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The Kahala Resort
When you plan a holiday in Hawaii you get a full agenda. Pristine beaches and tropical forests are waiting to be explored. The Pacific Ocean invites you to enjoy water sports, kayak trips, and contemplation. Luxurious resorts tempt you with signature cuisine, exuberant gardens, and fun pools. On top of everything, special events and parties keep the islands busy day and night. Still, a day at the spa is definitely something to consider.
The history of Kahala Hotel & Resort started in 1964. Throughout the years, the hotel hosted illustrious guests, from royalty to heads of state and movie stars. How does it manage to attract so many great people?
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)
Many of the people who visit the Islands of Hawaii are first timers. Many are celebrating something special, and some just finally made the time to take the long vacation out. When most first experience Hawaii, its almost like experiencing a different country with a culture, traditions, and even a language that is completely foreign. Steve and Elen were first timers to Hawaii, and they dove right in.
Steve and Elen searched out the local cuisine, drove through the beauty of the aina, and even went to a luau to experience the culture of the Hawaiian Islands. Visiting us from Connecticut, and leaving their 6 boys behind, I can imagine that these two felt a renewed sense of youth and wonder exploring our island of Oahu. No doubt, a Hawaii beach photo session would allow them to continue to experience it for years to come.
Elen and Steve were guests at the Kahala Hotel & Resort on the south shore of Oahu. Lucky for them, it is one of the most beautiful sites on the island for a couples photography session. We spent a short half hour session with them walking the white sand beaches, and capturing their radiating love.
Its easy to fall in love with the island and not take the time to capture your Hawaii memories. In our experience, vacation passes way too quickly, so why not hire a vacation photographer to help you remember your visit and live it over and over in years to come. One thing I do know to be true, once you visit Hawaii for the first time, you will forever have an itch to come back.
- Written by Julia J. (Pacific Dream Photography at The Kahala Resort)
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)
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)
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)
