Sun setting along the ocean as their backdrop, trade winds gently blowing, family & friends  gathered to witness true love! That was the setting of this beautiful intimate wedding, along Kauai’s Western most shore. It was simply an elegant event. Boasting great charm and originality and masterfully crafted by planner Marlene Mira of Mira Mira Events at Kekaha’s Ocean Front Fischer House & Cottage. I loved this couple & this wedding, it was such a pleasure to be a part of their special day! Enjoy a few of my favs from their event…it was hard for me to pick just a few

Capturing a couple’s wedding love story is such an exciting, heart warming privilege for me. I always feel so connected to my couples after being a part of their day. Especially these intimate destination weddings, where the wedding is all about the couple!  Jonas & Heather were so relaxed, in love and had such passion for one another! I know you two will have a beautiful life together and hopefully make some more cutie pie kiddos while your at it!

Congratulations Jonas & Heather, many blessings in your future together as husband & wife.

Hope you all enjoy a glimpse into their amazing day!!

It was my pleasure to be a part of Anthony & Jessica’s wedding day! I had a blast at their event out on Long Island’s North Fork @ Giorgio’s Catering of Bating Hallow. The food was amazing, service unreal and the party well…there ain’t no party like an east coast party!
These guys could DANCE! WOW! We are pretty boring here in Hawaii LOL.

I loved having the opportunity to photograph such an event in Long Island, New York this summer. It was very different than our events in Kauai. Yet, every bit as beautiful!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from this beautiful and super fun wedding from back east!

I had the pleasure of doing an engagement session with Kellin & Marshall before their big day, so it was nice to see them again on their wedding day. I love doing engagement sessions, it helps get rid of those wedding jitters and allows the couple to be confident in me as their photographer to relax and be themselves. I often create great relationships with my clients who choose to have more than one session with me. Taking pictures soon becomes easier as it’s no longer taking pictures of strangers, but of friends.

Their intimate event was planned by the amazing Marie Foster, of Legacy Events. Marie does a wonderful job on events of any size, she takes the stress out of a day that should be enjoyed and not stressed over.

Here are a few of my favorites from their intimate destination wedding here on Kauai.

Aloha

Talk about a fun & original wedding!

Outrageous time had by all at this STAR WARS themed wedding! Super original! Not a detail was spared . Down to the island touches with a shave ice station and a STAR WARS themed Photo Booth by BLINKZ Photo Booth Kauai. The detailed planning was crafted by Marlene Mira with Mira Mira Events at the beautiful Plantation Gardens Restaurant on Kauai’s sunny south shore.

As you can see these guys were a hoot….

Do want your engagement session to be more then the standard ‘pretty beach’ pictures?  Here are some ideas to give your engagement session the extra edge they need to be SHOW STOPPER fabulous!

Props

Taking along some props is an easy way to incorporate your personalities and interests into your session.  Here are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowin!

• Instruments. Bring your instrument along to play for each other during your shoot.
• Bring along love notes, postcards etc..or just anything with romantic meaning.
• Use your wedding date in your shoot to make your “save the dates”
• Chalkboards. Can be fun to write each other love notes or fun sayings during your shoot.
• Balloons are very popular in engagement shoots, lots of creativity can emerge with them.
• Make signs and hold them. I have many signs in my studio for use but if there is a certain saying etc…you would like and can’t seem to find just let me know
• Incorporate numbers into your engagement session to make table numbers for your wedding by holding up the various numbers throughout your pictures. I love this idea!
• Sport Fanatics? Bring along your surfboards or favorite sports team jerseys.
• Do you have a favorite book, do you love magazines or technology. Bring your fav. along for the shoot!
• Do you have a special furry someone in your life?  Bring your pet along!
• Are you a photographer? Bring your camera or old cameras in your collection. I have some old cameras as well, if you would like to use please let me know before hand.
• FUN FABULIOUS Shoes or hats!  WEAR THEM!
• Flowers are simple & beautiful & are easy props to bring into your engagement session.
• Do you love all things vintage? Bring something special from your collection along.
• Are you a antique car lover!? Let’s incorporate your hot rod!
• Have a boat? Let’s do a shoot on your boat!
• I WANT CANDY! Candy can be colorful and fun and playfull!
• Do you love to travel? Bring along some old maps, globes, etc to showcase the travel bug in you!
• Love playing board games together…bring along your favorite game.

