The Martinez family

With a storm brewing on the Windward in the distance, I met the Martinez family on a secluded beach to try to brace the wind and beat the rain for some fun family pictures. Their two boys, Toni and Tyler were hilarious balls of energy that kept me on my toes and helping me get creative with our posing. They got along so well, too, despite the few pictures in which it appears quite the opposite! We were all laughing pretty much the whole time and got plenty of great smiles before it started sprinkling. Mom got her Christmas present early this year and I hope it will keep them all happy for years to come!

Vow Renewal

A new acquaintance and fellow photographer, Nicole, contacted me last week to say that her parents were going to be on island for the holidays and wanted to renewal their vows. Naturally, she wanted to participate and be in the pictures for once instead of behind the camera, so I was honored that she asked me to capture the special day for them! On a gorgeous day in Waianai, I watched them reaffirm their love for one another. It is always a pleasure to witness long and lasting love :-) Afterwards, we posed for group shots out of the whole clan, and the kids were all so well-behaved, even when distracted by the dogs playing fetch in the ocean. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning and I hope this family has nothing but happy memories of this special day!

Not your average Christmas party

The perks of working and learning from Bob the Camera Man continued this holiday season as I helped him cover an annual Christmas party thrown by a very notable family of the island. This Christmas party was 2 parts, night one for kids and night 2 for adults. I would be more excited about the kids party, of course. Face painters, DJ, full catering of kid friendly yet gorment foods, passed delicacies for the adults like filet minion sliders, and shrimp gazpacho martini cups, a balloon man, and a mountain of giant gingerbread cookies with all the fixings. Side note, when you let a group of 4-5 year old's loose on a cookie decorating station, you end up with sugary treats both blinding in color and sugar content. I had so much fun capturing the smiles on these kids' faces, not to mention, enjoying the gorgeous view. What an awesome experience!

The USS Port Royal

Assisting one of the most well-known photographers on the island has so many benefits, including getting to participate in shooting big events like the Christmas party for the USS Port Royal. The sailors in this crew were deployed at sea last Christmas, so they wanted to celebrate together at home this year with family and friends. Located in a ballroom of the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki sailors of all ages and rank ate, laughed, celebrated, and won some pretty awesome raffle prizes, including iPads, Macbook Pros, big screen tv's and more! It was a challenging new experience for me to weave throughout the room capturing guests at such a large event but I was so thankful to Bob the Camera Man for trusting me with the task!

The Jennings Family

I can't blame the Jennings family one bit for wanting to get photos done in Hawaii before they PCS to their new station in Illinois. (Nothing against Illinois, but let's be real, not quite the landscape of Hawaii.) Plus, these cutie pies won't be young for long; they are already growing into quite a bunch of charmers! They were so good for our shoot, even suggesting some creative poses of their own! Granted, they usually involved some element of danger so we had to modify them, but I loved the enthusiasm of these three boys. To add some spice, we started trying poses like "the ninja" and"the train," for extra giggles and as a result, I think we ended up with some really natural looks as the sun sank slowly below the horizon.

The McCormick Clan

I feel like I talk about how "fun" the shoot was in every post, but it's true- all in different ways and for different reasons! This group was no different, and it's always a bonus when I know the family. I knew Amy was an awesome mom and so giving of herself to others, so I was determined to capture some beautiful images for her. It was an overcast day and pretty windy to top it off, but no rain so we took our chances and hit North Beach on Kaneohe Bay. The kids were all giggles, which some may discourage for pictures, but I just go with it. We made silly faces and did silly poses, even hatched a secret plan to tackle mommy and daddy by surprise. I think we ended up with some really cute shots that display the happiness and love in this beautiful family!

Welcome Home

After 6th months of active duty serving in Japan, the marines from unit 2/3 at Kaneohe Bay returned home safely on 12-12-12. Hundreds of wives, husbands, kids, friends, neighbors, and fellow marines lined the sides of Hanger 5 to cheer them off the plane. As the crowd waited anxiously, the marine band played familiar songs to keep up the energy, kids played in bouncy houses, and women checked raffle tickets for a chance at the first kiss. I had butterflies and I wasn't even expecting anyone! I was shooting for a new friend, Sarah, whose husband was with the unit. She was all smiles as she scoured over the crowd of people for her husband to come off the plane and when he finally worked his way through to his waiting wife, their embrace was priceless. I was so honored to be able to capture these special first moments in their reunion. I wish them all the best as they cherish their time together and thank them for their sacrifice to our country.

