Aubrey Hord Photography

NEW! Spring Hui Digital Photography Classes Announced

2011-03-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

Please Join us!

Registration is now open for my Spring 2011 Digital Photography Workshops and Classes at the Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center:

April 9 - A Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography - Part I (Navigation) 9am-3pm

April 13 - MACRO Workshop Day 1 9am-12pm

April 14 - MACRO Workshop Day 2 9am-12pm

April 23 - A Beginner's Guide to Digital Photography - Part II (Composition) 9am-3pm

May 18 - Digital Media Workshop - Studio Lighting Workshop 9am-12pm

Limited space available. Registration and more information is available through the Hui.

Hope to see you at one of the classes!

Aubrey

(808) 264-5226

Elton John sings his hits to a happy sold out crowd on Maui

2011-02-25T10:18:00.000-08:00

The new glass topped outdoorvenue at the MACC called the Yokouchi Pavilion was sold out for the first of two shows by Sir Elton John who christened the beautifully designed venue with a huge show full of lights, incredible music and anenthusiastic Maui crowd.The new venue glowed like a Christmas tree with all the new lights shining through the glass roof and stage lights flashing back on the crowd of well over 5,000 lucky ticket holders.Sir Elton made a grand entrance onto the stage and wowed the crowd with his first piano song "Funeral for a Friend" which lasted 11 minutes.

I was right down in front along with the other official professional photographer for the concert, Amanda Cowan, from the Maui News.

Amanda shot and scored with several images on the front page and section of the Maui News today. It's always a pleasure shooting with other photographers who know how to capture a show and Amanda is no exception!

Sir Elton played to the crowd who instantly stood and gave a warm Maui welcome for the returning musical icon. The crowd was actually on their feet every time Elton played a song, dancing and waving their arms and singing along to all of his hits.

The GA section in the bleachers was the best chorus!!Elton offset his high energy songs with a couple of ballads on the piano which just made the show by the super star even more endearing. Happy fans snapped up red flashing sunglasses and Elton John t shirts from every era of his career from the Merchandise tents.I think I found my true calling. I love shooting concerts and am a huge supporter of the arts and arts education on Maui.

The MACC asked me to start shooting concerts and events there 3 years ago and I am forever grateful for the chance to be part of a collective positive energy. The staff and volunteers at the MACC work harder than any team I have ever met, with long hours and high stress situations, they always handle everything in stride and with a smile. What a joy to work with such a great crew! I am truly blessed to be part of the MACC family. It's always fun to be part of something that brings positive energy, smile, laughter and dancing to our island community.
Thank you, Sir Elton John, Art Vento at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Tom Moffat Productions and the hard working staff, crew and volunteers at the MACC for bringing such incredible musical talent to our island. We truly appreciate it and look forward to the next show!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Sir Elton John shows begin tonight on Maui at the MACC

2011-02-24T13:20:00.001-08:00

We are honored to have the esteemed and uber-talented Sir Elton John playing two shows on the island of Maui at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center starting tonight. Elton John will be christening the spectacular newest outdoor venue at the MACC called the Yokouchi Pavilion. I will be alongside my friend and fellow photographer, Amanda Cowan, from the Maui News, shooting the concert. For those of you lucky ticket holders, enjoy the show!!

Images coming soon....

A hui hou,

Aubrey

DAUGHTRY Returns to Tour on Maui

2011-02-20T19:22:00.000-08:00

The rock band DAUGHTRY came of a well-earned vacation to start their tour on Maui.

The band played at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center Friday, February 18th to a sold out audience at the Castle Theater.

Rocker Chris Daughtry is possibly best known for his fourth place in the fifth season of American Idol, and he can totally hold an audience with his strong vocal range and a group of bandmates who never quit.

His performance was non-stop energy and filled with hit songs like "Home" and the grammy nominated song" It's Not Over." Filling the Castle Theater with a huge fan base, DAUGHTRY had the audience on their feet singing along right off the bat and they didn't quit until after several encores.

What a show!

Welcome back to the road DAUGHTRY! Thanks for stopping by our little island.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

aubrey@aubreyhord.com

www.aubreyhord.com

Maui Wedding Photographer - Romancing the island

2011-02-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Heather and Jason who tied the knot on the island with the ringing in of the new year!

The couple was married at the private wedding lawn oceanside at Kaanapali Beach Hotel and then headed out with us a few days later on an island wide photo session at some of the most scenic destinations for some fun romantic shots. We also were fortunate to have a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Anny Heid Flowers to brighten the shots and add to the romance.

Heather and Jason were seamless in their movements together and totally fun to be around. We had lots of laughter all afternoon moving from location to location and made it to the last location just before sunset. So congratulations and best wishes to a couple who makes my job easy! I love my clients!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Makana and Barry Flanagan highlight Solo Sessions at the MACC

2011-02-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

One of the great venues at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center is the McCoy Theater located just off to the side of the MACC. It's a great intimate venue for enjoying music and small performances on the island. It's been a wonderful venue for Solo Sessions which features Hawaiian musicians on slack key guitar or ukulele and gives the audience a chance to interact with the musician, many of whom have become world famous but still come back to Hawaii to perform. It's a terrific way to just close your eyes and enjoy music up close and personal with the great acoustics of the theater too.

I had the opportunity to shoot two recent Solo Sessions at the MACC featuring the slack key music of Barry Flanagan and Makana.

Each brought up friends at one point during the session to join them onstage for a few songs which made it even more exciting.

The young 16 yr old Maui singer, Lily Meola, also joined in with Makana to sing the song "Hallelujah". The MACC has done a terrific job of pulling in the some of the top acoustic acts in the state to this tiny venue and allowing us, the audience, to interact with the musicians and then enjoy their music. It feels more like you are in the artist's living room instead of in a theater. More Solo Sessions to come- check the MACC website for updated event listings.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

www.aubreyhord.com

Ladysmith Black Mambazo soothes the Maui crowd

2011-01-28T13:46:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite World Music groups performed on Maui last week at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center to a nearly full house. Ladysmith Black Mambazo showed off their high steps (complete with red socks!) to the sounds of smooth voices from South Africa. Ladysmith beacame even more famous with the partnership with Paul Simon on his Graceland album a few years ago. The group was founded over 40 years ago in South Africa and has performed all over the world This was their third performance on Maui at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.
And now to Elton John next month!

Aubrey

Maui Wedding Photographer -Congratulations to... be revealed soon!

2011-01-06T13:32:00.001-08:00

Stay tuned to learn more about this mystery bride and groom!

Maui Welcomes back the Humpback Whales

2010-12-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Humpback Whales are back in Hawaii for the 2010-2011 season and happily playing in the waters between Maui, Lanai and Molokai, called the Au Au Channel. They come down to Hawaii from Alaska every season (Dec-May) to give birth to calves and breed before returning to their feeding grounds in Alaska. We were fortunate on Christmas Day to be out on the water watching a competitive group of 7 whales who treated us to breaches out of the water, pec slaps and head lunges. It was fantastic. We got caught in several heavy squalls of rain which made it pretty challenging to shoot but I was able to get a few shots in between.
Happy whale watching!
A hui hou,

Bruno Mars packs the house and steals the show

2010-12-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

The Maui Arts and Cultural Center was packed to the gills last week with Bruno Mars fans and he didn't disappoint with his show!Fans squealed at a pitch so high many thought windows would shatter. It was unreal that 1500 teenage girls could reach a fevered pitch that high but earplugs were the ticket that night for sure!
Hawaii born Brumo Mars was a colorful act from the start, singing his favorite hits while cameras flashed and video cameras followed his every move on stage as they shot a video.

Ever the showman, with many moves reflecting that of one of Mars' idols, Michael Jackson, the music and choreography was fun to watch. Mars has a great rapport with his band and it shows in his performances.
Another fun night for everyone!

Until the next rockin' show!

Aubrey

New! Gift Certificates for Private Photography Lessons!

2010-12-21T14:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from the entire team at Aubrey Hord Photography!

Gift Certificates are now available for Private Photography Lessons starting at one hour sessions. This is a great gift idea if you know anyone who is getting started with a digital camera or getting one as a gift for the holidays! Or if you just want to go to some great places on the island to go shoot and dial in your talent!

Feel free to Call (808) 264-5226 or Email me for more details at aubrey@aubreyhord.com.

Cheers!

Aubrey

2010 Faces of Hawaii book features Aubrey Hord Photography

2010-12-04T20:32:00.001-08:00

The 2010 Faces of Hawaii exhibit opened in Hilo by HI Art Magazine a couple weeks ago and I was fortunate to have an image featured in the book and exhibit. My image entitled "Ashley" will be part of the book as well as part of the 2010 art exhibit in Hilo.
My image of Ashley is on the far left. To the right of the image are two images by Zach Pezzillo, my super talented intern who is only 17 years old and a senior at Seabury Hall. Zach and his mom, Susannah Christy were able to make it to the opening in Hilo (I had a photo shoot here on Maui and was unable to attend this year), and they sent these images to me.

