Candid Beach Photos? | A Kauai Surprise Proposal

We at Pacific Dream Photography were blown away by this well planned proposal on the Island of Kauai. What began as a simple girls day out photo session ended as the sweetest surprise proposal. When Lindsey booked a girls photo session at the Grand Hyatt Kauai with Pacific Dream Photography, she had no idea what surprises were in store. Little did she know, her soon to be husband reached out to us in advance with his sneaky proposal plan.

After a laugher filled girls beach photo session, we took Lindsey and her friends to the Mahalapu Heritage Trail. Jeremy anxiously awaited his bride to be, as he stood in a secret disguise. When Lindsey least expected it, we gave Jeremy the signal to surprise her. Finally Lindsey laid eyes on Jeremy, she couldn’t grasp that he was here in Hawaii. Not only did he fly all the way here to surprise her, he was down on one knee and popping the question. Of course Lindsey said yes! It was a truly magical moment.

When Lindsey looked up, the soon to be married couple’s family appeared as well to celebrate the engagement. It seemed as if the surprises never ended! Jeremy pointed out everyone who had been a part of his secret master proposal plan. They shared many laughs, happy tears, and excitement. We could feel the love and joy between everyone.

To commemorate the day, Jeremy brought along some fun props for the now, engagement session. Their enthusiasm and fun lightheartedness mirrored each other and highlighted exactly why they were simply meant to be.  It’s such an privilege for us to document these special moments when two lives change forever.

What better way to capture an engagement photography session, than overlooking the Hawaiian sunset?  Lucky for this couple, they get to cherish the memories forever with gorgeous photos on one of Hawaii's most beautiful landscapes.

After the surprise proposal, we headed down to Shipwrecks Beach for even more candid photography. The couple ended their photo shoot with a jump in the foaming Hawaiian waves, as they shared a true love’s kiss.

If a standard proposal just won’t do for your sweat heart, contact us at Pacific Dream Photography. We will help you come up with something amazing and capture your dream proposal. We can help you come up with a plan to sweep your partner off of their feet.

Written by Julia P. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Grand Hyatt Kauai)

Montage Laguna Beach || California

California has been romanticized for decades. The state itself has such a vast variety of landscapes including the gorgeous beaches, miles of dessert, looming mountain ranges, and bright cities.

People from all over come here to visit and see what it has to offer. Being a photographer in Laguna Beach, I see people doing “staycations” all the time! Even if they live in a nearby city, they still come to this small beach city to spend their time.

At Montage Laguna Beach, it is so easy to completely lose track of time and spend your day at the beach, spa, or going on a stroll through their beautiful pathways lined with stunning flowers and greenery.

There is no better place to take photos of our guests then right here on the property. We don’t have to go far to capture the essence that this resort has to offer.

Written by Savannah S. (Pacific Dream Photography at Montage Laguna Beach)

5 Tips to Better Capture What You See || For Photographers

At Pacific Dream Photography, it is our job is to share the world around us. We see things from an artistic perspective. Of course, the beautiful backdrops of Hawaii give our photographs an extra advantage. Here are five simple tips that will take your upcoming photo shoot to another level and give your photos an extra advantage.

1. Be Ready

Remember the time you nearly missed the most important moment of the wedding, the kiss? Maybe your camera was turned off or your settings were wrong. These types of moments come and go very quickly. It is more than important to constantly adjust the settings on your camera, frequently checking the exposure. Nothing is worst than missing the most important moments. After all, those are the most cherished ones.

2. Holding the Camera Properly

This tip is crucial to better capturing what you see. Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we take note on everything that is going on around us. We are always prepared to capture life’s special moments. Holding the camera properly makes a huge difference while shooting. Of course, each photographer has his or her own unique shooting style. By holding the camera upright at shoulder level, it prepares the photographer to get the shot. By holding the camera upright, you are bound to get the perfect candid photos.

3.  Creativity

Don’t be afraid to use your creativity. This will set your photos apart from others, and make them unique.  Keep an eye on the colors, quality of light, and composition of the photo. Creative photographers come up with fresh new perspectives and ideas.

4. Use Your Eye

The human eye has a better dynamic range than the camera. Portraying your inner vision through the camera is more challenging than it looks. It is important to properly expose an image. By properly exposing the most important portion of the image, the photo will be more appear more accurate to what your physical eye observed.

