Wishing you all a HAPPY & SAFE Halloweeeennn!

It was probably one of the most amazing experiences  to be part of my good friends birth. Brittany was glowing and smiling through out the whole birth. No really, she was!  Her experience at Home Birth Kauai was unforgettable.   I am so grateful for being a part of this birth experience and it was a beautiful, calm and peaceful way to bring a new life into this world.

Much love to the Kurowski Family and their new addition!

Note to self: If I ever get the chance to document another birth I need to remove myself a bit more. I was just so excited to be a part of her birth that I didn’t get as much of the story as I wish I would have. I loved EVERY minute of it and I am so happy to have been there for the birth of their 4th child. ….And I have to agree I think Kinley should have Meadow somewhere in her name as mom birthed & walked around the meadow for quite some time

Happy Birthday Kinely! Welcome to this beautiful world!!!!

Click here to preview some pics from Baby Kinley’s Newborn Session in the Studio

Keepsake Albums are by far the best ways to cherish your images forever. They tell your story and can be shared like a coffee table album to friends and family for years to come.

I love offering unique professional papers and custom cover options to my clients making your album be about you and your style. Custom finished papers make the images really pop! To me it’s important that my clients take away something breathtaking from their session. I am not talking about just getting images themselves on a disk to throw in the desk drawer and never to look at again, but a work of ART!  I DO feel it is important to have a professionally created piece after your session to have at least one awesome piece to go away with. Let me create a keepsake album from your wedding &/or session and make your story be told and come to life.

Please take a moment and view the incredible Layflat Album (solid brown) & Flush Mount Albums (speckled brown).

Boutique Packaging included.

I know I say it al the time, but I love maternity sessions.  Couples are always so happy and anxious to meet their new little one.  Our portrait was scheduled for Baby Beach in Poipu, and Crystal thought she knew where it was, apparently people call Poipu Beach, Baby Beach as well. I lived here for 12 years and never knew that but hey, I thought hmm I wonder if she is thinking of Poipu Beach when she wasn’t there at our scheduled time. So we kinda ran out of sunlight time since we drove around Poipu looking for each other! LOL lucky for us, I had a morning shoot on South shore so I came after to give her a real session where we aren’t rushing to be done before the sun. Crystal is a photographer herself and it was fun working with her and her family. Congrats on your new addition, your family is so beautiful! AND thanks for being flexible and taking two days out of your Kauai vacation for pictures, at least now on your next visit you will know where the real Baby Beach is Great meeting you guys, enjoy a sneak peek into their session….

I love me some beautiful bellies! Shanna just glowed in her mommy to be glory, seriously how beautiful is she!? First time parents are always the best…because they are so oblivious to what’s coming next! LOL You know…the cute cuddly baby of course! Baby Liam is hangin’ tight still yet, the waiting game has begun. I can not wait to meet him!!

When there is more than one person in your photoshoot — like, if you’re having an engagement session or a family session — you will want to put some thought into your group’s attire.  Your outfit can make your photos look drab or fab!

Important Note: I am not trying to say anyone has bad taste or that a particular style is unattractive. I am actually trying to do just the opposite! I want your photos to be about you! Of course these are just my tips, other photographers may have their own advice to share (and if any of you out there are reading, please feel free to share them in the comments!). Style is completely subjective!  This is just my opinion! These tips are to help those who would like tips in choosing portrait attire.  Please remember, in the end, wear what you (and the rest of the group) feel most comfortable!  Being comfortable and “yourselves” is what will make you the most relaxed at your shoot.

You want to look coordinated, but NOT matchy-matchy!

Solids vs. prints.

Solids will get my vote every time. The right print can look great, but more often I will suggest that a client wear a solid color. Bold prints can look very busy and distract the viewer from the focus of the photo, you! Although, including an inspiration piece with some print may be a beautiful way to incorporate prints.

Color can be your friend!

Comfort over trends!

Be an Individual, Not Identical

One way to start is coming up with a color scheme, style, pattern or theme.  It could also be a piece that inspires you, like a scarf, a shirt, or a hat. Then tie everyone else’s outfit around that inspiration piece.