A proud Zach with all the images below!

"Ashley" is on the left side. She is the beautiful hula dancer with the red ti leaf haku lei on her head as well as around her neck.

Thanks Zach and Susannah for the images from the show!

Kaanapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Sarah + Joel

2010-12-01T12:44:00.001-08:00

Wedding bells are ringing again! Sarah and Joel tied the knot at Ka'anapali Beach Hotel at the private oceanfront wedding site and had a little fun! Thanks for being such great clients. We wish you all the best!

Congratulations from all of us at Aubrey Hord Photography!

Kaanapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Wei + Peter

2010-12-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Peter and Wei!

Maui Premiere of "Get a Job" sells out the MACC Sunday

2010-12-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

The Maui premiere of the comedy film, "Get a Job" directed by Brian Kohne of Malama Pono Productions and produced by Stefan Schaefer of Cicala Filmworks drew a sold out crowd at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center on Sunday evening November 28 with a line going nearly to the street to get into the theater and laughter abounding throughout the evening. The Maui screening was a benefit for the MACC's Arts and Education Programs and the Maui Food Bank. Director Brian Kohne, above, pictured with the Maui Food Bank team, was on hand greeting people at the gates and thanking them for their donation to the food bank.
Cast and crew came out to celebrate the premiere and have a mini reunion on Maui. I had the pleasure of being the Still Photographer for the feature film as well as having a cameo role as the wedding photographer in the big wedding scene and in another scene which definitely featured my best asset (HEE HEE! See if you can figure that one one). The independent film was made entirely on the island of Maui by a Maui director and producer with the majority of the cast and crew from the islands. This was an important milestone in Maui's history of filmmaking since it is the first feature film produced entirely by Mauians, drawing on the extensive local talent we have in community theater, staging, production management, video/camera, lighting, sound, art, photographers (YAY!) and beyond... The film even offered internships for local students looking to get into the film making business.
The line formed quickly to get into the theater and wound its way all the way to the street.
Maui's musical "royalty" came out to see the premiere including musical greats who were also in the film including Eric Gilliom (as lead character Merton in "Get a Job"), Mick Fleetwood, Pat Simmons, Amy Hanaialii Gilliom, Dr. Nat and his band who comprised the fabulous wedding band in the movie. Later in the evening, after the premiere (was officially off duty then to celebrate with the rest of the cast and crew), the wedding band kept the MACC rocking with their musical talents onstage. It was great!

The film starred Willie K, Eric Gilliom, Carolyn Omine, Augie T, Marsha Kelly, Kathy Collins, Chelsea Hill, Vinny Linares and featured Henry Kapono, Mick Fleetwood, Willie Nelson, Charles Ka'upu, Jake Shimabukuro, Pat and Chris Simmons, Kealoha, Dr Nat, Amy Hanaialii Gilliom and many many more Maui greats!
Eric Gilliom with producer Stefan Schaefer above.
Part of the cast and crew on stage after the screening (above) and Mick Fleetwood with director, Brian Kohne, Eric Gilliom just before the screening.
Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of "Get a Job" and to Brian Kohne and Stefan Schaefer for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime as the Still Photographer for the movie as well as the Wedding Photographer role in the film!

Until the next showing of the film,

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Merrimans Kapalua Wedding Photographer- Karin & Dave

2010-11-22T18:25:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Karin and Dave! What a wonderful day you planned up at Kapalua. Danielle and the team at Merriman's Kapalua did an excellent job of putting together your wedding day plans with a wedding site on the ocean with a spectacular view and delicious gourmet food from Chef Peter Merriman.

Thanks so much to Sasha Prince for second shooting the wedding perfectly and Nicole Angel for her lighting expertise!

We were honored to be part of your special day on Maui. Thanks so much for choosing Aubrey Hord Photography to capture your wedding!

A hui hou,

Aubrey and team

Hula O Na Keiki 2010 with Randy Jay Braun

2010-11-22T17:11:00.001-08:00

Photographing anything with Hawaii's own Randy Jay Braun, is always an honor. Having the opportunity to assist him in capturing the winners of Hula O Na Keiki 2010 hosted by the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel a couple of weeks ago was no exception. Starting in the early hours before sunrise, Randy takes the Kane and Wahine winners to the beach and gets them warmed up for their session. The pride and confidence exhibited by the young winners is always evident in their eyes and the way they carry themselves. Randy instantly puts them at ease with a quick laugh and in talking story with their families and kumu hula. Once he established rapport with the dancers, the photo shoot gets underway. This is the second year I have had the opportunity to shoot with Randy and I always have a wonderful time. Here are a few of my shots as well as some behind the scenes shots of the exceptionally talented Randy Jay Braun at work. Congratulations to Kaui and Kaya on their honors! Until next year!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

www.aubreyhord.com

Rampin' up with Peter Frampton!

2010-11-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

Who loves Peter Frampton??? Oh ooh ooh!! I do!!

I had the pleasure of photographing the Peter Frampton concert last night on Maui at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. He played for nearly 3 hours and had everyone on their feet dancing and jamming along with him. He is still a master of the guitar and the stage. He was gracious enough to accept two kukui nut leis courtesy of the audience members as well as picking up an ukulele and playing a song just for us!

Thanks for making our day Mr. Frampton! You can still ROCK!

Come back soon!

Aubrey

Spring 2011 Classes at the Hui Noe'au Visual Arts Center Announced

2010-11-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

More info on the digital photography workshops starting in the Spring of 2011 is here!

Come join me! The Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center in Makawao will be adding the following workshops to their Spring Schedule.

A Beginner’s Guide to Digital Photography: Part I — Navigation #101954

Instructor: Aubrey Hord

Saturday, 1 day

February 5 / 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Tuition: $75 ($94 nonmember)

List of supplies provided upon registration

A Beginner’s Guide to Digital Photography: Part II — Composition #101954

Instructor: Aubrey Hord

Saturday, 1 day

February 19 / 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Composing a shot correctly can make the difference between a basic image and an award-winning work of art. Aubrey will go over basic photography composition techniques, how to utilize your shutter speed and f-stop, and methods for capturing the image you want in camera the first time. We will spend some time in the classroom and then head out into the beautiful grounds of the Hui to practice what we’ve learned and to experiment with composition. This workshop is the second in the series on basic digital photography.

Tuition: $75 ($94 nonmember)

List of supplies provided upon registration

Creative Food Shoot #101954

Instructor: Aubrey Hord

Saturday, 1 day

March 5 / 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Bust out your creativity, macro lens, or long lens and be sure to bring some colorful food to shoot for this workshop. We will focus on patterns, designs, colors and textures in food. Get ready to use your artistry and dive into the food options (think lemons, limes, strawberries, dragonfruit, mint, tomatoes, chocolate etc). Let your imagination run wild!

Tuition: $75 ($94 nonmember)

List of supplies provided upon registration

Classes are limited to 8 students.

Classes are sure to sell out quickly due to the limited size. Don't miss out! Register now!

You may also contact Jessica or Lana at the Hui to sign up

You can also call the Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center at (808) 572-6560.

This is just a start... more fun, creative classes to follow in Summer, Fall and Winter 2011.

Hope to see you at the Hui!

Warmest aloha,

Aubrey

(808) 264-5226

Coming Soon! Digital Photography Workshops at the Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center - starting Spring 2011

2010-11-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Maui's hub for the creative arts, the prestigious Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center, inviting me to join their impressive list of artist instructors and teach digital photography classes. I was delighted and graciously accepted!

So...starting in Spring 2011 I will be offering several digital photography workshops and classes at the Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center up in beautiful upcountry Makawao, Maui. There will be Saturday workshops as well as some weekday classes ranging from beginner digital camera classes to more advanced macro and studio lighting courses.

Classes will be limited to 8 students and be affordable for both residents and visitors so keep your eyes peeled and I will send out dates and details on the schedule as soon as it is announced by the Hui!

Stay tuned!.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

aubrey@aubreyhord.com

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Aki & Glen

2010-11-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

Aki and Glen decided to get married on Maui and bring their families and traditions together. With Japanese and Korean cultures joining hands, the party got started! The details were beautiful and the bride and groom were one of the calmest couples I have ever seen.
The colorful rose petals were scattered all along the aisle and made for a very colorful entrance.
Aki and Glen's rings were displayed in a gorgeous crown shaped pillow and tied with a satin knot.
Once the wedding ceremony and signing were complete, the couple headed to Baby Beach in Lahaina for a little time alone and some photos as the sun was setting and the moon was rising.
So cheers to Aki and Glen! Best wishes and hope to see you again on Maui for your second honeymoon!

