Oahu Ocean Maternity Adventures

Weather reports across the Hawaiian Islands were going bonkers. Tropical Storms or Hurricanes? How many are to the North and South? Will they miss us? Luckily they both did, and simultaneously (phew)! But not without gifting us with some turbulent, milky waters, and lots of cloudy skies and rain showers.

Insert Vivian & Louis. 30 weeks pregnant and as adorable as ever…vacationing on Oahu. They found my underwater Maui maternity photos so breathtaking, that they just had to fly me over to Oahu to capture these once-in-a-lifetime photos…so off I went!

I swear, my full-time job isn’t being a Photographer - it’s being a Weathergal! The amount of time I spend checking the weather, analyzing ocean conditions, wind & sun direction, is just bananas! It’s part of my job, and my life as a surfer. But when it comes to working around Mother Nature for scheduled maternity photo sessions? I should seriously start my own reporting station! (Past clients…you know this and thank you all for sticking through the “storms” that may or may not have happened. You all rock!).

Shoot time: Sunrise.

Forecast: Ocean conditions: Murky all over the island, NSEW. Currents: Even more bananas. Swell: 5-7 ft faces. Weather: 60% chance of rain.

Actual Session Conditions: Ocean: Murky & 2-5 ft. Currents: Still bananas. Weather: 0% chance of rain.

So what did we do? Shot at my favorite North Shore Oahu location for the land portion, then travelled 10 minutes to another location for calmer waters & stunning backdrops. The result?

This.

Mahalo Vivian & Louis - you two were beyond “great” xo

The Most Beautiful Maui Babymoon Portraits

WHO: Sarah + Kuali’i | WHERE: Lahaina, Hawaii | WHY: 7 month Maternity Shoot

First off…I just LOVE underwater Maui maternity sessions! They literally feed my soul - they honestly and wholeheartedly “complete me” <3

So when I met Sarah & Kuali’i via Instagram, I just knew that our session was going to completely rock the casbah for so many reasons…

We started on land as all my MAKAI Land & Ocean sessions do, then we slowly worked our way into, then under the water, because the clarity was THAT good at Sunset!

Thankfully they both were even more experienced in the water than we had initially discussed (to book my water sessions, it’s a “must” that my clients are experienced to expert swimmers. Hawaiian oceans are no joke!). Kua, who is originally from Maui, also paddled for Hawaiian Canoe Club like myself, so naturally, we had ALOT of mutual friends and tons of experience with the ocean and it’s conditions. Sarah is a beautifully talented dancer and hair/makeup artist, so believe me when I say, this girl worked it in the water! Her toes? ALWAYS POINTED 😉. Her swimming abilities? Flawless.

The finished product was exactly what I had hoped for and so much more. See for yourself…

Underwater Maternity Dreams

WHERE: MAUI, HAWAII | WHO: SOON & NICK | WHY: BABYMOON

It’s Soon’s first pregnancy and she’s known from the beginning that she wanted to do an underwater Maui maternity shoot with gorgeous crystal clear water…and where else than on Maui!

Now, let’s be clear (no pun intended), finding clear waters on Maui for an underwater photography session isn’t always guaranteed, but at Sunrise & at some of my personal favorite locations, our chances can be higher than usual, giving us those breathtaking & dream shots!

Luckily on the morning of our session, the water Gods were watching over us, as were the weather Gods! But really, clouds don’t scare me…they offer more dramatic skies and that’s kiiinda my thang ;-)

Did I mention these two lovebirds were just as beautiful as the Sunrise & Ocean itself? Soon & Nick, you two were made for each other…and your little one? Easily the luckiest!

A big mahalo to these to magic makers <3

The Most Stunning West Maui Babymoon

WHO: MADELEINE + AUSTIN | WHY: BABY MOON | WHERE: MAUI, HAWAII

It’s funny…I feel like many of my blogs have begun with “weather issues” here in Maui - but honestly, and I PROMISE when I say - weather in Maui is 9/10 days PERFECT. Seriously! It’s only occasionally that we get weird rain, storms, etc. I just mention it because a bunch of my clients worry when they look at the weather forecast for the islands and they start thinking about rescheduling, new locations, etc.

I’ve said it a few times and I’ll say it again - weather here moves quick! I swear, those weather folks at The Weather Channel just look out the window and give a forecast - don’t listen - they’re typically wrong. Just wait and if there’s ever anything to worry about, I’ll be in touch couple hours prior to your session ;-) I promise, you’ll never be left wondering what’s next with our session!

