10 Reasons Why We Love Photography

Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we are honored to capture moments that will simply be remembered forever. Our team of photographers has a strong passion for what they do. Photography plays a huge role in our lives and we are delighted to turn those precious moments into images. Here are the top ten reasons why we love photography so much.

1. Photography Helps Us Communicate – Photographs help us share our memories with others. What better way to share your vacation than through precious images on the beach? They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Photography shares emotion, tells a story, and captures personality between loved ones.

2. We Are Artists – Photography is an art form. As photographers we appreciate the artistic value that is in photography. Photography allows us to express and bring out the beauty in front of us.

3. It’s In The Details – As photographers we notice the small things. It’s the details that bring an experience together. We notice textures, nature, light, expressions, and surroundings. This allows us to capture the beauty in every situation.

4. Documentation – We get to document your love, your beauty, and your story. For this reason, we are forever grateful.

5. A Good Challenge – There is a lot more to photography than the push of a button. Amidst our pursuits of documenting the perfect moment, we take on new challenges everyday. We face the uncertainties that come along with weather, lighting, and more. Now, this is actually a good thing! It keeps us excited, eager to learn, and on our toes!

6. Big Moments – We love photography because of the exciting moments. Photography is the perfect way to preserve one’s important milestones. Life is filled with great moments such as birthdays, weddings, graduations, anniversaries, and family vacations. These are the moments when you need a photographer the most and we are here for you.

7. Connection – Photography is a beautiful experience. Not only do we have the opportunity to provide a memorable experience, but we also get to connect with people in a fun way.

8. It’s Fun – We love photography because it is fun! Our photographers are professionals. They know the secrets to making people happy and having a good time. When everyone is having a good time, it makes for an exciting experience for both the photographer and the subjects.

9. The Process – We love the process of putting together the perfect photos. There’s much more to a photo session than the shoot itself. We have the joy in editing, using our creativity, and picking out the best images.

10. We Just Love It - Last but not least, we simply just love what we do. We are so passionate about photography! Between smiles, laughter, and capturing memories, who doesn’t love photography?

Written by Julia P. (Pacific Dream Photography at the St. Regis Princeville)

Styling your Perfect Shoot | Client Tips

Susan came across photos from Pacific Dream Photography through a friends blog, who had visited the Andaz and had an Beach Photography Session a year ago.

Like her friend, she is also a blogger and mentioned she planned her honeymoon trip to Andaz at Wailea in Maui specifically to have an couples photo session with us. Whether you are celebrating your honeymoon or engagement, pictures in Hawaii make the ultimate keepsake.

Wearing a gorgeous white dress and with her husband styled to match, they restaged their proposal on the beach, Tiffany's ring box and all.

Upon meeting, Susan showed us examples of photos from the shoot we did a year ago on her phone to give us an idea of the style she was interested in. She mentioned she wanted a lot of action shots and specifically photos she could use for her blog.

Coming prepared to the shoot and planning is always a great idea to getting exactly what you are wanting. We normally shoot a few hundred photos during the 45 minute session and will show anywhere between 100 to 200 edited imaged in our Viewing Sessions.

Susan's shoot was stunning and you can see that her planning the details, from outfits to hair and make-up as well as showing us locations from a shoot she loved, all translated into magical images that they will treasure for a lifetime. For more tips on creating the perfect shoot, check out this blog.

From the entire team here at PDP, Congratulations! and Thank You for choosing us to be a part of your Happily Ever After.

Written By Sarah S. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Andaz Wailea)

Age is just a number | Special Moments

The wonderful thing about photography is that it is timeless. We capture fractions of a second for you to cherish throughout your life. What’s even better is that there is no age limit on who can be photographed, no matter what the occasion. Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we have photographed as young as newborn children to great grandparents.

We believe that life should be cherished and special moments can be captured throughout one’s life through the lens of a photographer. In Laguna Beach, we have photographed a child’s first steps on the sand and first time touching the Pacific Ocean water. We’ve also had the pleasure of photographing milestone anniversaries, engagements, and Weddings here in Laguna Beach.

