Inspiring Sessions, Expert Tips & Real Client Experiences

COUPLES Amanda Emmes COUPLES Amanda Emmes

A Memorable Maui Elopement in Kapalua

What do you do when your partner lives in Shanghai and you live in LA? You make long distance work like magic, and then you make it official…in Maui ✈️

Who: Candice + Colin | Why: ForEVER | Where: West Maui, Hawaii

What do you do when your partner lives in Shanghai and you live in LA? You make long distance work like magic, and then you make it official…by hiring me and eloping in Maui ✈️

To say this was an adventure, would be a complete understatement. We began in the jungle, conquering spot after spot, and losing battle after battle with more mosquitoes than we could ever possibly count. And bug spray? Ha! Like it helped…

Nevertheless, we conquered! Did I say that already?

Our next location was the ever amazing Ironwoods Beach in Kapalua, where there were NO mosquitos, and plenty of gorgeous sunlight to expose this beautiful couple.

Were they troopers? Absolutely! Were her dress & veil out of this world? You bet! Will their love last forever and ever? If they can take on millions of mosquito bites without crying…I can guarantee it!

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COUPLES, UNDERWATER Amanda Emmes COUPLES, UNDERWATER Amanda Emmes

A Maui Engagement Photo Session to Remember

Recently engaged, J + D came to Maui to celebrate their love in the most adventurous way possible. So they booked a Land + Ocean session with me and we utilized two different locations to get the very best that Maui has to offer - because sometimes, one location doesn’t have it all (I know…hard to believe!).

Recently engaged, Jessica + David came to Maui to celebrate their love, in the most adventurous way possible. So they booked a Romantic Couples Photography Session with me, specifically my Land + Ocean session! We utilized two different locations to get the very best that Maui has to offer - because sometimes, one location doesn’t have it all (I know…hard to believe!).

They didn’t really want romantic photos, but they naturally fell into it, because who can hide the love when it’s literally all over the place?! These two were absolute magnets. They were fun. They were completely down for anything. And the ocean? It loved them too.

It wasn’t at its clearest, but it was good enough to get in some beautiful moments that for us all, were pretty unforgettable ;-)

Here’s some of my favorites from my time w/ Jess + David <3

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COUPLES Amanda Emmes COUPLES Amanda Emmes

A Dreamy Maui Engagement Session in Wailea

Do you like mini-adventures around the Hawaiian Islands? What about that feeling you get when you’re experiencing it alongside the one you can’t get enough of? A sunset engagement session in Wailea…

WHO: CRYSTAL + TJ | WHERE: MAUI, HAWAII | WHY: ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

Do you like mini-adventures around the Hawaiian Islands? What about that feeling you get when you’re experiencing it alongside the one you can’t get enough of?

That’s just what Crystal and TJ experienced during our Sunset Maui Engagement Session in Wailea. They were already engaged back home, but that didn’t stop them from acting like it was the moment she said “yes” all over again. I always like to know how the men propose, so when I asked Crystal, the romantic story she told me of how he did it not only brought her to tears yet again…but I admittedly brewed up a few myself as well!

I kept giving TJ high-fives through out the whole shoot because I was so gosh darn proud of him (men…take note!)…

So here’s Crystal + TJ in all their genuine sweetness, during our Maui couples portrait session...

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COUPLES, UNDERWATER Amanda Emmes COUPLES, UNDERWATER Amanda Emmes

A Salty Maui Elopement

Misa + Curtis arranged a quick & super private maui elopement the hour prior to our session. They wanted their elopement to be intimate, focused, and full of love - so they reserved me for after their session so we could then, capture all their excitement & of course, her trashing the dress!

Misa + Curtis arranged a quick & super private elopement the hour prior to our session. They wanted their elopement to be intimate, focused, and full of love - so they reserved me for after their session for a romantic Maui couples photoshoot, so we could then, capture all their excitement & of course, her trashing the dress!