Brother bonding with the Shipp Boys

I love a mom with a vision, a particular look or style to achieve, a spin on the standard session. Heather prepared for a shoot of her 3 boys with a vintage baseball theme in mind, since all of them will be playing the sport in this spring.  First, we started on the beach with simple, solid tees and let me tell you, I didn't even have to think about pulling out my "tickle bug;" these boys were pros at picture-taking. There was also a stunning, bold lifeguard stand on the beach that was the perfect prop to give the shoot a unique touch.

Next to our little beach was a huge baseball field so the boys changed into some old-school baseball tee's that Heather had purchased to bring out her vintage vibe; they added just that extra bit of detail to really make these photos stand out. Naturally, it was the perfect opportunity to channel their inner Babe Ruth for a pose as well. As the sun set behind the bleachers, we even managed to squeeze in the new puppy for shot- so classic. And I mean, how can you go wrong with such a handsome trio?! Thanks to the Shipps for a super fun photo-session!

Toy Give-Away!

I was excited for this shoot from the moment Bob the Camera Man asked me to assist. On two separate military bases on the island, The Boys and Girls Club and the Toy Industry Foundation joined together to give away hundreds of toys to deserving military families at their annual tree-lighting ceremony. Each night, the locations were buzzing with Christmas spirit. It was my first introduction to Christmas on the island and I was delighted to witness that despite the 80 degree weather and salty, ocean air, all the added pleasures of the Christmas season were as present as ever!

It was so simple to capture the candid happiness all around as Christmas carols played, hot chocolate was served with cookies, the Grinch tried endlessly to steal everyone's toys, and the bright lights of a giant evergreen tree twinkled over the whole event. The smiles of children of all ages, picking out their new toy with their parents, sharing and playing together, and celebrating the spirit of the season, was such a joy to capture. What a special and unique experience for us all! 

The Fujimaki girls

This shoot was a first for many reasons- I was assisting Laura Aguon with a client she has worked with several times before with especially creative vision. With a background in fashion, Jessica styled this whole shoot with a woodland fairy esthetic including custom tutus, flower wreaths, and balloons. It was also my first time shooting on the gorgeous, exclusive beaches of Turtle Bay Resort. Fun Fact: we were stopped from going onto the beach we were originally planning to shoot because a security guard blocking the trail informed us that the sequel to The Huger Games, called Catching Fire, was currently being filmed there! Too bad we didn't get a sneak peak of the set! Check out the rest of the gorgeous shots from the session HERE.

FLASHBACK!

Speaking of engagement sessions, I thought I'd share a little flashback of my own session done in Virginia by Aaron Riddle of Aaron Riddle Photography. He did an awesome job and we had a blast!

Derek & Ashley's engagement session

Engagement sessions are so much fun and a whole different ballgame compared to family shoots. That's one of the things I love about photography- every session is so unique and presents it's own set of challenges it's own personality. I also remember how much fun I had at my own engagement session just last year and I think that's a crucial part of taking photos: the experience behind them! Engagement photos are a great opportunity to capture the freshness and excitement of love.

Derek and Ashely were on vacation on Oahu and wanted to take advantage of the beautiful scenery to use for their engagement photos and Save-the-Dates. When working with two adults, I am able to get really creative because the flow is so much quicker with communication as opposed to whistles and animal noises (kids get a kick out of those for some reason). This couple was so personable and by the end, I felt like I had two new friends! It was so easy to see the love in their eyes and I wish them the best of luck with their upcoming wedding in April back at their home in California.

Little Juliet

I could not have been more excited to hear the news that Blonnie and Joe, who had their maternity session with me a couple months ago, had given birth to a beautiful baby girl. I met The new happy family at their home, which they wouldn't call home much longer. PCS-ing back to the mainland in just 2 weeks from our shoot, they certainly had enough going on already, but didn't want to miss capturing Juliet's tiniest first days in paradise. She was wide-eyed and loved her Daddy's arms. It was so precious to be invited into this special time and see Blonnie as a new mom, glowing with pride. Fun fact: Blonnie worked through her pregnancy with an ultra-sound technician so was able to get lots of sneak peaks of her baby-to-be and posted all the clips on a wall in Juliet's nursery! Best of luck to the Crispins as they start their lives together in a new place!

