54:00.000-07:00

Don't say Fresno. Everybody throw your hands in the air and say FresYES!

I spent the weekend with my good friend Dane Sanders shooting Ashley & Aaron's wedding in a much hotter place than Santa Cruz. Catching up and connecting was good fun. Dane noted 13 summers have passed since we met in downtown Sacramento while, our then-girlfriends-now-wives, were roommates. Dane, thanks for your friendship and for having me join you on this one. It's always a pleasure to hang out and to shoot with you.

The slideshow from the day rocks. Check it on Dane's blog.

Anna & Sim

2007-07-15T23:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the big day for Anna & Sim at the Sesnon House in Santa Cruz. Talk about a cool venue. Anna & Sim's touches put it over the top. There were brilliant red roses everywhere, Anna's dress and veil were stunning, and the cake with the Día de los Muertos topper was probably the coolest cake I've seen. The folklorico dancers after the ceremony added another heavy dose of style. Anna & Sim are a very cute couple—it was a real treat to get to hang out with them and their guests for the day. They are one of those couples you know will have a good life together. Another fun aspect of the day was having John Ricketts shoot with me. He's a true creative and he captured some priceless moments. Here is the slideshow from the day: Anna & Sim Wedding Slideshow.

Anna & Sim, it was great to celebrate with you. Thanks for having us be a part of your day. I wish much love and happiness as you start your new life together.