Engagement Photos Gone Right | Makena, HI

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

Romantic Underwater Couples Session | Kaanapali, Maui

WHO: MARCUS + KATIE | WHY: 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY | WHERE: MAUI, HAWAII

Ahhh love. Isn’t it so beautiful?

But wouldn’t it be that much more beautiful IN the water with a romantic Maui couples photo session?

Marcus, an extremely talented photographer hailing from North Carolina (check him out HERE) and his beautiful wife Katie, decided to go big for their 1 year wedding anniversary…so they scheduled one of my Land + Ocean Maui Couples portraits sessions and geared up for a bright + early sunrise session and lots of water play...

For their land portion, Katie wore the most gorgeous pink dress, accented with a small flower clip in her hair and minimal jewelry. While Marcus kept it simple, minimal, and classy - letting Katie, be his bling.

For their water portion, Katie followed the tips provided in my “Wardrobe Guide” and kept her underwater outfit simple, light in color, and most importantly, light in weight! She also added a nice touch of fabric around her waist to create some more drama underwater - and I’m SO glad she did! Trust me ladies…you do not want to tread water with a heavy dress on, so shop accordingly ;-)

Over + under we all went, moving with the currents, swimming up, down and all around, and making the most of the clear conditions. Needless to say, these two were definitely fish in their past lives & spent almost over an hour in the water - and believe me, it was totally worth it.

A Vintage Maui Anniversary Celebration | Makena, HI

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…

What To Wear For Your Engagement Photos in Maui

Figuring out what to wear for any photography session is difficult...that's why I'm here to help you slim down your options, OR create some more fabulous ones! 

But no matter what you wear, be confident that I’ll make you look fantastic…

It’s my job.

BASIC TIPS

• I love color and accessories, just keep the patterns to a minimum ;-) Solid colors always photograph well. There's no risk of distracting from faces, interactions or the environment around you.

• Try to coordinate outfits without looking overly “matchy”. Avoid wearing same colors and instead, find a color palette you love and piece together items from that palette that are complimentary to one another.

• Ladies: choose soft, natural fabrics that drape and flow. These make for gorgeous portraits and give texture and a sense of motion - two things I LOVE!

• I like my sessions to be fun and have an element of freedom, so dress in clothing you don’t mind playing in (or getting wet!).

• Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes or backup shirt/bottoms - sand, dirt & shoreline fun are inevitable!

• In general, shoes aren't necessary for any of my sessions. You can bring standard rubber sandals for walking to/from our location or for walking on any rocks/stones.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

• Photograph the outfits in advance. Lay out the clothing choices you have in mind and take a quick snapshot with your phone. If you like what you see, this photo can be super helpful when shopping!

• Makeup: Less is more - especially during outdoor portraiture. Weather here in Hawaii his HOT & HUMID, so avoid wearing any makeup that is shiny or has metallic minerals because it will catch in the sunlight. And I stress...WATERPROOF MASCARA.

• Hair: My best advice? Wear your hair the way you want it to look in the wind (just in case it’s windy). I’m obsessed with movement & hair blowing in the wind, but it can be unflattering when it flies across your face and it begins to frustrate you. Hairspray helps, but I highly recommend bobby pins, clips & hair ties!

• Sweat: 100% humidity equals sweat for everyone involved, especially men. Do yourself and your photos a favor and wear a simple tee on your way to your session, then change into your nice shirt when you arrive. I also recommend wearing a light tank under your dress shirt to wick away moisture and keep sweat spots from making an appearance. Small hand towels are perfect for wiping away sweat, especially during sunsets!

Still need some more inspiration for your wardrobe?

Visit my ‘What to Wear’ Pinterest Board!

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WHERE TO SHOP:

For Her: Old Navy, Forever 21, Asos, Lulu’s, Nordstrom Rack

For Him: Old Navy, Zara, Gap, Target, J.Crew

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COLOR PALETTE SAMPLES

FOOL-PROOF PASTEL COMBOS & INSPIRATION

LOVE NEUTRALS?

THE BOLD + THE BEAUTIFUL

A True Upcountry Maui Wedding

LOCATION: UPCOUNTRY MAUI, HAWAII   |   OCCASION: NOHELANI & KOA'S WEDDING DAY

Casual barbeque's take on a whole new meaning when meeting the love of your life is on the menu...

When they first met, it was by chance at a friend's BBQ and from that point on, they were inseparable in every way. Fast forward about a year or so later and it's now their wedding day in beautiful upcountry Maui. Two of the kindest hearted people in love shared their vows in front of over 350 friends & family at their beautiful home while the rain clouds cleared way and the peacocks cheered them on from beyond the forest. And maybe a few chickens and roosters too!

Cheers to Nohelani & Koa and your beautiful new family!  Mahalo for letting me be a part of your big day <3

The Most Romantic Honeymoon on Maui | North Shore, Maui

WHO: VIOLET & JASON  |  WHERE: MAUI, HI  |  WHY: HONEYMOON SESSION

Married only days prior, Violet & Jason contacted me to capture their wedding portraits in a "not so typical way"...basically, off the beaten path and not so bright and "paradise-like" like all the other photographers she was coming across in her searches. It just wasn't her style...

Welp, luckily she found me because our visions and ideas worked hand in hand and we captured some of the most gorgeous photos ever...incorporating both her love of dance and her love of Jason, now her husband. 

After dodging a few crazy cows, cow "bombs" and dancing in the wind at sunset, we captured this modern couple's love and so so much more. Their simplicity. Because let's be honest, why complicate things? 

Congratulations to you, Violet & Jason - you two are beautifully beautiful <3

Stunning Underwater Engagement Photos in Maui | Makena, HI

WHERE: MAKENA, HAWAII  |  WHO: DARLA & KYLE  |  WHY:  FOR LOVE OF HAWAII

Hailing from Ohio, Darla & Kyle found themselves vacationing in Hawaii again after falling deeply in love with it the last time they visited.  We'd been in talks for months about this shoot, making sure we could capture nature at it's best, with some rocks and a bunch of water time.  And oh the water time we spent! It was adventurous, breathtakingly beautiful, and so worth the time! 

Mahalo Darla & Kyle for being so amazing & fun during this shoot - it was definitely one for the books!