Maui Family Film Photography | Colorful, Nostalgic + A Little Unexpected

Yes, I still shoot film. A lot of it.

Real film. Rolls in my camera, sent off to the lab, wait impatiently for the scans to come back kind of film.

It’s been a huge part of how I photograph families and couples here on Maui, and honestly, Hawaii might be one of my favorite places to shoot it. The color, the light, the ocean, the greens, the bright blue mornings and warm evenings already give me so much to work with.

Sometimes I reach for the film stocks I know and love. Other times I load something completely different into a camera just to see what happens.

Because film doesn’t have to have one specific look.

It can be classic. Colorful. Grainy. Experimental. A little imperfect. Shot underwater. Completely unexpected.

That’s part of why I love it.

What Does a Maui Family Session on Film Actually Look Like?

It can look like a lot of different things.

Classic medium format portraits with those beautiful film tones. Kids running through the water. Parents piled together on the sand. Bright Maui mornings where the blues come through exactly how I hoped they would.

Then there are the experimental frames.

Different film stocks can give completely different results. Color shifts, unexpected light leaks, extra grain, unusual tones and frames that come back from the lab looking nothing like something I would have created digitally.

I don’t want every roll of film to look exactly the same, and I definitely don’t want every family session to look exactly the same.

That’s the fun of it.

Why I Love Shooting Film in Maui

Maui gives film SO much color.

Deep ocean blues. Bright greens. Golden sand. Warm skin tones. Pink skies. Harsh sunshine. Soft morning light. All of it translates differently depending on the film stock, the light and how I decide to photograph it.

I’m not trying to remove all of that color to make everything look neutral.

I want Hawaii to look like Hawaii.

That’s a huge part of my photography in general, and film fits right into it.

I’ve spent years shooting different film stocks and learning what I reach for depending on the session, location and light. Some give me those classic colors I know I’m going to love. Others are there because I want to experiment and see what they give me.

My camera bag is a bit like Mary Poppins’ bag full of goodies of different film stocks.

Family Photography on Film Doesn’t Have to Feel Serious

I think sometimes people hear “film photography” and immediately picture something very editorial or very precious.

And sure, it can be.

But we’re also photographing your kids.

They can get wet.

They can run.

They can splash each other.

We can make a beautiful portrait and then five minutes later make something completely ridiculous.

Some of my favorite film photographs from Maui family sessions have happened when we stopped worrying about keeping everyone perfectly dry and just went for it.

If everyone ends the session with sandy feet and wet clothes, I’m always 100% happy about it.

Film + Digital Maui Family Photography

You also don’t have to choose between film and digital.

I photograph with both.

Digital gives me speed and flexibility, especially with kids and movement. Film makes me slow down and look at a scene differently. Using them together gives a gallery variety without making it feel like you booked two completely different photographers.

You might have a crisp digital photograph sitting next to a medium format film frame, followed by something grainier, more experimental or made with an entirely different film stock.

I love that.

Your gallery doesn’t need to look like the same photograph repeated 75 times.

What About Experimental Film?

Absolutely.

This is where I get to play.

I love experimenting with different film stocks because they don’t all behave the same way. Some give beautiful classic tones, while others can create unexpected colors, light leaks, grain and effects that make a frame feel completely different.

And that’s the point.

Not every film photograph needs to lean in the same direction. We can make the timeless portraits and then make something a little strange. We can photograph the beautiful family photo and then load a different stock and have some fun.

There doesn’t need to be one rule for what film is supposed to look like.

If you love the experimental stuff, tell me. I’m very happy to bring out the fun rolls.

sessions where I am snapping fun experimental film I will also have another camera loaded with a different film stock so there is a balance between your images in the final gallery

Can We Take Film Photos in the Water?

YES.

And I don’t just mean standing at the edge of the ocean with water around your ankles.

Underwater film cameras are part of the fun too.

If the ocean conditions are safe and everyone is comfortable getting in, we can take the session straight into the water and actually photograph on film from there.

It’s an entirely different perspective from the photographs we make on shore. Water, movement, bubbles, distorted light and whatever happens when everyone forgets for a minute that we’re technically still taking family photos.

Kids usually need approximately zero convincing.

And because we’re doing this on Maui, the Pacific is already right there.

We might as well use it.

Is Film Good for Maui Couples Sessions Too?

Absolutely !

Everything I love about photographing families on film translates beautifully to couples sessions, engagements, proposals and weddings.

Film can be romantic without everything becoming overly serious. We can make the classic portraits you’ll want forever and still experiment with movement, water, different film stocks and whatever Maui decides to give us that day.

So if you’ve been specifically searching for a Maui film photographer for couples, yes, you’re in the right place too.

Looking for a Maui Film Photographer?

Hi 👋🏻 Found me.

If you landed here because you’ve been Googling Maui film photographer, Maui family photographer, family film photography in Hawaii or trying to find someone who will actually incorporate film into your session, this is very much my thing.

I photograph families and couples throughout Maui using a mix of digital, 35mm and medium format film, along with underwater film photography when the session and conditions allow for it.

Some rolls are classic. Some are colorful. Some are experimental. Some go underwater. Some come back from the lab exactly how I pictured them, and others surprise me completely.

That’s what keeps film fun.

I love beautiful portraits.

I love color.

I love grain.

I love trying different stocks and cameras.

And I really love getting film scans back from the lab and finding that one frame I couldn’t have planned if I tried.

So if you want your Maui family photos to include a little film, a lot of film, experimental film, underwater film, or a mix of film and digital, I’d love to photograph it.