Monday, August 30, 2010

Arroyo Grande Wedding | Brian & Stacy

A few weeks ago on a warm humid thunder storming & summer day, we shot a wedding at the beautiful venue; Las Casitas of Arroyo Grande.  This was my 1st time shooting here. I love this place.  The owners are friendly and everything went fabulous.  Florist Panacea Event Floral Design.  The Hair was done by Reeda @ Faces a la Mode(we love her), the food was a Mediterranean cuisine and done by Catering Unlimited, As always in stylish production was the DJ, Jake with Kramer Entertainment, Local Cake Artist Eclair Bakery made their delicious cake.  The Photobooth Experience was there as well rocking out the night, every single guest got in there and had themselves captured in candid booth style.  This was an all star event!


    Michelle Guzman — Beautiful wedding. What fun shoes!

    Rachelle Erickson — Just BEAUTIFUL!!!! As always! :)

    Andy Rea — Mike, these are great. The location looks spectacular! Fantastic opening bridal portrait.

    Arno Hoogwerf — I love the shots of the details. Very nice!

    caringo — mike, these are stunning images! very well done and again blessed with beautiful ppl and wonderful location. looking forward to seeing you in cologne soon. take care ingo and carmen

    Donna Green — Mike, These are fantastic. What a beautiful venue and your work really showed it’s flair, lovely!

    Jen Otchy — Mike, these are beautiful! I love the rich colors. Looks like such a fun wedding!

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Thursday, August 12, 2010

Cape Cod Wedding | Jeremy & Erin

Jeremy & Erin got married in Cape Cod this summer and I’m pouring over their images.  We captured them this spring in San Francisco, and it was one of my all-time favorite casual portrait sessions in San Francisco.  Their wedding will be posted soon on the blog, stay tuned for more!

Cape Cod wedding

    Stephen Knuth — Nice!! I can’t wait to see the rest!

    Mike Larson — Stephen you will, they will be up soon!

    Christine — Love your work here! Congrats on being a future daddy! Keep on inspiring!

    Axel — Mike, your pictures have something pure and natural which is beautiful! Would you mind sharing some infos on your gear you usually take to a wedding shoot?

    Amy-Lynne — I vote for Alexandra in France to receive the Mike Larson sunset print. I like her comment and since she isn’t expecting anything, it would be a cool surprise for her to win! <

    Fotograaf Amersfoort — Love your work!! Even poeple from Holland Bye Patrick

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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Personal | I’m gonna be a Dad.

We are officially announcing this to our friends and all those who read this blog. Rachel and I are going to have a kid this year! My life has changed so much and God has given me so much to think about this year. Rachel & I both turned 30, my Dad turned 70, we have a little traveler kid on the way to join us as we travel around the world together as a little family exploring this beautiful world. So here begins a new journey. I know as a people photographer, capturing stories and cool stuff, I’m going to have a new subject besides my beautiful wife, my life partner, Rachel. So here goes this journey and you all are along for the ride. I love learning so I welcome your comments, sharing knowledge and advice. I’m thankful that God has allowed us to have kids, and hopefully this is the 1st of many. Thanks to those friends who have already given us such great advice, learning whats most important and what really matters in this life. I will be sharing the next months until birth here, and then from then on, sharing life. I’m pretty picky when it comes to maternity and baby photography, so I will be exploring it in a very different way. Enjoy..

    Michael Wachniak — DUUUUUUUDE! Congratulations Mike!!!! I have been a daddy for 24 days now and TRUST ME its the most amazing feeling I think anyone can experience. If you have ANY questions or would like to hear a POSITIVE birthstory (cause we only seem to hear the negative ones haha) just drop me a line ok? All the best!! -Michael-

    Scott Burns — Congratulations Mike. My daughter just turned one in June. The journey has been amazing!