Her dress was just immaculate - I was in awe of how beautifully she wore it too. Curtis was looking as dapper as ever, and he was such a good sport, even if he had to keep his sport coat on a little longer than he may have liked ;-)

From land to the ocean, their love will for sure, last a lifetime. And their Maui photos? Well, I’m sure they’ll last much longer….just look at these two!

And because their Google Review was so sweet, I just had to include it below:

“Amanda is hands down one of the most talented photographers out there. She captures emotion and human essence so beautifully in her photos. And her underwater photos are absolutely breathtaking! Amanda made my partner and me feel so comfortable during our shoot that my partner (who generally hates any camera pointed at him) said he actually enjoyed having pictures taken of him and repeatedly kept talking about what a wonderful experience it was. The memories Amanda captured are the most beautiful photos I have ever seen of myself and my husband and we will cherish these for rest of our lives as some of the best moments from our wedding trip to Maui! Thank you so much Amanda!” -Misa + Curtis

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COUPLES Amanda Emmes COUPLES Amanda Emmes

Adventurous Couples Photos | Makena, HI

From Oahu to Maui and a sprinkle of the other islands in between, these two made their first visit to the Hawaiian Islands beyond memorable - and they deserved it!

WHO: VICKY + DAVID | WHY: LOVE + ACCOMPLISHMENT | WHERE: MAKENA, HAWAII

What do you get when you have two newly crowned Dentists (no pun intended), endless feelings of wanderlust, the cutest relationship ever, and an airplane or two? Vicky + David totally conquering Hawaii!

From Oahu to Maui and a sprinkle of the other islands in between, these two made their first visit to the Hawaiian Islands beyond memorable - and they deserved it! After years of schooling, studying, testing, etc., you’re now looking at two of Taiwan’s newest Doctors of Dentistry -and their families are beyond proud (because they’re dentists too!). This vacation was well-deserved, and so was this romantic (and oh-so-fun!) Maui couples photo shoot!

My evening with Vicky + David, their silliness, their smarts, their ridiculous good-looks, and a backdrop to die for…

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COUPLES Amanda Emmes COUPLES Amanda Emmes

Engagement Photos Gone Right | Makena, HI

A small collection from a sunrise Maui engagement session in Makena. The perfect location, the perfect weather, and of course, the perfect couple.

WHO: NATE & SAORI | WHERE: MAKENA, HAWAII | WHY: ENGAGEMENT LOVE

They say when you’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with…you “just know”. Well, that saying has certainly held true for these two!

It’s not easy dating these days (ladies & gents, am I right?!), let alone finding the time to go on a date….So when one of those dates finally goes right…you hang on (and you hang on tight!). And that’s just what these two did with each other...

Embracing their traveling souls, senses of adventure, earth rumbling love and amazing ability to be up at the crack of dawn looking like this (seriously stunning!)….they came to Maui for a Maui Couples Photography session to capture it all and so much more. And they chose me…

So here’s a small collection from their sunrise Maui engagement session in Makena. The perfect location, the perfect weather, and of course, the perfect couple.

Mahalo Nate & Saori for sharing your love with me x

Hair & Make-up by: Maui Makeup Artistry | Haku Lei: Bella Bloom

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COUPLES Amanda Emmes COUPLES Amanda Emmes

A Vintage Maui Anniversary Celebration | Makena, HI

What do you get when you have a couple who share the same birthday, two teenage children, and share over 14 years together? Oh…and a vintage Porsche from Maui Roadsters?

Who: Stephanie & Chad | Why: For Love | Where: Maui, Hawaii

What do you get when you have a couple who share the same birthday, two teenage children, and share over 14 years together? Oh…and a vintage Porsche from Maui Roadsters?

Stephanie & Chad.

From Land to Water, we kept their Romantic Maui Couples Photos classic, cool, and naturally, wet. Their love was easy to photograph, because these two are nuts about each other. Everything else surrounding them? It just fell into place…

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