Hawaii Beach Portrait of Military Couple and their Dogs

Military couple had their portrait taken a few days before they were both deployed to Iraq. (Unfortunately, they will be in different towns and won't see each other often.) They brought their two dogs to Waimanalo to join the photography session. We got tons good photos and they both said they were going to take along a copy of the disc to remember their happy time together in Hawaii.

Please keep our military families as well as our less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world who are living in poverty when you sit down to eat your meal on Thanksgiving Day. Count your blessings, everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

St. Alban's Iolani Chapel Wedding

Congratulations to Steven and Marissa who tied the knot at St. Alban's chapel at Iolani School last month. More photos from their wedding are available on the Oahu Wedding Photo website and blog.

Family Photo Books

Looking for the perfect gift for your parents, grandparents or godparents? How about a coffee table photo book! Photo books are not only great keepsakes of your Hawaii vacation or family photographs, they are also thoughtful gifts for close family and friends. Our hardcover photo books are professionally designed and include about 35 images from your portrait session. See our photo book sample here.

If you would like to order a photo book as a Christmas gift, please schedule your portrait session before the end of this month. If you prefer to use your old family photos in your photo book, please provide the photos to me by December 1.

Hilton Grand Vacation Club Family Portrait in Hawaii

This family from California had an on location portrait session while vacationing at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club located next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu. The kids were thrilled as their grandparents from Hong Kong also joined them in Hawaii. 

Tips for great on location child/family portraits

When preparing for an on location (outdoor) family photography session with young children, focus on the fundamentals. If you follow the tips below, you will end up with much more than a family portrait or beautiful vacation photographs. Hopefully, you will get photos that will be treasured for generations.

• Schedule the photography session at a time that works for your kids.

If you have young children and they are happiest early morning, schedule the session at 7 am. Most on-location photographers will take photos as early as sunrise! Studios are less flexible, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

• Select the location(s) carefully.

When it comes to photography, location matters! Many families who visit Hawaii like to take the photos on the beach. If your child doesn't like sand or is afraid of the water, let your photographer know. Take a blanket or mat to lay on the beach. Ask your photographer to suggest a beach that has a grassy area nearby in case the beach doesn't work out.

Some children feel most comfortable in their home. On-location photographers will travel to your home. Ask the photographer to arrive a little early to find the best locations for the shoot. Tidy up and clear clutter from the rooms where the photo session will take place.

• Rested kids with full tummies equal great photos.

A surprisingly high number of parents drag hungry kids to a portrait session at sunset, meal times or nap time. Sunset photos are nice but if the kids are unhappy, it will show in the photos. If your children are fed and rested before the session, chances are you will be happy with the photos.

• Select the right photographer.

There are a lot of photographers out there with varying levels of experience and prices. Do your homework! Check the portfolios and blogs of local photographers and don't go by price alone. If quality is important, be prepared to pay anywhere from $350 to $800 for a one to two-hour session. The price usually includes a print credit or your high-resolution digital files. Once you've narrowed down your selection, email or call the photographers to see how responsive and accommodating they are.

• Ask the right questions.

Find out exactly what is included in the photo package. Does the price include taxes and travel fees? Is there a charge for rescheduling in case of bad weather or if baby is sick? Is there a charge for retouching photos? Email these questions so you have the response in writing. Most photographers reserve the right to use a few images for promotional purposes. If you're uncomfortable with this, let your photographer know. Most photographers (including myself) honor such requests.

• Communication is key.

Once you've selected your photographer, communicate! Be clear about your style preference (candids, posed or a mixture) and communicate any special requests.

• Wear the right clothes.

Most photographers will tell you that simple, comfortable and coordinated clothing look best in photos. Avoid very bright and bold prints as they can be distracting. If it is a beach location, take a few extra outfits for the children as they tend to end up in the water.

• Take along meaningful props.

If you plan to take props, be sure to take ones that are meaningful and representative of the person being photographed. If it is a young child, take along his or her favorite teddy bear or story book.

• Snacks, hairbrush and hairspray

If you plan to take your photos on the beach, take a hairbrush, some hairspray or gel and something to tie back long hair. Remember, it's breezy at the beach! Snacks for young children and a bottle water might also come in handy.

• The most important tip: Have fun!

If you relax and have a great time during the photo shoot, your kids will follow suit. The photos will show a happy family having a wonderful time in Hawaii.