    Meg Moen — Congratulations my friend!! I am so happy for you guys. It is just the beginning of a wonderful journey and it is absolutely the most amazing experience to be a parent. I cannot wait to meet Lil Larson. :) What a great blessing!!! Maybe you’ll have an extra special present on Christmas day! Like your friend Michael, if you would like to hear positive birth stories, let me know. Miss and love you guys!!!!

    Ginny Corbett — He’s handsome ;-)

    Rob Robertson — Dude! So excited for the 3 of you ;) You guys are major awesomesauce! Can’t wait to see you guys soon!

    Denise — Congratulations to all THREE of you. Blessings all the way from here on out, treasure every moment – it’s special. S/he is going to be so cute! Xx

    Curt Apanovich — Congrats guys! you will quickly realize that the only thing that truly matters is your child… my baby girl turned 4 last week. Having her enter my life changed everything. oh, and the first few months, all your baby will do is: eat, sleep, poop eat, sleep, poop repeat the process several times a day and late into the night….

    Hannah — Aww, this is so wonderful! A big congratulations from me (just a big fan of your photography :)) to you both! God bless. :)

    Robin Keller — Wow!!! Great news, Mike!!! As a mother of a 3 week old boy, I can tell you it is the most AMAZING experience EVER!!! So, enjoy each minute of Rachel’s growing belly and then get ready for the best thing to ever happen to you- the birth of your child! It is truly a miracle!!! All the best from Munich.

    Patrick op’t Roodt — Congrats…. Wil bring a big change in your life.

    Stephen Knuth — SO EXCITING!!! :) Love you guys.

    Tori — Congratulations! That is such exciting news. I started following your wedding photography a few years ago when you photographed an acquaintance of mine’s wedding in SLO. I’m so happy for you and your wife and look forward to seeing your photos as you document the joys of your newfound parenthood.

    Toby — Congrats! You two are going to be awesome parents.

    Andreas Frossard — BEAUTIFUL! Congrats! I’ve got two kidz (3.5years / 11 Months). Its challenging but also the best thing that ever happened to me (us).

    jen lynne — Congratulations Mike and Rachel, you are going to wonderful parents!

    Thomas Lester — Wow! Congrats guys! This is huge news. I’m excited for you. Being a Dad is the greatest!

    Jenny — Awesome! Congratulations! I pray your wife will have a wonderful pregnancy and easy delivery! Parenthood is the best ever – welcome to the club!

    Caelen Weber — Praise the Lord! Congratulations! Praying for a smooth, fun and blessed pregnancy for you both. It really is incredible to be a parent. Our daughter will be 2 in October and we’re so blessed everyday to have her! +1 to having a super positive and awesome birth story! Home birth is great if you’re thinking of it. God bless and congratulations again! In Christ, Caelen, Rachel and Liberty

    Jen Otchy — SO happy for you and Rachel – You will be wonderful parents. Children are such a gift. Enjoy every moment!

    Eric Farewell — Happier than happy… You guys are such blessings… I can’t wait for my Bride and I to have our own kids so THEY can connect :)

    Ruben Parra — Congrats and Blessing !!!

    Christan Parreira — Congrats Mike! You and Rachel are going to be awesome parents!!

    Jeanice — Congratulation to you and Rachel! This baby and the ones that follow will be your greatest accomplishment, I know my children are mine.

    Dognbird — Awesome news! Congrats!!

    Tara — Congatulations!

    Evie Perez — Oh my goodness!!!! Congrats to the both of you. I am so happy, excited, overjoyed and all of the above for you and Rachel. I know that you both are going to be amazing parents.

    Otto Rascon — Congrats to you and your wife. This little baby will for sure change your life, and all of the better. My little one just turned 3 and she is a joy. Being a dad is an amazing responsibility, one that you will love. Rock on and much love from Chicago.

    Philippe — Congrats Mike! Enjoy these moments and take a lot of care!

    Sérgio Murillo — Congratulations!