Thank you for choosing Aubrey Hord Photography to capture your wedding day!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

www.aubreyhord.com

Food shoot with Alan De Herrera

2010-10-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

I recently had the "wonderfully delicious" opportunity to attend a day-long food photography workshop with famous food photographer and humanitarian photojournalist, Alan De Herrera from Los Angeles. Alan was on Maui along with food stylist, Tamara Kaufman shooting a Moorish cookbook and gracious enough to offer a class while he was on the island. We had a great time in the small class and were able to spend time listening to Alan talk about techniques in shooting food as well as getting some hands-on time practicing what we learned.
Alan started the workshop with setting up a bowl of soup. Simple right? Not even close! It took about an hour to get the right shot of soup. Food photography is not for the impatient photographer or anyone who doesn't pay strict attention to detail. So if you are detail oriented this is perfect for you!
We spent time learning how to set up different backgrounds and also how to get just the right angle on the food item before we lit it up using off camera lighting, reflectors and even mirrors. It was fascinating! (that's not my camera below, by the way)
Finally, we got to enjoy the food we had been shooting with an impeccably prepared meal by a personal chef. It was delectable!
I'm getting hungry again. Now it is off to shoot food- and EAT!!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Melanie & Francois say "Oui" do!

2010-10-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

Melanie and Francois brought family from all over the world to their destination wedding on Maui. They had a gorgeous wedding in a private wedding lawn right on the ocean at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel.
The details were colorful and fun, just like the bride and groom. From the extensive flowers for the bridal party, parents and guests to the table decor to the cake, the couple had an eye for the colorful.
Paster Laki Ka'ahumanu presided over the ceremony and was entertaining as always, making the bride and groom comfortable and laughing all the way through the ceremony.
My thanks to the team that helped shoot the wedding with me- Nicole Angel, Zach Pezzillo and Frank DiMarco. Always a pleasure to work you all!
Congratulations and best wishes go out to Melanie and Francois- have a wonderful life together filled with creativity and fun!

Thanks for choosing Aubrey Hord Photography to be a part of your Maui wedding!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Mary & Tory

2010-10-26T16:23:00.001-07:00

On 10-10-10 I had a great opportunity to capture a really fun wedding of a friend from the mainland who decided she wanted to get married on one of the busiest wedding days of the year.

It was a total joy to photograph Mary and Tory as they took the plunge on their journey together.Mary and Tory are simply fun!!

They love to laugh and enjoy life on multiple levels, which is not surprising since Mary works for Six Flags.

The two of them combined their beautiful children into one happy family and had a great party for their Maui wedding.

Mary is also a big fan of B&W imagery so I shot a bunch of images with B&W in mind. The details were the best!

The details were really fun to capture. Mary is a part time floral designer on the side and she was able to ship in beautiful orchids and floral arrangements for the wedding from her suppliers on the mainland.

Thanks to second shooter Frank DiMarco, intern, Zach Pezzillo, and our wonderful lighting tech, Nicole Angel, for keeping up with the fast paced couple and Mary and Tory's delightful group of family and friends who made the trip to Maui to celebrate.

Thanks for having us along for the ride!

Best wishes,

Aubrey, Frank, Zach and Nicole

www.aubreyhord.com

Gallery Wraps now available at Pictures Plus

2010-10-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Good News!

Pictures Plus in Kahului has picked up a line of Aubrey Hord Photography gallery wraps ranging in size from 11x14 to 18x24 including this little guy! They can pack and ship as well for any client who are off island or out of state. Pictures Plus is located at Maui Marketplace next to Petco. The phone number is 808-893-0632. Stop by anytime to see the current collection!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

www.aubreyhord.com

Unique Maui Weddings - "I Do!" Now let's go surfing!

2010-07-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

This summer I had the distinct pleasure of photographing a unique wedding on Maui that was filled with the usual vows plus, infectious steel drum music and a wave or two. What?? A wave?? Yes, this bride and groom looooooove to surf and they decided to have a morning wedding that involved a great wave session afterward.

The bride performed a special wedding hula for the groom and a little rain blessed the event, making it a wonderful morning.
Lia and James are not only a great looking couple, but they are super fit, making it easy for the groom to to slip into board shorts and slippers and the bride to slip into a beautiful white swim suit and designer pareo from Maui's own LeTarte Swimwear.

The couple decided to get hitched at the beach and then jump in the water on their beautiful custom made wooden surfboard and invite their guests to go surfing with them.

Once the couple said their vows and the minister announced them as officially married, they waxed up their new board and the celebration moved to the ocean. What a perfect Maui wedding!

So congratulations and best of luck to Lia and James! May you always find waves together and laugh together for the rest of your lives.

A hui hou,
Aubrey
aubrey@aubreyhord.com
www.aubreyhord.com

Kapalua Maui Wedding Photographer - Will you Marry Me again? Surprise!

2010-07-19T20:25:00.001-07:00

Congratulations go out to one of the best (and classiest) surprise vow renewals I have seen! When Emir asked Patricia to renew their vows in Kapalua a couple of weeks ago, she could not have been more surprised. He used the idea for a family portrait session to get Patricia ready for photos. They headed down to the beach and took an hour of photos in the coconut grove and on the beach at Kapalua Bay with their family.

Emir told his bride that for the second half of the photo session they were going to change into dressier clothes for a more formal look. Once they changed, we were ready with our cameras as they came out to the scenic Kapalua Point for the vow renewal ceremony. And she said YES again!

Emir had planned everything down to the smallest details with the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua wedding team and it payed off. Patricia was totally surprised and delighted at all the details. A stunning background in Hawaii, a private ocean front ceremony location, a dove release, fabulous minister (Pia Aluli) and a gorgeous evening!

The couple renewed their vows looking out at Kapalua Bay and the west Maui mountains as the sun slowly sank into the horizon with the island of Molokai in the distance.

So congratulations to Emir for planning a delightful ceremony for his bride of 22 years. To Patricia, who was a beautiful bride! And to the girls for keeping it under wraps until the big moment.

I love my job and I love my clients!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Jenna & Jason

2010-07-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jenna and Jason who tied the knot on Maui on July 9th!Best wishes from your photography team!

A hui hou,
Aubrey
http://www.aubreyhord.com/
aubrey@aubreyhord.com

Announcing "Mrs. Maui 2010" - Patricia Tavares!

2010-07-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the beautiful Mrs. Maui 2010, Patricia Tavares! Best of luck at Mrs. Hawaii on Oahu!

We are honored to have you represent us!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Sabrina & John say "I Do" on Maui vs Jamaica

2010-07-02T16:40:00.001-07:00

Sabrina and John had planned their perfect wedding for months in Jamaica. When civil unrest hit the area a couple of months ago, that changed the game completely and destroyed their perfect wedding dreams. With the political instability and no knowledge of where their paperwork or deposit had gone for their wedding, the couple had to find a new tropical venue to get married. They chose the ocean side wedding site on Maui called the Naupaka Lawn at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel and kept their fingers crossed that nothing would go wrong. It ended up being a perfect evening with light and weather. I lucked out and got an amazing couple!

We spent nearly two hours talking in the wedding consultation meeting and my cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. They had a wonderful minister for their ceremony who laughed along with the couple during their service and had a truly infectious smile. Finally, they ended their romantic evening with a private dinner on the Naupaka Lawn watching the sun set into the Pacific Ocean.

I am honored they chose me to capture their perfect destination wedding in the Hawaiian islands! So congratulations and best wishes to Sabrina and John who were great clients - fun and flexible with their plans and will keep each other laughing for the rest of their lives.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Tropical Island Boot Camp for Creative Photography

2010-06-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

Watching and learning from a master at work in their passion is a rare experience. When Randy Jay Braun announced his first Tropical Island Boot Camp for Creative Photography on Maui, people jumped at the opportunity to sign up. When Randy invited me to help with the camp and teach some of skills I know best, I was honored.
Over the course of 6 days, we took 10 boot campers from all over the country to some of the best locations on Maui for photography and encouraged them to let their creativity lead the way to some amazing photographs.
Randy also brought in Adobe Photoshop Evangelist, Russell Brown, to help with post production of the images we captured during the week. The nightly classes in Photoshop CS5 and Photomatix helped bring images into panoramics and HDR (high dynamic range) like never before!
The combination of magnificent landscapes and people along with the talents of Randy Jay Braun and Russell Brown made for some truly incredible imagery.
Having Randy and Russell tag team throughout each day with their humor and energy, brought the campers to life each morning and helped them sing into the night. With a wide age range (24-58ish) and skill set (beginner to expert), the trick was keeping everyone interested and engaged throughout the week.
Usually, the landscape provided the perfect canvas for inspiration but several days Randy had invited friends, hula dancers, and models to help bring a human element into the week. To capture authentic cultural elements in imagery is getting more and more difficult to do. Randy's lasting friendships and genuine intentions in capturing the spirit of Hawaiian culture is one of his true strengths.
From the red, white and black sand beaches in Hana to the beautiful (and handsome) hula dancers who graciously and patiently agreed to be our models, the diversity of subject matter made it easy to shoot a variety of images.
Some campers even got creative with their cameras themselves, swinging them around taking slow exposures and "driving" them like crazy drivers to get cool blur effects and "essence" shots.
All in all, the week was an incredible experience for everyone involved and a huge success for Randy, who has graciously invited me back again to help teach the next boot camp!
So to all the people taking pictures of people taking pictures of people... See you at the next Randy Jay Braun boot camp!
Keep taking pictures of great subjects in magnificent landscapes.
To sign up for the next boot camp: http://randyjaybraun.com/