Think of your images as Home Decor

Think of your home decor. Is it bright, colorful, more neuatral, etc…?  Think of your images as art you hang in your home and plan your outfits around the decor in your home. What colors would match or compliment what you already have in your  home?

Example A:  A flower theme.  Mom can wear an outfit with a floral pattern.  Dad can wear jeans and a green shirt.  Baby can wear a pastel outfit with a flower clip in her hair.

Example B:  An inspiration piece. Drive your inspiration from one piece of clothing or accessory, ie: a patterned shirt. Then pull different colors from shirt to create everyone else’s outfits.

Example C:  Style similarity.  Everyone is wearing casual Summer attire.  Or dressy evening attire.  Pick one and stick to it.

Whether you follow my tips or the tips of others, always remember who you’re dressing and what everyone will enjoy wearing.  Being comfortable and happy, to me is the only tip! Lifestyle photography will have you moving, laying down, sitting, possibly even getting wet….so if your uncomfortable in what your wearing this will show in your images.

Feel free to email me or call me with your questions. If you have pictures of your outfits you can email them to me and I can help you choose outfits on location as well. Don’t worry about bringing more then one outfit…MOST PEOPLE DO

Ashley & Steven were first expecting when they strolled into my studio one Art Night in Hanapepe. At the time you couldn’t tell Ashley was expecting, but they were excited for their new addition and a couple months later Ashley called to set up her maternity session!  The couple wanted their session to be where Steven grew up on Kauai’s North Shore. Little did I know they were going to pull up in a little boat for our shoot! It was awesome!!  Such a beautiful, peaceful evening!   Enjoy a few of my favorite images from this glowing mamas maternity session! I totally left this session thinking….man I have the best job EVER!

It was so much fun photographing my best friend since 7th grade’s first baby bump!  Dawn and I have been friends since our first day of math class.  She was a total math junkie and I just doodled in my math tablet, always day dreaming of what was going on after math class.  We have stayed friends even thru our college years & my living on the west coast and Hawaii.  I love my Dawnie and I love that she is about to be a mommy!  Dawn has a successful acupuncture practice in Nassau County Long Island, Pheonix Wellness Center.  She was a picture of health as a mom to be and it was my gift to her to capture this milestone in life….becoming a mommy!

Here are a few images of my best friend on a beach we grew up and shared many memories on together, Smith Point Park in Long Island, New York.

En Route to 40 weeks of the journey to new life…

A few weeks back a good friend of mine, whom I met when she hired me as her families photographer about a year ago, asked me to photograph her entire birth story from start to finish.   Since Brittany doesn’t live by her family she wanted them to see each week of her pregnancy and how her body changed so she could share with them this experience.  This is Brittany’s fourth baby and I think she just wanted to make it special since her family was with her for her other children’s births.  She was inspired by the work from photographer Ryan of Pacing the Panic Room’s work which he did for his wife and her  40 weeks of pregnancy series. So, I checked out the link she sent me and I agreed, but didn’t want to totally do it like him of course, I had to think of a way to make it my own!  Needless to say, I was thrilled with the idea as I have seen it done before but didn’t really think anyone could be that dedicated to getting their pics taken each week for 40 weeks or until baby comes.  But Brittany was determined!  So we took the stride forward on week 10 and have started this new babies growth as our inspiration to put together an amazing experience both for me, my girlfriend and her family.

I put together this blog post as a sampling of what I have in store once the entire project is finished…so for now…ENJOY our Journey!

At week 10 she was craving sweets…cobbler, lemonaide, cookies….YUMMM!

So we started our 40 week journey with a little walk thru Hanapepe Town…by the bakery….and the swinging bridge….

Week 11 continuing with the bridge theme….walking the bridge to new beginnings…..

Baby Makoa came down to the studio ready for his photo debut and was such a joy to photograph!  Mom, Dad, cousin & Uncle all came down for the shoot it was super fun to meet them all and share in their excitement of their new little one. Here are a few from his photo session. Enjoy!