    Jess McCann — wonderful news!!!!! congrats to new beginnings :)

    Adrian Jankowski — Congratulations Rachel & Mike from Poland :) … so what you both think? Baby more Rachel or Mike? :)

    Mike Larson — Thanks for the comments! Michael, DUUDE, i’m stoked too! Meg, its been cool following you for so long with your kids, you guys are such a fun family. Rob, you rock, thanks for helping all the years with us, even thought your life is just as full with a kid too!, Curt, so cool you have a 4 year old!, Hannah, I’m honored your a fan! Stephen, thank you for your comment, Tori, thanks for still following and sayin hi! Andreas, i love your attitude of kids being the best thing ever! Caelen, stoked for your heartfelt comments on my blog. Jen Otchy, I am looking forward to them being a gift! Eric Farewell, you guys are a blessing too! When are you gonna have kids?!! Ruben, good to see you, thank you, Jeanice, thanks for always being there as a loving friend in our town. Evie, Otto, I hope we are the best parents ever. Phillipe, thanks for your comment, looking forward to seeing you at the wedding you are coordinating in Sept! Thank you all!

    michelle horton — So happy for you and Rachel!! Congratulations!! I already can’t wait to see the maternity and baby pictures. Hope to see you guys soon!

    Orbie Pullen — Congrats Mike!

    Alex Rodriguez — What a blessing, congrats!

    dawn swift — Congratulations, you’ll make a brilliant dad!!! Make sure you take plenty of pictures, it’s easy to forget to photograph your own loved ones.

    Mikołaj Frodyma — Congratulations Mike! That is a truly wonderful information! All the best to the three of You :)

    Katrina — Mike & Rachel, Phil and I are SO EXCITED for the two of you! What an exciting & adventurous time it is for you guys. Enjoy every second!…Can’t wait to see pics of the new addition!

    StephaneH — Hi Mike, congrats to you and Rachel and welcome in this new second life… We have à girl from 9 month’s and a boy from 4 year and they will be very happy to play with Baby Larson when you’re coming to Belgium… Xxx

    Acres of Hope Photography — Congratulations Mike and Rachel!!!

    Esthervan Berk — Congratulations from Holland. Wish you all the luck and love in the world with this big little wonder!

    Amy-Lynne — RACHEL & MIKE ~ Congratulations, delighted it’s now public. “Every good thing given and every perfect Gift is from Above, coming down from the FATHER of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” ~ James 1:17 GOD Bless you ~ all 3 of you, the Adventure Begins! Amy-Lynne, honored for 32 years to be Bryan’s favorite Mom <

    Carl — Congratulations on having your first child…enjoy the moment!!! Regards, Carl from T.O.

    Dana Hodgkinson — Congratulations MIKE & RACHEL……………You two have so much excitement yet to come. Children are such a blessing . Enjoy every stage and take TONS of photos. love and hugs Dana

    Annett Valentin — Hi Mike! I just came around to have a look at your site an then this big surprise! It is so wonderful, that you become Dad. I joined your Workshop in Zingst this June. Maybe you remember that we took a picture together with my baby in me. Now it’s only one week till it comes to us and we waited so many years and cannot believe this wonder yet. So we know how you feel and I wish us all the very best for this special and best time in our life! Lovely greeting, Annett from Germany.

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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Hawaii Travel Photography | Shot of the week

I think I’m going to start doing a new tradition here, in my travels I’ve had some amazing shots that I love.  Images that remind me of why I shoot and really capture (no pun intended) my passion for photography.  Its images like these that make me want to ALWAYS carry my camera with me.  This one is shot on my way out to Hawaii over the pacific, probably about halfway out.  My favorite thing about heading west is how the sunsets last f-o-r-e-v-e-r.  Here are my settings: 5d mark 2, RAW, 1/20th, f / 7.0, 35mm 1.4L lens, ISO 800.  The reason i pushed it to 1/20th is because I wanted a tight as possible grain structure.

Want a copy of this shot?  I am also going to give away a signed 8×12 print of this shot. I will select from those who comment on this post at random within 2 weeks from today.  Enjoy!