5. Be Present

Being present will allow you to capture natural images.  After all, isn’t this the goal? Make eye contact and engage with your subjects. The more comfortable you are the more comfortable they are. Have fun, laugh, and get to know your subjects.

As professional photographers in Hawaii, we take heart in capturing memories that will last forever.  Ultimately, it is our goal to make sure our subjects have an amazing time!

Written by Julia P. (Pacific Dream Photography at Grand Hyatt Resort)

A Laguna Beach Bridal Session || Having some fun before the wedding

I had the pleasure of meeting Mimi and Emir back in April. They were in the middle of a pre-wedding travel trek through California before heading to Maui to officially become husband and wife. They contacted me and wanted to take some pictures of the two of them in their wedding-day attire here in Laguna Beach, California before the wedding.

It isn’t often that a bride is able to wear her wedding dress before the wedding, but I think I’m starting to see the magic in it. There’s a certain sense of satisfaction that comes with breaking all of the rules and it was a real treat to capture that.

More than anything, I could literally feel the excitement from both Mimi and Emir; looking deeply into each others’ eyes as they imagine their upcoming wedding in Hawaii: the same dress, same tux, but an entirely different location, surrounded by their loved ones. It was a truly beautiful moment.

Written by James H. (Pacific Dream Photography at Montage Laguna Beach)

Keeping the Love Alive || Eric & Elaine

When you are a photographer, often times you find yourselves enveloped in intimate moments between couples. Photographing honeymooners, Bride & Groom, vow renewal ceremonies, or even just a couple vacationing, we are welcomed into a space, with oftentimes new friends, that gives you a close glimpse into that relationship.

We are so lucky to be able to experience that love and intimacy on a daily basis, because it helps keeps us grounded and thankful in our own lives. 

I had the pleasure of photographing a couple last week at the Kahala Hotel & Resort in Oahu. Elaine told me that she didn't get pictures with her husband of over 20 years as often as she'd like and wanted to plan a fun beach photo session for the next afternoon.

After 24 years of marriage, Elaine and Eric were just as fun, playful, and starry eyed as when they were kids. In fact... they still looked like kids! Elaine showed me a picture from when they first got married, and it was eerily identical to some of the pictures we had been taking. The scariest part is, they hadn't aged a day!

I had to ask Elaine, how do they keep such a youthful playfulness with each other, which she confided in me all her secrets. But most importantly, they set aside time to do fun things with each other. Whether it be sparring in their martial arts class, a birthday trip every year for the two of them, or a sunset beach photoshoot in Hawaii, these two really know how to keep the love alive.

Written by Julia J. (Pacific Dream Photography at The Kahala Hotel & Resort)

Anniversary || Year One

Is there anywhere more beautiful to celebrate life and love than here on Kauai?! From the moment you step of the plane in Lihue you will be hit by a wave of humidity. Get prepared to slow down, relax, and enjoy a well-deserved break from life. As the oldest of all the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai’s ancient lush beauty is hard to overlook.

Celebrating their first anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Kelley knew they chose wisely by coming to Kauai, and staying at the Grand Hyatt. Enamored by the island, they spent their days here resting near the 5-acre pool, and also doing a fair share of exploring too.

With so much to offer, from the spa amenities to a salt-water lagoon you can actually kayak in, it’s easy to stay close to the resort; but, don’t miss out on what Kauai has to offer. Kauai is very unique compared to the rest of the Hawaiian island chain.

The Kelley’s discovered this and set out to explore the Waimea Canyon, which is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Imagine the Grand Canyon carpeted with a vibrant green jungle landscape, littered with trails and gorgeous scenic overlooks.

Head east and discover the largest navigable river in all of Hawaii, the Wailua River. Kayak or take a boat tour to top and find the river’s fresh water pouring down from Mt. Wai’ale’ale, one of the wettest spots on the planet. It lands at the Fern Grotto, and along the river at the sacred capital of ancient Kauai and the birthplace of the island’s Ali’i, or royalty.

Whether you are visiting Kauai for the first time or the tenth, there is always something to do or somewhere new to explore.  The most difficult part of vacationing here with us at the Grand Hyatt, Kauai, is deciding what you want to do first. 