A hui hou,
Aubrey
http://www.blogger.com/aubrey@aubreyhord.com
http://www.blogger.com/www.aubreyhord.com

Teaching Photography at Boys and Girls Harbor 1987

2010-06-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

I came across a shot of my first job teaching photography when I was looking through some old photos a few weeks ago. Here you go. I still can't believe it. I first taught photography 23 (gasp!) years ago at a summer camp for Boys and Girls Harbor, in East Hampton in 1987. The Boys and Girls Harbor summer camp in East Hampton was started by Anthony Drexel Duke who owns a large parcel of property on the island which lent itself perfectly as a summer camp for inner city kids from Harlem, the Bronx and Brooklyn. Many of them had never left the city and never experienced "the woods" and it was a joy to get to know them, watch them grow and teach them photography. I wonder where they are now and if any of them pursued photography...

The Harbor still operates in the city and offers several education programs for children from New York City. Cool!!!

A hui hou,
Aubrey
aubrey@aubreyhord.com
www.aubreyhord.com

Maui's comedy feature film "Get a Job" wraps!

2010-05-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

What an amazing ride I have had in the past few weeks! For those of you who know me, you probably think I dropped off the planet. Really, I have just been working! I had the rare opportunity to work as the still photographer on one of Maui's first feature films to be made by a local director (Brian Kohne) of Malama Pono Productions and producer (Stefan Schaefer) called "Get a Job." The Cicala Filmworks and Malama Pono Productions film starred Maui's own musical (and acting) talents, Willie K and Eric Gilliom, who performed together as The Barefoot Natives. The film was shot entirely on the island of Maui. Comedian Augie T, Carolyn Omine, Jake Shimabukuru, Alaka’i Paleka, Charles Ka'upu and Kathy Collins are also among the cast. One of the highlights of the film was the finale wedding scene band, filmed at the Paia Inn, which brought together some of Maui's musical legends including Willie Nelson, Mick Fleetwood, Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers, Henry Kapono, Lenny Castelanos, Lopaka Colon to sing with Willie K and Eric Gilliom.This is one funny movie so be sure to catch it in the theaters and support Maui filmmakers.

It was a terrific experience to be the still photographer on a movie set and I am incredibly grateful to Brian Kohne from Malama Pono Productions for hiring me, Blaise Noto for his guidance and Stefan Schaefer from Cicala Filmworks for his patience and humor with all of us throughout the movie.

Link for Maui News Articles #1, #2, #3.

A hui hou,
Aubrey
http://www.blogger.com/www.aubreyhord.com
http://www.blogger.com/aubrey@aubreyhord.com

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Carolyn & Brian

2010-05-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations and Best wishes go out to Carolyn and Brian who got married at Ka'anapali Beach Hotel on a beautiful tropical day on Maui. They were joined by a few dozen family and friends who celebrated their marriage in style and Hawaiian sunshine! Carolyn and Brian were married by Makalapua Kanuha who officiated the Hawaiian wedding ceremony with a traditional chant in the beginning and a blessing in the middle along with the usual traditions.
Congratulations Carolyn and Brian! See you next year on Maui to celebrate your anniversary!A hui hou!

Aubrey

"Ulupalakua Inspires" Art Show June 6th (11am-4pm)

2010-05-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

Please join us on Sunday, June 6th from 11:00am-4:00pm upcountry!

I am honored to have my fine art featured at the June 6th Sunday Drive event up at the Tedeschi Winery and Ulupalakua Ranch from 11am-4pm. When Diana Azevedo from Ulupalakua Ranch and Paula Hegele from Tedeschi Winery invited me to be part of the event, I was delighted!

The "Ulupalakua Inspires" show at the Sunday Drive focuses on fine art by Maui photographers who find inspiration in the rolling hillsides, open country and vibrant florals. Other featured photographers include Randy Jay Braun, Jimmie Hepp and Gwen Arkin.

The event is free and open to the public.

I'll post a gallery of images that will be featured in the show as soon as it is ready! Framed prints, gallery wraps, matted prints and loose prints will be available for purchase at the show. Special orders will also be accepted on site.

Special thanks to Anne Wall from the Wailea Art Program for providing me with guidance in selecting the pieces to be featured in the show.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin just posted an article on the event: "Ulupalakua Inspires" as did the Lahaina News!

A hui hou!
Aubrey
www.aubreyhord.com

PRESS RELEASE on EVENT

April 29, 2010

Contact: Yuki Lei Sugimura, Connec, LLC
4243 Lower Kula Road, Kula, HI 96790
878-1888 B; 870-8047 C; 878-4076 F
yukilei@hawaii.rr.com

Come On Up! for “Ulupalakua Inspires”
Celebrating the beauty that has captivated artists for generations.

ULUPALAKUA – Maui’s Winery and Ulupalakua Ranch Store invite the public to come on up to Upcountry Maui for “Ulupalakua Inspires” on Sunday, June 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
With the brilliant purple blossoms of jacaranda and agapanthus in bloom, it’s a perfect time to celebrate the natural artistic inspiration of this beautiful area. “Ulupalakua Inspires” is a free, community event featuring fun exhibits like a polo match, a glass-blowing demonstration and a photography show—all set against a musical background of live jazz on the picturesque grounds of the winery and ranch store.
Local favorite Uncle Benny Uyetake opens the show at 11:30 a.m. and will keep his smooth Hawaiian stylings going until 3 p.m. on the lanai of the ranch store. Japan-born musician/composer Shiro Mori performs with his jazz quartet from 1 to 1:45 p.m.; and sought-after Hawai‘i saxophonist David Choy takes the stage with his quartet from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Master musician Henry Kaleaialoha Allen tops off the day from 3 to 4 p.m. with his trademark “tropical swing and a touch of cool jazz.” Among other accolades, Allen was named “The Master Artist” of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Hawaiian music by the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and by the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Artists. All live entertainment is produced by Jazz Alley TV and MauiFEST Hawai‘i.
If you’ve always wanted to see an authentic Upcountry polo match, here’s your chance: the Ulupalakua team will take on Keokea in an exhibition match from noon to 1 p.m. on the ranch polo field. The free event is coordinated by Ulupalakua Ranch cowboy Kaimi Kona‘aihele and his wife Ceci, who also offer polo lessons and clinics year round. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes for the short hike from Maui’s Winery and to bring beach chairs or mats for seating at the scenic field.
Maui glassblowers will share their unique art form with “wow”-inducing demonstrations of glassblowing throughout the day. Ulupalakua artist Randy Schaffer and Blow Your Mind Productions will showcase their craft on the stage of the upper winery grounds from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors may participate in the creation of a custom piece that will then be fired in the onsite kiln and ready for pickup or delivery the next day.
Another chance to be inspired takes place at the Photography Show, which features stunning photos by Ulupalakua and Maui photographers. Visitors can stop by the winery pavilion throughout the day to view photos by Jimmie Hepp, Aubrey Hord, Gwen Arkin and Randy J Braun—and even meet some of the artists who will be on hand to share insights into their work.
If you’re in the mood for a picnic, you’ll find all you need at Ulupalakua Ranch Store Deli & Grill. Lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. include Maui Cattle Company burgers (featuring 100 percent natural, premium Angus beef raised on Maui), Ulupalakua Elk Burgers, the ranch’s famous Ulupalakua Steak Chili, and more.
Free wine tasting is offered throughout the day in the historic King’s Cottage Tasting Room, with tours of Maui’s Winery beginning at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
“The beauty of Ulupalakua’s natural surroundings, combined with the area’s amazing history, has been a source of inspiration for residents and visitors for generations,” says Paula Hegele, president of Maui’s Winery. “We hope you’ll come on up—and be inspired!”

About Sunday Drive events at Ulupalakua
Ulupalakua hosts quarterly Sunday Drive events to share and honor different aspects of this unique historic area. In the spring, it’s “Ulupalakua Remembers,” celebrating the rich heritage of this historic ranchland. Summertime is “Ulupalakua Inspires,” celebrating the beauty that has captivated artists for generations. Fall is “Ulupalakua Cares,” celebrating the commitment to agriculture and open space in our community. And winter is “Ulupalakua Sparkles,” celebrating the arrival of the holidays with Maui-style gifts and festivities.
Each event features live music on the beautiful grounds of Maui’s Winery, lunch specials at Ulupalakua Ranch Store, free wine tasting and winery tours, and opportunities to learn more about the area’s history and culture.
For more information about Sunday Drive events, call toll-free (877) 878-6058. To learn more about Ulupalakua, please visit www.mauiwine.com or www.ulupalakuaranch.com.

