Last week I had the opportunity to photograph Lumeria, the newest reatreat on the island. Maui’s beautiful North Shore has limited options for lodging. There are no big hotels here, only a few inns and then bed and breakfasts, so more often than not, visiting guests stay with us. This might explain why I’m so excited about Lumeria, which is a new (and gorgeous!) property which just opened. It’s a perfect place for spending a week relaxing, taking yoga classes, meditating, or taking surf lessons. (In fact, I might try to convince my husband to get away with me for a weekend there).
The grounds are absolutely breathtaking, with lots of orchard trees, native Hawaii vegetation, and of course an ocean view. There is a yoga room on the grounds with top-notch yoga instructors, and a chef who serves some of the freshest meals on the island.
This historic property was remodeled last year by the architectural mastermind Xorin Bables, seen in the last picture in tree pose.
Location of the shoot: Lumeria Maui
Stylists: Saedene Ota & Zenobia Lakdawalla of Sae Design
Models: Rachel Schumacher and Michael Gingerich
Make-Up Artist: Liz Javelosa
Posted in Maui, Photographer, Photography, Uncategorized |
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Today is of course Valentine’s Day, so what better time to share an incredibly romantic story with you?
Many years ago, when Lindsey was just a little girl, her dad and step-mom visited Maui. They stopped by the Grand Wailea, her dad recording the visit on his camcorder. At one point in the footage, her dad is filming the chapel and mentions that one day Lindsey should get married in the chapel. Who knew that years later, his comment would prove remarkably prescient?
Fast-forward many years, to the night when Peter and Lindsey met. According to Peter, she pushed one of her friends into Peter so that she could strike up a conversation with him. Apparently the strategy worked, because they hit it off and have been together ever since.
Peter serves in the army and had been overseas, so the timing worked out perfectly for their Maui wedding, in this beautiful little chapel by the sea which her dad filmed so long ago.
I must say, I feel so lucky to have the best clients! I spent 3 days with Lindsey and Peter. Here are photos from their magnificent wedding!
Ceremony & Reception: The Grand Wailea in Maui
Floral design and florals: Della of Dellables
Officiant & musician: Joe Miles
Hair & Makeup: The Grand Wailea Spa
Posted in Maui, Photographer, Photography, Weddings |
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“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”
~Mark Twain
Here’s a sneak peek from today’s gorgeous wedding at Olowalu Plantation House!
Posted in Maui, Photographer, Photography, Weddings |
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There are a few places on Maui which are so magical, I could shoot there every day and never get tired of it. One of those places is Merriman’s on the West side of Maui. There is a beautiful bay with calm, clear blue water, soft sand, and a short walk away is an amazing lava ledge that flows out into the ocean. When the sun sets, the golden light hits the black rocks, the sea turns a deep blue, and the stars come out to play. And of course, just up the hill is Merriman’s, one of my favorite restaurants on the island.
We had the pleasure of photographing Lindsay and Aaron’s wedding at this beautiful spot last weekend. They were such a sweet couple, and they had a great group of friends and family to share the moment with them. They wrote their own vows, which didn’t leave a dry eye among the guests. Afterwards, we walked down to the bay for some shots in the sand and water, and then finished up on the lava rocks, where they were treated to the most spectacular sunset of the year!
Congratulations, Lindsay & Aaron!
Wedding ceremony & reception: Merriman’s Maui
Wedding florals: Della of Dellables
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I grew up in land-locked Minnesota. The state does have over 10,000 lakes (with nearly as many mosquitoes on any given night) which made the summer months at friends’ cabins and occasionally on boats quite enjoyable. However, there is something indescribable about being so close to a vast ocean – the smell of the salty air, the ocean breeze running through your hair, and the freedom to take a refreshing dip whenever you want. Lately, I’ve been guilty of not taking advantage of this, and my stand-up paddle board has an impressive layer of dust to prove it.
Luckily, a good friend visited last month, so I played tourist and had an excuse to get out on the water. With lots of colorful fish, turtles, dolphins, and whales splashing around at this time of year, this is one of the best ways to enjoy the islands. Reminiscing about her visit, I was inspired to post a few shots from our snorkel trip on the beautiful Kai Kanai sailboat!
Trust me, if you do visit Maui, getting out on the water is a must.
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As the saying goes when it comes to meeting The One: “When you know, you know.”
On the day they met, Yung had a strong hunch that Susan would be the girl he would end up marrying. The two were having lunch with mutual church friends, and Yung jumped at the chance to sit across from the pretty new girl. They had an instant connection and the flirting began. After a few months of dating, he decided to propose.
She said yes, and they planned this all-day destination wedding in just a month, which is incredibly impressive. They said their vows on the breathtaking grounds of The Ritz Carlton Kapalua amid friends and family. Whales were breaching in the background as the two were married, and there were many tears of joy and hugs shared among the guests. They decided to incorporate elements of their Korean culture into their wedding, which I absolutely adored. They wore brightly colored hanboks for Pyebaek, which is a ceremony where the bride formally greets her new parents-in-law after the wedding ceremony. The newlyweds bow and the parents throw dates to them. The number of dates that they catch symbolizes the number of children they will have. The groom also gives a piggyback ride to his mother, mother-in-law, and his bride which symbolizes his acceptance of his obligations to both his mother and wife.
To close the perfect evening, Susan and Yung, along with their immediate family and pastor, went to Kapalua Bay to light wish lanterns under the full moon.
Congratulations Susan & Yung on an extraordinary wedding! I will see you next year for your anniversary.
Ceremony & Reception site: The Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Maui
Florals: Asa Flowers
Videography: HI Focused Videography
Pastor: Jin Han
Hair & Make-Up Artist: Mira Hong of Labella Wedding Hawaii
Thank you to Trish Barker for assisting me on this wedding!
Posted in Maui, Photographer, Photography, The Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Weddings |
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I can clearly remember spending Saturday mornings as a child at home, channel surfing for the best cartoons, eating cereal and battling my brothers for control of the remote. In college, it was all about staying in bed as long as possible, sipping coffee, reading the newspaper, and occasionally trying to tackle the weekend crossword puzzles, which seemed impossible compared to Monday’s puzzle. Those were the days….
Meet Ashley, one of my most lovable friends. We were both in Oahu for work and spent a few extra days there for some R & R. It was great to share a lazy Saturday morning with her, and I couldn’t resist getting some photos. Thank you, Ashley, for being a great model, being so spontaneous and letting me take some pics of you in your PJs.
Posted in Personal, Photographer, Photography, Uncategorized |
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