Written by Micheal W. (Pacific Dream Photography at The Grand Hyatt Kauai) 

Wedding Re-Creation at the Grand Hyatt Kauai

What would you do if you received your much anticipated wedding photos, while on your honeymoon at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, only to find that they are a complete disaster?! Well, Brian and Morgan immediately sought out Pacific Dream Photography to “re-create” their mainland wedding images. We jumped at the opportunity to capture beautiful moments of the newlyweds on Kauai. 

Morgan, the “bride”, made an appointment to get her hair and makeup done at the Anara Spa and found a perfect beach appropriate white dress. Their photographer Elena, who happens to be our primary wedding photographer here on Kauai, met the couple for their sunset experience photo session and could instantly feel their excitement! With the beautiful grounds of the Grand Hyatt and Shipwrecks Beach as backdrops, and the natural chemistry the couple shared in front of the camera, we knew they would not be disappointed. 

The viewing came the following afternoon and from the first glance, the honeymooners were ecstatic! Every photography session that we have the privilege of shooting here in Kauai is special, but being able to give this couple the wedding pictures of their dreams was really amazing. Congratulations again Brian and Morgan! Thank you for allowing Pacific Dream to “re-create” your wedding day. It was truly an honor! 

If you ever find yourself in a similar position as Brian and Morgan, where you just need a “re-do”, we would love to be the solution. Or if you need an excuse to get dressed up and have your picture taken in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, we would love to be a part of your vacation or special event!

-written by Alyssa (Pacific Dream Photography at Grand Hyatt, Kauai)

Beach Photo Session in Hawaii: What To Wear?

You’re traveling to Hawaii with your loved ones. You’ve booked a Beach Photo Session with Pacific Dream Photography. But, what should you wear for the photo shoot? 

Don’t panic. Here’s a guide of what will look the best:

Style

Think casual. You’re at the beach. It’s important to pick something you are comfortable with and go for light fabrics. However, feel free to really dress up if you are the more glamorous type-the juxtaposition of the fashion and nature can be visually stunning!

Women: Dresses are great, especially if they’re breezy, flowy and light.

Men: We suggest solid-colored pants or shorts and a button-down. Leave a few buttons open and roll up those sleeves, guys.

Airy dresses in bright colors look great.

Matchy-Matchy?

You want to coordinate with your family members, but you don’t want to be matchy-matchy.

Have everyone wear neutral bottoms and play around with the tops, for example. You could also pick a few different colors or do different hues of one single color.

One family went with different shades of blues, while another one picked one person to stand out in a totally different color!

Colors

You have to think of what will look best with the background, which is the blues from the sky and water and the sand (during most of the day). For sunset, keep in mind the sky will have orange/red tones.

Picture what color palette will make more sense for your family. Some sweet, loving families and those with small children can opt for pastels. Are you really wanting to capture your fun Hawaiian vacation? Think tropical, bright colors!  For an effortless, cool, relaxed look… whites and beiges.

It’s up to you, but it is usually a good idea to stay away from black and darker hues. Solid colors usually work best. If you are going to go with Aloha Shirts, maybe coordinate with everyone so they are the same or very similar prints. Another idea is to have the guys in Hawaiian print shirts of a single color and the women in attire of solid colors that match the men.

Whites aren't the best option when the sun is too bright, but our photographers will do our best to make anything work!

Footwear

What are the most comfortable pair of shoes you own? Wear those. Once you’re at the location, you can go barefoot if the area isn’t rocky. You might want to get your feet wet, too.

We recommend nice, delicate flat sandals for women. 

Go barefoot!

Accessories

Keep accessories to a minimum. If you’re newly engaged, the only accessory you should be rocking is… your new rock!

If you want to bring sunglasses, do it. Shades are a great prop for some images. Hats aren’t recommended, as they will create shadows on your face.

Leis are encouraged. Not for the whole photo shoot, but they are definitely a staple of the Hawaiian culture.

Another awesome Hawaiian touch for women? Flowers in your hair!

Definite Don'ts

1. No clothing with logos or text
2. No busy prints
3. No running shoes

Whatever you go with, make sure it represents you. If you’re comfortable with what you’re wearing, it will come across in the images. Happy styling!

written by Andrea