Emily + Meeko {San Francisco}

Emily + Meeko took me on a big city San Francisco adventure around their neighborhood in North Beach. We ventured over to a Irish pub to loosen their nerves a bit with a stiff pint and sweet conversation. We explored alleys, parks, and a basement record store. They are such beautiful people inside and out. Emily is an awesome graphic designer and owns a business called Emily B Design. She found me after I photographed a couple of her close friend’s weddings. Seriously can’t wait to travel back up the coast to shoot her wedding in Tiburon; just North of San Fran!

{Jackson's Smile} New Featured Artists -Gabe McClintock, Amelia + Justin Lyon, Lisa Lefkowitz

This week we have 3 new featured artists at Jackson’s Smile. These artists have donated their beautiful images to raise support for baby Jackson who was born to one of my wedding couples with a cleft lip, a rare syndrome and now heaps of medical bills. Please check out Jackson’s Smile and buy a print to give the gift of smile!

Meet the photographers and get a glimpse of some of their awesome work featured at Jackson’s Smile!

{Gabe McClintock} of Perspective Eye Photography is a observer, a photographer, a dreamer, a traveler, a Canadian. He is a husband and most importantly he is a Dad. Because of this, Jackson’s Smile resonates deep within Gabe’s heart. His images capture the deep beauty and wild drama that this world and its people have to offer.

Buy one of these images to support baby Jackson at: {Gabe McClintock’s Gallery}










{Amelia + Justin Lyon} are some of the sweetest hip-est wedding and portrait photographers in all of Southern California. Wikipedia it; It’s a fact! Or… just take my word for it. ;)

Amelia has donated some beautiful images compiled of branches, leaves and sunlight. Images with so much serotonin they can put anyone in a good mood. Imagine waking every morning to a 20x30 bright and sunny canvas hanging on your wall of one of her tree-scapes… (close your eyes, imagine it) and then buy one! I’m positive the purchase will be life changing.

Justin has offered up some of his most excellent shots taken while traveling the country on his legendary Mammoth Men man-cations. These images capture the gritty backroads and allyways of America’s urban terrain through the adventurous spirit of Justin’s lens. His images should inspire you to get outside, pick up a camera, ride a bike or hop on a bus and explore your world.

Buy one of these images to support baby Jackson at: {Amelia + Justin Lyon’s Gallery}







{Lisa Lefkowitz} is a brilliant film photographer hailing from the San Francisco Bay. She has been photographing weddings for the past nine years and has earned national recognition for her luminous, lifestyle images. Lisa’s fresh, elegant photographs are featured regularly in magazines such as Martha Stewart, Elegant Bride, Bride’s and now on Jackson’s Smile! She has donated some beautiful city and landscapes; all taken with her holga film camera.

Buy one of these images to support baby Jackson at: {Lisa Lefkowitz’ Gallery}

Meet Baby Reuben!

So excited to introduce this precious little guy. This is the first born son of the first wedding couple that started my wonderful photography career. His parent’s Darren and Jessie were married almost 7 years ago. They have been dear friends ever since! It has been such a pleasure to watch them grow in love, marriage, build a successful guitar school together and finally create a new life.

These pictures are so precious because Darren and Jessie’s family all live in England; so these are some of their first views of their newest little family member. I have a soft spot for these guys because they helped me launch my photography career by inviting me to shoot their wedding. We are now their photographers for life. I was excited to send my wife Anna out on assignment to capture Reuben sweet looks. To view some more pictures and hear all of the stats go to www.annaingalls.com! (feel free to leave a lovely little comment for my amazing wifey)

Katie + Kyle {Morro Bay}

Totally had a blast shooting these cowboys out at a Morro Bay ranch. Can you call a couple “cowboys”? Or, should I refer to them as cow-folk? ;)

Anyways… Katie and Kyle actually met at this very ranch years ago for a college rodeo team meeting. Katie tells me that Kyle didn’t act interested at first. He was pulling the quiet, cool, cowboy demeanor. Later she discovered that he totally remembered exactly what she was wearing that fateful day of their meeting. A romance was born shortly thereafter and has been thriving ever since!

I had the pleasure of shooting Katie’s brother’s wedding last summer. It will be fun to work with their family and friends once again!

Holly + Billy {Avila Beach}

Holly and Billy are in love. So much so that every time Holly looks into Billy’s eyes she lights up like the Eiffel Tower at night. We had a splendid time walking through the deep forests and over the sandy shores of Avila Beach. I’m really excited to be a part of the telling of Holly and Billy’s love story. It’s just the beginning!

Sarah Rhoads {Featured Artist -Jackson's Smile}

So excited to introduce a couple of amazing photographers to Jackson’s Smile. Both of these artists have donated their beautiful images to raise support for baby Jackson who was born to one of my wedding couples with a cleft lip, palette and thus heaps of medical bills. Please check out Jackson’s Smile and buy a print to give the gift of smile.

