Just the Two of them...Almost...

Jordan and Amanda wanted a simple elopement on Maui…beach side…sunset…simple. They got a sweet surprise when Jordan’s parents surprised them to witness their ceremony on the island. Amanda was very gracious as his parents had gotten a bit lost and the wedding was pushed back a bit. Everything was just perfect anyway. The golden light filled the sky as they exchanged their rings & vows. We had romantic lighting all through our photo session and we played until the last bit of light disappeared. It was beautiful and very toughing to see how cute those two were together. I wish them nothing but the best on their journey together as husband & wife.

Good Quality Family Time

I love to see generations of family get together to enjoy a simple sunset photo session. Emily and her husband Jeff recently finished building a home in Haiku on the North Shore of Maui Hawaii. She gathered her closest family members and we played around the house and the yard capturing sweet moments of laughter and fun. The light was glowing and even Uncle Joe was enjoying the session. I left feeling very happy for all of them and grateful for having this sweet family in my life. Thank you Emily for supporting me and my passion for photography. I look forward to having more of these sweet sessions with you all in the future.

Keep it Simple...

I love weddings where everyone is relaxed and at ease with the day. Sam & Ashley decided on a very intimate beach wedding on Maui with only their closest friends and family. We were able to squeeze into a private little cove on the south side while these two exchanged beautiful vows of love. We were all touched by the ceremony led by Ayesha of Merry Maui Weddings and the sunset was absolutely breathtaking. Kai Akin was playing lovely tunes for us on the ukulele and gave the couple a first dance song on the beach. I am sure the I will see Sam & Ashely here on Maui celebrating anniversaries…kids… who knows!

Lots of Love to you both,

Desi

South Side Sunset Wedding...

Its always a bit nerve racking when the bride is about 45 mins late. She was waiting for her limo to arrive and it NEVER came! Can you imagine? She was on the phone with the officiant and I in tears and we assured her the wedding would unfold exactly how it was supposed to be. She finally arrived at the quaint cove in Kihei and we were all ready to go. Blake & Carrie had a very sweet, heartfelt ceremony and we went right into all of the romantics. The sunset did not disappoint and we took great photos until it go dark. I know these two will have an amazing life ahead because even on their wedding day, they handled the bumps with ease & grace. Congratulations Carrie & Blake.

A Beautiful Wedding at Gannon's in Wailea

It is always so wonderful to witness a loving wedding with friends and family that are thrilled for the couple. Nicole and David were the absolute cutest and were so excited to get married. Their wedding parties were full of great energy and the day was one of those perfect Maui days. They honored each other in a very heartfelt ceremony led by Ayesha of Merry Maui Weddings. We had a great time during family photos and the lighting during the romantics was my all time favorite… soft, sweet and perfect for light play. We ended up over at Lava Rock for the reception where they rented the whole place for themselves. The patio was set up very nicely by the aunties and they were ready to sing and dance the night away. Thank you so much for having me and I wish David & Nicole nothing but the best on their journey to come.

Family Fun on South Side

Its always wonderful to celebrate the generations. This sweet family session honored a few generations and the love they had for each other was so sweet. Paul , the father, was an amazing planner and booked this session with me knowing he wanted pictures with his mother and daughters. He had to trust me on timing and location, which he did, and everything was perfect. We had a lot of fun creating the moments together and I enjoyed getting to know them. I hope to see them all on island again real soon!!!

Vow Renewal Never Looked So Good....

When I saw Kate & Rob step out of their Jeep, I would have never guessed they were renewing their vows after 20 years! They were so youthful and sweet to each other. They had two teenagers who were also very fun-loving and kind. We headed to my favorite secret spot on the South Side and did a bunch of family portraits first. Kate said it had been over 10 years since they had family photos so I took full advantage of the soft light and gorgeous backdrop we had that day. We all gathered in closely as Kate & Rob renewed their vows. It was full of laughter and love. I hope I can look that great after 20 years of marriage…. seriously. Congratulations to 20 years and here’s to 20 more!

Island Sol

There are so many talented artists on Maui and I got the pleasure of photographing Island Sol’s goodies. Meg is a mama of 4 and I am so impressed at her drive to get quality products to our community at affordable prices. Her trucker hats are amazing and come in baby, youth and adult sizes. Her Kantha quilts are great for just about anything… beach blankets, picnics, extra layer on the bed or a comfy blanket for movie nights. She makes these beautiful button down shirts with vintage dollie cutouts on the backs. She has pillows, turkish beach towels, sunrise shell jewelry and beach bags coming in… I can’t always treat myself but I can tell you her stuff is worth every penny. Check her out on Instagram @islandsol and on Facebook at Island Sol. She’s a hard working mama like you & I, so let’s pay it forward.

Love and Laughter is the best medicine

These two met in college and it was very evident that their love for each other was strong. Kimberly and Jared chose to have a simple, beach elopement so they could just be together and exchange their vows without distraction. They had the sweetest words to tell one another and the sun glowed upon them as elegantly as they were together. We had the cove all to ourselves and every time I asked Jared to make her smile, he fully delivered. I know that they will have a joyful, loving journey ahead. Congratulations to the both of the. Much Aloha Always…

A stylish elopement on the South Shores of Maui

It was a beautiful afternoon for an elopement when I greeted Natica & AJ. They both came out of their car dressed stylish and ready for an intimate beach ceremony. The tide was high so we landed at a secret little cove where they opened their hearts to the journey of marriage. AJ just adores Natica and who wouldn’t? She created her own dress and had an undeniable cuteness about her. They had such great energy between them which made photographing them an absolute dream. They embraced the choice to have just the two of them to exchange wedding vows before heading to Canada for a huge family wedding & celebration. I can’t thank them enough for allowing me to capture the love between them. Enjoy your sweet journey ahead and I can’t wait to see you again.