With that said, Madeleine & Austin’s first trip to Maui hadn’t been going very well - it rained the whole time they were here and they didn’t get to explore how they wished they could have. With our luck, the heavens cleared and the sun brought out it’s “A” game - but not without a few clouds in sight and a small sprinkle prior to our session.

We went ALL out for their Land & Ocean Maui Maternity photography session - three outfit changes, land + ocean photos, rocks & beach, as a couple + solo - this gal and her 34 week (super adorable) bump toughed it out and all I have to say is….wow. Mahalo to the both of you for being so beautiful, so in love, and so adventurous!

Sunset Maternity Portraits in Wailea

WHO: GABBY + JERRY | WHY: BABY MOON @ 8 MONTHS PREGNANT | WHERE: MAKENA, HAWAII

Maui Maternity photos are my most popular sessions…and for good reason. I LOVE witnessing women blossom into motherhood! There’s a quiet beauty & strength surrounding every mother-to-be; and witnessing it as they make their way along Hawaii’s shorelines is seriously beauty at it’s finest to me. They don’t have to try…they just are.

Case in point - Gabriella (and Jerry of course).

A calm, quiet beauty who’s never had professional photos taken before and without effort, performed gracefully in front of the camera. Jerry was as understanding and patient as they come, so he helped her along the lava rocks and guided her to safety and stability when needed (but really, I think she may have guided him along more than her lol). The power & strength of a woman in general is what I live for - and my time with Gabby was no exception.

See for your self below…

Beautiful Sunrise Family Session | Makena, HI

WHERE: MAKENA, HAWAII | WHO: MINI & HER ADORABLE FAMILY | WHY: FAMILY & MATERNITY SESSION

Mom & Dad contacted me about a Sunrise Maui Family & Maternity Photoshoot with visions of pastels, neutrals, some greenery, lots of lava rock, and some bright sunshine to capture her growing tummy, her husband, and their adorable son. Luckily, this location at Sunrise is perfect for all of the above!

I always arrive slightly early to my sessions in hopes I can be there before my clients so they have a reference point…but in this case, this family had already arrived! And apparently, they’d been there for over 30 minutes just taking in all the beauty! I mean…can you blame them?

Some of my favorite moments from my Sunrise Session with this adorable family at one of Maui’s most gorgeous beaches in Makena <3

Powerful Land + Ocean Maternity Photos

Where: Maui, Hawaii | Who: Annie & Jeremiah | Why: Maternity Land & Ocean Session

What do you do when two stylish & super sweet Brooklynites contact you for a Land & Ocean Maui Maternity photo session on Maui? You make the time…and you make it count ;-)

I’m not gonna lie, I love it when fellow New Yorker’s come to Maui and choose me - it brings a little piece of the Big Apple to my eye and helps me remember my 12 years there!

Sorry Hawaii…if you must know, I’ll always be a New Yorker ;-)

When Annie initially contacted me, we had originally scheduled one of my Land Maternity photo sessions, but last minute, she upgraded to my Land & Ocean Maui maternity session and I couldn’t have been more excited!

With a gorgeous location set and my water-housing ready, we set out on an adventure to say the least! The Maui Sunset? Perfect! The ocean? NOT so perfect!

By chance, I was available the next morning following a separate Sunrise session, and contacted Annie & Jer to see if they wanted to jump in the ocean because I spotted some clear water near their hotel. Without hesitation, these two showed up within 15 minutes looking as dapper as the evening before and WE. TOTALLY. KILLED. IT! The Ocean? PERFECT. Annie & Jer? EVEN MORE PERFECT.

Annie & Jer - you know I can’t get enough of you two! Thank you for your positivity, sense of adventure, deep breaths and long walks on the beach. You two were worth it all and then some. <3

Solo Maternity Pictures | Wailea, HI

WHO: McKenna | WHY: Maternity Land & Water Session | WHERE: Makena, Hawaii

For starters, McKenna is a goddess. Not just in her essence, her beauty and her personality…but in her strength. She’s a picture of perseverance and all…with a radiating smile. So this Maui maternity photo session on Land & Water came naturally to her.

Cut to our session - her family joined us and let’s just saaaaay….it was HILARIOUS. Don’t get me wrong, her photos remained majestic, but if there was someone capturing a behind-the-scenes of our session, it would have earned an award.

From land to the ocean, without much sun and even some sprinkles, with tons of positivity, I encourage you to oooo and ahhhh over Miss McKenna (and baby Cassius who just made his earth-side debut!)