The first pictures I ever took of Austin, he was only a few hours old. His mom and I joke that I was in the room when Austin wasn’t born. He was an emergency C-section, and I got kicked out at the last minute, but only after several hours of labor and pushing . . . so many that I missed teaching the first day of school that September of 2001. (The week just got more interesting and memorable from there.)
Well, Austin grew up, fell in love, and spent several years convincing Mikayla to marry him. It’s a great story, and the pastor at the wedding roasted him big time about falling for the first girl who said “Hi” to him. I feel like there’s a lot of truth in that story, and it’s a good thing it was Mikayla who said hello that day in 9th-grade study hall.
Austin and Mikayla got engaged on the beach in Coronado, not far from the location of their first date. I captured that event and was asked to photograph the wedding, as well.
Austin and Mikayla attend The Gathering at Grace Chapel in Mira Mesa. It’s a dynamic church filled with loving people, and it was the perfect launching pad for this new couple . . . aside from the fact that the outdoor space was not conducive to formal wedding portraits. No worries! My friend and second-shooter Janis and I scoped out the church around the corner and marched the wedding party and families over there for formals with a beautifully backlit line of trees behind. I love how the formals turned out, especially since so many of my favorite people were involved!
Dinner, toasts, dancing, and cookies rounded out the evening, with a sparkler exit. I’m so happy for Austin and Mikayla and their families, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for this sweet couple.
























































































































