Pretty! This featured kauai family photo shoot has some girls in sync.
Our featured Kauai family photo shoot
took place on December 20th, 2016, at Kealia Beach, Kauai. Right before Christmas we had the opportunity to meet a lovely family from California who were out here on Kauai for their parents’ 30th wedding anniversary. The 5 siblings decided to gift their parents with a long overdue photo shoot of the whole family. The siblings had contacted Timory McDonald Photography ahead of time, splitting the cost of the photo shoot so it didn’t cost any of them very much money.
The Best Way to Incorporate the Surprise Element with Women and Photo Shoots
Additionally, we planned to do the whole thing as a surprise, and we love surprises! However we‘ve learned over the years that while it’s a great idea to surprise a woman with the photo shoot (you can’t go wrong with offering her photos) … it’s not always a good idea to spring it on her right in the moment. A woman needs to be ready, with her hair and makeup the way she feels comfortable, in order to enjoy the pictures! So the mom and dad were told that they were going to take some family pictures with their iPhones down at the beach – the surprise was that it would actually be Timory, a professional photographer.
Family Photo Shoot with A Christmas Theme
Since it was right before Christmas, Timory met with the siblings right before the photo shoot to come up with a plan to make it as festive of a surprise as possible. She drove up in her white SUV, decorated as Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, put on a Santa hat and met them right next to the bike path full of Christmas joy and enthusiasm as she wished them a happy 30th wedding anniversary surprise as well as “Merry Christmas”!
Great Variety of Backdrops for Photos
One of the 5 siblings was a very wonderful disabled man in a wheelchair. Timory had gone early to find the perfect location where we could get a picture with the beach in the background but still keep him on the cement bicycle path. We took a surprisingly large selection of background shots given that we only left the path once. For instance, we took pictures near a tree with the ocean background, just an ocean background, trees and pine trees surrounding the sand and the ocean and we even went down to a bridge to have a river and the ocean in the background. It was a wonderfully varied 60 minute photo shoot!
Happy Anniversary and Happy Holidays
The clients were very happy. We received this testimonial about their featured Kauai family photo shoot:
“Thank you again for the quick turn around with the photos. They turned out amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Best“ ~ Hannah
Happy 30th wedding anniversary and happy holidays to Hannah and all her family!
was the scene of a beautiful, picture-perfect sunset on Sunday, Sept 23rd, 2016, for the wedding of Matt and Ryan. The sunset was so stunning and gorgeous it looked like a postcard, with gentle touches of pink draped across the fading blue sky. Against this Tunnels Beach backdrop 20 people gathered, all dear family and friends of Matt and Ryan, to celebrate a love they were finally able to legally consummate.
Tunnels Beach: Wide and Long, With Bali Hai Mountains in the Background
There is a reason why Tunnels Beach is chosen by so many brides and grooms doing a destination wedding on Kauai. During the summer months, the sun actually sets into the water, providing a truly spectacular sight. Tunnels Beach has it all: a wide long beach, calm waters, nearby jungle and forest, and towering mountains surrounding you on one side – the unique shape of Bali Hai. The jagged outline of Bali Hai is often used in tourist commercials advertising Kauai as a holiday destination.
Wedding Ceremony: Touching and Emotional
The wedding ceremony itself was touching, with Matt and Ryan both choosing to write their own vows, which they read aloud before exchanging rings. They involved their 10 year old daughter in the ceremony, by including her in the traditional Hawaiian lei exchange at the beginning. Matt and Ryan both wore the open green ti leaf leis, traditionally worn by men, while they daughter wore a purple-and-white orchid lei.
Amazing Beach Wedding Photos
Some wedding groups are more friendly, outgoing or photogenic than others. This group was particularly joyful, which made it easy for photographer Timory McDonald to bring out the best in them and capture some great shots. The group was composed of babies, young children, other married couples and family elders; the group photos thus reflected a wide spectrum of ages and interests.
Congratulations Matt and Ryan!
This wedding was performed by Aloha Ever After, with wedding photography taken by Timory McDonald Photography.
was the scene of a most unusual – but romantic – wedding on Wednesday, October 26th, 2016. Adam and Francesca had decided to get married on Kauai, and when the big day arrived, it was raining on almost every side of the island. We eventually found a secluded little shelter or hut right next to Lydgate beach where they could get married near the ocean, despite the Hawaiian rains. However, rain on your wedding day is considered a blessing in Hawaii.
A Misty Tropical Hawaiian Beach Wedding
Lydgate Beach is a great Kauai wedding location because it is private, not often frequented by tourists, and features many secluded areas. It is normally also dry and sunny at sunset, but on this occasion, the rain had set in. Despite this, we actually conducted the wedding in the open, right next to the shelter. Adam and Francesca actually exchanged vows while the minister (Joel) prompted them in the mist!
Wedding Music with “Love Song” (by the Cure) on Ukulele
The atmosphere of the wedding ceremony was augmented by Aimee Brown, a superb vocalist who also played traditional Hawaiian ukulele wedding songs. Adam and Francesca had requested a special song for them: “Love Song” by the Cure. Aimee played it right at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony, right after they had been declared husband and wife.
A Day to Remember Forever
Some brides have a fixed idea of what they want on their wedding day. This is fine, however if you are choosing to have an outdoor wedding in Hawaii, you can’t control the weather! Francesca was a very relaxed bride who flowed with the conditions and was happy regardless. They were a couple that was clearly and deeply in love. They will remember their wedding day forever thanks to the rain. The next day, which was dry, Timory did some wedding photography for them at another location, so now they have 2 sets of photos instead of just 1.
Congratulations Adam and Francesca!
This wedding was performed by Aloha Ever After, with wedding photography taken by Timory McDonald Photography.
