Like it or not, many people have different sites on the internet where they interact with people in one way or another. I thought I’d share some of the places where you can find me.

My Facebook Business Page - Jonas Peterson Photography.

My goal is to be more active on Facebook, I’m going to treat it as a mini blog of sorts, write more and share things that don’t end up on the blog. Follow me there if you’re interested in what’s going on in my life 2012.

My Twitter account.

I use Twitter for more random interactions with whoever. A oneliner here, a shared album review there. Small things, but things I love.

Formspring.

For the last two years I have answered more than 3300 questions about my photography on Formspring. Sometimes I sound a little frustrated in my answers, but that’s usually because I’ve already answered most questions 30 times. Feel free to ask me anything about my photography there, but please keep the simple gear questions to google. I won’t answer basic questions about lenses, aperture and such, but I’m happy to let you in and answer questions about why I do what I do.

Pinterest.

I haven’t really pinned much yet, but I’m slowly, slowly starting to use it more, so if you’re a pinner, join me there.

Google+

I’m there, I haven’t been very active, but things will change.

I’m also on Instagram, Foursquare and some other places, but I can’t seem to find links to my accounts :)

Download audio file (jgkue79xnphgpfj7hjx9.mp3)

Cassie and Shaun’s wedding was featured on Once Wed today. Go there for more details.

All images edited with VSCO FILM.

music credit: Where I Found You – Future Islands (iTunes)

“Your favorite music well it just makes you sad”, he sang while staring at me.

How the hell did you know that, I thought to myself.

There I was.

I felt naked.

See-through.

“But you like it cause you feel special that way”, he continued.

Come on, cut it out, don’t do this to me, I thought. Why do you have to tell everyone? The rest of the concert I stood there motionless. My eyes transfixed. Staring. Who the hell are you? How come you know these things about me?

“I can’t teach you to learn to love yourself, but here’s a sad song I wrote for no one else.”

He stared back at me. After every track he looked at me and smiled. Like some kind of singing guardian angel in nerdy glasses. When the others applauded, I just stood there.

Staring.

After the gig I asked someone if I could go backstage. Someone said yes. To this day I don’t know why. The room was dark. He was sitting on an old battered couch, a street light outside lighting up half his face.

“I thought you’d come.”

“What happened back there?”

“I don’t know.”

“You were…singing to me.”

“Ha, ha, well, I didn’t write it for you, but when I saw you standing there, I knew I kind of had. Tonight it’s your song.”

We sat there for a long, long time talking about life. His in Brooklyn. Mine in Gothenburg, Sweden. This is years ago now and my life is different in so many ways, but I often think of that night with Eef Barzelay.

Because my favorite music no longer makes me sad.

Your favorite music

Well it just makes you sad
Your favorite music
Well it just makes you sad
But you like it
Cause you feel special that way

You feel special
That you’re like no one else
You feel special
That you’re like no one else
But then you’re lonely
And you need someone to help

I can’t teach you
To learn to love yourself
I can’t teach you
To learn to love yourself
But here’s a sad song
That I wrote for no one else

music credit: Your Favorite Music – Clem Snide (iTunes)

I can hear the wildlife going bananas outside my office this tropical night, the music is playing loudly, but I can’t seem to turn it down. It’s been a year of awakenings, a year of growth and shedding skin. It’s quite possible you haven’t seen any of that yet, but it’s obvious to me. I can see what I have to do. And as much as I think my “best of 2011″ post sums things up, it’s obvious that I forgot to thank the people who got me here. I owe so much to the people who hire me. I’m a little allergic to posts about how much wedding photographers love their jobs and their clients, but the truth is I’m the same. I’m a blubbering fool and I wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for the people who let me do what I do.

You’re only as good as your clients allow you to be and my clients want me to move mountains.

So I try.

I believe weddings are fantastic and most weekends I get to experience everything I enjoy about life – passion, purpose and love.