The Cuneo Clan

My friend Ally, also newly married, graciously agreed to host her husband's whole family for Thanksgiving; that meant cooking a Thanksgiving feast for 12 people in her little base-housing kitchen, and the week surrounding the holiday as well. What a tall order! She handled it like an old pro though, and the reward was getting some memorable time shared in laughter with her new family--a real treat when we live all the way out here in the ocean! They decided while they were here, they wanted to get some updated pictures taken for their parents' Christmas gift, (cute, right!?).

From the start of the shoot, we were all laughing like kids. I could just tell how close the four siblings are despite the age gaps and distances- they were obviously happy to just be together for the holidays and goof around on the beach. It made for some memorable pictures and a pretty fun evening for all of us!

The Evers Family

I had my first introduction to Christmas on the beach with the Evers family and lots of holiday spirit. We quickly learned that sitting and smiling would not suit these giggly kiddos so we decided to go wild and see what we could create from good old-fashioned play time! The festive and more formal wardrobe mixed with the casual atmosphere at Ft. Hase beach gave this session a unique twist to the classic Christmas card pics. Throw in a strand of silver tinsel and you have the true emotion of fun, guaranteed. And really, those big brown eyes? Those missing two front teeth!?! Dare you not to smile at this beautiful family...

Baby Kenna

Ashley and Mike had their maternity session with me about a month ago and was so excited for them to have their first child. Finally, they welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Kenna, into the world. Just two weeks later, she asked me to shoot Kenna's newborn photos and, naturally, I was thrilled! It was so beautiful to see them as new parents, learning about Kenna and holding her with such amazement. Even though she was a little fussy, what can you expect at 2 weeks old!? And really, did it matter? I think she still looks like a little angel :-)

Baby Stella

Newborns are a different kind of subject. One might think, "oh well they can't move so they must be pretty easy to shoot, right?" Wrong. What is easy however, is for a baby to go from looking like a soft, angelic bundle of joy in a photo to looking like a the pile of clothes you left in the dryer for 2 days or a rotting potato. You may say, "that's crazy," but I assure you, with no control of their bodily functions, that happy smile can turn into wrinkly and red chaos amidst flailing limbs and piercing cries in a matter of seconds.

Luckily, this was not the case with adorable baby Stella! At just 5 days old, Stella was hungry and wide awake; I think she may have been aware she was the center of attention! That may not happen much in the future with 2 older siblings before her, but on this day, siblings Carson and Savannah could not be more excited about sharing the newest addition in their family. We were able to catch some sweet moments between the 3 of them when Carson started sharing jokes with Stella and her beautiful blue eyes were the highlight of each shot. Congratulations to a wonderful family on their growing family and I am so glad I was able to help you capture all her tiny features in the first few days of her long life ahead :-)

Tyler & Ashley

This young couple met back on the mainland when fate brought them together after Tyler's return from deployment in Afghanistan. Home for leave, he went to visit friends in Wisconsin, never imagining he would meet his future wife! That was a year ago and now they are able to say they are happily married and adjusting to their new lives together in Hawaii. Their fun, playful personalities were evident throughout, as was their love! We thought we hit a roadblock at one point when it started to rain in the middle of shooting. Just as we started walking to cover though, unsurprisingly in Hawaii, the rain ceased and we turned to see a full, bright rainbow stretching from one side of the beach to the other. It only lasted about 30 seconds, but that was enough to pose for a quick pic and I'm so glad we did because it's one of my favorites! We closed with clear skies and a beautiful sunset starting to sink behind the mountains. Thanks to Tyler and Ashley for a really fun shoot and for letting me experiment and get creative! Some things worked, some didn't, but hey, if my clients are willing to indulge my crazy ideas, sometimes they turn out being pretty cool :)

Adam & Fernanda's Beach Vow Renewal

Adam and Fernanda are a couple I met randomly through networking who were looking for a photographer to shoot their vow renewal ceremony and home reception at North Shore. I was thrilled when they decided to hire me and I began communicating with Fernanda, whom I found to be extremely sweet as we discussed the details of the event, her desires for photos and processing style, and logistics. The beach where the ceremony was held was a gorgeous local spot, made famous for the filming of the television series LOST! I was a little nervous because I had never been to that location before and due to her hectic schedule of planning the ceremony, the 2X bride was also 16 weeks pregnant and amidst the short 3 weeks between when I was hired and the event took place, we had yet to find a time to meet!

