It’s the holiday card photography season, and this weekend meant we got to meet the Carris family. We met up at the hidden Hilldale park in San Mateo and ran around the grass, swung on the monkey bars, and jumped in the fall leaves. And what Sunday afternoon in the park isn’t topped off with a Tootsie Pop!
This year marks the 40th wedding anniversary for Sharon and Gary, so Sharon bribed me with a lovely dinner to stop by after a weekend trip to Yosemite to take some photos. With their anniversary, plus the recent arrival of Alex, a family photo was certainly due. And so we made some photo magic. And Sharon did make some magical Thai food!
Beautiful pictures, as always! You do such a great job every time. Thank you so much for doing this for us. I love the last one of Alex… like “what else do you idiots have up your sleeves?” Too cute.
Fabulous photos of our family, Matt. Thank you. It is not easy to take a group photo of 6 people in which everyone looks good, but you managed this somehow. There are so many magical photos of baby Alexander that we will never be able to choose a reasonable number. And talk about super-fast proofs! You are the best.
The photos look fantastic! Choosing a few favorites will certainly be difficult. I just wish I was as photogenic as my son… 
Morgana and Dan are a great couple with some equally great friends and family. Their small and intimate outdoor wedding took place in the Laurel Grove picnic area within Tilden Park, up in the Berkeley hills. It was “staffed” by all their friends - every one jumped in to help set up, bring food, assist guests, and most importantly, be there for Morgana and Dan at every step. And when the first rain of the season rolled in, no one skipped a beat: canopies were set up and extra umbrellas were brought in. The quiet patter of rain on all the umbrellas during the ceremony made for an even more romantic setting, and then as if the weather lords were listening, the rain cleared right when they said “I do”. The clouds parted for the rest of the day which made for an amazing view over their hometown of Berkeley. Congratulations Morgana and Dan!
Matt,
It was great meeting you. The photos are totally amazing, as I knew they would be
after seeing Nikki’s. Thank you so much !
OMG, Matt, we have never looked so good! You have magic eyes. You and Suzanne were invisible, yet omnipresent for all the right moments.
I know I said to take your time getting the rest together, but that was before you let the cat out of the bag about how stunning the results were going to be! Now we’re dying to see it all. =’)
Infinite thanks and lots of love!
Team Peak. That’s who we were. Partially because of the contagious case of Olympic fever most everyone picked up, and, well, partially because SuSu’s dad set us all up with Peak clothes. But the biggest part was because we were a motley crew of 25 or so that set out on an incredible adventure. In one week we saw the world’s most populated city, we hiked in a world famous heritage site, we traveled thousands of miles by bus, boat, plane, train, limo and cable lift. And-some of us stopped along the way to get married! Sadly, some members of the team got voted off the country and had to head back to the states right after the wedding. So the day before the wedding, we decided to have our team photographs taken. Below is the 2008 China Team Peak Team!
The Brothers Dan:
The Brothers Michigan:
(below, L to R)
Howard - Most likely to join ACAC (Air Conditioning Appreciation Club).
Rob - Most likely to make millions importing REEB.
Bryan - Most likely to write the Chinese Travel Phrase book “Not So Lonely Planet Pick-Up Lines”.
Tom - Most likely to teach English at an all girls Chinese University.
Duane - Most likely have REEB stashed in his backpack.
Jody - Most likely to be appointed the official weird food tester for Team Peak. Ummm… peasicles!
Uncle John - Won the gold in being China’s Toast Master.
Aunt Elaine - Most likely to win the gold in Foreign Country Trail Hiking.
Barb - Took home the silver and gold in looking perfect after an overnight Orient Express journey.
Beverly - Most likely to be found buying more REEB from Rob.
The Notorious R.O.B. - Most likely to go missing. Photo unusually available.
Tiffany - Most likely to find pure inner peace by knitting a sweater, in 90 degree heat, at a world famous UNESCO location. THIS JUST IN: Taking home the mother of all souvenirs from China.
Sherri - Most likely to find the only Pizza Hut in China.
Krissy - Most likely to be found using her infectious cheer leading skills internationally for good, never evil.
John - Most likely to make ManPri’s the newest international fashion trend.
Kevin - Most likely to Will be corrupted by his older brothers.
Eric - Most likely to be the US spoke model for Peak Action Wear, while pointing to the right.
Jason - Most likely to join The Chinese Peoples Police, and then for some inexplicable reason, have to arrest the rest of us and have us held in a “complaining center”.
Ken - Most likely to “misplace” his shirt at Club Disco DJ Times Club U.S. and A.
Dr. Dan - Most likely to open a practice within stumbling distance of above disco.
Jeff - Crikey! Most likely to suddenly adopt a Chinese accent, mate!
George: Took home the gold, silver, zinc and cardboard in being Dr. Dan’s Club DJ translator.
Hua: Took home the gold in translating perfectly healthy, perfectly normal Chinese wedding traditions to a bunch of clueless Americans.
Christine: Most likely to be the next bride to get married in China.
And finally…
SuSu - Most likely to be the next Katie Couric of China.
Dan- Most likely to become the next Emperor of China.
SuSu and Dan. They simply won the gold.
Congratulations and thank you.
It was a trip of a lifetime.
Matt, I LOVE these photos! You’ve really captured the true essence of Benjamin & Audrey at this fun age. I also love our family photo, it’s so rare to have all of us sitting down and I know I will treasure this portrait forever. Thank you for coming out and for your patience with the kids yesterday. They really enjoyed meeting you & Suzanne, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of you guys in the future. Thanks again and I am really grateful for your enormous talent in taking these beautiful photographs of our family!