{Sarah Rhoads} is a Seattle based wedding and lifestyle photographer that captures emotion and beauty in such a way that just makes the viewer immediately feel love and joy. Her husband Chris shoots with her when he isn’t recording music as a session bass player. They are perhaps one of the raddest artistic couples in all of the great northwest! If I didn’t think they were perfect for Seattle I would selfishly want them to live in California; closer to me. ;)






I am especially fond of this image because those are the words of a Ray Lamontagne song that my wife walked down the aisle too. We have this print proudly displayed in our home! I gave to my wife on our 2 year anniversary and she cried… well, almost.







*A portion of the proceeds will go directly to support more kids like Jackson at the Craniofacial Center at the {Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas}.

Riccis Valladares {Featured Artist -Jackson's Smile}

{Riccis Valladares} is an amaaaazing black and white photo artist. He has some beautiful images to offer from his travels in Paris and beyond. Riccis shoots 100% film through his Leica and rangefinders and is all about fine art. He processes and prints his images in his own darkroom for his clients; which is such a dying art in these digital days. Enjoy his beautiful images and buy a Valladares work of art!













*A portion of the proceeds will go directly to support more kids like Jackson at the Craniofacial Center at the {Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas}.

Brooks + Dunn {San Luis Obispo}

So when I twittered that I was shooting Brooks and Dunn the other day I found out who were die hard country music fans by the twitter and facebook responses! One girl in particular was heartbroken that I didn’t shoot the real Brooks + Dunn. Nope, it was even better; Calli and Tyler! I usually don’t last-name people here… but I have to this time. ;)

When I asked them where they wanted to go for pictures they said that they wanted to trespass and explore the beauty of the off-beaten path. So, I took them to this old insane asylum that I like to shoot at every now and again. We started off innocently shooting around the old brick asbestos filled building. That was… until we found an open window! I had never actually gone into the building until that day. It was amazingly run down and kinda creepy; but a lot of fun!

Some don’t get it when I get excited about photographing people in run down urban places. But I also get just as excited to shoot them in natural settings. You see –it’s all about contrast. The softness of their flesh, the emotion of their love against a backdrop of man-made brick and plaster. Even better when it’s all falling apart! I appreciate the same contrast I get from the images where the people pop off of a background of nature. It’s all just pretty awesome to me.

Premarital Counseling by The Kriwinskis {The Wedding Standard}

I’m really excited to introduce all of you to my favorite in-laws in the universe, Gunther and Vickey Kriwinski! These guys are responsible for putting Anna together and raising her with so much love that by the time I met her, at 25 years of age, I had discovered the woman of my dreams.

It is always amazing to see people ahead of me in years doing the thing that I want to be doing when I am well into their age. For Gunther and Vickey family is a huge priority; but more specifically, their commitment to one another. They have 3 grown children all of which are married; and lots of grandkids to top it all off! Family holidays and get-togethers are spent full of love and joy; peace and hope. Not so with a lot of families. During Christmas when Gunther is dressed in his silly Santa hat and elf vest distributing presents to the eager grandkids I am reminded that the reward didn’t come easy. I know they have had their ups and downs. The years when it just seemed to hard to continue on… but their perseverance and commitment to each other has been the glue which continues to reproduce in years and children full of love for generations to come. Thanks Gunther and Vickey for modeling commitment, family and love to Anna and I and for being available to help couples who are getting married start the journey on the right foot.

Anna and I did premarital counseling and we recommend it to ever single couple getting married! It really helped us prepare for most of what we could and will experience. More importantly we developed tools to help us foster a healthy (yet not perfect) marriage that will last until death does us part. We know that our lives could end in ruin; that divorce is inviting us to become part of it’s statistic. And that is why we are actively working on our relationship. Learning to listen and understand each other; learning to live our vows. A wedding is a day; a marriage is for a lifetime. It would benefit your life greatly if you invested just a small percentage of time and money in preparing for the marriage as you do the wedding. All the wedding cake, flowers and photographs won’t mean a thing if in a couple years divorce knocks on your door and serves you papers.

Check out my latest interview with Gunther and Vickey Kriwinski of Married for Keeps on The Wedding Standard and get counseled!

J + Nicki {Hollywood}

J and Nicki are the coolest people I know to get married in all of Hollywood! They are musicians and artists, lovers and revolutionaries. J paints and played bass in a Reggae band for years. Nicki is a part-time club DJ. Together they are passionate about justice, family, music, and love. Just being at their Hollywood apartment for the getting ready pictures threw me into a fit of inspiration!

Being that they are private people they almost eloped. However, they realized that having only a few family members and close friends present could out-weigh the drama of planning a small wedding. So they went as simple and authentically them as possible. They chose to get married at their favorite flamenco dinner theater, El Cid , and to only invite a select few to keep things intimate. It was pretty much family, extended reggae family and us. My wife’s brother is married to Nicki’s sister, so we were like extended-extended family and so honored to be snapping the pics.









I caught this beautiful old face hanging at the bar just outside of the reception. I found out later he was the singer and clapper for the flamenco dancers. This dude has some amazing lungs!



If you want to see more just follow the rabbit trail of engagement pictures below.

Nicki + J {Holga Love}

Getting ready to post my favorites from Nicki and J’s wedding. Until then I want to share some bonus holga shots we got at their engagement session. If anyone of my couples wants a little holga love for their engagement or wedding pictures this year, just ask!