Hi!
I’m Carl Petersen, an award-winning photographer and filmmaker based in the Tacoma, Washington
I document real life as it unfolds—capturing movement, emotion, and the in-between moments that make your story yours.
After graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in 2004, I moved to Los Angeles to chase an acting career. I booked a few roles in TV and indie films, but spent far more time waiting tables for famous people than sharing scenes with them. Then I picked up a camera—and everything shifted.
I started writing and directing short films, culminating in “All the Marbles,” which screened in nine countries, including the Cannes Film Festival, won eight major awards, and qualified for the Academy Awards. Around the same time, actor friends began asking me for headshots. That quickly turned into events, families, and eventually weddings—where I realized I’d found my lane. I trained alongside some of the top photographers in Los Angeles, gaining hands-on experience with high-profile weddings, private events on Rodeo Drive, and large-scale celebrations in Las Vegas. That foundation, combined with my background in directing and producing, shapes how I work today.
Alongside my creative work, I’m also a Realtor with Windermere Professional Partners and serve as the West County Director for the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of Realtors. Real estate and photography might seem like different worlds, but both are rooted in understanding people, telling stories, and helping clients navigate meaningful life moments with confidence.
How do you work?
My approach is simple: create space for real moments, then elevate them. I’ll guide you when needed, but never force anything. The best images feel natural, alive, and full of movement—photos that don’t just look good, but make you feel something.
I care just as much about your experience as I do the final images. When you’re relaxed and genuinely enjoying your day, everything else falls into place. That’s why I work closely with every couple—to understand what matters most and to make sure we’re the right fit from the start.
If that sounds like your kind of energy, we’ll get along just fine.