Sunset over the Pacific

    Sebastian — Oh YES – I’d love a real Mike Larson ;-) I can so totally understand you here – regarding this picture – I’d have loved to take one or two pics like that but unfortunately did not carry my camera…

    Stephen Knuth — God’s beauty at its best. :)

    Sharon Neves — Absolutely Beautiful!!

    Michael Wachniak — This is GORGEOUS, Mike! I can’t wait to hang it on my wall! :)

    Mary Marantz — beautiful!!!

    Corinna Hoffman — Breathtaking!! :)

    Eric Farewell — Yes please :) I’d love to have it! :D

    Dana Hodgkinson — WHen the LORD paints a picture he TRULY knows what he is doing. WHat a blessing that you were able to caputure this Mike. Sending you and Rach a big hug from me……..Dana

    jennifer Buehrer — ugh! Breathtaking… loss of words. Sometimes I hope for a view like this… but i luck out (sarcastically) with Thunderstorm weather while on a plane…. it’s still beautiful.. just not at all peaceful like this one.

    Mario Dirks — Hi Mike, very beautiful pic, with fantastic colours.. I like it and i like Hawaii too :o) I was there last year (Honolulu, Maui and the lovely Kauai).. Hang loose, ;o) Greetings from Norderney (Germany) Mario

    Suzanne — la-la-loving it :-)

    cat — stunning… credit to mike, glory to God. :) thanks for sharing with us!

    Tara — That is such an amazing picture!!

    Darcy Ryan — What a great new tradition! And an awesomely beautiful sunset! I love it!

    Kim Nodurft — Simply gorgeous! Makes me feel as if I were there.

    Teya — Speechless…AMAZING! U truly r the most incredibly talented photographers I have ever seen. U have photographed several friends weddings and did an amazing job. This is how I came upon ur website by looking at their photos here. Now I ck ur blog out once a wk just to see ur recent work! Thank U for sharing ur wk here for all to enjoy;)

    Amanda Tyler — Mike- This reminds me of our honeymoon last July after we left Carmel. Love it! Hope all is well and enjoy seeing your travels. Cheers, Amanda

    Andrea — Loving this shot… it’s like a little peek into heaven in the distance. Great capture!

    Casey Bassetti — was this shot out of an airplane window? How did you get such a clear shot? very awesome

    Mario — Think I shold get thi spicture, as I was twice in Hawaii, and never had a sunset like this!

    laura — gorgeous!

    Steff — Nice shot! I hope, I can shot so a sunset in november, when we are traveling to hawaii. greetz from germany…

    simon — that’s awesome!!

    oliver — fantastic

    Alexandra — I know France is too far to send anything… so just for the sake of saying it : your photo is like one of those moments when you close your eyes and you say to yourself “this moment right here, I have to remember it forever”… and lucky for you, you can really capture it forever :)

    Edgardo Iglesias — Great! Mike, muito legal ver como você tem prazer verdadeiro ao fotografar. Obrigado por compartilhar. Edgardo

    dawn beirnes — pictures like this that take your breath away is one of the reasons why one day I hope to live my dream and become a photographer. Throwing an expensive camera in the air and getting awesome shots would be cool, but I think I’ll leave that up to you!

    Jen Johnson — I’m heading that way next month…I can’t wait!

    Faith — Absolutely breathtaking! I could wrap myself in this like a warm blanket.

    Carole Zepeda — Simply stunning! Red sky at night, sailor’s delight…

    Rachelle Erickson — Simply A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Love it.

    Joanne Thomas — WOW! The sky is on fire. His creation will testify of who He is–and it does.

    WindyTruth — Are you looking for perfection, elegance, inspiration of harmony – you can look over and over on these masterpieces.

    Christine Sedley — One of the beautiful miracles of our earthly life!

    Laura Anderson — I want to rent a plane and fly around all day and take pictures of the sky. Crazy how there is no way to ever re-create what we see in the sky in any given moment. Thanks Mike!

