Hawaii Photoshoot Tips
Coming to Hawaii is not a quick plane ride or small occasion but something very exciting and special for the entire family ! With what a wonderful place it is to make some beautiful memories it’s worth it to take the time to pause and have some photos taken ( that include everyone not the designated family phone photo snapper doing all the work ) all together here in tropical paradise !
In this post I am going to go over some helpful tips for how to have the best photoshoot experience but before I do so I want to go over some things that may cause any reason why you might feel like holding back on booking :
1. I am worried about my kids ( little ones, teens, or young adults ) not listening/being moody during the photoshoot. I hear you ! I am going to be super upfront - You cannot make your kids have gold star behavior the entire time or be in a happy attitude. They are their own person BUT I will give you some tips to help them be in a better mood when you scroll down in this post. A big big part of what is going to help your family is choosing a photographer who you feel like you can trust whether everyone is all smiles and laughs the day of or we have some tears that might arise. An experienced family photographer is going to know how to keep everyone engaged in a positive manner but also know what to do when a little one may get fussy. So hi hello consider me a child/teen/young adult whisperer - I have seen it ALL in my 10 years of photographing. Trust me when I say ALL. I know how to handle any situation that may arise and pivot any frustration that might occur during our time together. So take a deep breath and know everything will be okay.
2. Our family has never had photos before.That is absolutely okay ! When you book a photoshoot you are not expected to arrive know what to do or being that family you saw on a Pinterest scroll. The most important thing is to just show up and let your photographer guide you through the experience. You do not need to know any poses or have a million dollar smile down. Your photographer will have poses, prompts, and games in mind to help get those photos you will love.
3. I only want a few photos so why pay X amount for more time than I want ?Photos are a luxury service. They are not a bill and they are not a requirement. A photoshoot is taking the time to preserve your memories for present day and future generations. Unlike a dinner reservation with a delicious meal that will just be a memory in your head photos are something you can physically hold onto. When you schedule a photoshoot you are paying for an experience - choosing a location that is permitted with the help of your photographer, setting aside time in your vacation, and possibly purchasing outfits etc. for the actual shoot. It’s not a 10 minute process to set up so it shouldn’t be a 10-15 minute process for taking the actual photos. Once a session starts and everyone is having fun time really does fly by. This isn’t something where you stand on a beach for 40+ minutes and smile at a camera. This is a time to make even more special memories together having fun on the sand while photographer documents this. To hopefully not sound biased as a photographer I can preach about how important it is to take photos that include your whole family but it comes down to you if you feel like this is important enough to you to schedule a session.
After going over the above if you are still team photoshoot or saying, “give me those tips !”, keep scrolling down and let’s dive in !
Have a bite before the session
Nobody is happy when they are hangry. Whether you have a sunrise photoshoot or an early evening photoshoot grab a small bite to eat before your shoot. This way no one is feeling fussy or in a fowl mood from thinking about their growling stomach while out on the sand. Pro tip - do not eat in the clothes you will be wearing to the session. IF you absolutely must wrap a towel over your spouse, kid, whoever to help cover from any food drops. Though overall safest bet is to put on a play shirt then put on your actual outfits right before or in the car at the session location.
2. Let go of any expectations
As discussed above you cannot control how each family member behaves. However, you can talk about how much fun you’ll have at the shoot and how much fun you will have after getting pancakes, shaved ice, going to the beach to snorkel, etc. Hype the family up ! 40+ minutes is a small amount of time to set aside when you have a whole day to go explore/enjoy the island. Looping back to behavior if you start off on a funky fresh foot morning of the session know that is okay. Take a deep breath, try to shake it off, and do not arrive to the session feeling defeated or that photos are a loss cause from any meltdown or un-stoked photo chat with your spouse. It’s harder to turn around anyone else’s attitude if mom is upset. It’s also hard to get those golden moments if mom + dad are yelling, “smile!!”, to kids during photos every 2 seconds. Release it all. Let your photographer help keep everyone joyful and don’t come into a session expecting to create every photo you saw on your favorite Instagramer’s account. This session is YOUR family - It’s not meant to be anyone else’s. This is to capture who you all are having a blast here in Hawaii. Also letting go of any expectations other than having a great time all together it helps take away from any pressure which makes everything flow so much easier for everyone !
3. It’s okay to play
Read that heading above again at least twice - Soak it in - It. is. okay. to. let. go. and. have. fun. Why else book a trip to Hawaii if you didn’t plan to have fun here ! The same goes with a photoshoot. Let go, play, laugh, ENJOY ! If at the end of the session it feels like you had an awesome beach hang out then the job was done right. Personally I always recommend for my families and couples to get some time in the water whether in suits or your outfits. Splash, run, or let little ones play right in the sand. Make these memories for yourselves not just for the sake of pretty photos. It’s okay to have some posed shots sprinkled in the beginning of a photoshoot but then let go and have fun !
4. Wear comfortable clothes
Comfort is key ! It’s a nice thought to be super dressed up for photos but the photoshoot is not taking place in an air conditioned studio - it’s taking place on a tropical island . This means it may be muggy and hot. Choose clothing items that are breathable, light, and material that is not scratchy. Also don’t force yourself to wear a dress for photos if you are not a dress person. Wear what you love and be comfortable ! To help with this I offer my booked clients a What to Expect + What to Wear Guide for all the helpful advice.
If you take to heart the above words then you are well prepared for a photoshoot ! Plan to have fun and allow it to be a highlight in your vacation !
