by Joel McDonald | Jan 30, 2015 | Kauai Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography in Hawaii
Your Kauai wedding photos are going to look best when the light to not too strong or bright, usually sunset.
What is the best time of day to get your Kauai wedding photos?
A lot of people ask us when the best time of the day is to have a wedding – in terms of comfort and especially in terms of having wedding photos done on Kauai beaches. We are happy to take your Kauai wedding photos any time of the day, anywhere you want. However, there are better and worse places and time to take photos in terms of showing off the vivid tropical colors and, of course, you!
The following tips are taking adult schedules into consideration (not kids):
- We recommend booking your wedding at least 2 days after you arrive so you have enough time to get your marriage license and adjust to the time change and ground out a bit … but as early in your trip as possible. There is a reasonable chance that someone in your party may get burned while you are here, and you will look a lot better if you’re not as red as a lobster (so remember to warn people about this issue)!
- Most people are looking for sunset colors and overall good light in their Kauai wedding photos, so a good rule of thumb is to start your wedding about 90 minutes before sunset, assuming you are doing 60-90 minutes of photos. If you are doing 2 hours or more of photos, or getting ready photos, you may want to start earlier, please ask us and we can advise you.
- Try to avoid booking a wedding in the middle of the day when the sun is high. Not only will it be uncomfortably hot and you will get sweaty and shiny, but also you may look anxious or uncomfortable rather than happy and relaxed. If the middle of the day is the only time you have, then we will always find shade and make it work … but it’s best to choose a cooler and less bright time in the evening.
- Normally people are here visiting and want to optimize each precious day they are here, so often we get asked about doing it in the early morning so they can go about their day sightseeing. This is also a possibility, but not as great of an idea as sunset in our opinion, because the sun comes up so quickly. Depending on which side of the island you are on, within minutes of it rising its angle can shine so strongly into one’s eyes that it can cause people to squint. Also, most people need more time to get ready than would be possible to do to be ready before the sun is intense..and you don’t want to get up before dawn on your wedding day if you can avoid it.
- Many people want their photos with the sun going into down behind them on their wedding day. This is a beautiful shot, and we are happy to accommodate that romantic setting. However, please bear in mind that throughout the year the sun moves around Kauai, so the sunset may be visible from north or south Kauai Beach locations on a specific beach during the winter, but not in the summer or vice versa. Check with us for specific details ,but in general the sun is visible year round at Ke’e beach (north shore, end of the road) and the west side. If you are seriously considering a sunset wedding with the sun visible going down behind you, please read more advice here: https://weddingphotoskauai.com/kauai-wedding-photos-pro-cons-sunset-directly-behind/
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 888-939-3885.
by Joel McDonald | Jan 30, 2015 | Kauai Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography in Hawaii
Why Timory McDonald Photography? We are flexible, attentive, passionate about photography, and truly value getting an exquisite shot of you to last a lifetime.
Welcome to Timory McDonald Photography.
I would love to do your wedding photos. In all honesty, to be considered as being a part of your wedding team, to be one of the people that helps make your wedding dreams a series of visual images a reality, would truly be an honor.
My Wedding Photography is a Snapshot of Unrealized Potential
Timory McDonald photography is not just pictures of a day, a moment or a glance; it’s a snapshot of unrealized potential. It’s the creation of a story out of a collection of images that not only show the first moments of your marriage, but also the very first moments of the rest of your lives together.
I’m here to document your wedding day the way you want it. I can be up close, doing whatever it takes to reveal the wonder of Who You Are as a couple, I can be unobtrusive and stand back from afar, or I can be both – whichever way you prefer.
My photography is not only taking and editing photos, but also capturing your essence as individuals and together as a couple.
Why Timory McDonald Photography?
I am very patient and truly value getting an exquisite shot of you and your loved ones that you can treasure for decades. I go way above and beyond to do what it takes to make sure that happens. I am very generous with my time, and especially the number of images I give out. You can expect to have images full of color, love and an unfolding story to cherish for years if you should happen to choose me as your photographer!
We are also a very flexible company. We’ll do everything we can to make sure your photos are what you want, even if it means moving or rescheduling a photo shoot due to inclement weather. (Luckily we have enough tricks up our sleeve that this has rarely happened.)
If you happen to have kids in your group, you’re really in luck, because it would be hard to find someone who will be more patient and skilled at working with your kids to get an amazing shot, even out of a tired and cranky child who is jet lagged and missed their nap!
Basic Information
We have put together the basic information we find people want to know in order to take advantage of the gorgeous environment we have here on Kauai. These are the sorts of questions people ask us:
- What can I do to get the best wedding photos on Kauai?
- When is the best time of day to do them?
- Where are the best places to do an outdoor photo shoot?
- How long do I need?
