Family Photo Session in Oahu at The Kahala Hotel & Resort

We had the pleasure of meeting Kechia, Marc and Mason at The Kahala Hotel & Resort on the south shore of Oahu. It was their first time to Hawaii in nearly a decade and they were on Island to celebrate a friends wedding as well their son Mason's first birthday. 

A lot of family photographers love shooting first birthdays. We do, too! They are a time when the child begins to really emerge as their own individual They are expressive, curious and, well, occasionally cranky... but, Mason was only full of joy and laughter. Not surprisingly, they were looking for a Hawaii photographer to capture it all.

We were lucky because it was a perfect afternoon for a family beach shoot. It was a little bit cloudy mixed with a little bit of sunshine -an hour or so before sundown. This makes for the most beautiful golden diffused light that is both flattering and easy on the eyes. All the colors become more saturated and pop and you end up with that vibrant Hawaii feel that everyone wants to go home with.

The warm light mixed with the warmth from this beautiful loving family made the recipe for a perfect shoot. 

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

Sunrise Photo Session at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

In photography, lighting and colors are everything. This is one of the main reasons why sunset photo shoots are always taken in the schedules of a beach photographer. However, what many don’t realize is that sunrise can have just the same amazing effect.

Early birds Nicholas and Allegra were able to catch this amazing morning lighting on their couple's photo shoot at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Nicholas had been planning to propose to his girlfriend of many years, and he reached out to our Laguna photographers to capture the moment and make it an extra special surprise. He let our Pacific Dream Photography photographers in California know that he was interested in proposing at sunrise, and we were more than happy to accommodate his request. After setting up a quaint breakfast picnic for the couple on a lawn overlooking the ocean, our photographer captured Nicholas proposing and Allegra’s eager delighted reaction.

Nicholas and Allegra- just seconds after he popped the question. (Laguna Beach)

The couple continued on to get some great early engagement photos in Laguna Beach, and the early morning sun was the perfect compliment. Our photographer was able to capture the orange glow of the rising sun against the cool morning colors in their images, which created a beautiful setting for all their photos. Also, since it was the beginning of the day, their photos were able to capture a great range of lighting in the 45 minutes they spent on their shoot.

Some fun sunlight effects and casual beach stroll make for great couple photos.

The result was a beautiful variety of photographs that annotated Nicholas and Allegra’s lovely moment. We were so happy to provide this couple with precious memories for their future lives together!

-written by Donya (Pacific Dream Photography at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel)

Family Photo Session in Kauai || 10-Year Anniversary

They say that time flies when you are having fun, and sometimes you wonder “where did the time go?” We can agree that all anniversaries should be celebrated. However, a 10-year mark definitely deserves a special remembrance, and what better way than a family photo session in Hawaii.

Exactly a decade ago, Ola and Stephen tied the knot at the Kamani Cove, at which is now the beautiful St. Regis Princeville. For this major milestone, Ola and Stephen decided to take their three beautiful daughters on vacation to Kauai where it all happened and to share with them their love for the special island. 

The flower decor headbands that Martin Roberts Design put together added such beauty to these family photographs! The photographer had a wonderful time taking the portraits of this amazing family and captured wonderful memories that will last them a lifetime.

There are certain places that will always hold a special place in your heart, and Kauai has always been that place for Ola and Stephen. We are so glad to have been able to work with this lovely family.

-written by Kristin (Pacific Dream Photography at the St. Regis Princeville)

Family Photos at the Andaz Maui at Wailea

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!

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)

Children Photography: When The Kids Aren't Having It

Family Photos taken at Montage Kapalua Bay in Maui, Hawaii by Pacific Dream Photography

Many parents are apprehensive about how their kids will perform during their family photo shoot in Hawaii. There’s no doubt that as photographers, we see our fair share of tears. However, there are steps that you can take to prevent this from happening. The photos in this post were taken by our Maui photographers at the Montage Kapalua Bay. It serves as a great example of when kids are just not in the mood to participate in a beach photo session.

First, make sure that your child is well rested! Just like going to work after only sleeping a few hours is no fun, same with photo shoots. Traveling to Hawaii from the mainland can be tricky with the time difference, but a few naps throughout the day helps curb the change. For this reason, it’s also a good idea to not schedule your Hawaii family photo session the very first day of your vacation.

If you have any fun props or toys that your child loves, feel free to bring them! It’s great when you bring a child’s favorite toy on the shoot, as the photographer can use it to grab the child’s attention whenever necessary.

Finally, if your child does start to cry, don’t panic. Our photographers have all dealt with this before and are very patient with children. We completely understand that some children are camera shy and we will do whatever it takes to get some nice photos of your baby.

-written by James (Pacific Dream Photography at Montage Kapalua Bay)

Family Photos taken at Montage Kapalua Bay in Maui, Hawaii by Pacific Dream Photography

Photography Sessions: Wardrobe Color Suggestions

Great family portraits by a professional photographer are a wonderful addition to every family’s home. There are so many components that work together to create beautiful photos, and some of the smallest details can make the biggest difference. One easy addition that can make a large impact is the outfit worn during your photo session.

Whether it’s a Hawaii beach photo session or a photo shoot in California, choosing a set color to coordinate between all family members can really help pull a photo together and give the entire family a cohesive appearance.  

This family chose to wear all white for their sunset photo session in Laguna Niguel. 

Tips from our California Photographers

During times such as sunset where the colors in the background are a variety of vibrant warm palettes, choose brighter colors. An all-white wardrobe can work in a late afternoon beach photo session, as seen in these photo samples from a shoot at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel. These colors can help set apart the person from the scene and draw attention to not only the beautiful scenery, but also to those being photographed. 