###

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Betsy & Phil get Married on Maui!

2010-05-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations go out to Betsy and Phil who tied the knot at the ocean side private wedding grounds at Kaanapali Beach Hotel last week! Our beautiful bride, Betsy, wore a gorgeous Lady Gaga-inspired dress and hairpiece and a HUGE smile.

Our dapper groom, Phil, wore a perfectly tailored white suit with a black dress shirt.

The couple was married under the swaying coconut trees along the ocean at the Naupaka Lawn at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel with scenic Black Rock in the background.

Betsy and Phil decided to tie the knot in the afternoon so they could hop on a sunset dinner cruise afterwards out of Lahaina Harbor. The couple celebrated their nuptials with glasses of champagne and a lot of laughter and love at the private ocean side wedding grounds at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel. Reverend Laki conducted the ceremony with the blowing of the conch shell to announce the beginning and end of the ceremony, a traditional Hawaiian prayer and playing a first dance song on his ukulele for the couple. Best wishes to Phil and Betsy on a wonderful life together filled with lots of love and laughter! It was a pleasure meeting you both!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Seabury Hall Craft Fair - May 8th

2010-05-04T19:21:00.001-07:00

Save the Date!

The Seabury Hall Craft Fair is this Saturday, May 8th upcountry- come join us for another year of fun with our booth and lots of great Mother's Day gifts! My husband, John, will be running the booth this year from 9am-5pm along with the remarkably talented Nicole Angel so please be sure to stop by and say "Aloha". We will have fine art, notecards, framed prints, gallery wraps, books and the ever-popular Jackson Chameleon and Laughing Horse magnets.

Our booth is located in the same spot as last year across from the main school office on the main road. Just look for the large print of the Jackson Chameleon in front of the tent!

See you there!

Aubrey

http://www.aubreyhord.com/

Maui Brewer's Festival - May 15th at the MACC

2010-05-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

Come join us for the second annual Maui Brewer's Festival at the MACC on Saturday, May 15th! Great bands, great food and of course, great BEER!

The 2nd annual Maui Brewers Festival is a fundraiser for the MACC, presented by Maui Brewing Co. & Paradise Beverages, featuring the best in handcrafted beers from Hawai'i & beyond. Enjoy a leisurely day outdoors of sampling beers, tasting island dishes, grooving to top Maui bands, shopping for logo merchandise.

All-inclusive tickets: $45/general admission includes microbrewed & imported beers in commemorative cup, appetizers, desserts & public event parking. $75/happy hour package includes reserved parking, early entry at 2pm for private sampling w/brewmasters, logo gift and gen adm. 808-242-7469 or www.MauiArts.org.

Visit www.MauiTime.com and www.PacificRadioGroup.com for giveaways!

Hope you can join us!

Aubrey
www.aubreyhord.com

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Megan & Jordan Marry Hawaiian Style

2010-04-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

Day 1:
In the predawn hours, our bride and groom, Megan and Jordan arrived on the beach to welcome the day with Makalapua Kanuha officiating the Ola Hou ceremony. After calling with the puu (conch) shell, Trilogy Excursions pulled up on the beach to load our private charter for the purification ceremony.

Our couple boarded the private charter to enjoy the beginning of their day.

As we waited for the sun to peek above the West Maui Mountains, we had a moment to enjoy the quiet dawn hour.

When the sun made its way into the sky, Makalapua chanted the traditional Hawaiian chant, "E Ala E" to welcome the day.

Makalapua then asked the couple to enter the ocean together and stay until they were ready to come out.

Trilogy has famous cinnamon buns- I just could not resist putting this shot in here. Yum!

Once the couple was ready to come out of the ocean, they were wrapped in a traditional kapa cloth printed by hand by Makalapua and the couple.

And then it off off to Day 2:

Jordan and Megan decided to make their destination wedding a traditional Hawaiian ceremony. From the purification ceremony at dawn the day prior out on Trilogy Excursions, to classes in flower lei making and the making of a custom kapa cloth to encircle their new family, the couple and Kaanapali Beach Hotel staff made sure not to skip a detail in their nuptials. Even the cake was amazing surrounded by shells made of white chocolate!! Yum! And so, in a circle of tropical flowers and surrounded by tiki torches, Megan and Jordan tied the knot on Maui! There were many elements that were unique to the two day wedding coverage, it was difficult to pick images to tell the story.

We had a nearly perfect sunset at Kaanapali and we were able to catch a few moments with the couple and their two children to enjoy the moment. Their hands with their rings in the sand is one of my favorite images from the session details.

Using the golden hour just prior to the sun setting, the couple graciously allowed us to photograph them as the sun set perfectly into the ocean behind them.

The couple's daughter signed the marriage license as one of the witnesses with Makalapua Kanuha officiating the ceremony. Once the couple was wrapped in their custom made kapa cloth representing their family, they shared a quiet moment together. Even the bouquet was unique! It was made of a king protea flower in the center surrounded by roses and reeds. Spectacular!The ocean front Naupaka Lawn at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a perfectly beautiful spot to get married looking out on scenic Black Rock where cliff divers dive each night at sunset after lighting the torches to the end of the point.

Many thanks to Nicole Angel my terrific assistant and lighting tech and to our fabulous second shooter for the wedding, Matt Alvarado who is an incredible wedding photographer himself. We were honored to be working with you again.

Congratulations Megan and Jordan! Thank you for the opportunity to capture your wedding on Maui.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Wailea Maui Wedding Photographer - Maria & Kevin are Hitched (with pictures)!

2010-04-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

Maria and Kevin have tied the knot!

When Maria and Kevin got married in at Baby Beach in Lahaina recently, they had someone take photos with a little camera that wasn't quite up for the task with the challenging lighting. About that time I was looking for a couple who were willing to be models during a lighting training session for another photographer and heard about Maria and Kevin from one of my favorite ministers, Pia Aluli. I called Maria and offered to retake their wedding photos so they would have something more fun and romantic to remember their special day.

I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful couple of models for a sunset session in Makena. We tried to go to Paipu Beach and it was really windy, so we stayed at the north end of Chang's beach which is right next door and a bit more tucked from the wind. We were able to get some terrific shots of the couple in a short period of time as the sun set behind them.

The evening light provided a great opportunity for us to work with the couple using off camera lights and various angles to capture the couple as they begin their journey together as husband and wife.

So cheers to Maria and Kevin! All the best to both of you for a wonderful life together!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Maui Portraits - Portraits at Baby Beach in Lahaina

2010-04-28T18:22:00.000-07:00

Having clients who want to get creative is always fun for me. When I got the call from a client from New Jersey who was coming to Maui with her family, we instantly hit it off and when it came to family portraits, we had a blast! It was raining at the beach where we initially wanted to go near the client's hotel, so we headed down to Baby Beach in Lahaina which is very scenic and calm with rows of palm trees and a view of the boats in Lahaina harbor.

The kids were terrific and I actually had a hard time choosing which image to post on the blog because there were so many fun ones from which to choose. I selected this one because the young brother had so much fun during "Strike a Pose" series.

The parents loved to goof around, esp when the camera was on them, and this was a pose they recreated from their wedding day that just looked terrific with the clouds and the sunset in the background during the "Strike a Pose" series. they also had the idea above to skip down the beach together holding hands which is not that easy when you have different heights.

So many thanks to all of my wonderful clients who love to laugh, have fun and get creative during their photo sessions. It makes my work even more enjoyable!

The "pig pile" was one of the requested images and it is always a great shot for your desktop computer! You might be a little sandy afterwards but it usually brushes right off!

Establishing rapport with clients is important for every photo session. We can work wonders in an hour portrait session if we get to know you better and have your help in getting creative. One of my mentors calls it "a collaboration" between the photographer and the client.

Thanks for your smiles guys! See you next year!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

A Year of Living Musically

2010-04-02T17:07:00.001-07:00

What a year it has been for me in terms of music photography!

When I was given the opportunity to shoot the concerts at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, I was delighted to say the least. I get to do what I love and listen to great music while I work (with ear plugs in-hee hee!). It has been an incredible year for concerts at the MACC. Our little tropical island has hosted musical legends including Sheryl Crow, Steve Miller, Jimmy Buffet, Journey, Aerosmith, Loggins and Messina, Pablo Cruise, John Legend, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. And local musical legends including Willie K, Eric Gilliom, Richard Ho'opi'i, Ryan Kamaka Fernandez, Jeff Peterson, Vince Esquire and Makana just to name a few.

