Oahu based family and wedding photographer providing family photographer for all Hawaiian Islands.

Aulani | Ko Olina Family Photos – Big trees, big smiles and small crabs

06.21.23

I love photo shoots on the east side of Oahu but every now and then I will venture across to the west shores to enjoy the gorgeous water and amazing sunsets. The beaches are less crowded on weekdays but then you have to battle pau hana traffic to get there, so itʻs a toss-up. Iʻll still take less crowds, so I just have my playlist ready and settle in for a longer car ride.

Iʻve known Shannon and Kaala for years. I asked Kaala to dance hula at my wedding (she was amazing!). And my husband was the emcee at their wedding. So, itʻs been extra special to photograph their family.Iʻm so touched to be the one that gets to photograph their sweet family and capture their littles from year to year.

The girls were climbing trees and exploring tide pools. Shannon was sharing dad jokes and Kaala was shaking her head=). And I was just trying to keep up and clicking away.

two sisters holding hands in the water during a family photography shoot

sisters sitting on the shore near Ko Olina lagoons for family photography shoot

young girl peering into the photographerʻs camera

sisters holding hands in front of tropical plants and green foliage on the grounds of Ko Olina

family standing near the ocean edge with Ko Olina in the background

family smiling with tropical foliage in the background

two photos of sisters sitting together on the rocks and of parents hugging and looking at sky

a beautiful couple smiling with the oceans edge behind them

two girls wearing hawaiian print dresses running in to the lagoon at Ko Olina

sisters laughing on path near Ko Olina hotel

young girl smiling near Ko Olina lagoons with ocean in background

two girls in hawaiian print dresses sitting on beach rocks

little girl in hawaiian print dance playing airplane with dad by Ko Olina lagoon

Families, no matter what I wear to your photo shoot, know that I am ALWAYS ready to jump in the water during your photo shoot. I will just jump in fully clothed, I dress for shoots with that in mind. I come to photo shoots stocked with an extra set of clothes and a towel and keep my fingers crossed. Letting the littles play in the ocean is a great reward after a photo shoot, and it gives me a chance to get a few more fun photos.

The girls splashed and laughed until the sun set and then dad brought out head lamps so they could hunt for small little crabs scurrying out of their little sand homes.

This just felt like what childhood in Hawai`i is all about.

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Oahu Family Photos | North Shore | Jessica and Peter

05.27.21

Time doesn’t slow down and neither do little boys.

The last time I met up with Jessica, Peter, and their two boys, we played on the white sandy shores of Waimanalo for family photos. I only had girls at the time and that afternoon was a fun invitation into the fast paced adventures of boyhood. We built sand forts and had a sandy version of a snowball fight amongst the rocks. We ran….and splashed…and ran…and jumped…and then ran some more. I was super excited to update their family photos and one thing I learned, Mr. M and Mr. O got even faster. Or maybe I got slower=)

When I have repeat clients, I like to change it up to give them a different look and feel. We chose a different beach along the north shore of Oahu. It was farther drive but so worth it. This beach is tucked up right against the mountains. The sun was just about to sink behind the mountains and golden light was skimming across the top of the ironwood trees. It’s one of the least populated areas on the island but there were still a few beachgoers, so we just walked….I mean, we ran down to a completely empty stretch of sand.

The sun was shining. The laughs were plentiful. It was a great day for photos!

The days may be long but the years go fast. So hug as often as you can, play as often as you can, and take photos of every precious milestone. I’m already looking forward to the next time I see this beautiful family. I’ll make sure to stretch a little first.

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