In Aloha you can see the beauty of nature, hear the sound of restless waves, and taste the hospitality of Hawaiian Islands. And what better way to enjoy a Hawaiian experience than by embracing its local food and culinary delights?
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Maui Photographer
A beach photo session doesn't have to ruin your vacation mood. We know you want to look great and share your photos with your friends and family. Don't be nervous, it's impossible to look bad on the incredible beaches of Kauai.
1. Your camera acts as a visual journal. Your camera gives you the ability to capture beautiful moments while you travel, which is an amazing gift. You will be able relive these moments every time that you flip back through these pictures.
2. Having your camera with you a great way to meet people. They might not always admit it, but people often love being on camera and having someone around who can capture great moments during a trip is a huge plus. There is a huge industry even based on travel photography. Don’t be surprised when people see your camera and start a conversation with you! One minute you're talking, the next you’re hiking through the maui jungle with your new best friend!
3. Make some money along the way. Looking for a cheap meal while globetrotting? Talk to local restaurants and offer them a culinary shoot in trade for a meal. There are a ton of ways to trade services for your photos! Be sure to brush up on your food photography or building interior skills!
4. Taking photographs can help you be more aware of your surrounding. When you’re on the search for the next perfect shot, your senses will adapt to be more heightened to your surroundings. You’ll notice that you are more capable of scoping out beauty, which will further enhance your travel experience. Beautiful scenic landscape photography is only accomplished when the photographer is on constant high alert for the perfect conditions.
5. You’ll have high quality photos that are better than cell phone shots. Now that everyone on the planet seems to have a camera with them at all times, you’ll feel confident knowing that you’ve got the power of a real camera behind you. Or if you don't, one of our favorite cameras for travel is the Canon 6D.
Written by James H. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel)
The romantic and serene ambiance of the Andaz at Wailea Resort is simply the perfect location for couples celebrating their honeymoon in Maui.
Nathalie and Jon came to us all the way from Australia to enjoy this special time together just days after their wedding in Sydney. Being used to posing for photographers by this point (after enduring both engagement and wedding photography) the couple was able to relax on the beach and surrounding property during their Experience Photography Session.
Both agreed that the islands breathtaking natural beauty along with the modern elegance of the resort were excellent choices and exceeded their expectations. With the many dramatic backdrops, it is clear why the Andaz Wailea is a top sought out location for Maui couples photography. You can see more examples of beautiful portraits taken at the Andaz here.
We look forward to seeing them return to Maui's beautiful beaches for future anniversaries and to capture more special memories of their love.
Written By Sarah S. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort)
Group portraits are a fantastic way for friends and families to spend quality time together and capture unforgettable memories. Whether you're taking a much-needed family reunion trip to the islands or looking to update your photos of friends and loved ones, who wouldn’t want group photos on a lush beach in Hawaii to remember your time in paradise? Capturing photos of a large group can be a difficult task, but fear not! With some helpful tips; let our artists at Pacific Dream Photography make your group photo session a success by providing you with ever-lasting commemorations.
A relaxed photo is important, but a little direction is always a great key to ensuring a successful photography session. Most of the time a group will pose themselves naturally with tall people in the back and short people in the front. But if needed, feel free to take control of your group and position others in visually ideal positions. Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we like to make sure our subjects feel comfortable without feeling too forced, so loosen up and don't forget to take in the beautiful scenery!
When posing your group, place people according to families and couples. This makes it easier for everyone, as they are able to locate themselves easily when looking through their photos. If you'd like the session to be centered on two specific people, place them in the middle of the group.
It is very important to make sure that everyone's faces are visible. If they cannot see the camera, they will most likely not be seen in the photo! As a professional photographer, it is our job to scan the group and make sure that everyone is clearly visible. If one or more subjects are looking away, it may take away from a potentially perfect photo.
To avoid awkward spacing in group photos, use a wide angled lens and tighten up the frame. Closing in any unwanted gaps between individuals is a great way to unite your group. One effective technique is to tell your group to lean their heads in close together. Allow your subjects to hug and hold each other and be ready to capture big smiles at any moment.
As professional photographers in Hawaii, we take pride in sweet moments with family and friends. Your group will thank you for a great time and stunning group portraits.
- Written by Julia P. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Grand Hyatt Kauai)
You've both decided on forever and now it's time to begin the planning! Professional photos are a fabulous way to kickstart your engagement and we at Pacific Dream Photography want to capture your love for each other with a romantic photo session.
Whether you've had professional photos taken together before or not, it's always a good idea to first discuss what your vision is for your engagement photos. The key to a successful engagement shoot is to relax and let your relationship shine through the camera.
Candid photos provide for an endearing look into your relationship. Focus on each other and forget about the photographer! By capturing the two of you laughing, walking, or stealing a kiss, you'll be thankful for the authenticity of your Hawaii photos.
Now, what to wear? If you're planning to use the photos for your Save the Dates, perhaps you already have a color theme in mind. With that idea, you two can coordinate together to dress down for a more casual feel, or suit up for a more formal look.
Have fun, be yourselves, and your love will effortlessly shine through our lens for your breathtaking engagement photos. Lastly, don't forget to snap a stunning picture of the newest accessory on that finger! Your friends and family will thank you for it.
