KELLEY & ROB : DESTINATION ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY, OAHU HAWAII

Photographing Kelley and Robs engagement was so much fun.  I knew how much they love the water, and they let me be creative with it.   I asked them to tell you their story to go along with their amazing pictures.

When Robbie and I met, we were fourteen; we actually met the summer before we both made the awkward transition into high school.  Although we both had slight crushes on each other in the beginning, this quickly faded as immature high school relationships typically do.  We were strictly friends throughout high school and when Robbie moved our senior year, we heard about each other often as our family friends and social groups continued to unite our worlds.

When Robbie served his mission in Detroit, I sent him one letter.  Undoubtedly it was his favorite letter received.  Not because it said anything important but because it was written on the back of a page ripped out of Surfer Magazine.  I guess I knew how hard it must have been for him to be so far away from the ocean that had practically raised us both.

As soon as I returned from my mission in Russia this last October, Robbie flew home from BYU-Hawaii for Thanksgiving break.  He made the drive up to Santa Barbara to surf Rincon and casually come pay me a visit.  That trip up the coast changed everything for us.

Since our engagement day, Robbie and I have been excitedly waiting to take our engagement pictures with Mark.  Mark is so fun to work with mostly because of his great epiphanies he envisions with clients.  He’s very good at improvising and building upon what is coming at him through the lens.

One of the most unique features of Mark’s photography is his ability to be in the water with his clients.  For both Robbie and I the water is everything.  His underwater portraits are what made us fall in love with his work.  It is something so unusual that nobody else does and something that we had to have to remember our “young and in love” stage of life.



ROB & KELLEY : BEACH WEDDING PROPOSAL, LAIE HAWAII

I’ve known Rob for over 10 years now.  We’re basically brothers.   I was so excited to hear he was asking the girl of his dreams to marry him.   A few hours before the big moment, he called and asked if I could hide out in some trees and capture his proposal on film.  He chose a beautiful beach in Laie to ask Kelley to marry him.  It was a beautiful day in Hawaii to get engaged.

1 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERShe Said Yes!!2 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERAnd the ring fits!3 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHYCelebratory Kiss4 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY5 HAWAII WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERI’m Caught!6 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERI’m fully caught.6 HAWAII WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHYSo stoked she said yes.  Praise Heaven.7 HAWAII WEDING PHOTOGRAPHY8 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER9 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER10 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER11 HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY

BECKY & DOUG : HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY

Congratulations Doug and Becky!  I had a great time photographing this gorgeous couple, and I think these pictures really represent who they are.  We did the shoot in Doug’s backyard, what an amazing place to live in Hawaii.  Doug and I both have hobie cats on this beach and for some of these shoots I was on one catamaran while they were on the other.  It was harder to shoot from a moving boat than I thought.  I love shooting engagement and wedding photographs on, around or in the water.  Thanks Doug and Becky for making my job so fun.

LEAH & GEOFF : HAWAII UNDERWATER PORTRAITS

I really love shooting underwater portraits, whether it is for weddings, engagements, families or a couple who wants some cool pictures.  I was excited and honored when friend and fellow photographer, Leah Wright, told me she was coming for a Hawaii vacation and wanted some underwater pictures of her and her husband.  I was even more excited when she agreed to trade for family pictues.  She is an amazing photographer. I love the feel and style of her photography, you can check her out here .

 

I LOVE COMING HOME TO HAWAII

Sorry I have been away so long, it has been a little busier than I planned the last few weeks.  I had a great time on my trip to the east coast but I love coming home to Hawaii.    I will be posting some of the photo sessions I shot in New York City, and Delaware in a week or so.  It was also fun to work for high end fashion and beauty photographer Jon Moe while in the city.  Anytime I am working with Jon or hanging out in his studio in lower Manhattan, I feel like a sponge absorbing anything and everything.

Before I left I shot this couple at Ka Ike beach on the north shore of Oahu.  I think it would be fun to incorporate fashion photography in the ocean.

FILM IS NOT DEAD WORKSHOP : LAIE HAWAII


I finally got my film processed from the “Film Is Not Dead” workshop that I attended last November.  The work shop was hosted by film photographer Jonathan Canlas.  He is a destination wedding photographer based in Utah.  The work shop was 4 days and was located in Laie Hawaii.  It was nice I didn’t have to travel too far, just about a block. Jonathan had different models for us to photograph.  I shot mostly with my Mamiya 645 and a twin reflex I borrowed from a fellow workshop attendee.  It was fun shooting film again and to learn from a talented photographer with his own unique style.  The images below are from the workshop and straight from the lab with no digital enhancing.  I recommend this workshop for any wedding photographer, even if you don’t shoot film.

To see details for the next workshop go to Jonathan’s blog at www.canlasphotography.blogspot.com

Some shots of a few other workshop attendees.  Also in town for the workshop was incredible photographer, Seth Smoot (not pictured here) who I knew in New York City- it was extra fun for my wife and I to reconnect with the Smoot’s!  You can check his work out at www.sethsmoot.com

I think these two were also attending.

The remainder of the photos below make me think of fun, fresh, simple, carefree Hawaii beach shots.

PAMELA & BRENT: KE IKI BEACH HAWAII

This was a sizzling hot photo session at Ke Iki Beach Bungalows!  Pamela and Brett celebrated their 15 year wedding anniversary in Hawaii.  What better way to celebrate than to capture the sexy spark that is obviously still there after 15 years for this beautiful couple.