On a beautiful evening right before sunset, a ukelele strumming in the background,  a small group of family and friends gathered along the shore as Adam and Fernanda repeated their vows to one another. It was short, sweet, and intimate, but the love was still surely present.
It was during the after-ceremony pictures with the bride and groom that I experience my first injury on the job, a nasty fall on some slick rocks that left me with a nasty headache, bruised tailbone, and bloody elbow. Luckily I saved my camera from the impact, (my biggest concern) and we continued on as usual. I was determined to keep the joy!! Thanks to my trusty best friend, Rachel, who was visiting from the mainland and assisting with this shoot, and a first-aid-prepared soldier/groom, I was bandaged back at the cars and ready for the reception!

The reception was held at a residence located nearby, atop a hill with stunning yard and views of Pupukea and the North Shore beaches. A white tent donned the lawn with sparkling lights, Japanese lanterns, and colorful hibiscus decorating the space among several round tables. Guests were treated with an authentic meal of local Hawaiian favorites as well as a personal hula show! Those daring enough to try, even learned a few hula moves, themselves! It was a beautiful night celebrating a truly kind couple, their love, and their future together. Thanks so much to Adam and Fernanda for letting me capture all of these special moments and memories.

Princess Haley

Each shoot is it's own memorable experience. The subjects are always unique and teach me something new about myself and my work. But I am confident that this particular event made an impression on me that will always have a place in my heart. It's my joy to introduce a very special little girl, 9 year old Haley.

Haley was diagnosed with a highly malignant brain tumor at age 5 1/2 and was forced to go through the painful treatments that come along with cancer. She fought through, though, and finally made it to remission where she had to relearn speech and conscious movement. For a reason only God knows, after 3 years in remission, the family recently discovered that Haley's cancer has relapsed and they have been given months left with their baby girl. When I heard their story through a friend at church, my heart ached and I remembered that our gifts and talents are the best ways we can show support and care. Haley was having a birthday party in the Hale Koa park the following weekend so I  volunteered to document the day. These are just the kinds of occasions that we treasure, and I wanted the parents to not have to worry about capturing the details, but just enjoy the joy of the day.

It was a sunny afternoon of laughter, childhood, games, balloons, spray tattoos, pizza, cake, pin the tail on the donkey, and tons of crafts to keep kids entertained for hours! The smiles of this little girl and the friends who attended her party were magical and contagious. Family and friends have rallied around Haley with support for "Princess Haley," raising money and providing love through the whole process, so it was fitting that the theme of the party was "Princesses"(and Princes!). A particularly special moment was the butterfly release. As the kids sat in anticipation in a circle for the "surprise," Wendy, (mom) put a drop of juice on their little hands and placed a butterfly to share between two. She told them that butterflies can carry a wish on each wing, so if the partners whispered their wishes into their wings and let them go, the butterflies would carry them up to Heaven to come true. What a beautiful symbol of hope. This family and their whole army of support was such a testament to the strength of many. I was certainly blessed and inspired by their bravery, fight, and unconditional love, especially through the innocent eyes of a 9 year old named Haley.

Thanks to the Tyrell family and friends for letting me capture this day for you. My best wishes  to you all.

Mike, Ashley, & baby Kenna!

I met Ashley through church and we quickly became friends. Her husband Mike, a US Marine, was on the mainland for training and she'd been experiencing a troublesome pregnancy, but always had a smile on her face and a positive attitude. I was so happy to be able to shoot her maternity session and finally meet her hubby! We hit a minor glitch when we realized the original location for our shoot was across the flight line on base, and with the open Airshow scheduled for that day, it was impossible to get there. I'm willing to do a lot for a good photo, but driving on an active military runway wasn't really on the agenda. We relocated to another beach and had a blast exploring and experimenting with the scenery to give them a wide variety of pictures to remember this special time in their lives.