Richard Ho'opi'i
Ryan Kamaka Fernandez

Roy Sakuma

The MACC also hosted the annual Ukulele Festival as well as the Slack Key Guitar Festival making it a well- rounded year for all types of music lovers.

Hula at the MACC

Jeff Peterson

Anthony Natividad on traditional Hawaiian nose flute

Makana

Aerosmith's Joe Perry

Vince Esquire

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler

The Beach Boys

Boz Scaggs

Michael McDonald

John Legend

Eric Gilliom

I love my job with the MACC and can't wait to go to work- you can only imagine how fun the office is! Thanks to Art, Candy, Steve, Mick, Launa, both Lisas, Teri, Toni, Karen, Barbara, Karee and the entire hard working crew at the MACC for welcoming me to the team and making my job exciting every day!

Next up: Sammy Hagar, the Red Rocker at the MACC on April 9, 2010. Tickets available at (808) 242-SHOW or log onto http://www.mauiarts.org/.

To music lovers everywhere!

Aubrey

Hooray for colorful rays of color!

2010-04-02T16:17:00.000-07:00

Here is one answer to the inevitable question of what to wear for your photo shoot. Everyone thinks they have to wear white and khaki for their photo sessions.

Here's one example of going with color instead of white. I welcomed the Ray family to Maui with a photo session at Kapalua Bay during Spring Break and they wanted to wear bright colors. Hooray hooray!
Colors look great against the tropical background and compliment people's skin tones, eyes, and hair colors. Young children always look great in bright colors and subtle or simple patterns. I usually recommend wearing colors that match people's eyes or hair OR colors/outfits that people always get compliments on. If you have a favorite outfit, or jewelry that compliments you, wear it. If you feel good in what you are wearing, it will show in the photos and you will have great results. If you are fussing with your clothes the whole session, it will also show.

We usually have our clients walking, standing, sitting on the beach and grass as well as jumping (if they want). So, it is best to wear loose fitting clothing and clothing that won't blow up with the wind or not allow you to sit down comfortably like short skirts or dresses.

In terms of patterns, stripes and polka dots don't usually translate well in pictures so it is good to avoid those. Many times, clients decide to bring a change of clothes for their photo session which is also an option.

So cheers to color!!

A hui hou,
Aubrey
aubrey@aubreyhord.com
www.aubreyhord.com

A Wedding at Molokini Lookout

2010-03-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

When Patrick asked Millie to marry him, he decided to make sure their wedding was first class and that he didn't miss a beat. First of all, they decided to get married up at Maui's premier wedding site, Molokini Lookout, above Gannon's Restaurant in Wailea. The view is spectacular from the private venue overlooking the islands of Molokini and Kaho'olawe. Secondly, they hired Laurie Terry from Makena Weddings to be their wedding planner, making it easy for them to relax and enjoy their day. Thirdly, they bought out the newest restaurant run by renowned chef, Bev Gannon, aptly named Gannon's, down in Wailea (it used to be known as the Seawatch) so they could enjoy the evening with their guests overlooking the sunset and Pacific Ocean. Finally, they decided to fly in musician Alika Nako'oka and his band from Seattle (originally from Maui) for an evening of incredible music. They decided to stay at the Grand Wailea with all of their guests who came from all over the world. The beautiful property is located right on the beach and has grounds that are a tropical paradise with an amazing spa. Perfect for a bridal party!The groomsmen went tropical, wearing pink Hawaiian print board shorts with the bridesmaids wearing coordinating pink dresses. Great color combination for photos with the blue ocean background! The bride and groom were showered with flowers on their way back down the aisle to rousing applause from their guests!

Our team of included lighting assistant, Nicole Angel, veteran celebrity photographer, Frank DiMarco, who flew in from Portland to shoot the wedding with me and Maui's rising star, 16 yr old photographer, Zach Pezzillo, who captured amazing detail and beauty in every shot. Thanks Team!

I look forward to my next wedding up at Molokini Lookout. Wow! What a view!

Congratulations and best wishes to a first class couple - Millie and Patrick!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Hyatt Maui Wedding Photographer - Michelle & Jesse

2010-03-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

When I met Michelle and Jesse, I knew we would have fun with their wedding. The couple had been referred to me by the bride's sister who is always quick with a laugh or two. The couple was great fun to photograph and made the wedding a joy! Michelle grew up on the beautiful island of Maui and Jesse is from the midwest so there was a lot of family on hand to celebrate.

The couple was willing to go anywhere and try anything for their photographs after their ceremony at the Hyatt Kaanapali so we walked around the gorgeous property, getting photos in the coconut grove, in the hammock and in the gardens.

Our team had fun working with the afternoon light, finding shade among the trees and using the light bouncing off the ocean for soft lighting.

Michelle was a stunning bride and totally comfortable in front of the camera which made the photo session a breeze!

Best wishes to a good looking couple!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Ka'anapali Maui Wedding Photographer - Helen & Sean!

2010-03-08T14:13:00.001-08:00

Helen and Sean's wedding was a terrific event to photograph and I was grateful to be asked to be part of their day! The couple decided to get married on Valentine's Day in Ka'anapali on the Molokai Lawn at Kaanapali Beach Hotel surrounded by palm trees and tropical foliage with a view of Black Rock in the background. It was a beautiful island evening with a light breeze and the ocean as our background.

I had the pleasure of being assisted by talented photographers Shaina Kalama and Zach Pezzillo along with Nicole Angel on lights. Thanks team for making it a great day!Zach did a great job of capturing this image of Helen's Kissing Stool. Sean is taller than Helen and suprised the bride with custom making a "kissing stool" for her to use so they could kiss comfortably! How romantic!

Shaina loves details and captured this image of the gorgeous cake surrounded by beautiful tropical orchids.

Another one of Shaina's detail shots, also creating a sense of place for the wedding with the plumeria flower.

With scenic Black Rock in the background, the couple said their vows as the sun was setting on Valentine's Day.

Congratulations Helen and Sean!! Hope to see you in Oregon!

Best wishes,

Aubrey, Shaina, Zach and Nicole

Aubrey Hord Photography

Congratulations Millie and Patrick!

2010-03-08T13:54:00.001-08:00

I was honored to have been selected by Millie and Patrick to capture their Maui wedding last weekend. They had a beautiful ceremony the following day overlooking the islands of Molokini and Kaho'olawe and a perfect sunset to boot! We took them to the beach for a photo session the night before their ceremony and Millie wanted to wear her wedding gown - woo hoo!! So she walked down the beach in shorts and a t shirt with her wedding gown on a hanger and she changed into her gown in a little cove. With a picture-perfect background and the sun setting into the ocean, Millie and Patrick spent some quiet time together enjoying the scenery while we captured it. Amazingly enough, we had a baby whale breaching in the background just offshore which made for a terrific photo shoot!

Millie and Patrick are off on their honeymoon, enjoying the beauty of Hawaii.

Best wishes to an amazing couple!

A hui hou,
Aubrey
http://www.aubreyhord.com/

Waiting for a Tsunami (not so much)

2010-02-27T16:46:00.000-08:00

What a way to start the weekend!

We awoke this morning on our little tropical island to the sounds of the tsunami sirens just after 6am. My husband jumped into shorts and t shirts and raced to the store and the gas station within minutes of the sirens to get supplies and gas up. Their were long lines for gas and food at the stores but everyone was really calm and laughter and excitement filled the store, even at 7am. One woman stood on the side of the road asking every car waiting in traffic "what are you doing today?" and the answers were totally varied. You can only imagine! Another story was that one of the local grocery stores put a limit of 2 cans of SPAM per customer but allowed them to buy as much beer as they wanted- too funny! I cancelled my four photo shoots for the day and sent fellow photographer, Kirk Shorte, back to the Big Island mid trip. Our models for the day were calling and texting starting at 6am to cancel since they were scrambling to take care of their homes and families and get to higher ground.

The sirens continued to go off intermittently throughout the morning and at a little after 11am the tsunami was supposed to hit the island's north shore and possibly wrap around to the rest of the island. Once we had supplies, we secured the house and our confused dogs and headed higher upcountry to get some photos.

Look at the creativity that people used to enjoy their time on higher ground- some of these are brilliant. One guy was selling hot dogs and sausages on the side of the road (see umbrellas on the right) while people were waiting in long lines for gas- mind you, this is only 9am.

Others took the opportunity to pull seats out of their mini vans and set up makeshift couches under shade trees to wait until the All Clear.

Mini tent "villages" were quickly set up and people slept on blankets or cooked meals with hibachi grills. One guy even showed me how he was able to cook rice on his hibachi. brilliant!

Some people used their pick up trucks as home base had beach chairs to sit on and they brought a cooler filled with whatever they could buy in the back of their pick up truck along with a case of water. Classic island style!

