Solar Eclipse 2012 captured from my back yard. It never got super full here in Hawaii only about 10% but it was still a super cool site.

Island Reflections Photography has a line of  Holiday Cards with a little island flare! Stop by my Hanapepe Studio/Gallery to purchase or you may order directly thru me if your off island.

Pearl & Linen Finish folded greeting cards with blank insides printed on eco friendly papers printed with soy-based inks. Custom writing available.

$3.50 each

$12.50 for set of 5

$45.00 set of 25

***IRP logo for image protection only, does not appear on cards

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

Fall has arrived in the studio! This little pumpkin was a great sleeper!!  Enjoy some of this seasonal newborn goodness…..

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….

It’s that time of year again! I will be reserving ONE DAY ONLY for HOLIDAY MINI SESSIONS

on NOVEMBER 2nd from 4-7!!

Mini sessions are great for those of you who just want a couple shots for holiday cards and gifts.

Mini Sessions Include:
30 min session
10+ images on DVD with rights to images
$150

Custom Holiday Greeting Cards will wow your family and friends.

My Aunt Michelle said to me “I was so excited about my big box greeting card, until I got 6 of the same ones from my friends and then YOURS came…SHOW OFF!”

Support Local Businesses this Holiday Season!!  How we choose to consume is a form of protest in itself!

Set of 25 folded custom designed cards=$55
Feel free to stop by IRP’s Hanapepe Studio for samples on cards!
Call to reserve your time slot and for location details.
Albums, Canvas, Metal & Acrylic Prints Available

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.

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!

Jelly belly jelly beans & a day of sunshine!  The two things I think of when I think of this family shoot! The kids would do just about anything for a Jelly Belly …hey if your a mom, you know you do what ever it takes! The Garden Isle of Kauai has had a lot of rain this winter but the sun came out & showed it’s face for our  family photo shoot this afternoon.   Here are a few from this fun afternoon of silly faces and jelly beans.

Photographing families in action is ONE of my favorite subjects to photograph. I love when families are comfortable with me and the camera it makes the session so much fun! It lets true personalities shine thru!  To me a photograph should capture the spirit of the family and take you back to that place and time.  Especially, since these children grow up so darn quickly!  Here is a peak into a family portrait with the Granato Family…they are a fun, real family who had fun with the camera and each other. Enjoy!