Joe, Blonnie, & baby!

The expectant excitement of soon-to-be parents is a particular shade of joy that maternity photos allow couples to capture and remember forever. It's these special, one-of-a-kind moments that are the best to frame. >>

Introducing, Joe & Blonnie Crispin + baby! Blonnie went to college with my new sister-in-law and she and her husband, Joe, happen to be stationed on this rock as well, thanks to the U.S. Marines. I was so excited to meet them because I just knew they'd be awesome, and I was thrilled when they asked me to shoot their maternity photos as well. They are expecting their first child, a girl, in October and the love and anticipation of her arrival radiated in every shot. When you combine a beautiful beach, a beautiful couple, and a heavy dose of pure fun and joy, the results are bound to be gorgeous. Thanks to Blonnie and Joe for letting me capture this wonderful moment in their lives.

The Skipworths

On Monday, I went along on a shoot with Bob the Camera Man for the Skipworth family. The family took advantage of their first time together since both sons married, to take some family pictures on the beach. The family was also excited to include the newest addition to the family, first grandchild, Lexi. With Bob handling breakdowns of the different family units, I was called to keep my eye/camera on Lexi, which was a joy! She was happiest on her own so the family let her just play in the sand while I snapped away! The closeness of a family is so apparent and this clan surely has a special connection. Each member, (minus the mom and Lexi!) has an element from the father's original leg tattoo incorporated into a tattoo of their own! It is so much fun to get to know the dynamics and stories of each family I shoot.

Style shoot with Jennifer

I recently had an exciting opportunity to shoot with a budding model for portfolio-building. We were connected through an online group of photographers, models, makeup artists, and stylists on Oahu who collaborate and practice together to better our skills. On this occasion, fellow photographer Kevin Foley and I decided to collaborate to create an edgy and bohemian inspired shoot for Jennifer. Only on island for a few months during a transfer from Alaska, Jennifer wanted to make the most of the stunning locations here to build her portfolio as an over 40 model. Kevin and I had a blast working with her and trying this new angle for our photography!

Stuart & Halley

During our evening beach shoot on base, it became even more clear to me how perfect this couple is for each other! I met Halley, a nurse in the US Army, at church while Stuart was deployed with his unit in the US Marines. I immediately liked Halley, a southern girl from VA like me! (I even found out a little later we both attended the same college! How crazy!?) And the two of them together are a country singin, 2-steppin, perfect match! The day after our shoot, Halley was deployed to a new station in Colorado, where Stuart will join in December, so the love was so genuine on their last evening together. I felt so honored and happy to capture their fun-loving spirits and honest connection in these photographs. Congratulations, Stuart and Halley!!

Keoke and Tiffany's wedding, 8.31.2012

This wedding was unlike anything I've ever seen. Wow. I followed along with Laura on this high profile occasion for parts 1 and 2 of the day, which included the bride and her entourage getting ready at her parents' home in Kailua in the morning, followed by the 11:00 ceremony in Honolulu.  Keoke and Tiffany were married in the very first church built on Oahu and included many beautiful traditions in their ceremony, such as the coch shell announcement, blessing in Hawaiian, the wearing of leis for honored guests, and much more. Tiffany tours with famous Christian singer, Natalie Grant, who graced us all with beautiful music for the ceremony. Though large in size, it was intimate and faith-focused, with a closeness to family and friends that was palpable, even in the giant chapel. The grandest moment?? This special couple wanted to be especially pure before God on their wedding day and vowed they would not kiss until after their "I Do's." It was a truly beautiful moment! Congratulations to a lovely couple and their families on this union.

Kristian's CD Release

On this shoot, I had the opportunity to assist Laura Aguon with a gorgeous client named Kristian Lei. Kristian is an incredibly accomplished Broadway and Christian recording artist. She released her first CD "Take My Hand" (available on ITunes!) in 2007 and is getting ready to release her second CD, for which she looked to us for the perfect album cover photo! It was so incredible to see Laura at work in this fantastic location. Who knew that behind an old warehouse, in a field of tall grasses, sat an abandoned building that produced the most interesting light and texture?! Luckily, Laura did! I was able to get a few shots of my own with Kristian and was thrilled with the results. She was a natural in front of the camera! Look for her final choice on the cover of her new CD coming soon.