- What if we have kids?
- How do you do site/location changes?
- What should I expect for ready and wreck the dress photos?
- What should I have my guest’s do/not do?
- What is the best way to wear my hair/makeup(for women)?
If you want to know the answer to any of these typical questions or more, then make sure to contact us to opt in to our 6-email series, so that you can receive our free information to answer basic questions that many people have. We only send you free information to help make your wedding better and to make an informed choice about your options here on Kauai. We respect your privacy and would never share your email address.
Timory would love to help you capture your magic as a family in paradise. Please let us know how we can help! For any questions please call 888-939-3885.
by Joel McDonald | Dec 24, 2014 | Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography in Hawaii
Would you like to learn how to save your wedding photo? This list of 10 things ensures some little detail does not spoil an otherwise perfect wedding photo!
Save your wedding photo!
If you’re getting married on a Hawaiian beach, make sure your wedding photos come out just perfect by following these top 10 tips:
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #1: Be Aware of Highly Visible or Misplaced Bras
Many bridal gowns are strapless. Some show the shoulder and fall down yet the bra often stays up visibly in place higher.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #2: Watch Out for Hair in the Wrong Place
Wedding photos on Kauai usually take place on the beach. It can be windy! Choose a wedding hairstyle that will both look good and stay in place easily.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #3: Look Out for Side Boobs
May sound funny, but side boobs are something to be aware of for women wearing certain dresses. It of course depends on the dress and whether your arms are up or down.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #4: Beware of Smeared Mascara
Since Kauai is a tropical location, watch out for smeared mascara or makeup, whether from crying or from the heat on those beautiful Hawaiian beaches.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #5: Watch Out for Lipstick which has Worn Off or is Smudged
This one is very common. Lipstick can come off, or can get smudged above and below the lips so that looks like a clown (especially after the first kiss!). There is a simple way to fix this: just bring more of it. Have someone in your wedding party grab your lipstick and mirror for you, so you can quickly re-apply it. Usually there is a lull after the ceremony during the signing of the marriage license documents – this is a good chance to do it.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #6: Be Aware of the Inner Part of the Wedding Gown Folding Out
Wedding gowns often have multiple layers – be sure to keep the inner ones tucked away and hidden under the outer ones.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #7: Look Out for Zipper or Buttons Pulling Apart
Watch out for undone zippers or buttons getting loose and falling off.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #8: Watch Out for Flower Hairpieces Falling Out or Turning Brown
Normally flowers are picked that day, if you have ordered wedding flowers on Kauai for your ceremony. It’s unlikely they would turn brown, but if you leave them out of the fridge in a hot car for a few hours they might. Also, ensure the flowers are clipped on tightly for the photo shoot.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #9: Look Out for Leis or Necklaces Falling Off Center
Leis are made with a ribbon on one part of the circle. This normally sits at the nape or back of the neck when the lie is worn. Look out for leis that start falling off center. The same goes for necklaces.
Save Your Wedding Photo Tip #10: Be Aware of Beads of Sweat on your Forehead
Lastly, remember that Kauai is a warm climate, and you may sweat under the hot sun during a wedding photo shoot. It’s much easier and better to fix this at the time of taking photos than trying to photoshop it out later. Have a tissue handy, take some pictures in the shade or rest for a minute.
Remember, it only takes one little thing to ruin an otherwise marvelous wedding photo. Pay attention to these 10 tips and read more here. Good luck creating some superb wedding photos to treasure forever!
by Joel McDonald | Dec 24, 2014 | Kauai Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography in Hawaii
Kauai beach weddings are notoriously
windy affairs. Without a doubt, the best hair do for any kind of Hawaii beach wedding is a full up do. Whether you do it yourself, or you hire a professional hair stylist, get all your hair up and use as much product as you need to plaster it back. It is always windy at the beach, and here on Kauai we are sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so the wind has plenty of space and time to pick up velocity. It is not super windy every day, but nonetheless hair is light and easily blows out of place, even if there is virtually no wind and you use product to hold it down.
Our Kauai wedding locations are truly gorgeous. According to many people, there is not a more beautiful place to get married. So – just plan ahead and put your hair up so it’s not blowing all over the place during your wedding photos! Fortunately, there are plenty of creative ways to style your hair so it will both look great and stay in place.
Here are what we think are the most essential tips for wearing your hair at a Kauai beach wedding or Kauai outdoor wedding:
Kauai Beach Wedding Hair Tip #1: Pick an updo with a beachy/relaxed look.
Do not pick a perfectly polished hairstyle that will look obvious if it is blows out of place. Relaxed is fine!
Discover the best ways to wear your hair at a Kauai beach wedding. Hint: remember the wind!
Kauai Beach Wedding Hair Tip #2: Select hair styles that are likely to stay in place even if windy.