For photo sessions during the day when the sunlight is a bit more intense, avoid white and choose colors such as coral, oranges and salmon (just an example of the many colors which would work.) These can help add to the overall coloring of the photo, and also not have the attention drawn to the brightness of the clothing.

Sisters in white vacationing on the West Coast captured by our California photographers.

When the entire family is wearing the same color, it ensures that no family member will be lost in the setting compared to the others. This would also ensure that the focal point of the photo goes to the whole group. Having everyone be synced also adds a level of professionalism to a photo over a relaxed look of each person wearing a different print.

No matter what, our great photographers will make every member of the family shine and provide absolutely amazing photos. However, extra touches, such as clothing choices, really take ordinary photos and make them extraordinary!

-written by Donya (Pacific Dream Photography at the Ritz Carton Laguna Niguel)

Tips from a Portrait Photographer in Hawaii

A beautiful portrait looks clean and effortless, but whether you are shooting a portrait for a professional headshot, bridal portrait, maternity pictures.... there are some key points to creating a flattering and exciting image. 

-Utilize beautiful natural light. Using the first and last hours of the day gives you a beautiful warm golden light that is flattering on subjects. This softer light is easier on the eyes, and creates beautiful tones on skin. 

- Use a longer lens. Using longer lenses (or primes) helps give your image a compressed look that is more flattering. If you have a 70-200 lens, take a few steps back and really zoom into your subject. You will get a more flattering angle on your subject, and the focus will be on them, removing any distracting backgrounds. Wide angle can make your subject's foreheads or chins look larger than they are.

- Use a low aperture. For a single person, you can go as low as possible. We want our subject's eyes and face to be crisp and clear and everything else to soften out of focus. 

- When possible, we love to use a key light and a backlight, or key light and a side fill light. If you are inside, try positioning your subject by a window. You can then use a reflector to fill in the shadowed side of their face so that you aren't getting anything too contrasted. You want more even, flattering light. If you are outside, try to position the subject with their back to the sun, I then use reflectors or flash to fill in the shadows on their face. Try not to side light a subject unless they have perfect skin and facial structure. I love using reflectors because you get that big white sparkle in your subjects eyes which is what really brings them to life.

- Don't get too much of a side angle on your subject. A little bit of face to the side is good. If you overdo it, your light is going to fall off the side of their face and get blocked by their nose. 

- Try to have a little height on your subject. Whatever is closer to your cameras focus point is going to appear slightly larger. If you are slightly elevated at your subjects eye level shooting slightly down, the eyes are going to be slightly larger, which is more flattering. If you are down too low shooting a portrait often times the nose and chin will appear largest.

Keep these tips in mind and there is no way you can go wrong!

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

Tips to Prepare for Your Family Photo Session || Hawaii Family Photographer

            One of the most common concerns we hear from our parents upon booking their family session with us is whether or not the kids will cooperate being in front of a camera. With all that expendable energy that children have (especially from the excitement of being on vacation!) our experts here at Pacific Dream Photography have some tips and pointers to best prepare your kids for a successful fun photo shoot.

1.     Consider Time Difference

Jet lag can be a real drag, especially if you’re traveling from the other side of the world to enjoy paradise. Your kids are probably feeling it too! Whether they show signs of exhaustion or not, make sure they are well rested and get a good night’s sleep before a shoot. This will help avoid any yawns and sleepy faces in the photos!

If you have your child on a nap routine, make sure you aren’t scheduling your session around the same time!

2.     Avoid Sunburn

Just a friendly reminder: always wear sunscreen! The Hawaiian sun is harsh and although it’s difficult to avoid while attending your fun outdoor activities, make sure you’re protecting yourself and little ones as much as possible. Sunburns are painful and they easily show up in a photo!

3.    Wear Comfortable Clothing

Ensure your child’s comfort by dressing them in something they can move around in while not getting too over heated. Shorts and short-sleeved shirts are recommended!

4.    Bring A Snack

Often times during the afternoon sessions, families will make dinner reservations for after the photo shoot. Bring something to munch on just in case the kids can’t fight the hunger until dinnertime.

5.    Have FUN!

Our photographers encourage kids to be themselves and have a blast during our photo shoots. Capturing their personalities is our goal for creating memories you will cherish forever, and allowing them to play during your session will do just that. After all, they’re on vacation too!

written by Samantha (Pacific Dream Photography at The Fairmont Orchid)

Elopement Photography in Maui

This couple came from San Francisco for a 5-day vacation in Wailea, Maui.  They had only been dating a few months, but had been best friends for years.  While enjoying the beautiful Island of Maui, they decided to get married!

They got their marriage license and eloped the next morning.  The first thing they did was call their parents, which led to the parents asking for pictures.  Since they hadn't taken pictures during their elopement, they contacted Pacific Dream Photography at the Andaz Maui. The lovely couple asked if it was possible to schedule a same-day couple session, and of course, we were happy to be part of their love story!

Their story was so romantic, and we made sure they would be able to enjoy a beautiful beach session with us.  As you can see by their pictures, they're very much in love, so we allowed them to be themselves.  The photographer did not even have to pose them!

They laughed and danced through most of the session.  She looked beautiful in the dress she bought that same morning. She told us it was the first dress she tried on and that it fit perfectly... seems like everything about this experience was meant to be!

written by Nathalie (Pacific Dream Photography at the Andaz Maui)