Learn what you need to do to prepare your bridal party for the after-ceremony wedding portraits, including tips on styling and making a master list.
Wedding portraits
are an aspect of the ceremony for which many people in your bridal party may be unprepared. After all, some people may be following you all the way to Kauai for your Hawaii destination wedding to have fun, let their hair down and celebrate! You, however, may be counting on them to step in front of the camera and say “cheese” when they are told by the wedding photographer. Read on to learn about making your photo list, styling and posing, and how to communicate what you want. With this info, you’ll successfully prepare your bridal party for their part in the keepsake beach wedding portraits that will bring back all the memories of that special day!
Make a List and Check It Twice
Making a master list for you, your wedding party and your photographer will be a great help when it comes time for family pictures. Keep these things in mind:
Work with your photographer on a detailed photo list and give it to every person in your bridal party. It should include who, when, and where. For example: Parents of the bride at 3:00pm by the water fountain.
Pad the times a little to account for delays.
Have kids go first.
Your photographer is a professional and knows which shots to take of your bridal party. However, if there are any creative poses or specific locations that you’ve been dying to use, put it on the list.
Put someone in charge of ensuring everyone is present when it’s their time to smile.
With a master list, your photoshoot will run like clockwork.
Styling and Posing
The biggest thing to remember about styling and posing is to trust your photographer. He or she knows how to show off everyone’s best features in the wedding portraits. Here are a few other pointers:
Carry the “feel” of your wedding into your pictures. If it’s a black tie affair, you’ll want formal portraits. If it’s a wedding with a kick-back vibe, you’ll want spontaneous and fun snapshots.
If using any, assign someone to bring props, hand them out, and then gather them up.
If a child isn’t looking and smiling, maintain your composure. It’s confusing and overwhelming for the child when many adults make different demands at once. Then, if the child does smile, the adults aren’t ready. Let the photographer use his or her own tricks.
The best pictures don’t always have perfect styling and poses but instead have personality and genuine smiles.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
The number one thing you can do in preparing your wedding party for pictures is to communicate the following items well beforehand:
The list
The styling and posing
The assignments
The desired lack of drama and stress
Remember, trust your professional photographer and you’ll forever look back on your wedding portraits with a smile.
For Kauai wedding photography or any other aspect of your wedding planning, contact Timory McDonald Photography today!
Would you like to learn the best and most popular Kauai wedding poses
for your beach wedding on Kauai? Try these fun Kauai wedding poses during your photography shoot, using the sun, sand and water to your advantage. You’ll see why they’re so popular with our brides and grooms!
The Sun
Seek the sun when it’s setting for a gorgeous backdrop to your poses. For a dreamy look, cuddle up together and gaze over the ocean letting the golden light bathe your faces. For a more dramatic look, create a dark silhouette by holding hands with the bright orange sky in the background. Or, use the sun itself as a prop to light up your kiss! You can even pose so that the low setting sun goes exactly between your mouths when you kiss (see the Kauai wedding pose on our home page).
These Kauai wedding poses are popular because when you have your photographs taken early in the morning or right before sundown, you’ll get astounding red and orange tones that the Kauai sunsets are famous for.
The Sand
Sand is a given at any beach wedding, so why not make it one of the stars in your photographs? Write your names, draw a heart, or leave a romantic pair of footprints in the sand. You can even incorporate other natural elements such as starfish or sea shells.
These Kauai wedding poses are popular because our brides and grooms love walking barefoot on our soft sand which lends a relaxed, happy feeling to their photographs.
The Water
Using the water as a natural element in the scene brings something a little unpredictable to your bridal and wedding photos. Capture crashing waves, spot your reflection, walk hand-in-hand as the water laps at your feet, or get extra playful and go deeper into the water for some fun shots.
These Kauai wedding poses are popular because you’ll capture the awe and grandeur of your big day when you use the ocean as your backdrop.
Kauai Wedding Photography
Celebrate your special day on the beach and cherish those memories forever when you use the professional services of Timory McDonald Photography in Kauai.
Life’s too short to get your wedding day wrong so contact us today!
The more guests you have, the more time you will need. A good rule of thumb is 3 minutes per picture setup.
Kauai photography
for the most part is an outdoor activity, due to the warm tropical Hawaiian temperatures year-round, as well as the spectacular natural beauty you can use as a backdrop for your photos. However, if you’re new to Kauai or the Hawaiian islands, there are some things you need to know first, if you’re about to have your photos taken, whether they be wedding photos or family photos. Below are some basics are Kauai photography timing we have learned from our experience as a professional photography company.
Kauai Photography Timing: Best Times of Day
In Hawaii, the best time of day for photos is sunset, but we suggest starting your Kauai photography shoot around 90 minutes before the sun actually sets, depending on the season. At the height of summer (Summer Solstice) the sun sets around 7.30pm here. Obviously, you need to allow more time if you are having a Kauai wedding reception. It’s definitely preferable to use natural light if possible. Natural light is superior to a photographer using a flash, which makes skin look too white or artificial.
Kauai Photography Timing: How Much Time You Need
The amount of time you need depends on how many guests you have, but a good rule of thumb is 3 minutes per picture setup. This doesn’t necessarily mean 3 minutes per guest, because you have have a guest in several pictures or combinations, e.g. a photo of you and your mother, a photo of you, your mother and your father, a photo of you, your mother and your aunt, etc. By the way, the wedding ceremony itself normally takes around 15-20 minutes, and when you add in signing the wedding license and people’s congratulations, it’s around 30 minutes.
Life’s Too Short to Get your Wedding Day Wrong!
Photography is our passion. Please contact us or call Timory McDonald Photography on 888-939-3885 for a free consultation. Remember, we are wedding coordinators too! We are happy to provide wedding planning tips also.