Lauren, Ryan, Cate, Simon, Maia, Andreas, Sarah, Simon, Waverly, David, Alyda, Todd, Lisa, Michael, Michelle, Ezra, Felicity, Mikey, Megan, Michael, Rebecca, Peter, Lauren, Sean, Jess, Brendan, Bronwyn, Steve, Monique, Damian, Courtney, Jacob, Nikki, Alex, Alisha, Pete, Elizabeth, Matt, Danielle, Steve, Lauren, Josh, Melissa, Chris, Claire, Jackson, Mitra, Fabio, Sue-Lyn, Andreas, Teresa, Henrik, Louise, Eric, Emelie, Johan, Nina, Craig, Rachel, Jeff, Lori, Ash, Nadee, Chris, Natalie, Daniel, Madeleine, Anthony, Julie, Sam, Stephanie, Jackie, Chantel, Simon, Erin, Deric, Anna, Thomas, Claire, Nicholas, Felicity, Paul, Christina, Sean, Penny, Gerald, Megan, Mathew, Stephanie, Mark, Cassie, Shaun, Emma, Jon, Anita and Sean.

Thank you.

From the bottom of my heart.

I am not worthy, but I thank you for thinking I am.

In a place that is archaic, exceptionally isolated, surrounded by 130,000 people living under plastic tarpaulins, no running water, no electricity, no food, no shops, no money…nothing….  In a place absent of all life pleasures, I found romance.

I found a man who I would want to spend the rest of my life with.

It was the 1^st of February 2007 …Darfur, Sudan.  The largest refugee camp in the world.

There were 20 expatriate humanitarians living there.  I remember an incident happened in camp where many people were injured and laying on the ground.  We all worked so hard to assist these people throughout the darkness with no light and no water.

I turned around and Gerald was standing there. From the darkness where he had stood for hours observing the carnage, he stepped forward holding a box of Belgium Chocolates.  He wanted to share them with me. We had spoken briefly prior to this of our mutual love of chocolate, such a rare and precious thing in a place like this.

But right there, a lifetime away from the rest of the world, stood a Belgian man oozing of humbleness.

For me the rest was history.

Download audio file (2lc4u2pdkje4jdad2mhs.mp3)

All images edited with VSCO FILM.

Jacqui and I decided to cut back a little bit 2011, but once we reached that decision we already had over 35 weddings booked, many of them interstate and international.

I shot some weddings in Australia before we both traveled together to The Bahamas and Waverly and David’s wedding on Harbour Island. In many ways that wedding was perfect for us. We managed to take some time off and recharge our soul batteries and the wedding and the people we met there were fantastic. From the Bahamas we traveled to Las Vegas for WPPI where I met an overwhelming amount of people. I also shot my friends’ wedding/vow renewal out there and when we flew back to Australia I was pumped for the wedding season to come.

On my way to shoot two of my best friends’ wedding, I received an email from American Photo Magazine. They had named me one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world 2011. In many ways that was actually hard to deal with. What I do, how I approach my weddings and the couples I meet, is so basic, no frills, nothing…special. A “Top Ten In The frrrrrigging WORLD” hat didn’t fit too well with that approach. At least not at first. I soon realised I had to keep doing what I do and not worry about hats. Of any kind.

I kept working and shot some truly wonderful weddings around Australia before Jacqui, Noah, Joel and I packed our bags to go to Europe for the summer there. We started in Italy and there we met Mitra and Fabio. Their wedding and the week we spent with them around Italy will always stay in my heart. I shot more weddings in Europe, some I still haven’t had time to share here, before we said goodbye to my family and traveled back to Australia. We shot Craig and Nina’s wedding in Bali (coming soon) before we took some time off in Ubud. As soon as we got back I had to leave again, this time for a workshop in San Fransisco and later a wedding in New Hampshire.

In a way it’s funny. I’ve hosted a number of workshops and seminars this year and every time I’m done, I see things clearer, I walk away knowing where I want my work to go.

Finally meeting Rachel and Jeff after months and months of communicating was liberating. If you’ve followed me, you already know what shooting their wedding meant to me.

Since then the months have flown past. I’ve had an amazing spring here in Australia and the other day I shot my last wedding of the year – number 48. I also hosted a workshop with my friend Sean. I think we both want to do that again.

I’m tired, but not as emotionally drained as I was last year. I’m already looking forward to 2012. It’s going to be another year of traveling, but that’s something I’ve realised I *need* as much as I enjoy it. Traveling recharges me in so many ways. I’m going to share a wedding or two before the end of the year, but after I’m done with my editing I’m going to enjoy some time off.

My love for weddings and what I do is stronger than ever.

Download audio file (fm2kgzte5mu7109zkyf3.mp3)