The Beach, a Turtle & A whole lotta Love... Family Session on the North Shore

It is so wonderful to watch a relationship blossom over the years. I met Gwen & Adrian when they met years ago at Flatbread Company in Paia Town when we were all a bit younger and making our Maui lives happen. Years later, they invited me into Haleakala Crater to photography their elopement which was one of my most adventurous weddings to date. A few years following that great day, Gwen and Adrian reach out so we could photograph their sweet baby girl who has arrived. Now Reya is running and talking… it shows how fast time flies. We met last week at a beautiful beach on the North Shore of Maui. It was breezy and we had a turtle come up to greet us. The pictures really captured the gentleness this family exudes and the beauty of our island home. Lots of love to you always Gwen, Adrian & Reya….

Family Portraits in Kula

I was lucky enough to meet Stacy over a decade ago on Maui when we worked at Flatbread Pizza Co. She was the sweetest manager I had ever worked for and when she was getting married she asked me to photograph her wedding. Fast forward to last month when I received a message from her that she was coming back to Maui with her family and wanted portraits taken. I was so thrilled to see her again as a gracious wife and fun-loving mama. We have a mutual friend who lives on a gorgeous flower farm so we decided Upcountry Maui would be the best spot for the session….. and it was. Her daughter Prudence led the way and the spots she chose to pose in were actually perfect! I am forever grateful for these experiences and it is a reminder of just how blessed I truly am. Thank you Stacy, Jay and Prudence for an amazing afternoon. Much Aloha to you all.

Engagement ~ Kim + Tim

I absolutely love LOVE! Every week I find myself in some aspect of celebrating love whether its photographing a wedding or getting a sweet inquiry from a new engaged couple like Kim & Tim. Whenever I get an inquiry, I get so excited as our conversations unfold and we begin to connect. Kim knew she wanted to take her photos in a tucked away cove next to the ocean with the option of greenery as well. I knew of one of my favorite spots on the south side that would be the perfect place for us to create magic. We decided on a morning meet up as the weather on Maui had been quite surprising with unexpected snowfall, high winds and lots of passing showers. We completely lucked out with warm sunshine, blue ocean tones and a soft breeze that morning. Kim & Tim were so sweet with each other and knew just how to make each other giggle. They were up for hiking around on the rocks, getting in the ocean and we all really enjoyed every minute we had together. They will be celebrating their marriage in September in the Redwoods of California. I wish those two the best of luck on their journey in life together and hope they will always remember this simple, sweet Maui morning when it was just the two of them giggling with Aloha swirling all around them.

Emily + Family at Olowalu

I love the soft morning light and this family wanted to enjoy it with me in Olowalu for their family session. Emily is the owner of a very cute boutique for children called Eden Lifestyle Boutique in Dallas, Texas. Her love of fashion and design made for some fun wardrobe changes and the cutest kids clothes I’ve seen in a long while. Their family dynamic was so loving and easy going. We explored all around the pier, the coral filled coastline and into the old sugar mill. They fell into poses together quite comfortably and our time together was so sweet and joyful.

Elopement ~ Phillip & Angie

Intimate elopements are some of my favorite kinds of weddings. Phillip and Angie traveled to Maui from Germany to get married on a white, sandy beach in Hawaii. The connection they had was so genuine and Phillip had an admiration for Angie that was undeniable. We had a great time exchanging ideas for romantics and they pictures tell a lovely story of their sweet beachside elopement.

Maui Catering Services ~ A Stylized Photo Shoot

I love supporting local businesses any way I can. Tiffany Ward is a fantastic chef and runs a very successful catering company, Maui Catering Services. The women that make up her team are such hard workings gals but they also know how to have fun while doing it. Tiffany was ready to dial in what she wanted her business to feel like visually so we worked together and created this amazing photo shoot. If you are having a wedding or event and need some great food & fun, contact Maui Catering Services. You will not be disappointed.

Five Palms Wedding . Jade +Otto

It’s always so wonderful when everything just comes together simply, gracefully and with ease. Jade & Otto embodied all of those qualities as well as their guests. Everyone was filled with such respect and love toward each other that they truly represented “ohana” which means family in Hawaiian. We all celebrated on the south shores of Maui at the stunning Five Palms Restaurant which sits in one of the most picturesque locations on the island. The breeze was soft, the light was just right and the moments of joy & laughter were everywhere. It was so great that the bridal party creatively posed together and had such fun with those shots. Jade and Otto just adored one another so much. Every moment was beautiful beyond words. I am truly grateful to connect with such loving people. Congratulations Jade & Otto…..

Cara + Family in Poli Poli

This sweet family met me on the beautiful slopes of Haleakala for their family session. The background of the forest made a gorgeous setting for this trio to run around and have a great time. My advice to parents with little ones is to allow the children to roam and enjoy themselves. We can create the moments by adding the parents into what the child naturally finds fun! This usually takes the stress off the idea of a typical portrait session and everyone, including the children, end up really enjoying the photo shoot. Check out all of the amazing moments captured when the parents just played with little Bodhi. Thank you Cara, Jake and Bodhi for a beautiful morning.