HEY THERE! WE’RE KRISTIN + MARK!
our STORY
In 2006, an adventurous blond New Yorker was paired up with a gentle blue eyed Californian at an audition for a Shakespeare festival in the quaint historic town of San Juan Capistrano, CA. The play: Oh you know, the romantic comedy Macbeth!! (ha.ha.) The scene: No biggie, just the scene where Lady MacBeth is convincing MacBeth to murder the King. (dun dun dun) AHHH ROMANCE!
Their love blossomed quickly, as they spent their days performing and producing theatre throughout LA and Orange County, CA. Cut to a chilly Christmas in New York 2009, the gentle blue eyed soul asked that adventurous blond New York-turned-Cali gal to go on a new adventure with him… a lifelong one… and the rest (as they say) is history. Through their creative inspirations and spiritual growth, Life began to take shape in a whole new light, and they began to focus their artistic vision towards a photographic journey, that continues to inspire them daily.
(Oh, and in case you were curious… did they get cast in the show?? Mark did go on to play MacBeth, while Kristin was cast in another play in the series. *This casting actually led to Kristin meeting a close, lifelong friend, who also ended up being the official “matchmaker” of Kristin + Mark!)
KRISTIN PALKONER
Owner + Lead Photographer, Mama, Wife, Follower of Christ
Why the name “inGRACE?”
In the midst of a spiritual deep dive after the passing of my mother, I was doing a study of the word "grace" and found the definition: the divine influence in the heart, reflected in the life. During this time I was also in the midst of an artist transformation. I worked in NY and LA as an actress and producer for many years, but was feeling in a switch happening in the type of art I was relating to and how I could use that art to both bring people together and celebrate them both individually and collectively. Photography had always been my hobby, but I found it bringing out a deeper meaning of life for me; what I was seeing around me and how I was interpreting it.
“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” This quote by famous American Portraitist, Dorothea Lange was so inspiring to me, and has continued to be so real and true for me over the years! I love capturing true and honest moments, and bringing out the unique bond and relationships between families and couples. And it has only deepened my understanding of truth; of seeing things in a new light and bringing into focus what is truly special and important to each of us - the uniqueness of our individuality, the love that we have for each other, and how we come together in beautiful ways to bring out our strengths and support each other in our endeavors. Playing a part in bringing out and capturing those qualities and relationships is a blessing and an honor!!
MARK PALKONER
Photographer, Papa Bear, Giggle Producer
From the beginning it was our goal to create artwork that would not only touch the hearts of our clients, but to help bring into focus more of the beauty and joy in their lives, whether in their families or within themselves, and create an atmosphere where one could feel open and safe enough to share a bit more of themselves with us. What we most desire is to continually be inspired by who and what Life puts in front of us, and hope to be an inspiration to others on their journey. We've learned as one grows in their understanding to see things in a new light, there is no going back to shadows outgrown, and in this way the camera has become a medium for us to explore deeper within the self to find a larger sense of life that is filled with freshness, grace, and peace.