Baby Ingalls Coming Soon!

Anna and I would love to announce our newest creation; a baby BOY! Anna is 20 weeks along and the due date is in November. Today we had the ultrasound and got to see the full package! The Doctor immediately asked us when we wanted to know what we are having. Anna quickly said, “Now.” Doc pointed out our baby’s pointer and assured us there was no mistakin’ his orientation. Anna had been convinced we were having a boy most of the pregnancy thus far and I had always thought I would have a girl first. I actually picked out a girl name 10 years ago because I have dreamed of a little blonde girl running around in a red dress. I was a bit surprised that it was a boy, but then again wasn’t because I trusted Anna’s intuition over my wacky dreams. It just means that we are due to have a girl down the road someday as well.

Having kids is a big deal. It really makes me feel like… well my age. It’s a whole new level of responsibility. Anna and I have discussed having children since our pre-marital counseling and I have always been the one who was a bit more leery of having babies right away. I felt like I needed to be financially secure first. Or that my business needed to be ‘fully established’. Sometimes when Anna would bring up her desire to start trying I would get uncomfortable and not want to talk about it. Really, I was afraid. Maybe I was afraid of having to grow up. Or maybe I just wasn’t ready to exercise my faith in a new way. Well, we would talk about it and over those months I began to pray that God either change my heart or help Anna wait for awhile. She was praying for me that God would change my heart in His timing; and He did. It was a slow progression, but it happened. As I prayed about ‘when’ I started to see the whole decision differently. I began to realize it wasn’t about me being ready financially or businessly (I would never be ready). It wasn’t about having lots of years together traveling the world making a name for myself.

God began to show me that it was about bringing children into this world to share our joy with who we will fall in love with in such a profound way that we will never be the same. I began to think about my lovely wife. I began to realize that being a mother and homemaker is a big calling on her life. That she was created to make not only my house a home but to make us into a family. I began to see that she is so equipped and ready and that my fear could be a bit of an obstacle to her living out her dreams and calling. I told her last winter that I was ready to start trying, so in the new year we got to making babies!

I’m so thankful that Anna was patient with me. She really wanted ‘kids’ to be our decision, not just hers. She didn’t want me to resent her or blame her in the future when things got tough or tiring. She was determined to allow me to lead our family from the start. Something she practiced before we started dating and something that she is continuing into our married years.

Enough about me. We are having a boy!!! Asher Corbin Ingalls! So excited to share millions more pictures of him with you after he arrives.

Mitch + Tara {San Luis Obispo}

Mitch + Tara’s wedding looked like something straight out of a Laura Ingalls Wilder book. And since legend has it that I’m related to Laura I will give it my best shot.

“It was a beautiful summer Saturday. The sun seemed to light the golden hills with a fiery blaze which could only be quenched by Tara’s beauty.” Haha… Maybe I didn’t inherit my writing skills from Laura afterall. ;)

But seriously, what an awesome day! The Bridal party was a blast! Tara + Mitch were as joyful and relaxed as could be. The family’s speeches made me cry. It was so great to meet Tara + Mitch’s new baby, Jones. Lori Boe created some amazing floral works of art! Megan Loring rocked the catering. There were pies and root beer floats for desert and The Photobooth Experience kept the guests entertained well into the night. Awesome couple… awesome day!




















Some goofy shots of Jon and I from the The Photobooth Experience!

Amanda + Matt + Jack {Guadalupe}

Guadalupe is such a fascinating town because it’s both famous and virtually unknown. The city was established in 1840. California's Pacific Coast Highway, California Highway 1, runs right through the downtown of Guadalupe. The 10 Commandments as well as Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End was filmed at the Guadalupe dunes. However, when you cruise the few blocks that make up downtown it feels as if you are passing through a ghost town.

I was excited when Amanda suggest we shoot in Guada; I am a sucker for neglected buildings, train cars, historic restaurants, and 100 year old grave yards. We met up at The National Restaurant which used to be a hotel and then a brothel for a time and now is a world famous steak house. It was great to break the ice with Amanda and Matt over a couple of late afternoon cocktails. Their boy showed up halfway into the shoot for some fun family pictures. He was all energy and a lot of fun! You guys make an amazing family already and I can’t wait for your wedding!

Heather + Jordan {Pismo Beach}

Heather and Jordan were in town for just one night so we had to sneak their engagement session in the morning at Pismo Beach before they left town again. I haven’t shot a session in the morning in years and to tell you the truth, it felt really good! Every time I photograph a couple it comes together and develops it’s own unique feel. I love the clean blue/grey light and colors that we got. It was nice shooting so early, we practically felt like we had the beach to ourselves.

Featured Wedding {You & Your Wedding –UK Magazine}

I am thrilled that You & Your Wedding, A United Kingdom magazine, did such a lovely feature on Ali + Matt’s Central Coast wedding. It is a full 4 page spread showing and telling the romantic story of how the couple met and how they managed to put together their dream destination wedding.

I just love how well this magazine shares the moments, details and participants that made this wedding such a beautiful and memorable event! Here is an excerpt from the opening paragraph;
When LA actress Alis Hillis (who’s appeared in shows like Less Than Perfect and Baywatch) was invited on a trip to Mexico, by Matt Schwarz, a New Yorker she’d only dated a few times, she was surprised but curious enough to accept. “We had a wonderful Holiday and fell in love in Cabo,” says Ali. Their relationship continued for a year and a half before Matt proposed with a family heirloom diamond in Connecticut. The couple married at The Cliffs Resort in California in August 2009. “We held the wedding on a grassy cliff-top above the Pacific,” says Ali. “We both love the ocean. Matt’s late father loved the sea too so we felt like he was here with us on our big day.”