- Written by Samantha (Pacific Dream Photography at the Fairmont Orchid)
Photographing children is something that many photographers avoid. While it can be a challenge, here at Pacific Dream Photography, we have a blast! We are going to share a few pointers on how to take the stress out of photographing children. These simple tips will help you achieve natural effortless photos.
1. Be Prepared. Preparing for a session makes all the difference in the world. If an infant or toddler is joining the session, it's important to bring a few toys to keep them engaged. Bubbles are a great way to keep kids occupied during the shoot and will result in giggles and smiles all around. The right lens also plays a huge role when photographing kids. Having the right equipment and settings will result in better photos.
2. Have Patience. Photographing children requires patience and time. Some kids love having their pictures taken, while others may be camera-shy. Just roll with their behavior and don't force anything. Kids will have a great time if you simply hang out with them. Engaging with the child and building their trust will allow them to warm up to the camera! Ask questions, tell jokes, and find out what they are interested in. Be ready to snap pictures at any time. You never know when they might do something unexpected resulting in a fabulous photo!
3. Smiling Is Not What's Most Important. The goal is to allow kids to feel like they are right at home. When kids are comfortable they will share their personality with the camera. Kids possess an array of emotions, quirks, and funny faces. Sometimes asking kids to smile will result in the typical forced "picture day face." Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we like to capture authentic timeless moments. After all, real life moments are the most memorable ones.
4. Get On Equal Ground. This tip might require getting a little dirty (or sandy!), but thats okay! Remember you are working with kids! Standing over them will make them look even smaller, so It's okay to get down on your knees or even on your stomach! Getting down on their level will make you instantly more approachable. Photographing the world from a child's perspective can create stunning images with different angles.
5. Give Them a Sneak Peak! Children love to interact and see whats going on behind the camera. Sharing the images that you are taking can be very beneficial. It allows the child to be a part of the shoot rather than just the subject. Building a bond with the child will help you achieve more ideal results.
6. Get Close. Don't be afraid to get close to your subject. It is important to fill the frame with the child. Capturing their facial expressions will result in extreme cuteness! Choose the right backgrounds, making sure there are no distractions around the subject. Ideally, the background should look blurry and soft.
7. Get The Parents Involved. It's all about the family! During a session, parents are the key to a great shoot. Include the parents in the pictures. This will allow the child to relax and feel comfortable. Not only does this create beautiful images of the child, it creates memories for the whole family.
8. Be Funny. It's okay to be silly during a session. Don't be afraid to make funny faces, dance, make silly noises, and have a great time. Don't worry about getting the perfect image, candid shots are a better option when photographing kids. Most importantly, have a great time! When the photographer is having fun, the child will have a wonderful time.
- Written by Julia P. (Pacific Dream Photography at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa)
Once in a while, we have only one person show up for the beach photo session at our Hawaii locations. Some people just can't miss the amenity of the photo shoot we offer for the guests of the luxury hotels we partner with.
The photos you are seeing here were from a Andaz Maui at Wailea solo female traveler. Solo travels are becoming increasingly popular, and we are glad to be able to provide them with beautiful memories of their vacation.
When her photographer in Maui met up with her, she had 2 changes of clothes and a bathing suit. For a short photo session with more people, it's not entirely necessary to bring wardrobe changes, but for single subjects, there's definitely time to play around with outfits and props.
She shared with us that of all the places to go alone, Hawaii was the possibly the best destination as it's gorgeous, relaxing and most importantly, safe. She also wanted to get photos to show her fiancé (who had to pull the plug on the trip for work reasons) what he was missing.
During her viewing, she shared that she wore all the dresses and bathing suit that he had bought her specifically for this trip. She explained how she was nervous at first being alone for a photo shoot, but that her photographer made her feel comfortable as the session went along.
The lesson? If you go to Hawaii by yourself (or any other beautiful destination), book a vacation photographer and get professional pictures for your loved one who missed out on the fun. Also, who wouldn't need stunning new profile photos for social media?
In the case of this guest, she was able to gift her significant other 40 beautiful photos of her enjoying the beautiful resort and beach in Wailea, Maui.
Documenting A New Chapter with the help of a Family Photographer
In a family, when the kids grow up and are about to move on to college, there is a shifting that takes place. This family chose Hawaii to celebrate graduations and moving on to the new chapter in everyone's life.
Mrs. Ramirez, with her two sons, did not miss a beat! Every morning, afternoon and night, she had something planned for them to all go and do together. Her goal was to create lasting memories while here, so a photo session with Pacific Dream Photography at the Andaz Maui at Wailea made perfect sense.
Earlier that year, her father had passed away, and with her being daddy's girl, it hit her hard. This all made it even more important to capture the memories with her boys while here. After all, tomorrow is not guaranteed. During their family photo experience session, she asked their photographer for a private moment and threw a rock into the ocean in honor of her dad.
The day after their session, she and one of her sons came down for the viewing and they laughed and laughed at all the photos taken during the session creating even more memories. When we got to the photo of her throwing the rock, she had to clear out her eyes from her tears from laughing to see that the shape of the rock that she threw was in the shape of a heart. It touched her so much, she teared up, couldn't believe it, and immediately wanted that photo printed on metal for her wall.
As she left, she kept thanking us for the session as it has given her so much closure in regards to her father as well as GREAT times documented with her two sons just having a goofy time here in Hawaii. On to the new chapter.
-written by Beth (Pacific Dream Photography at the Andaz Maui)
Visit our Facebook page to see even more photos of family sessions!