No tsunami ever came from the day but we had fun talking to our friends and neighbors and sharing stories throughout the day.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Male Model- Patrick Wheeler

2010-01-29T18:51:00.001-08:00

When I received an email from an up-and-coming male model named Patrick requesting a photo shoot to build his portfolio when he was on Maui, I was honored. He was a blast to work with and we had a good time coming up with some fun poses on the beach.

Patrick has great abs so we worked with his best features trying our best to highlight his amaing muscle tone. Since he works in a gym as a personal trainer, it pays off in his physique.

Needless to say, Patrick attracted quite a fan base during the photo shoot on the beach!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

The opportunity to work with Randy Jay Braun.

2010-01-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

It is not often you get the opportunity to work with someone who is a master in their field, and a lot of fun to be around as well.

I was invited to join one of Hawaii's premier fine art photographers, Randy Jay Braun http://www.randyjaybraun.com/, on a few photo shoots recently as he was capturing the art of traditional Hawaiian hula dance.

I had met Randy before and at attended sessions taught by him at the 2009 Maui Photo Festival http://www.mauiphotofestival.com/ but was both honored and humbled when he invited me to shoot alongside him and learn about his distinct style. Randy has photographed the young male (kane) and female (wahine) winners of the prestigious Hula O Na Keiki competition every year at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel and you can see his images from the past 25 years gracing the front lobby of the hotel. I had the opportunity to join him the morning after the competition to photograph the young winners on the beach at Kaanapali.

He has a way of capturing the grace, movement, pride and tradition of hula both both inside and outside of formal settings. He also has an amazing eye for detail and sense of place when capturing Hawaiian landscapes. His images have graced magazines, websites, merchandise and are in fine art galleries across the state. His distinct style of finishing his hula pieces with an aged look, makes them appear timeless and truly allow visitors and residents to catch a glimpse inside the world of hula. His gallery is located in historic Makawao town right on Makawao Avenue.

When Randy called to ask me to join him again on another shoot, I jumped at the chance. He has a way of working with both his team and his subjects to make them instantly feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera. He carries himself with a humbleness and quiet confidence which seems to draw people in and make them feel welcome. And constant laughter on "the set" makes it a joy to go to work. Working with him is truly a pleasure.

Another session we did was with hula dancers in the sunset on the beach in Kihei. It was a pretty crowded evening on the beach but we made it work and got some great images!

I am grateful to Randy for the opportunity to shoot alongside him and hope I have the opportunity to continue to work with him in the future and take a glimpse inside his world of photography.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Just another day in the office.

2010-01-07T18:48:00.001-08:00

One of my assistants, Nicole, and intern, Zach, headed to the "office" last weekend for an early morning photo session. Rough job but someone has to do it, right?

Thanks Team!
Aubrey
http://www.aubreyhord.com/

A great day with Lauren!

2010-01-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

Working with Lauren has always been a joy. I have the humble honor of photographing a beautiful model who has a natural ease in front of the camera lens. One of my images of Lauren from last year was featured in the 2009 Faces of Hawaii exhibition at the Wailoa Center in Hilo this Fall and I thought it might be fun to invite her to another photo session.

One of my interns, Zach, and I asked if Lauren would like to do a fun shoot in the afternoon one day during the holidays and she cheerfully (and patiently) agreed to let us take endless photos of her in different outfits over a couple of hours.

Lauren is blessed with nearly perfect skin so she needs no retouching. Lucky girl!

Zach got to work on his lighting and composition skills while working with models while I got to have fun working with Lauren. I wanted to share a couple of shots from our session. Thanks Lauren and Zach!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Creativity Rocks!

2010-01-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!
One of my recent portraits shoots involved a wonderful family who has visited Maui for years but has never been truly happy with their photo sessions.

They felt their photos had been too posed and wanted to change it up. They really wanted something fun and creative for their images. That is where I came in.

We went down to a beautiful beach on the south side of Maui and got things rolling right off the bat with some fun poses to loosen everyone up.

Laughter abounded in a short period of time and we were off and running. The kids had fun goofing around in their sunglasses and the parents and grandparents jumped at the chance to have some fun with the kids.

I love these types of photo sessions because it allows me to be creative and my subjects to have fun. The beach was a perfect spot to allow the kids to run around and explore while the parents had a chance to get some romantic shots in. In the end, everyone was laughing and we had a great time looking back through the photos.

As we were leaving the beach, the client told me it was the best experience he has had with a photographer in 10 years. Music to my ears!

They chose the image below for their Christmas card because they thought it was so "cool." I love my job and my clients!

A hui hou,
Aubrey

Maui Engagement Photographer - Surprise proposal Chris & Emily!

2009-12-25T19:49:00.000-08:00

My congratulations go out to Emily and Chris who got engaged on Maui in a surprise from the groom. I received a call from a woman a few weeks ago asking for my help with a special beach proposal that had to be perfect. She was the cousin of the bride the be and working with the groom to be to plan the perfect proposal on Maui.

Chris, the groom-to-be, chose a beautiful south side beach where he would have some privacy and a spectacular view of the sunset, and we were off and running.

Chris had planned to propose but they had talked about an engagement in about a year. Emily had no idea Chris was planning and plotting all along to arrange for everything to be perfect for his engagement.

I got the job of paparazzi for the evening which is an extremely challenging job on a beach.

The big challenge for me was that Chris wanted to have photos of the proposal but not have Emily know anyone was taking photos of them. So, I invited one of my amazing interns to pose as a "model" for me while I shot the entire photo session proposal over her shoulder.

I found out later that Emily works with movie stars on a regular basis and she was SURE that I was paparazzi.
Chris vehemently denied anyone was taking photos of them walking down the beach and just laughed it off.

Chris finally chose a spot on the beach an gave me the signal that he was about to propose. Emily said YES!! Magic was in the air for the rest of the evening.

We captured some wonderful images of a very special night for the couple and I am thrilled for Emily and Chris! Congratulations you two!

Best wishes and all the best in 2010!

Aubrey

JAWS (Peahi) Big Swell Dec 8th

2009-12-10T18:00:00.001-08:00

This week was magnificent for big waves and expert surfers on Maui doing their best to ride some huge waves into the north shore surf spot known as JAWS or Peahi. My spot was below. The surfers are riding the waves almost as far out as you can see. I wish I had a long lens to really get into the waves but I did the best I could with what I had.

Photographers with all types of cameras and onlookers lined the cliffs and perched in the trees above the surf spot for several days this week transfixed as big wave surfers got towed into huge waves by jet skies as if they were water skiing.

The surfers let go of the rope from the jet ski when they are ready to ride down the face and as the wave thunders towards the shore. Helicopters buzzed overhead constantly capturing images of the surfers and the crowds gathered with cameras mounted on the front of the aircraft.

It's just incredible to see the tremendous strength and power it takes this talented group of big wave surfers to take the ride of their lives down the enormous faces of these waves.

The bailouts and wipeouts were just as spectacular and scary.

These guys are amazing!

To the next winter storm that brings a huge swell,

Aubrey

Big Winter Surf at Hookipa on Maui!

2009-12-07T10:42:00.001-08:00

Some of the biggest winter swells Maui has seen in years arrived this week and I had the opportunity to borrow a 300mm Tokina lens and go shoot at Hookipa on the north shore of Maui.

Surfers, stand up paddle boarders and boogie boarders were out in force yesterday ripping it up at the famous north shore surf spot.

Want to see more? More images available on the Aubrey Hord Photography Facebook Fan Page.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Maui Honeymoons - Natalie+Jared

2009-12-02T15:02:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to Natalie and Jared who tied the knot just before Thanksgiving this year and came to Maui for their honeymoon. I worked with Jared's father at Starbucks and was honored to be asked to photograph the newlyweds as his gift to them.

We took the opportunnity to capture some romantic moments at Kapalua Bay on a beautiful evening on the beach.

We did some romantic shots, fun shots and enjoyed watching the Maui sunset.

The weather was perfect and Natalie and Jared were perfect models for the photo session.

I wish you many years of happiness together. Congratulations!!

A hui hou,

Aubrey
www.aubreyhord.com

Living Maui Magazine Holiday 09 cover features AHP image!

2009-12-01T13:48:00.001-08:00

The lastest Dec cover of Living Maui Magazine on Maui features one of my macro images of a protea flower. this is the third image I have had on the cover of this magazine. I love this one the best!

A hui hou,
Aubrey
www.aubreyhord.com

Faces of Hawaii art exhibit opening (Hilo, HI)

2009-11-09T12:30:00.000-08:00

The newest exhibit of "Faces of Hawaii" debuted at the Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center in Hilo this weekend.

The art opening included all the images selected for the new book, Faces of Hawaii vol. II as well as other entries into the competition.

The annual photography competition is sponsored by HI Art Magazine http://www.hiartmagazine.com/ and was hosted by the Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center.

