Tonya Peterson Photography | Santa Fe. Albuquerque. Worldwide | 575.420.4775 http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog 575.420.4775 | Santa Fe. Albuquerque. Worldwide. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:00:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 And the winner is . . . http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/09/and-the-winner-is/ http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/09/and-the-winner-is/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:00:58 +0000 tonyapeterson http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/?p=1410 Tony & Lily!

You would not believe how difficult it was to choose the winner of our 2011 Wedding Giveaway last night.  Alex and I finally narrowed the long list of applicants down to two couples.  I literally paced my front room and office for 2 hours trying to decide which of the two couples deserved it more and the reality of it was I couldn’t choose.  Both couples deserved it so much.  What was I to do?  I knew I couldn’t giveaway two full weddings in one year, even though that was the ONLY solution that wouldn’t make my heart hurt.  So instead I emailed all of my photography friends in NM to see if they would like to donate a free wedding to the deserving couple getting married in Las Vegas, NM in 2011.  My friend and wonderful photographer Corina See from Santa Fe stepped up and said she would love to donate her time and talent for this deserving couple.  I feel so blessed that so many people in our industry are so giving and willing to help.  Thanks so much Corina!

Here is a cute little story about how Lily and Tony met (P.S. it melted my heart that Tony was the one to submit this application!):

Lily grew up in Monterey Park in LA, then she went to UC Santa Cruz for college. After graduating, she spent two years in Japan teaching English to kids from first grade to 8th grade. She decided to come back to the U.S. and get a Master’s in Education. That’s when she met me.

I was born in Tucson, AZ, grew up in Sacramento, CA, and ended up going to UC Santa Barbara for college. I spent 4 years in Santa Barbara afterwards, working various customer service management jobs, before I realized that I hated office work. And customer service complaints. I wanted a job that, if someone were to complain about something, it would be important. Teaching popped into my head. If I get insulted and yelled at, it’ll either be by a student or their parent. I could live with that. So I decided to get my Master’s in Education.
We both decided on UC Santa Cruz for our Masters. Lily claims that the first time we met was at Trader Joe’s (Santa Cruz), I was working the check out and she says that she came through once, thought I was cute, and decided to go back to buy “necessary items”, just to go through my line again. I don’t remember it at all.
My recollection of our first meeting was at a beach barbecue. Her, lounging in a bikini talking to friends, me in my board shorts. We talked for a bit, I went swimming, and I the only way I could work up the courage to get her number and give her mine was to say she could call me any night after she was done drinking for a safe ride home (I worked late at TJ’s). We started dating and a two months later, thanks to a tequila induced conversation, we decided to be exclusive (she moved in shortly after).

About a year and half later, I proposed. It was a Saturday night in Japantown in San Jose. She already knew I had bought the ring but thought I would be proposing during our planned hike on Sunday. I snuck the ring into my pocket, and after dinner, after I opened the car door for her, I knelt on the ground and proposed. I was in jeans and a t-shirt. She was in work out clothes and crocs. When she was done screaming, “No”, she finally said, “Yes”.

In planning their wedding that have had many hurdles and obstacles to over come and I am just glad that now photography isn’t one of them.  I would hate to see them go without these pictures from their special day.  Congratulations Tony and Lily.  I can’t wait to meet you!

]]> http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/09/and-the-winner-is/feed/ 2 Salt Lake City Weddings | Sam and Amy http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/salt-lake-city-weddings-sam-and-amy/ http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/salt-lake-city-weddings-sam-and-amy/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:52:06 +0000 tonyapeterson http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/?p=1401 I was so excited when I got Sam ans Amy’s wedding invitation in the mail and I realized that I was going to be in Utah during it.  Amy is Alex’s cousin and I was so excited to go see everyone.  Alex’s cousins wife Lauren was taking the pictures for Amy and Sam and asked me if I could snap a few shots here and there.  She is very pregnant and had to be drop dead tired at this point in the day so when I got there I helped her with all of the family formals and a few detail shots.  I absolutely LOVE Lauren and was so honored to shoot with her.

Amy and Sam make a lovely couple.

The Skousen family is HUGE!  This is just immediate family!  This is another reason Lauren wanted me to help.  She had to be in this one.  Isn’t she such a cute pregnant girl!  She is in the middle front!

7 girls in one family.  I love them all to death!

They had the cutest ice cream sundae buffet at the wedding served by Amy’s only brother and many brothers-in-law.  They had Aggie Ice Cream . . . sigh . . . heaven!

Paige enjoyed the ice cream too . . . of course it had to be pink.

Amy and Sam.  I love you and I am so happy for you both!

]]> http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/salt-lake-city-weddings-sam-and-amy/feed/ 0 Roosevelt Utah Family Pictures | The Rasmussen Kids http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/roosevelt-utah-family-pictures-the-rasmussen-kids/ http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/roosevelt-utah-family-pictures-the-rasmussen-kids/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:55:25 +0000 tonyapeterson http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/?p=1386 I have known the Rasmussen’s for a few years now and I must say their kids are ADORABLE!  They recently added another little girl into the mix and Jenell really wanted some updated picture of all of her kids.  Luckily I was back in Utah just a few weeks after her little girl was born so it worked out perfectly.

You can see all of the photos from this session HERE

]]> http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/roosevelt-utah-family-pictures-the-rasmussen-kids/feed/ 2 The Sage Family | Roosevelt Utah http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/the-sage-family-roosevelt-utah/ http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/the-sage-family-roosevelt-utah/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:17:18 +0000 tonyapeterson http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/?p=1380 When I come to visit Utah my life is usually crazy and this trip was no exception.  One of the things that makes it so crazy is all of our family wants updated pictures.  This is one thing that I love about coming to Utah, because nothing is better than taking pictures for people you love.  It is defiantly worth the crazyness!

You might recognize Fifi and James from their family and wedding pictures from last year.  Sadly they didn’t have James’ kids this summer for their family pictures.  Hopefully next year!!!  This was a really quick mini session, but it was filled with laughs and I think we got some great shots!

To view the entire session please click here

]]> http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/the-sage-family-roosevelt-utah/feed/ 0 1 week left to enter the 2011 wedding giveaway + some pics of my family http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/2011-wedding-giveaway/ http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/2010/08/2011-wedding-giveaway/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:24:37 +0000 tonyapeterson http://www.tonyapeterson.com/blog/?p=1368 I just wanted to remind everyone that there is only 1 week left to enter our free wedding photography giveaway!  Rules on how to enter can be seen by clicking HERE.  If you or someone you know is getting married in 2011 please let them know of this unique and awesome opportunity!

Ok.  Now on to some pictures.  I had the awesome pleasure of taking some pictures of Alex’s brothers family while I was in Utah.  It is always a lot of fun to take pictures of my adorable niece and nephews!  Also a big thanks to Black Eyed Susan’s for letting me steal their yard for this session!

This one makes me crack up!  JR I love you!!!

All of their pictures can be seen HERE

Don’t forget to enter our 2011 wedding photography giveaway!

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