LAWAI’A CAMP : KAHANA HAWAII
LINDSAY + NICO : DESTINATION HAWAII WEDDING – KAUAI
How delightful it is going to Kauai whether for perfect surf or shooting an amazing destination wedding like this one with Lindsay & Nico coming all the way from Florida. They were such an adventurous and fun couple who I really enjoyed spending time with. First we started off by going to a private waterfall for the ceremony with their families. After a few shots on a nearby beach we drove to Poipu were they jumped off the rock at Shipwreck beach and trashed the dress, there is a little GoPro Hero clip at the bottom of the post. After some underwater photos we watched an amazing Kauai sunset. Congratulations Lindsay and Nico!
PAUL + CAITI : HAWAII ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS – NORTH SHORE OAHU
I love working with other artist, Paul is a musician and a wood worker and Caiti works in the fashion industry. Both very talented in and out of the water. You can see some of Paul’s wood working skills at fullerbanjo.com. Knew this was going to be a super fun engagement shoot when Paul and Caiti pulled out their Da Fins. It was one of those perfect days, we had lots of sun and the sea was happy. Look forward to photographing their wedding at Laulu Palm on the North Shore of Oahu in October. 
SANDRA + OK : PRE WEDDING ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY – HAWAII
I was so stoked to spend time with Sandra & Ok on this life style shoot. They both work in advertising and came all the way from Taipei Taiwan. We spent most of the day on the North Shore getting different engagement and wedding style photos. Congratulations Sandra and Ok, good luck with the wedding.
HAWAII WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY ACTIVITIES
It’s been awhile since my last post. Step back daily bloggers… my passion for photography has combined with providing people with incredible experiences, captured by my lens. Let me share with you some of the photo-tourism and destination wedding-photo-shoots that have kept me busy this year.
This year started off full of fun photo shoots with international clients from China, Singapore and Taiwan. I might need to brush up on some language skills!
I’ve begun collaborating with an amazing, boutique, vintage Hawaii, wedding venue here in the country. (That’s code for not crowded Waikiki.) The Wedding Cottage Hawaii. The idea was to offer brides and couples getting engaged with more than an ordinary photo shoot. Coming soon we are going to offer a variety of different outdoor activities that I can document for clients in an editorial – life style type of shoot. Some of the activities include beach cruising on the North Shore, Sunset Beach skate path, paddle boarding down a river, kayaking to small islands, horse back riding and cattle wrangling at Gunstock Ranch. If you’re not a surfer or a skater but want some fun outdoor experience photographed… we’ve got options. If you do want that skate or surf experience, talk to the Event Directors at The Wedding Cottage and they can customize this, along with their lodging options. We can document highlights of your vacation and you’ll go home with images and memories that you’ll never forget. Who wants to be next?
BREE HANNEMANN : FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY – OAHU HAWAII
I asked Bree to write a little something for this post, and it ended up being a bit of a testimonial. Bree was a lot of fun to work with, she is able to pull off so many different looks. We were able to shoot all the different styles below in one morning.
“Working with Mark Lee was not only new to me but a leap of faith. As I was in search for someone to shoot me for my portfolio pictures, there is always that possibility that you will not connect with the photographer or in the worst case, the pictures will not turn out. I have worked with many photographers, and have gotten my fair share of horrible, and good. Mark was by far the best photographer I have worked with yet. Not only did I go into this photo shoot not knowing what to expect, but I barely knew him. He ended being much more creative than I had intended, and turning idea’s I had, into better and more powerful shots. Mark has so many new and original idea’s up his sleeve, I feel like we could of shot all day with all different looks. After receiving my final pictures, I have never been so pleased. This has been my strongest portfolio within the past three years, and my agent couldn’t be happier. Mark Lee is an outstanding photographer that I would recommend to anyone that needs portfolio shots, wedding shots, engagements, high fashion, or commercial. One of my favorite shots was the water, and underwater shots. He knows what he is doing, and will explain exactly what you as a model need to do and position yourself to get the right picture. Not only are his ideas fun and exciting, but he makes you feel comfortable the whole time. There is never a dull moment with Mark. He can do it all, and I promise you, you will be happy with your end results.”
-Bree
UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE LAST YEAR
I don’t remember where I first saw it, but someone had a slide show made by Pummelvision. They just take a bunch of your photos and make a fast slide show in a few minutes. Instead of trying to make a slide show with all the photography from this last year, like the weddings, family, and commercial photos; I decided to just use the local underwater photography. It was kind of a fun thing to see.
2011 MOANIKEALA HULA FESTIVAL : POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER – LAIE HAWAII
A few pictures from the 2011 Moanikeala Hula Festival at the Polynesian Cultural Center here in Laie Hawaii. One of the Halau came all the way from Japan just to perform at this festival.
THE WASHINGTON POST : WORLD FIREKNIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
Just found out that The Washington Post published one of the photos I shot last night at the World Fireknife Championship held at the Polynesian Cultural Center. This is the image they used, you can see their online post here.
WORLD FIREKNIFE CHAMPIONSHIPS : POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER, LAIE HAWAII
I am shooting the World Fireknife Championship this weekend at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. Here are a few of my favorite shots from last nights senior, junior and group competitors. One of the kids from the junior division, this is ages 6-11, learned how to fireknife from youtube. You can see Preston Weber’s performance from last night in the video below. And yes that is me in the lower right hand corner, I finally made it on youtube.
ALOHA KO’OLAULOA : HAU’ULA ELEMENTRY SCHOOL APRIL 24 10AM-3PM
THIS SATURDAY COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM! THIS IS A FUN EVENT FOR ALL FAMILIES- FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE EVENT FOR $8 , AND THE PLATE LUNCH IS GOING TO BE ALL HAWAIIAN FOOD AND HUGE. PRAY FOR GOOD WEATHER, A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS EVENT, COME AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! SPECIAL HOLLADAY PHOTO OFFER FOR THOSE WHO ATTEND- IF YOU COME, FIND ME AT THE EVENT, (I WON’T BE IN A BOOTH, JUST FLOATING AROUND) AND I WILL SNAP A PHOTO OF YOUR FAMILY AND EMAIL IT TO YOU! YOU CAN ALSO BID ON A IN AND OUT OF THE WATER FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT WORTH $500, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AT THE SILENT AUCTION.
(POSTERS BELOW DONE BY YOURS TRULY)
LAIE INN : LAIE HAWAII DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY
This is what’s left of one of Laie’s landmarks. I was on my way home from a photo shoot and decided to jump out and snap a shot as this little inn came down. When I set up my tripod to take some shots, I was surprised when my van was surrounded by 4 cop cars. I asked what was going on and they said they had received a call that a guy was loading a gun in his van across from Laie Inn. Either someone mistook my camera for an assault weapon, or someone didn’t want me taking the photos, or someone was playing a practical joke. I don’t know, but it made for an adventurous photo op.
