for love with love ™

mark peterson  |  photographer

My two amazing parents often took me with them on treks into the Sierra Nevada’s where my imagination would run wild with each adventure.  We would backpack deep into the mountains, far into areas where few people had visited before. My father and I would fish during the chilly early mornings when you could see your breath; the amber light filtered through the tall trees, and the scent of pine filled the mountain air.  In the evenings we would sit around the crackling fire warming our hands, telling stories, and watching the embers float towards the treetops.

This is where my spirit and soul comes from; somewhere in these distant, far-away corners of paradise, filled with peace and silence.

To this day I feel more at home sleeping under the stars, buried somewhere deep into the wilderness or traveling through historic towns and cities of the Balkans. With a cup of coffee and pastry in hand I often venture out in the early mornings through the quiet city of Belgrade. In the summertime you might find me passing through the foggy coastal beaches of southern Maine, or today hiking and dreaming amongst the ancient saguaro cactus of Tucson, Arizona.  I’m a romantic at heart, and have always believed in true love, with two beating hearts that follow the same rhythm. I am convinced that life gets richer through adventures if we live them, and connections between two people are rare and special.

Telling stories through photography is a core part of my adventures and so very personal to me. It's my lifeblood and I can't imagine not having photography in my life in some form. Capturing on film those who are full of passion and in love unlocks something within me. I feel connected to the memories of others and moments in time that I share with my friends, family, & clients. At weddings I’ll be right there; camera in hand, laughing, smiling, (and yes, shamelessly crying sometimes) along with you, your family, and your friends! I am humbled by those who invite me into their world, even if it is for just a moment to capture their special life memories. In the last several years I have passionately created photo-books for my clients and collaborated with photographers who I have deeply admired their work.

I enjoy my life here in Tucson Arizona while I work towards relocating to Belgrade Serbia. My heart is continually drawn to Belgrade and it’s become a place where I call home. I live a peaceful, quiet life, but long for connection with a special someone in the future. When I’m in Belgrade I’ve always felt that city is on the cusp of something great about to happen, and I want to be there, immersed in all of it; the beautiful people, surrounded by all of its rich history, culture, architecture, foods, and overall creative atmosphere and community. I feel Belgrade is one of the greatest cities for creative minds and the visual arts. In my free time and travels I can be found sampling coffee and pastries at local cafes, playing my guitar on a starry evening, or enjoying little adventures within Eastern Europe, taking in the atmosphere and colorful history of the Balkans that has always captured my attention; my trusted camera always by my side.

Mark | For Love With Love™

“Why do I love working with couples so much? My work consists of me capturing those incredible, intimate connections between two people. I want my clients to feel strong and vulnerable, beautiful and unique, a bit wild and safe. Somewhere within this is where I can create something beautiful, fun, and authentic for you. That’s where I always want to be. I really wanted to be involved in a creative process that resounded within me; something I longed for in my life. By capturing couples on film I fed off the magic that two people in love exhibited, and I was driven to experience more of that incredible energy! I suppose you could say I’ve been living a bit vicariously through my clients!  I often catch myself smiling on the way home after a shoot or while I’m editing; you know, the kind of dream-state smile you can get that happens unconsciously, and then you suddenly snap out of it and you realize you’ve been somewhere else? The couples that give off that kind of energy are the people I’m drawn to and love working with.  Those are the kind of people we need more of in the world!”
— Mark | For Love With Love™

Fun details about me!

Byron Martin | Photographer

1 Corinthians 13:13