To make your photo session as memorable as possible, we recommend considering to bring a few things to make it extra special. It’s common to see customized shirts being made for your vacation. Especially with large groups, this adds a fun element into your photos when looking back at them later on. The second, if you’re celebrating a birthday or engagement, is to bring balloons or other props to make your session unique to you! If you’re celebrating a baby-moon and expecting, you can bring your ultrasound and baby shoes as props for a maternity shoot. Whatever you think will make your photography session more memorable, please let your photographers know! It’s our passion to document these important moments of your life.

So whether you’re celebrating your first anniversary or your 50th, the whole family is there together, or you are by yourself, we see no limits on your photography session and are here to capture memories for you.

Written by Alesha D. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Montage Laguna Beach)

Baby Moons | Why Pictures are Important

Honey, the baby’s coming! Grab the camera.
Baby moons are the new honeymoon and as photographers, we love the idea! These vacations allow us to capture maternity photos in an exquisite location while you create memories before your babys arrival.

You may be wondering why you should have an entire photo session during your baby moon? Well, we can think of too many reasons to count!

When your beautiful baby arrives you will be busy, to say the least, and the idea of dressing up and taking photos will be far from your mind. Don’t worry, having a photo session with Pacific Dream Photography is as easy as enjoying the scenery at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.

We take care of everything from scheduling, locations, posing and sometimes we even have props. All you have to do is show up at your designated time and place, dressed and ready to smile! And when it comes to attire, for maternity sessions: long dresses, and tight clothing work best.

*Photographers Tip; If you want your baby bump really show, wear a bright color that contrasts with the other people in the photo.

Your baby moon is the perfect time to step outside of your comfort zone and have some fun with activities. Even though the photo session is to ultimately have great photos in the end, this should be considered a stress free and fun activity. We’ve noticed the more you have fun at the photo session, the more amazing the photographs come out.

If you’re deciding whether or not to take a baby moon, we say go for it. Most importantly don’t forget to allow Pacific Dream Photography to assist in creating beautiful memories. Remember, capturing the sweet moments of your baby in your belly are moments you will not regret capturing.

Still need more convincing? Check out another article on Baby Moons here.

Written by Alesha C. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel)

Colin and Caitlin

Colin and Caitlin scheduled a photography session to celebrate their recent engagement. Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we believe the best way to celebrate an engagement is to capture the love on camera.

Taking Control of Natural Light || Photographer Tips

Portrait photographers work with many different types of lighting, including, natural light. With natural lighting, there is no need to carry around extra equipment, and it’s hard to beat its effortless beauty. The difference between natural light and studio light is the amount of control we have over the two. Natural light can be stunning, but it is important to understand how to control it properly to maximize its potential.

Mornings and evenings offer the softest light for a portrait photographer. Especially when you are outside photographing a family portrait, you want to make sure that no one is squinting into the light, or hiding their face. Softer light casts softer shadows, as the sun is lower in the sky, and is also softer on the eyes. This results in breathtaking portraiture, whereas shooting in the middle of day can have a more harsh appearance. While shooting in the middle of the day may not be ideal for a photographer, don’t be afraid to grab your camera and give it a "shot." The middle of the day is full of vibrant color, and capturing candid moments of a family during this time can be just as heartwarming. If you’re shooting during the day, it is important to handle light correctly, and you have less margin for error. For example, shoot in a shaded area where some of the light is naturally diffused.

Now that you know the best time to shoot, it is time to learn the best angles. The first option is to position the subject directly in front of the sun. As the sun goes down, it will cast a warm glow over the subjects face and bring out their features. By placing the subject slightly behind the sun, the photo will appear slightly softer.
What if you’re shooting indoors? If you’re shooting inside, look for windows. Window lighting is the best form of indoor natural light. When I do newborn photography with a family, I always want to position them near a window to get that soft beautiful difused light. When shooting inside, set your aperture wide. This will allow you to let in enough light for a properly exposed photo. Remember the narrower the space, the harder the light. The broader the space, the less shadows.

