Adriane and Naomi

Newlyweds.

Gotta love 'em.

It was my first shoot in about 9 months and I was a little rustier then usual.

She was so cute, he was so uncomfortable, we had alot of laughs.

Thanks guys.  

The practice was sorely needed.

Lesson learned - planning out shoots is important.  I need to go there before hand and take a walk around and figure out where I'd like to shoot, coz sometimes on the spot I get a bit excited and totally overlook things like where the best light is etc. An extra 10 minutes is all it takes.

John, Amy & Hannah

My brother and his family.  You'd think that since we know each other, it would have been an easy shoot.  I couldn't get my niece to look at me, let alone smile.  And my brother, well, aparently I'm terribly funny, and saying "Ok, now sit right there" means "laugh like a fool until your eyes water".  Never the less, it was probably the most fun I've ever had on a shoot, even if having fun meant sacraficing quality and quantity pictures.

I swear that this was inflicted upon her by her father and NOT me!

This little miss has no shame at all.  Not only did she do this in public....

...she then quite happily did this.....

Lesson Learned - Never do a shoot for family members.  No, I'm kidding.  The real lesson was (and my Master Loblee already knows this and has told me many times but I guess I had to figure it out on my own) that great pictures aren't necessarily ones where everyone is looking and smiling at the camera.  Some times the best pictures simply capture the moment, the child, the family, as they are right then and there, whether that be fingers in nose, scowl on face, or tears running down from laughing so hard.  Really good photography simply just portrays what's real.

Houghton Ohana Revisited

They were my first family shoot in Hawaii, and sadly, my last.
Words cannot express how much I love these people.  They truely have become family to us.  When I met this family, Isaac was 3 months old, Annika was not even a thought, and the girls were little.  Now they're big and grown.
We will dearly miss you Houghton Family!

Lesson Learned - I need to be more aware of light, it disapears without you knowing and it's not until you get your photos back that you realise how low the light was.

Bradshaw Ohana

Such a great family.  I love these kids, they're so sweet to each other, especially the boys.  I hope that Malachi is as good to his little brother as Sam and Colin are to Charlie.

Lesson Learned - Although I like overcast skies when it comes to lighting and making no shadows, it can sometimes turn cute little kids into one eyed pirates because it's so bright!

Roi and Jase

Roi and I were roommates in high school.  Who would have thought that 7 years later I'd be taking her engagement pictures, because this used-to-be-tomboy is now buying wedding dresses, getting pedicures, and in December she's getting married.  Crazy.  I love you Roi and wish you every happiness. Jase, you're a good man :)

Lesson Learned - You can't change people to fit the session you've planned out, you change your session to fit the people.  If they're not kissy people, then they won't kiss, so you gotta take pictures that represent who they are.

Jessica

My lovely visiting teachee, almost ready to be a mumma.  She must have found every bug within a 2 mile radius, but braved them all for the sake of photography.

Lesson Learned - Your location doesn't need to be amazing, it just has to make your pictures look amazing.  Sometimes, simpler (like a shrimp farm on the side of the road) is better.