Returning Guests || The Kahala Hotel Family Portraits

What a remarkable gift it is to be the ones to capture the special moments of our guests from all over the world. During every photo session, it is so important to our photographers to give our clients a beautiful memory they will cherish forever and an experience they will never forget.

So what makes this experience even more touching and unique for us? It is when we are given the pleasure of capturing these precious moments all over again, when our guests return to Hawaii and allow us to become a part of their vacation tradition! It is a privilege to reconnect with our clients over the years and see how their families grow.

Last week, we had a returning family from Japan visit us for another photography session on the beach at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. The first time we met them, their infant son could not even walk! This year, their baby boy was walking all by himself & we were so excited to capture how much they had grown as a new family in just under a year!

Part of the joy of being a photographer for Pacific Dream is to watch our clients evolve in their everyday life and join us again for another unforgettable Hawaii photography session experience. It is moments like these, that make our job so rewarding. Surrounded by love and sharing these moments in time with growing families, newly weds, or couples who have been married for over 50 years, the list goes on! This is what we live for, because love is a beautiful thing.

Written By Loryn R. (Pacific Dream Photography at The Kahala Hotel & Resort)

Keeping the Love Alive || Eric & Elaine

When you are a photographer, often times you find yourselves enveloped in intimate moments between couples. Photographing honeymooners, Bride & Groom, vow renewal ceremonies, or even just a couple vacationing, we are welcomed into a space, with oftentimes new friends, that gives you a close glimpse into that relationship.

We are so lucky to be able to experience that love and intimacy on a daily basis, because it helps keeps us grounded and thankful in our own lives. 

I had the pleasure of photographing a couple last week at the Kahala Hotel & Resort in Oahu. Elaine told me that she didn't get pictures with her husband of over 20 years as often as she'd like and wanted to plan a fun beach photo session for the next afternoon.

After 24 years of marriage, Elaine and Eric were just as fun, playful, and starry eyed as when they were kids. In fact... they still looked like kids! Elaine showed me a picture from when they first got married, and it was eerily identical to some of the pictures we had been taking. The scariest part is, they hadn't aged a day!

I had to ask Elaine, how do they keep such a youthful playfulness with each other, which she confided in me all her secrets. But most importantly, they set aside time to do fun things with each other. Whether it be sparring in their martial arts class, a birthday trip every year for the two of them, or a sunset beach photoshoot in Hawaii, these two really know how to keep the love alive.

Written by Julia J. (Pacific Dream Photography at The Kahala Hotel & Resort)

You Said Yes! || Tips For Your Hawaii Engagement Photography Session

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)

8 Must-Know Tips About Photographing Kids || Hawaii Family Portrait Photography

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)

Cherish Your Memories || Family Photo Session in Oahu

We had the pleasure of shooting a beautiful family photo session the other day at the Kahala Resort. With photographing kids, it gets a little difficult to capture that "perfect" picture family photo. However, we'd like to tell you why the perfect picture isn't always so "perfect." 

Since they had never had family photos taken, the family was fine with going with the flow and having us capture the kids in their natural element. Their Hawaiian family session turned out to be so much fun for all! The kids played and laughed while their personalities shone bright through our lens. We loved all the silly expressions that Roman made for the camera and although Riley was camera shy, she loved looking at the pictures after their session. 

Often times we welcome returning families back to the islands as a place for escape from the busy schedules of every day life.  And if we've learned anything, these precious moments as kids fly by. As professional photographers in Hawaii, we take heart in knowing that these are the pictures that you will look back at to remember who your kids were at this beautiful time.

-written by Julia J. (Pacific Dream Photography at The Kahala Resort)

Winter Family Getaway at The Kahala Hotel & Resort

When Steve and Jamie first walked by our studio at The Kahala Hotel & Resort on the south shore of Oahu with their precious new baby, it was apparent we had to have a photo session with them.  Upon learning about their successful wedding coordinating and event design business, Sinclair & Moore Events, we could tell they would be experienced in front of the camera.

From the beginning of their beach photography session, Steve and Jamie were completely natural and relaxed in front of the lens. Their warmth and friendliness, and the love they had for each other, was easily captured in this candid photo session. 

Despite being successful, driven entrepreneurs who clearly have a passion for their business, their real love was for their new baby boy Grayson. Baby Grayson was one of the easiest, happiest and well-traveled babies we have had the pleasure of photographing. A few months earlier he was photographed under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Now, he was on the beautiful white sandy beaches of Hawaii, getting sun-kissed on another photo session. 

The session went flawlessly, as it would be difficult to capture anything but a beautiful photo of this family. Each image was filled with sun, sand and sea. Hawaii memories captured with Aloha. 

-written by Julia (Pacific Dream Photography at the Kahala Hotel & Resort)

Black & White or Color Photography in Hawaii?

Hawaii is a lush tropical paradise with deep blue waters, vibrantly hued flowers and, of course, the occasional rainbow. For that reason, it's easy to understand why our clients are looking for colorful photos to take home with them from their photo session in Hawaii.  As we present our collections, more often than not, the black and white photos are discarded, with preference given to the vividly pigmented ones.

As a Hawaii photographer, why even offer black and white photos, right? Well, without fail, there is always a black and white image that makes a couple or a family pause. They see something in it they didn't notice in the other pictures. The lack of color somehow allows you to focus more on the subject, unveiling a dramatic and sentimental moment, and eliciting a more emotional response.  Suddenly, the same photo tells two different stories.

Oftentimes, a photo will work better one way over the other, but there are certainly virtues to both:

Color
- Bold, vibrant colors are eye-catching
- Different colors can convey different meanings and atmospheres. Cool colors can be solemn and serious and warm colors can be bright and up-lifting.
- Colorful elements such as rainbows and sunsets are visually prominent, and would be lost in black and white.

Black and White
- Focus can be more easily drawn upon the subject without the distraction of color.
- High contrast black and whites create emotion and drama. 
- Other elements of the photo may be more prominent, such as shadows and textures.

Do you have a preference for the richness of color photography, or an appreciation for the intensity of black and white. Or can you, like us, appreciate the beauty in both?

-written by Julia (Pacific Dream Photography at The Kahala Resort)

Honeymooning in Hawaii ~ Oahu Photographer

At Pacific Dream Photography, we love our clients from all around the world, and there is a soft spot in our heart for those who celebrate "La Bella Vita" in Italy. When you think of Italy; passion, warmth, and laughter come to mind. Claudia and Francesco, a couple from Milan, embodied all of what Italy has to offer. 

Newly-wedded Claudia and Francesco made the long trip across a couple of oceans to Hawaii for their honeymoon. In our experience, when you meet Italians, it's easy to feel like you've already been friends for years. Claudia and Francesco quickly welcomed us into their lives, showing pictures from their wedding in a beautiful Milano Cathedral, and buzzing over their genuine excitement to explore Oahu. 

Dedicated to making some beautiful honeymoon pictures in the resort grounds of The Kahala Resort, Claudia and Francesco opted for the sunrise session. Not everyone is committed to getting those beautiful shots with the warm early light, but thankfully they were because it was a stunning morning. 

This very-much-in-love couple had no trouble revealing their passion for each other into the camera. They seemed naturally at ease in each other's arms, and you got the sense that all they needed was each other. It certainly wasn't all serious, however, as the couple would break into giggles and teasing intermittently. My attempts at getting some moody pictures with soft smiles nearly failed as the couple just beamed great giant smiles every time they looked at the other.

After going through the images together I told them it was my mission to make them feel so touched that they would cry. To which, Claudia responded "We don't cry, we only laugh."

written by Julia (Pacific Dream Photography at The Kahala Resort)