Last week I received a last minute request from a wonderful family from Texas wondering if we could do a photo session the next night at sunset. Their request was simple- "We love casual, creative, and a bit funky and unique." I think I can do that! This is a photographer's dream client!
We chose Po'olenalena Beach down in Makena,which is simply stunning as a backdrop. So after a few warm up poses walking up and down the beach as a family, we played at creating a variety of images that were a joy to shoot and fun for the family. 
The youngest son didn't need any prompting as you can see from the shots we took of him, he just had a blast just being himself at 7!
The Karstens had a ton of great ideas for poses they had always wanted to do in addition to traditional poses and some new ones we came up with on site. Creative spontaneity at its best!
heers to all my clients who love to get creative (i.e. sandy) and have lots of fun at their photo shoots! Thanks guys!! You're the best!!!
Last week I was super busy with photo shoots and one was really special. I was honored to be invited to capture a young couple named Sarah and Ryan from Southern California who had just gotten engaged 2 nights earlier on Maui.
We made a mad dash for sunset while they popped out of the Royal Lahaina Luau and took some fun photos on the beach.
We made 30 minutes on the beach feel like 90 and had a great time.
E Komo Mai (Welcome!)
My journey into photography began as a high school student where I managed the high school darkroom. Not a very glamorous job for a high school student, I realize, but an incredible experience, nonetheless. I met a National Geographic photographer when I was in high school who encouraged me and taught me more composition and the technical side of the profession. 
My love of travel began at an early age since my family moved almost every four years to a new state. My first international trip took place in middle school at the age of 14 with a trip to England. Since then, I have explored, studied or worked in 14 countries on 5 continents. My favorites stops included working on the island of Palau and diving on the weekends, exploring the volcanic activity on the island of Dominica while living with the Carib Indians, scuba diving off the coast of Sulawesi in Indonesia...
a and photographing the Mountain Gorillas....jpg)
and living and studying on the island of Kalymnos in Greece (yes, I speak Greek- go figure). 
I have also been fortunate to explore Bali, Pohnpei, Kosrae, France, England, Ukraine, Hungary, Australia, Vietnam and Thailand. 
I don't surf very much right now but I love to scuba dive, hike and stand up paddle board if you ever want to go! Just be ready for a long day on the trails or water.
These days my husband and I are fortunate to call the beautiful tropical island of Maui our home and I am continually inspired by the people I meet on the island as well as the intricacies of this culture and vivid beauty Hawaii has to offer. What could be a better jumping off point for travel to islands? When I moved to Maui in 1991, I met more National Geographic wildlife photographers, most notably Michael S. Nolan http://wildlifeimages.net/ with whom I worked as a naturalist and world famous underwater photographer, Flip Nicklin (who also photographs for Getty Images and does not even need a website he is so in demand- amazing!). 
http://aubreyhord.com/. 
I am grateful to long time Maui photographer and master of light, Greg Hoxsie, http://greghoxsiephotography.com/ who believed in me and taught me how to use off camera lighting as well as how to capture weddings and portraits in the most spectacular light. 
My local client list over the past few years has grown extensively and includes high end clients on Maui, Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai and the mainland. My fine art clients have come from all over the United States and most recently I have had international clients from New Zealand, Canada and France.
A hui hou! (until we meet again) 