Natural light is always changing and simply, unpredictable. The best thing to do is patiently wait for the best light. Shooting in the same place at different times or conditions can lead to very different feelings to your photos. Always observe weather and conditions before meeting your couple or family to avoid having to reschedule.

Now that you’re familiar with controlling natural light, it is time to go out and practice. Experimenting with light is one of the best ways to take control and create breathtaking images. For more photographer tips, check out this blog about our recipe for success or tips for better family portraits here. Or if you are interested in booking a shoot and want to know the best time of day to book, check out our blog on lighting.

Written By Michael W. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Grand Hyatt Kauai)

Recipe for Success || Photographer Accessories

As a photographer of any genere, be it Weddings, portraits, events landscapes, it is essential to have the right gear. The contents in your camera bag are the tools of the trade. Keep in mind, as an aspiring photographer; it is not all about the equipment. If you have an eye for composition and you’re comfortable working with light, you can begin with the basic equipment and add to your collection as you go. But whether you are a professional, or an amateur, here are 4 must have accessories every photographer needs in their camera bag.

• Memory Cards! This is probably a no-brainer, but you can never have enough memory cards. The faster the writing speed, the better. It is important to have the right memory card that is compatible with your camera. Having plenty of memory cards will ensure that you never run out of space during that beach portrait session, or worse, a Wedding!

• The Right Lens. A good lens means everything. Lenses dictate what type of shots you can take such as close ups, landscape, and portrait shots. Did you know that lenses typically last longer than your camera body itself? Of course a good camera is vital, but in the end your lenses are some of the most important things in your camera bag. At Pacific Dream Photography, we use a wide variety of lenses to ensure that we get the shot.

• Lens Hood. A lens hood serves many different purposes. The main purpose is to block out light. It is always a good idea to have a lens hood in your camera bag. The hood will block out the flare from the light source, while protecting the reflected light. This is a great way to keep your family portraits from getting too much light over peoples faces and losing the detais in the photo. More than anything, the lens hood will protect the lens against the elements.

• External Flash. An off camera flash is one of the best steps you can take to better photography. Not only will an external flash enhance your photos, it will make a big difference when it comes too professional shooting. Say you are photographing a wedding couple with a sunset behind them, and you want to caputre the sunset and the couple. A flash helps to light up your couple so that you can see both them and the background.

Looking for more photography tips. Check out this blog here!

Written by Michael Wheeler (Pacific Dream Photography at the Grand Hyatt Kauai)

Family Photography | Including our furry friends!

Animals are part of the family, too! It’s been a popular trend to include our furry friends in our family portrait sessions. This can be a hard task, but the results can be rewarding. Whether it’s photos for a Holiday Card or including a pet in your Wedding photos, here are some tips to consider:

• Pick a pet friendly location. In Laguna Beach, all beaches are dog-friendly within certain months of the year. Beach photography is perfect for animals because you can find your own perfect corner to yourself. It’s important to check beforehand if the location you have in mind allows your pets to join.

• Props! Clothes aren’t just for humans! Feel free to dress up your furry friends for the occasion. At Montage Laguna Beach, proposals and pet photography go hand in hand. One idea is to have your dog dressed up with the ring around their neck!
• Walk them beforehand. We all know that dogs get excited easily, and when they know they are getting out of the house, they can get a little crazy. If you take them for a walk beforehand, it relieves some of their energy, making them slightly more calm for the photos.

• Bring treats! Dogs can become easily distracted, especially in an unfamiliar area with new people and smells. Bringing treats can help them focus on where the camera for a beach photo session.

• Have an extra friend/family member come along to help. Although you definitely want to have your dog in the photos, sometimes you need a little break. Having an extra set of hands will take some stress off your shoulders. It can also help by having the extra person handle the treats so the photographer can focus on capturing the perfect moment.

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

Engagement Photos || What to Expect

Your wedding is weeks away and the anticipation is so exciting. Being engaged is an important time in your life, as you transition from a couple to a married couple. Engagement photos share the connection that brought you together in the first place. It also makes it much easier to relax and enjoy wedding portraits on the big day.

Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we believe that having an engagement session is important for many different reasons. It allows you to get comfortable in front of the lens and showcase your personalities in a fun setting. Engagement photos have many different uses such as, a guest signature board, save the date cards, or even decorations for your future home.

Wear something that makes you feel comfortable. Of course, this is a great excuse to dress up, but it is important to wear something that makes you feel like you. Engagement photos are going to reflect who you are, and what your like on a day-to-day basis. Don’t forget, the ring is the star of the show, so make sure to give it a little cleaning for extra shine.

If you and your fiancé are feeling a bit camera shy, ensure each other that you look amazing. Make your significant other laugh and have a great time. This will help you both relax, smile, and enjoy yourselves.

As you prepare for your engagement session, remember to trust your photographer and allow them to be creative. Your photographer works with everyday couples all the time so there is no need to be nervous. Amazing things happen when you trust your photographer, and give them the creative freedom to take one of a kind images that you will cherish forever. An engagment photography session is also a great way to get to know your photographer and test them out to see if they would be a good fit for your Wedding Day.

Lastly, be on time. Timing is very important. Photographers are dependent on the sun. We want to make sure that your images come out breath taking and lighting is the key to a successful photo shoot. Take a look at a previous post on why lighting is so important.

That’s it! We hope you have a better idea on what to expect for your upcoming engagement session. Most importantly, have a wonderful time!

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

6 Things Every Photographer Needs to Know || Photographer Tips

A picture is worth a thousand words. So what is the difference between a great picture and a great photographer? A great photographer is consistent. We have all taken that one perfect photo. Everything fell into place and you managed to capture that picture perfect image, but the trick to consistency is being able to create picture perfect photos time and time again. Here are six things that every photographer needs to know to stay consistent and produce picture perfect photos.

1. Get to Know Your Camera

It is important to understand the settings and features of your camera. Not knowing the technical side of the camera can truly hold you back as a photographer. Learn how to control your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.  Every feature in your camera works together. The more you learn about these features, the easier it is to get the results you want. It is also important to learn about camera modes, focusing, and white balance. Always keep in mind that even a great camera cannot produce a great photograph unless it’s in the hands of a passionate photographer.

2. Light

Light is one of the primary ingredients in photography. Without light, we photographers cannot do our work. It is important to understand how to work with light. Lighting can be tricky, as it is always changing. There are all kinds of lighting conditions such as, sunrise, sunset, midday sun, and twilight. One quick tip to gain a better understanding of light is to observe it in your everyday life. Educate yourself and aim to recognize the different types of light. We have a whole post about lighting on our blog here.

3. Perspective

Perspective is the way our eye relates to special separation. Sometimes photographers fall into the habit of shooting from eye level. If you want to stay consistent, and make an impact, change your perspective. Changing your perspective can be done in many different ways. For example, get on ground level. Getting low can give your viewer a unique perspective, rather than their everyday eye level view. Other examples include, shooting upward, wide, far away, or even behind something. Next time before you snap away, take a moment to think about how you want your viewer to perceive your subject.

4. Every Photographer is Different

Each photographer brings their own unique style to their artwork. It is important to use your creativity at each and every photo shoot. By utilizing your creativity, your photography will stand out from the others. 

5. Composition

Composition plays a big role in photography. It is the key aspect to a great photo. Composition is the placement of relative objects in a photograph such as, lines, textures, shapes, and reflections. The Rule of Thirds is a great guideline to help you tell a story. The Rule of Thirds suggests that by placing your subject somewhere rather than the center of the photo, you can grab your viewer’s attention.

6. Connect With Your Subject

We cannot forget the most important part of a photograph, the subject. The recipe for a good photo entails much more than just your gear; it starts with the photographer making a connection with the subject. Before your shoot, put the camera down and get to know your subject. Laugh, joke, and have fun. This will create a fun comfortable atmosphere.

As a photographer, you will make mistakes. The key is to learn from your mistakes and better yourself as a photographer. Great photography comes from consistency and photos that tell a story. With each snap of the shutter, you will only get better. So grab your camera, get out there, and produce those award winning shots.

For more great tips on how to have a successful family portrait session, check out these tips from a past post.

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