A short list of some of the vendors featured in the article:
Venue -The Cliffs Resort
Music -Harpist Jennifer Sayer, Mariachi Mexicanisimo, San Luis Jazz Band
Dress -R-Mine Couture
Jewelry -Michael B Jewelry
Candles -Origins Ginger Range
Suites -Ted Baker
Dresses -Rachel Pally
Flowers -Adornments Flowers


I have always dreamed of shooting a wedding in England, so hopefully this will open a few doors. ;) Thanks Ali + Matt again for being so awesome to work with and thank you You & Your Wedding for telling their story so well!

Marisa + Sean {Montana de Oro, Los Osos}

I got a call from Sean the day after he proposed, a Saturday, asking me to shoot their engagement pictures ‘tomorrow’ before he left town. I said… “Heck YES!” It was amazing to photograph these guys because they were exploding with excitement and love each separate moment I spent with them. Marisa would randomly shout out as if afflicted with tourettes, “I’m engaged!!!”

The story goes like this. Sean met Marisa at church in Santa Maria while stationed at the Air force base locally. Sean says, “it’s funny how sometimes you are in a place you think you shouldn’t be and then God brings you something you never expected. It’s then that you realize you were actually right where you were supposed to be.” They started out their friendship playing guitar and keyboard together at a friend’s house. Months after the friendship progressed to feelings, Sean writes Marisa a song. While on a camp out (in Montana de Oro) he tells her that he wrote this song, but can’t play it for her around their friends. A day later he texts her saying that the song is for her. She thinks it is a ‘I Just Wanna Be Friends’ song. But when he finally plays it for her it was a song expressing how much he had fallen in like with her! Thus, the start of their romance!

Months later and Sean is now relocated to Colorado. This past weekend he flew into town for a surprise proposal. He taped a card to her door with detailed instructions to get a glass of water, sit on the couch, and then to walk out to her balcony. He was waiting below with a ‘Will You Marry Me?!’ sign. She wasn’t expecting the proposal to come for at least a couple more months, so she was beyond surprised! The next morning he calls me when I’m getting ready for a wedding and within 24hrs I find myself hanging with these awesome people capturing the first few moments and emotions of their engagement.







And the last fun fact I will leave you with. Marisa has a superpower. She can look at a word, or think of it, and immediately tell you how many letters it is. She says it’s a blessing and a curse; she just can’t help it!

{Jackson's Smile} New Featured Artists –Mike Colon + Stevie T

This week we have 2 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!

{Mike Colon} is an international photographer and educator specializing in digital wedding photography. He has been recognized by numerous publications worldwide, including the cover of Studio Photography & Design, Rangefinder Magazine, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Grace Ormonde Marriage, Ceremony Magazine, Modern Bride, The Knot, WPPI Monthly, "The Best of Wedding Photojournalism", and "The Best of Digital Wedding Photography”.

All magazines and publicity aside Mike is a man of faith who is happily married with 2 boys and twins on the way. Mike’s heart is to exhibit integrity and generosity in his business and personal life. He has not only transformed the world of wedding photography, but he has made a serious impact in the lives of the impoverished people of this world. Through Thirst Relief international he has helped save thousands of lives in Brazil by providing funds and publicity about their need for clean drinking water. He has a upcoming trip scheduled for Tanzania, Africa where he will bring a dozen photographers to deliver and install water filters while also do a Grace Ormonde photo shoot.

Check out and purchase his images of Florence, Italy at {Mike’s Gallery} .











Here are a few fun facts about {Stevie T}:
She lives in Maryland close to Annapolis.
She is a lifestyle portrait photography and mostly works with families and children.
She shoots about a dozen weddings a year as well.
She just loves surrounding herself with happy people and documenting their relationships.
She is passionate about recycling and loves to make recycled art; some of which she sells online.
She is big on traveling but hasn't left the country yet... yet!
She has been skydiving and dog mushing in Alaska.
She takes awesome pictures! So go get one at: {Stevie T’s Gallery}

Tom + Michelle {Temecula}

Michelle was just about as cool and collected as a bride could be. A pinch of nerves with a heaping scoop of joy! Tom was jumping out of his skin he was so excited to get married to his best friend. It is so fun for me to be surrounded by people so full of love.

I traveled down to Temecula not knowing what to expect of Leonesse Cellars. It turned out to be a beautiful oasis in a dry and hot climate. That place was hoping with people escaping Los Angeles for the refreshing fruit of the vine and Tom + Michelle’s lovely wedding.






The cutest!






Josh from Good Beat Productions played dancable tunes the entire night! Josh isn’t your typical wedding DJ… He doesn’t just play the same dozen songs that I hear every week at weddings. Because of his vast knowledge of music he plays awesome stuff that was created since the 70’s and 80’s. He says of himself, “I don’t play wedding music. I play great music at weddings.”


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Sugar Plum Invitations {The Wedding Standard}

Becky is probably one of the sweetest persons you will ever meet. She is the brains and the heart behind Sugar Plum Invitations. She is the only person on the Central Coast brave enough to do letterpress invitations, business cards and thank you notes. If you don’t know what letterpress is then read on! Check out my latest interview with her on The Wedding Standard!