10 of the Best Kauaʻi Photo Session Locations
One of the most common questions I get from guests is, “Where should we take our photos/can we choose our location?” Kauai has no shortage of beautiful locations, from iconic beaches and dramatic cliffs to lush tropical scenery. A lot of your choice just depends on what vibe you want!
Here are 10 of my favorite locations for family, couple, maternity, engagement, and vacation photography on island!
1. Shipwreck's Beach — Sunrise or Sunset
Located in Poipu, Shipwreck's is my personal top favorite for photos. The combination of sandy beach areas, lava rocks, palm trees and greenery areas, the dramatic cliff, and all of the ocean views gives us lots of variety during one session. Both sunrise and sunset can be beautiful here! Even though sunset is busy, it is a big enough beach that all of us photographers always get our own spots. Most of my sessions are shot here, and if anyone is unsure of which location they want, I tend to recommend Shipwreck’s.
2. Po’ipu Beach — Sunrise
Poipu Beach is a great choice for a classic Kauai beach session. Sunrise offers beautiful soft light, calmer conditions, and a quieter beach in the morning. It's especially convenient for families staying on the South Shore and wanting an easily accessible beach with nice clean ocean views. There also tends to be calmer waves at this spot. Unfortunately, it is far too busy in the evening (due to the turtles coming ashore!), so I only do sunrise sessions here.
3. Mahaʻulepu Heritage Trail — Sunrise or Sunset
For something a little more dramatic, the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail (in Poipu - right next to CJM stables and Shipwreck’s) offers dramatic coastline & cliff views. There are also some greenery areas, and gorgeous ocean views. It's a great option if you'd like your photos to have more of an adventurous feeling! This is a great spot for anyone who is staying on the south or west side, but still want those green mountain views. This location does require a bit of an off-road drive to get to, as well as a hike down to different locations on uneven surfaces, so it is not for anyone with mobility issues, and I generally do not recommend it for maternity sessions.
4. Salt Pond Beach — Sunset
Salt Pond is a beautiful West Side location and a wonderful spot for sunset photos! It is easy to access, and there are a few beautiful and unique areas. Since the sun sets in the west, we get some beautiful colors at sunset! It is great for anyone staying on the south or west side. There is a little less variety at this location, but all of the views are absolutely stunning. There is a rock wall in the water that often has water cascading over it like a mini ocean waterfall, which is unique&beautiful.
5. Kalapaki Beach — Sunrise
Kalapaki is a convenient option right in Lihue, and offers beautiful morning light. This spot has a sandy beach, palm trees, and ocean views. It's a great choice if you're looking for a simple, classic location. It is also one of the more central locations on this list, so it is easy to access from many areas! Sunset can get a little too busy, so I try to stick to sunrise and morning sessions here.
6. Hanalei Bay — Sunrise or Sunset
Few places feel more like Hawai’i and Kauaʻi than Hanalei Bay. The stunning green mountains, beautiful long beach, and iconic pier make this one of the most recognizable landscapes on the island. Sunrise tends to be quieter with beautiful soft light, while sunset, though busy, can provide absolutely gorgeous dramatic colors and light. I do have an additional $100 travel fee for this spot, and the other north shore locations, but it is well worth it! This is my favorite north shore location.
7. Hāʻena & Tunnels — Sunrise Preferred
Haena and Tunnels on the north shore offer incredible mountain scenery and a lush green tropical backdrop. I lumped these two locations together, since they are right next to each other on the beach. Sunrise is especially beautiful here, when the beach is peaceful and the light is soft. It can also be incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to find parking for sunset sessions, so I tend to mainly do sunrise shoots at these two locations. My $100 travel fee applies to these as well.
8. Anini Beach — Sunrise or Sunset
Anini has a quieter, more relaxed tropical feeling, without the dramatic mountain views. This is also a great option for anyone staying on the north shore or east side! It is especially good for anyone wanting some playful shots in the water, as there aren’t generally any big waves here, so we can get some great “feet in the water” photos without worrying about large waves. My $100 travel fee applies to this beach as well.
9. Waimea Plantation Cottages - Sunrise or Sunset
This is by far the most unique location on my list! Waimea Plantation Cottages on the west side is Kauai’s darkest sand beach. Depending on the day, sometimes the sand even appears to be black. This location offers a charming feeling with tropical greenery&palm trees, as well as beautiful island scenery, especially at sunset. In my opinion, this is the most underrated photo spot on this list.
10. Lydgate Beach - Sunrise or Sunset
Lydgate Beach in Kapa’a is a great location for beautiful photos, especially at sunrise! This is a very central location, so it is great for visitors staying on the north shore, east side, Lihue area, or even south shore. There are beautiful sandy areas, as well as rugged driftwood spots, interesting rocks, and a few greenery spots. This location is pretty at both sunrise and sunset, but the sunrise is especially stunning, as it rises right out over the horizon on the ocean. My $100 travel fee applies to this location.
Which Kauaʻi Location Is Right for You?
The best location depends on the look you're going for, where you're staying, the time of day, and who will be joining your session. Some locations are better for dramatic scenery, while others are perfect for families who want a more relaxed beach experience.
Not sure which one to choose, or have another idea that isn’t listed here? I'm happy to help you find the perfect location for your Kauaʻi photo session! Simply email me at hello@madeleinerosephotos.com and we can brainstorm a bit.
Whether you're visiting for a family vacation, honeymoon, anniversary, engagement, birthday, or simply want beautiful photos to remember your time on the island, Kauai has the perfect photography location for you.