The Murja family

I love capturing the dynamics of different families. It's like a game, figuring out how to best relate to each kid in order to make them feel comfortable and have fun. After all, that's when we get the best shots! Along with Bob the camera man, we dove into an evening of energy for this family of 5 and it was a hoot! Let's just say, we wrapped up with me making orangutang noises. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. :-) Thanks to all of you for another super fun shoot!

The Lyttle Vow Renewal

This shoot took place a few weeks ago, but amidst the chaos, got pushed back and never posted! Well, I couldn't let that slide, especially because this was one of my favorite shoots so far. Couple of 20 years, the Lyttles, were celebrating with a whole big family reunion/vacation on Oahu. Complete with their four daughters, 2 son-in-laws, and first grand-daughter, Stella. Thinking they were just getting family pictures taken, matriarch Diana was shocked when her husband got on one knee and proposed with a ring (again) right there on the beach! After many smiles and hugs, an officiant led the ceremony with Hawaiian traditions, like the conch shell announcement and the story of the leis. We did end with some family pictures which were clearly full of joy and love from this close-knit crew. It was an honor to be involved in such an intimate and special day for this family. Check out even more pictures from the renewal on my website and by going to bobthecameraman.com and searching "Lyttle"

The Walgrave Family

Let's talk about a rambunctious and fun-loving crew- The Walgrave's. Carson (5) and Savannah (3) surely keep mom and dad running on the regular, but are just as sweet as can be. The Walgrave's take family pictures every year with Bob, but this is the last time their photo will include just 4! Out on the North Shore, clouds threatened rain, but we pressed on and luckily, the storm passed over and we ended up with some terrific shots. Bob and I decided to divide and conquer to give the parents some personal time for a few romantic shots together. So I took the kids over the water and we played and spashed and laughed away, capturing some truly dear moments. By the end of the shoot, Carson even asked if we could come get snow-cones with them since they were so good. Unfortunately, that's not part of the job, but then again, it rarely feels like work when you're having such a blast. Thanks to the Walgrave family for a great shoot and we can't wait to see the family get bigger and even more beautiful with kid #3! =)

Rooz and Ami's Post-Wedding Glamour Shoot

When Rooz and Ameneh (Ami) pulled up for their shoot with Bob and I last week, we were excited that they were not only young, fun, and BEAUTIFUL, but artists, themselves! We knew we were about to get some serious creativity rolling on the North Shore! Though their shoot was only supposed to last for 2 hours, we had so many ideas and were having sooo much fun that 3 hours from the first click, we finally called it quits, though we surely could have kept going! These two were married in March but wanted some romantic, artsy shots on the beach in their wedding attire. Post-wedding, the bride was totally willing to try all sorts of crazy things, including wading thigh deep in the ocean and laying in the sand while donning her wedding gown. Trading off with poses and angles, Bob and I were able to get some amazing frames of this gorgeous Persian couple, he with studio lighting and I with natural lighting to give them a variety of styles. Here's a taste from an amazing day with an AMAZING and sweet couple. A big thank you to Rooz and Ami for letting me take part.

Logan's senior pictures

I met the Oglesby family while along on a shoot with Bob at the Malaekahana State Recreation Park, a gorgeous new location with a mix of lush, shady greenery and a quiet, hidden beach. The family of four was vacationing from Minnesota, so the high school senior, Logan, was super excited to squeeze in some tropical, warm weather photos to compare with his classmate's typical winter woodland themed senior pictures. He had quite the outgoing and and adventurous spirit, willing to swing from trees, weave among driftwood, and even climb the giant ocean rocks! I think it's safe to say Logan will have the most unique senior pictures in Minnesota.

