What happens if it rains?
This is the top most asked question I get, and I totally get it, looking at the weather can stress me out too, so I don’t even tend to check the weather reports! While Kaua’i is one of the wettest spots in the world, I rarely have to reschedule any sessions due to rain. Seeing rain on the forecast doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be raining during the day, as it commonly rains at night. It also doesn’t mean that it will be raining for long periods, as it is very common for Kaua’i to have quick showers which are done in 5 minutes. With all that being said, I tend to try and do all of my sessions, rain or shine. If needed, we can bring some umbrellas or towels, and duck under cover of trees if it starts to come down on us! We can also embrace the rain, and do some fun and memorable shots in it. I try to never reschedule any sessions due to rain, because there is no guarantee that there would be a time open to reschedule to, or that the open time would be any better! Sometimes it does come to that, though. No matter what, we will get some beautiful shots. & Just remember, rain brings rainbows!
What should we wear?
This all depends on you and your group. Some people like to get the completely matching outfits, so that you don’t have to worry about clashing or planning colors. Other families prefer the classic all white/white and denim clothing look. Florals and Hawaiian style patterns are very popular here, and look great on the beach as well. I personally have found that solid colors can look especially gorgeous, especially blues, greens, oranges, pastels, and muted earth tones. Please make sure that you do not wear anything with large words on it. Competing crazy patterns are overwhelming to the eye as well. Another tip I have is to make sure you have worn the outfit a bit before the session, as it may be itchy or uncomfortable if you have never worn it before, and that wouldn’t be a pleasant thing to find out mid shoot! Also, make sure to bring extra hair ties or bobby pins for anyone with long hair, just in case we get a windy beach day!
How will the session work?
We can discuss the package/length of session you would like, location, and time&date. I primarily shoot at sunrise or sunset, as those offer the best lighting, color, and temperature! If you are able to get up and out early, I prefer sunrise. It is more clear of people on the beach, and there is just a quality of light that is so stunning at that time! Also, it leaves the whole rest of the day for you, and if you are still not adjusted to the time difference, and used to mainland USA, Canada, or Mexico time zones, you may be waking up incredibly early anyway. Sunset is very popular, and also stunning. However, some people prefer a more daytime look, so if you request that, we can absolutely discuss options for that as well. After our shoot, I get payment via Venmo or Zelle, and within 2 weeks you will get a gallery emailed to you with all of the high resolution edited photos from your shoot! From there everyone can get on and download the photos, as well as order prints for an additional cost, conveniently done through that gallery as well. Or, if you would prefer, you can order prints through whatever other company you would like.
I use the real beauty of the island in my sessions, as the natural light of Kaua’i is stunning, so I am purely a natural light photographer. I always get a mix of candid and posed images in my shoots, to make sure we get the most variety. You will definitely get your traditional “Christmas card” type photos on my sessions, as well as mixing it up with some unposed and creative photos in the moment! I love kids, and have two of my own, so if you are worried about your kids not smiling, I have all the tricks and options we can try! Capturing real genuine moments and expressions is so important to me. At the end of your session, if you are ok with getting a bit wet, it can be a blast to get some photos with your feet in the water! Some families just want to go play and splash in the water, and pretend I am not there. After our session, I will edit the photos in my editing style. My style is vibrant with a pop! I also love some dramatic skies, and tend to edit a bit warm in tones, to show off your vacation glow. I don’t offer heavy “magazine style” beauty retouching or photoshop body modification, but can absolutely do basic additional photoshop work on your final photos (such as light/subtle skin smoothing, flyaways, distracting objects out of the background, or fixing minor sunburn). You can simply request those edits after you get your gallery sent to you.