    Keith Harness — Hi Mike, great picture, colors are great since attending your seminar in Hamburg I have always kept a close eye on your website and facebook page. Keep up the good work

    Peter Geluk — I can already see this on my wall…. Great shot!!

    Doug John — What a great shot Mike!

    Michelle Nelson — Heaven….

    Matt — Mike, Crazy Amazing!

    Alexander Mihm — Beautiful! I can imagine what you thought when you saw this.

    Norman Steinmetz — Awesome shot :) The clouds look like a landscape! That’s why I love night flights

    Jeanice — Just Amazing Mike!

    Marcelo Valente — WOW!!!

    Philip Bamber — Stunning! I love the texture on the clouds

    Tanni — Quite simply but gorgeous! Best regards from Germany Tanja

    Valeriy Veduta — This picture reminds about that, how we are insignificantly small by comparison to Earth, Universe and God who created everything around.

    Mireille — Yes, sign me up. Lovely shot!

    Ginny Corbett — Breathtaking.

    Tsafrir Melamed — This is a wonderful shot! I love traveling, and I totally understand you!

    joe dimattia — Beautiful shot Mike!

    goh kiet rhee — Love to have this hanging on my wall Mike.

    Michel Melsen — This is realy an amazing shot !

    Tori — Beautiful as always. I wonder where this will go in my house?

    Kent Harris — Looks like you could just step out and walk your way there … well done

    Mike Larson — wow, THANK YOU all for the sweet comments! Stoked to see how many of you are re inspired to shoot more & explore nature.

    Michelle — Absolutely stunning!!!! It makes me want to hop on a plane and head to Hawaii!

    Christen — Mike! I’ll never forget seeing the flash for the picture taken by the nice little camera in LA for running a red light to go pick you up and get back to LAX on time to make our flight to Israel!!! This picture is super-amazing for sure.

    verne — das ist total schön. i love it :)

    Vic Soto — Great work, you are a true professional

    angela — i cant believe you got this awesome of a shot from an airplane window! pure talent.

    Arjan Bruinstroop — Nice shot, love the colortone, on the 29-8 we fly also to hawaii I want to see if the lights is really that great as you said in Rotterdam early this year -:)

    Meg Moen — Absolutely beautiful!!!

    Hannah — Ohmygoodness, what a stunning photograph! I love your work and would really enjoy being entered :)

    Judi Powers — What wonderful news! Congrats!!!

    Reint — Gods blanket.

    Fotograaf Amersfoort — Wowwww amazing! groet Patrick

    Heather Corporan — What a beautiful shot. People on planes always think I’m crazy for taking pics out the window LOL But silly them, I have some gorgeous sunsets/cloud photographs. (not quite as beautiful as this one) My cameras were all point and shoot : ) I love sunsets – my 5 year old says that God is the best painter – cause He has more colors than her : D

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Published | Style Unveiled

I am always a big fan of Style Unveiled and I am honored to be published on their recent blog post!  I posted this a few months ago, BUT I LOVE the way they collaged Jeff and Darcy’s wedding into their magazine style post spread.  Thanks to these amazing vendors we worked with Enjoy! :)




    Caelen Weber — Wow Mike. Just wow. I am so stoked on these photos and my goodness how God has blessed you! Perfect. If ever you are in the UK, please let me know. Love to meet up for some fellowship and photo talk, but know you’re a busy dude too. :) God bless and keep up the inspiring work. In Christ, Caelen

    Deyla Huss Photography — WOW awesome Mike! Congrats on the publication!

    Stephen Knuth — This is amazing Mike!! Congrats on the publication! :)

    Tiny Muses — Beautiful images, you killed it all day long with this one Mike!!!

    StephaneH — There is a fench proverb saying “Love is the dawn of marriage, and marriage is the sunset of love”… Love your work Mike . StephaneH.

    admin — Caelen, thanks for your post and the rest of you guys too. Its one of my fav publications.

    Jen Rodgers — Mike, these are gorgeous! Great work! One question though – Did you *throw* your camera????

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