Curated by James Jensen, from the Contemporary Museum in Honolulu, 45 images were selected from the competition to complete the new edition of the book.

I was honored to be selected to be part of the book with my image of Sheldon Chong net fishing in Makena. I met him one day this spring when the weather was exceptional and the water was incredibly blue. I asked if he would keep doing what he was doing and if I could take portraits of him. He was kind enough to honor me with several portraits. Thank you Sheldon for being such a great model!

My other two portraits in the exhibition were of Hawai's waterman, Dave Kalama, and the beautiful, Lauren Ayala. The two images are on the upper right of the shot below.

The show runs for the next month in the Wailoa Center in Hilo. Photographers from all over the state entered the competition, young and old, amateur and professional. the exhibit and book are a great way to see the ever changing faces of our culturally diverse state.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

It's the little things in life...

2009-11-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

Last week, my husband and I were invited out on the new Ali'i Nui catamaran for a sunset sail. Wonderful food, company and a gorgeous sunset awaited us on the water. Any day on the water is a good day...

A hui hou,
Aubrey
http://www.aubreyhord.com/

Maui Habitat for Humanity Build a Thon

2009-10-30T19:49:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, as the sun rose on the island, Maui Habitat for Humanity invited me to their annual Build-a-Thon, taking place in Paukukalo. The huge team of volunteers took on the immense task of rebuilding two homes in the neighborhood from the foundation up. The job had its perk though, an incredible view of both the ocean and the West Maui Mountains from the rooftop. I was there in the early morning hours and got to see the trusses go up on the roof, weatherstripping windows and the prepping of the lanai.

Everyone seemed in good spirits and very focused on the task at hand. I felt like I was on the set of Extreme Home Makeover with all the work going on at the houses at the same time.

Trusses were going up on the roof while the outside was being weather stripped and painted. Incredible!

Check out the view for the roofing team!

Thanks to the dozens of talented volunteers who made this day happen and for contributing your time and skills to a new home for a needy family. For volunteer opportunities, check out www.habitat-maui.org.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Aerosmith Rocks Maui

2009-10-30T19:25:00.001-07:00

One of the greatest rock bands in American history came to Maui this month and gave an amazing show to 10,000 happy fans in the War Memorial Stadium. Hosted by the Maui Arts and Cultural Center www.mauiarts.org, and presented by Tom Moffatt, the concert was held at the largest venue the island has to offer. The band members got up close and personal with the fans and limited number of photographers who were granted media passes to photograph the show.

A long catwalk extended into the crowd, allowing the band to interact with fans, thrilling the audience!

Maui News photographer, Matt Thayer (with wrist bands on), gets up close and personal with lead singer, Steven Tyler.

Joe Perry set up a keyboard stand and played his guitar right in front of the photographers during the first couple of songs, making is super fun to photograph. The hard part was, when Joe Perry was right in front of us, Steven Tyler was out on the catwalk with the spotlights on him- which way to turn??

The band put on a totally dynamic show non stop for over two hours!

Steven Tyler making his way back to the stage from the catwalk.

The band, jamming right in front of the photographers.

My favorite shot of Mr. Tyler. You can see his lei around his neck if you look carefully.

The ever impressive Joe Perry on bass.

Steven Tyler thanking kumu hula, Lehua, and her hula halau for opening the show. She also presented him with a lei, welcoming him to the island.

The incredibly talented Maui musician, Vince Esquire, opened the show with his band. He got the crowd on their feet right off the bat. They didn't sit down for nearly 3 hours!

More great music is on the way to Maui so stay tuned!

A hui hou,

Aubrey

AHP image is used on iPhone application!

2009-10-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

Exciting news from Aubrey Hord Photography and Accuterra for iPhone. If you have the mapping app AccuTerra for iPhone, you most likely will see this image of Hawaii when you open the mapping program for the state of Hawaii. It covers all the islands at a USGS 7.5 ‘ level. The image is a “splash screen” that is displayed every time the app launches.

The photo is from the Keanae pennisula on the road to Hana.

Cool stuff!!
I received full rights to use this image on the blog from Intermap, of course.

Happy iPhone "apping",

Aubrey

Maui Ukulele Festival 2009

2009-10-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Maui Ukulele Festival was held outdoors at the beautiful Maui Arts and Cultural Center on Sunday, October 18th. An impressive lineup of musicians filled the venue with ukulele music for the afternoon. I had the honor of photographing the event for the MACC and am grateful for the opportunity to capture great moments in time with musical talent.

Ukulele master, Roy Sakuma, and his wonderful wife, Kathy, put hours into organizing the events across the state of Hawaii every year and they always impress us!

We enjoyed the music of many masters of the ukulele...

Hula halaus performed their graceful dances to the music...

Ukulele bands from around the island came to perform on the stage.

Our mayor, Charmaine Tavares, was also on hand to present the MACC and Ukulele Festivals Hawaii with a proclamation.

Thanks so much to all the musicians, dancers and volunteers that made the event happen without a hitch.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Rock Stars

2009-10-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

Coming up with fun and fresh poses for family portraits is always a joy, especially when you have great clients. I always try to make my clients feel like rock stars but sometimes they really play the part too! Here are a few selections from a recent family portrait session in Kapalua. We used the theme "Rock Star" to get things rolling and the family took it to a new level having fun and encouraging each other along the way.

We did formal portraits as well but had a little break with the "Rock Star" theme while the sun was coming down.

Limited holiday bookings are available. Email me at aubrey@aubreyhord.com for availability.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

Family Fun continues with "Strike a Pose"

2009-10-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

I had a great family for family portraits on the beach in Wailea a couple of weeks ago that really wanted to show off their poses and jumping skills and poses, even getting wet at the end of the session so here ya go!

Thanks you guys! That was really fun! Can't wait to see you next year.

A hui hou,

Aubrey

2009 Kula Festival a huge success

2009-10-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for visiting my booth at the St John's Kula Festival in late September! It was great to see everyone and have some great comments! I love my customers!

Photo: Shawn Boeckman

A hui hou,
Aubrey
http://www.aubreyhord.com/

Maui Photo Festival 2009

2009-10-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally did it!

Thanks to a huge amount of work by a dedicated team of people from Maui and across the country, Maui hosted the first Maui Photo Festival which was an enormous success! Thanks to Zane and Beth Mathias, Barbara Santos and Terrie Eliker for all of their hard work!

The Hyatt Kaanapali hosted the event, providing a beautiful backdrop and much inspiration for imagery for photographers from Hawaii and all over the mainland. Hundreds of photographers, both professional and amateur, joined the fun, meeting world renowned photographers representing Nikon and Canon from multiple industries. We had professional fashion, wedding, wildlife, photo journalism, military, travel, underwater, shorebreak, nature, portrait, landscape, studio, natural light and aerial combat photographers from all over the country sharing their expertise with us for 5 days. Some of the best included fashion photographer, Lou Freeman (http://www.loufreeman.com/), National Geographic photographer, Jim Sugar, nature photographer, Scott Bourne (http://www.scottbourne.com/), travel photographers, Rick Sammon (http://www.ricksammon.com/) and Andy Katz (http://www.andykatz.com/), portrait photographers Judy Host (http://www.judyhost.com/) and Jack Resnicki (http://www.jackresnicki.com/), photojournalist, Eli Reed (http://www.elireed.com/), military and aerial combat photographers Stacy Pearsall and Andy Dunaway (http://www.ccforp.com/), wedding photographer, Dane Sanders (http://www.danesanders.com/) and many more!We also had the honor of hosting several technical experts as well to help us fine tune our creations. Lori Barbely, Island Magazine photo editor (http://www.islandsmagazine.com/) was on hand to review our portfolios. The uber rockstar, Russell Preston Brown, Adobe Systems senior creative director put a show the first day highlighting the power of Photoshop called "The Pirate Project". The ever-popular, Julieanne Kost from Adobe, and Eddie Tapp (http://www.eddietapp.com/), took everyone through the secrets to great editing in any Adobe product.

Local pros like Maui fine art photographer, Randy Jay Braun (http://www.randyjaybraun.com/) Maui boy and international underwater photographer, David Fleetham (http://www.davidfleetham.com/) and the hottest new wave photographer from Oahu, Clark Little (http://www.clarklittle.com/), were on hand to provide us with a sense of place along with sharing their incredible talents. We had a fantastic sunrise session with Clark Little and sunset session with Randy Jay Braun who shared his technique of photographing the art of hula dancers.

We started at sunrise every day for special golden hour sunrise photography sessions and finished well after dark at the Paradise Cinema, listening intently to every word from our experts. We could experience photography on a doors-off helicopter tour, underwater or up at Haleakala Crater.

So, if you missed it, next year's dates are August 25-29, 2010 on Maui. Register at http://www.mauiphotofestival.com/. See you next year!

A hui hou,

Aubrey