AppleJack Media
WHO ARE WE?
Meet the Owner
Hi, I’m Michel Thomas— Owner and Creative Director at AppleJack Media. I’m a photographer and videographer based in Gainesville, Florida, with a passion for capturing moments that our eyes might miss but our hearts never forget.
After earning my degree in Digital Media and Production from the University of Florida, I set out to create work that blends technical skill with artistic expression. Whether I’m photographing a home, a graduating senior, or a quiet moment between frames, I aim to tell stories in ways that feel real, thoughtful, and timeless.
The name AppleJack comes from my roots—my parents’ old shrimp boat that once supported our family and connected us to our community. While I’m behind a camera instead of a wheelhouse, I carry that same spirit of hard work, legacy, and care into everything I create.
Check out my personal portfolio here!
Learn about the Apple Jack.
AppleJack Media is named in honor of Apple Jack—a 72-foot wooden shrimp boat that was more than just a vessel to my family. Built by the renowned DESCO shipyard, she was one of the last wooden-hulled shrimp boats of her kind and originally belonged to my grandparents, Nana and Cap. Eventually, she was passed down to my parents, both licensed captains, who continued the legacy, first along the South Carolina coast, and later in the waters of St. Augustine, Florida.
For decades, Apple Jack was the heart of our family. She provided not only our livelihood, but a rhythm to our lives. I remember my dad heading out in the middle of the night in the outer bands of a hurricane just to check on her. She endured many storms, both literal and figurative, and each one left its mark. She was tough, weathered, and deeply loved.
But as the shrimping industry changed and could no longer sustain our family, we faced a hard decision. In the early 2010s, a team of local volunteers transformed Apple Jack into El Espíritu, a replica 16th-century Spanish caravel, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Ponce de León’s landing in Florida. Her hull was tarred black, masts were raised, sails sewn by hand. She stood proudly as a symbol of resilience and heritage.
Then came Hurricane Matthew in 2016. One of her new masts was torn down in the storm, and the damage ultimately led us to make the painful decision to dismantle her in 2017.
Though she’s no longer in the water, Apple Jack lives on—through memories, through the lessons she taught us, and now through the name of this creative venture. AppleJack Media is built on the same values that kept our boat afloat: hard work, heart, and deep roots in family. Just as she once brought joy to the families of St. Augustine with every fresh catch, I now carry forward that spirit by capturing honest, heartfelt moments for the families and communities around me.