Themed Shoots

Themed shoots are  often styled shoots. They are fun to create and they also can showcase your personality or play off your favorite things! For themed shot you will need to think of things specific to your interests, personalities and styles to create a unique themed style shoot for your session.

• Have a favorite story, comic book, play, movie or book….why not create a reinactment for your session!
• Artists? Incorporating your love of art can be a super fun, creative theme to work with.
• Family heirlooms or land.  Have the location be at a family land, old homes etc. Bring along some family heirlooms to create a beautiful sentimental scene.
• Pictures for a good cause. Why not dedicate your shoot to your favorite good cause, ie: surfrider foundation, american cancer society…etc, etc… I loved this idea!
• Romantic picnics have been growing more popular but can be beautiful and uniquely styled to you by incorporating your interests within the picnic.
• Do you dance Hula? We can theme a shoot around your love for hula.
• Do you ride horse? Rodeo or leasure, let me know we can do a lot with this!
• Surf themes can be fun and prepresent your love for surf!
• Do you have a love for the outdoors? Love camping together or love bonfires on the beach?

Be sure to let me know if you would like a themed shoot and we can talk about your specific details before hand.

Unique Locations

Let’s find a location that is truley unique and fits your personalities or helps re-tell your love story. Here are some things to get you thinking beyond the beach….

• Where did you get engaged?
• Where did you met?
• Driftwood scultures and camps on the beach.
• Old towns are fun to go to like, Koloa, Hanalei and Hanapepe. The old town charm can be truley romantic.
• A beautiful favorite mural.
• Where did you fall in love?
• A colorful truck/shop/stand.
• What about the Local Fair or Carnival?
• Is there a fun place you like to hang out on weekends? Coffee house, arcade, old movie house, bowling alley….
• Swinging Bridges, we are lucky to have quite a few on the island, they can be playful and fun.
• The Sugar Mills can be fun and represent the days of old Hawaii.
• Stables. Farms.
• If your adventure people….why not do an ATV Tour!

I loved this video and thought I could share it for those of you who are like me and like visuals Engagement Photography Tips Video Link

****Now remember, these are just a few ideas, if this has sparked your creativity and can think of something I didn’t mention please let me know in your consult. Engagement shoots are supposed to be fun and are to show your personalities, styles and interests. Let’s talk, let’s get creative!

Josh & Lindsay, it was my pleasure to be a part of your intimate beach side wedding.  The intimate event of immediate family only was at their families home in Poipu, Kauai.  It was a beautiful ceremony, including each family member into the ceremony, touching everyone personally.  The weather was amazing in the midst of days of rain, the sun shone on these two for sure this day!  Here are a few images from their Kauai wedding along the south shores lava rock sea cliffs.

Miller & Wendy were so cute and so in love.  Soul mates who met later in life as Wendy had  mentioned in her vows.  They were so nice and made me feel as if I knew them forever!  When I arrived in Hanalei it was cloudy…to me cloudy is awesome, great soft lighting, to brides they tend to think it’s not that pretty sunny day they had hoped for.  But it’s Hanalei! Even on a cloudy day its stunning!  The rain did indeed come, so we tried to follow the sun and ended up at Moloaa Beach for the ceremony and it was a beautiful evening at that! Here is a little peak into their special day….

A light passing shower or as we say in the islands a true Hawaiian Blessing…..

Marci & Roger wed on 1/28/10. They were originally supposed to get married on the 27th but the rain came down in buckets that day and since it was a small intimate wedding we all decided it be best to try the next day and lucky we did. The weather finally held up enough for them to have a beautiful sunrise wedding on Kauai’s sandy shores.  I loved being a part of their intimate celebration of love, it wasn’t about all the frills that go along with weddings it was purely about the love they shared together. These two were reunited high school sweethearts and it was eminent they were so meant for each other. I wish you  both  all the best in all your adventures together!!  Aloha Michelle

Here she is, the beautiful bride to be!