Select hair styles that are likely to stay in place even if windy. Braids are popular right now at weddings (as are twists). Both are great at keeping your hair in place during a breeze. Remember you can incorporate a little braid or twist on the side into another up do style that does not include braids, so you have something stylish to do with those annoying little baby hairs that don’t reach back into the rest of your style.
Kauai Beach Wedding Hair Tip #3: Think about hair accessories or hair flowers before you get your hair done.
A regular piece of feedback we get from Kauai hair stylists is that brides only think about hair accessories and flowers right before or during their hair styling session, rather than before. Obviously it is better to think ahead about what kind of flowers you may desire, since a hair stylist can then take that into account as she styles your hair.
Kauai Beach Wedding Hair Tip #4: Get a picture of what you want that you can show to your stylist.
Pictures of your vision are extremely useful for a hair stylist. Explaining it all in words is much harder. Also, if you let them come up with a style all by themselves, it may look fine objectively, but may not be a style matching your tastes at all.
Kauai Beach Wedding Hair Tip #5: If you’re having your hair done, do not wash your hair for 24-48 hours beforehand.
If you want to enjoy your time here and swim, check with your hair care professional, but usually it’s not a good idea to swim on the day of your wedding, even if you do not wash your hair afterwards. Professionals normally recommend keeping your hair completely out of any possible water on the day of a special event.
by Joel McDonald | Dec 15, 2014 | Kauai Wedding Photography, Wedding Photography in Hawaii
Are you having your wedding photos on Kauai? Here are our best Kauai Wedding Photography Tips. Learn what you need to know from an experienced professional.
These Kauai wedding photography tips
will help you prepare for one of the most special days in your life on one of the most beautiful places in the world! We want to ensure you get the most out of your Kauai wedding photos by being ready. The point of these Kauai wedding photography tips is to help people with no experience at all getting photographed to make the best of it. Use the following well thought-out tips to prepare for your Hawaii wedding day.
Kauai Wedding Photography Tip #1: Prepare a List of Must-Have Photos
On your actual wedding day, you don’t want to be “in your head” thinking about logistics or organizing details. To do so would detract from the magnificent moment and occasion. So, plan ahead and make sure you write up a list of photos that you want your Kauai wedding photographer to take. This normally includes which wedding guests (friends, family, etc.) in which combinations, but may also include your favorite poses. If you have certain poses you really want, choose them and tell your photographer ahead of time.
Delegate someone in your wedding party to be in charge of the list for the day, which may sometimes include herding the merry (and drunk!) guests into proper position for photos. This way the wedding photographer doesn’t spend their time looking for your family members (who they do not know) but rather spends time actually taking photos. The better organized the groups of people waiting are, the better your photos will be.
Kauai Wedding Photography Tip #2: Put the Rings on Slowly From Underneath the Hand (Not on Top)
This is a good tip to know. If you put the ring on the finger of your fiancé/fiancée from underneath, the photographer can get a much better photo angle. It makes a much nicer shot. When it is done from on top, your hand will be blocking the camera. It is also important to put the ring on slowly, to allow the photographer to take more and better ring shots during the ceremony.
Kauai Wedding Photography Tip #3: Hold your Bridal Bouquet Over Your Belly, Not your Chest
Many brides may not be aware of this, but it looks much more elegant when a women in white holds their bouquet over their lower belly (I wish the photographer at my wedding had told me this, because I looked so silly in some of my own wedding photos holding my flower bouquet up too high). If you get confused, just think of a place on your body you would like to have covered up … and for many of us it’s not our chest, it’s our belly!
Kauai Wedding Photography Tip #4: Have your Photographer or a Helper Check Details
As a Kauai wedding coordinator myself, as well as a photographer, I find this easy. It’s second nature to me to scan the couple for whom I am taking beach wedding photography before every photo to see what they would not want in their photos. If I see things out of place, smudged make-up, wild hair or even food between your teeth, I’ll let you know! Ask your wedding photographer (and your bridesmaid, your mom or anyone else) to do consistent visual scans of things you would want fixed. As a woman I know very well that it does not matter how good a picture is if there is something in it I do not like about myself.
Kauai Wedding Photography Tip #5: Be Playful!
There is no doubt that a playful, laughing mood creates a more fun atmosphere and better photos than a dull, serious one. It’s your wedding day, so laugh it up! Let your hair down, get silly, get wild and get affectionate; let your true spirit shine through. You’ll be amazed at the difference it will make in your wedding photos.
Read more tips to get the most out of your beach wedding photography!
Timory McDonald has lived on the beautiful island of Kauai for more than 15 years. As a professional photographer, she loves doing weddings and capturing those special moments between couples which can be forever remembered through photos.