The Keefer family

We now welcome the first little faces to grace this blog, the beautiful Hailey and Makayla, along with their gorgeous parents, Kathryn and Cory Keefer. I met Kathryn through singing in church and was so thrilled when she asked to have me take her family pictures on the beach! Cory is a US Marine, so it comes as no surprise that the Keefers will relocate to NC in the spring of 2012. They had only ever had family pictures done in studio and wanted to take advantage of the beautiful background of HI before leaving. Who could blame them?! I was also excited to capture a few shots of just Kathryn and Cory together after Kathryn informed me that they had hardly any pictures together, even from their wedding! Thankfully, she loved the photos and the love of their beautiful family shines through in each frame. Great friends, great location, great fun=great photos!

Amanda, Ethan, Lauren, and Kyle

Some of you might recognize Amanda in this shoot from a previous shoot I did along with Bob the Camera Man of her and her boyfriend, Daniel. Amanda loved her pictures and edits from me so much that she asked to schedule another appointment, this time with just me! I was flattered and so thankful to Bob for allowing me these great connections for clients! She brought her adorable son, Ethan, and gorgeous sister, Lauren along for the ride. Ethan's dad, Kyle even found his way into a few frames while playing with Ethan on the rocks, encouraging the most contagious giggle you can imagine from a 2 year old! It was incredibly windy the day of the shoot, especially right by the water, but the crew was willing to be a little adventurous with their posing, which I always love, and we ended up getting some great shots! Amanda especially liked the more faded, vintage effects I gave some of her last photos, so I tried to follow suit with these to give her exactly the look she wanted! Thanks to a fun group for a great afternoon!

Nick & Valerie

I now have the great pleasure of introducing you to the lovely Nick and Valerie Seraday! This couple is a true inspiration of strength and trust. They were introduced through a mutual friend and "dated"/fell in love through the course of emails and letters. Nick is a member of the United States Marine Corps stationed at Kaneohe Bay here in HI and between the island and deployments, did not even meet his future wife for months, though they both knew it was destined! When Valerie came to HI to finally meet Nick for the first time last summer, the connection was instant. They were married in December! Since Nick will sadly be deployed for their one year anniversary, they agreed to let me shoot a couples session to celebrate their 6 month mark of marriage. I feel so blessed to have met both Nick and Valerie within my first week of moving to Oahu and I'm happy to share their beautiful and loving smiles with you!

For more clips from the shoot, check out my website!

Daniel and Amanda

In my quest to become a better photographer, I was blessed to meet professional photographer and makeup artist Laura Aguon while on a hike one random day. In turn, she also introduced me to Bob Duren, another photographer with who she works closely. Both have willingly agreed to let me assist them on their many shoots in order to learn, grow, and gain experience!

My first shoot was assisting Bob on Saturday at the North Shore with a couples session. I started by handling reflectors and observing, but soon was able to pose and shoot my own frames, as well as shoot simultaneous angles using Bob's equipment. The session took place during what we call, "the golden hour" which is the time period right before sunset. It's said to be the ideal time for shooting, and I can tell why! The constantly shifting light and colors in the sky, mixed with more mild temperature and a less crowded beach combined to showcase a truly beautiful couple.

Daniel and Amanda are a sweet boyfriend/girlfriend duo who are clearly in love! A member of the US Navy, Daniel was scheduled to deploy for 6months on a submarine in just four days from their shoot and wanted to have something special for each of them to keep while their lines of communication were broken. A memorable beach photoshoot allowed them to have a memorable experience together and stunning pictures that will last forever! Here are some of my shots from the session, just a glimpse compared to the amazing array of Bob's work!  I hope this young couple finds comfort in the photos through the difficult times ahead of them.

My Handsome Hubby

Meet my husband, Matt O'Connell. Unlike most adult males, he was willing to go on a little adventure for a practice photoshoot with me and my new camera, the Nikon D800. I'm still deciding on a name for the thing, but trust me, it is quite the machine and I treat it like my baby so it does deserve a name other than "the camera." It's too special for that.


This shoot took place along the ridge of the Lanikai Pillboxes near where we live. It's a bit of a hike, so not exactly the ideal shoot for ladies and gents who wish to look fresh and clean. Since this was more of a rugged, outdoorsy shoot and "pretty" was far from our aim, we voted that the scenery was worth the sweat. Below are a few of my favorites, though I'm admittedly bias... I mean, look at those eyes. ;-) Check the website for the full shoot!