What Are The Best Tips To Planning The Perfect Holiday Photo Session?

With the holiday season in full swing I’ve been getting a lot of great feedback on my photo shoot tips and tricks for surprise engagement proposals, destination weddings, and family portraits in Hawaii! Our vision is to give clients the best inside scoop to make coming to the islands for special event photo shoots a stress-free and memorable experience.

On a side note, my team and I are constantly scouting new locations, putting together packages, and partnering with new vendors and venues! It’s been a really exciting time of growth for us and we are looking forward to hearing from you!

So, you like many others might be asking, “What are the best tips to planning the perfect holiday photo session?” Whether you are “popping the big question,” for a surprise engagement proposal, saying “I do,” at a beach for a romantic destination wedding escape, or having a family reunion for family portraits, in Hawaii; think – timing.

Do you have small children?

“Yes! We have small children.” it’s recommended to schedule a photo session earlier in the day, when they are fresh and at their best, rather than later in the afternoon.

All that flying and the changing time zones is rough for little guys! I would be grouchy too if I was on a long plane ride, in an unfamiliar place, and bedtime was just not the same!

Pro Tip:

Remember to bring a favorite toys such as Elmo and/or squeakies. It’s also very helpful to coach kids ahead of time by taking selfies. If you can have fun by taking good selfies as a family, they will be ready for their close up! My bestie’s daughter invented the “Eyebrow challenge!” Where you make an angry face to “furrow your eyebrows,” aka bring eyebrows close together. I have to say it’s the funniest and most fun way to get the good energy flowing for an amazing family photo.

Whether you are “popping the big question,” for a surprise engagement proposal, saying “I do,” at a beach for a romantic destination wedding escape, or having a family reunion for family portraits, in Hawaii; think – timing.

If you answered “No,” early mornings and sunset are the most popular photo sessions to schedule for the best lighting conditions. The benefits of an early morning shoot are: a beautiful Hawaiian sunrise is second to none! There really is nothing like it and it can be much more beautiful than a sunset. There are less people are out and about, and the temperature is much more comfortable than an afternoon photo session. You also have the rest of your day ahead of you for other activities, making this the most effective use of your limited time in the islands.

However, if you are NOT a morning person don’t worry! Afternoon photo sessions and/or a Hawaiian sunset can be absolutely gorgeous! I myself am not a morning song bird! I will not be waking up all chirpy, bright eyed, and bushy-tailed in the mornings. No no no! Do not talk to me before my morning cup of coffee if you want live… You will definitely lose an eye or an ear because I will not have it! I might also speak cat and “Merow!” until I have had a “proper” amount of caffeine in my system. Not to say that I’m against shooting a beautiful and astounding sunrise surprise engagement proposal, destination wedding, of fabulous family portraits, in which case I wouldn’t sleep and I would be fine! You have to be a special kinda crazy to be a photographer. It’s in our job description to be a little odd and entertaining. I like to say its “being an artist,” but I digress. Whether you are aiming for a sunrise, sunset, or the middle of the day to take full advantage of the Hawaiian sun, here are a few more of my favorite tips for planning the perfect holiday portrait session!

The pros of having a photo session at the end of your day are being able to plan everything around it to get that alluring Hawaiian sunset. It’s amazing to wake up when you are done sleeping, eat a nice lunch, enjoy the beach or other fun activities, then get ready to go!

Pro Tips:

1. You get extra points for making plans after the photo shoot! Treat yourself, your partner, and/or family to a nice dinner. After all you are on vacation! Remember, you are competing with everyone else for that prime spot on the beach and you WILL most likely have other people in your shots if you are at a popular well known beach.

2. Your photographer will do the best they can to get the least amount of people in your photos. We like to use clever blocking techniques and fancy light magic. (I will spare you the technical jargon, but that’s the way I like to describe it because part of me wants to be a magician.) Remember, when the sun goes down that’s it! It’s time to pack up and go home! While our eyes are amazing at seeing in the dark, technology hasn’t quite caught up to us yet. When the sun has set and available light is gone, it’s very difficult to focus the camera and get the romantic and wispy shots that you see on Pinterest. The night sky has a very different look and mood for photos. Think black background, hard lights, and lots of shadows. If the subjects in the photos are wearing darker colors they turn into floating heads, which is great for Halloween! Yey! Floating heads my favorite thing!

3. Arrive on time for your portrait session to avoid “floating head syndrome.” Sadly, the Sun doesn’t wait for anyone.

Thinking of planning a photo session? Send us a message.