Extended FAQ’s - What to Expect from your Big Island portrait session

Let’s dive deep into some frequently asked questions!

When should I book my Big Island Portrait Session?

Once your flights and accommodations are booked, then get on our schedule to give you the best shot at getting the day & time that works best for you. We work with a team of professional photographers so even if your trip is last minute, good chance we can fit you in. You can check our live availability anytime by clicking the book now button.

If you’re hoping for Holiday cards from your session. We usually have images delivered in 10 days from your session depending on how quickly you choose your images.

We highly recommend to schedule your session in the first half of your trip if you can. Just in case we have to reschedule due to weather or some other unforeseen circumstance. Plus this give us the best chance to do an in person viewing which makes your life a lot easier once you leave paradise.

What is the Booking Process like?

We make it as easy as possible to book your session with us. You can book your session online in your pajamas and get instant confirmation of your session. You’re on vacation, booking fun things to do shouldn’t be work. No more waiting for an email response just to figure out availability & pricing.

1.) Click the book now button on the bottom of any page on our website & pick the service you want.

2.) Pick your day & time, then pick your package.

3.) Fill out the form and enter your credit card information for the either $99 or $150 deposit + tax & fees into the securely encrypted payment portal. Click “complete & pay.” You should get a confirmation email within a few minutes with directions to the location.

What is a non-refundable deposit?

A non-refundable deposit is due to schedule your session. The deposit is deducted from your package balance. After we collect your deposit, that date & time is set aside just for your ohana. We are humans, however, so if there is some unforeseen circumstance where you need to cancel.

Can we arrange a phone call?

Sure! Time changes can make it challenging, but we do our best to accommodate during our office hours. You can schedule a call here: Click here

What are your Office hours?

We shoot 7 days a week, but our office hours are 10am - 4pm (HST) Monday - Saturday. We will typically reply within the same or next business day. If you have a Sunday shoot, no worries! We’ll keep in touch.

What are your prices?

Sessions start at $395 for a 25-minute Kona Inn mini session. You can check out our package pricing here.

Do you offer discounts?

We do not offer discounts. The only time you’ll see discounts on our services is from a booking partner giving up some of their commission to run a promotion.

Do you offer mini sessions?

Yes! We offer a 25-minute mini session at two locations. However, it’s important to note that mini sessions are not beach portrait sessions, nor are they offered at sunset or sunrise. Those premium locations and times of day are reserved for our Beach Portrait Sessions. Learn more about our mini sessions here.

Can you accommodate extended family / multi-generational sessions with several family units?

We absolutely love large groups! There are few things to keep in mind with larger group sessions. Because big families are more involved, you can expect less time dedicated to individual families than you may have with a portrait session of your core family alone.

Do you charge for permitting?

Technically, yes. It just rolled into the cost of your session instead of being listed as a separate line item.

Can I request a specific photographer?

You can! We will do our best to accommodate based on their schedule. Otherwise, we pair you with a photographer based on the team’s schedule. That said, you can expect the same caliber of work from any of our photographers. Our photographers all go through a rigorous training and apprenticeship program before they are allowed to do sessions on their own. No matter a new hire’s skill or experience, they all start at the bottom and have to learn the company’s visual style over several months.

Should I schedule a morning or sunset session?

Choosing the best time of day for your portrait session will determine the look & feel of your session. Both morning and sunset have unique advantages. Visuals are super important, but also consider what will work best for your group instead of just the visual outcome.

Clouds - Cloud cover isn’t make or break. Clouds actually make sessions more often than they break them. We do not reschedule for cloudy conditions. The most important thing in a session is the connection you share with your loved ones.

Wind - Big Island, especially the Waikoloa area, is known for its winds. Not quite as bad as Maui, but it is something you should plan for! We will not reschedule due to high winds; we are used to working with wind. If this is a big concern for you, we highly recommend scheduling our earliest morning session available to minimize the impact of winds.

Sunrise Sessions - We are firm believers that Hawaii is best experienced in the morning. Earlier the better, sunrise if you can make it happen. Sunrises in Hawaii produce the most pastel palette. If you’re camera-shy, mornings are a great option because the beaches are mostly deserted. Getting up at 5 am on vacation sounds like a worst nightmare for some, but consider that the time zone change works in your favor early in the trip.

Sunset Sessions - By far the most popular time for obvious reasons. Sunset is much easier for most people. Sunset is Hawaiian “prime time,” so the beaches can be busy. When it comes to color and tones, sunsets can range from bright monochrome skies on a cloudless afternoon to super moody with cooler tones like blues and purples if it’s cloudy.

We work with the elements and never use fake skies in our editing process. We do not reschedule for clouds. Our primary focus is the connection between you and your loved ones. While we appreciate and understand the desire for a stunning Hawaii sunset, it’s just not always going to happen. Once weather control is affordable, we’ll let you know! ;)

Where will our shoot take place?

You can choose from the several locations we have pre-selected. However, we can go anywhere we can get a permit. You will have to make a special request to go somewhere other than our pre-selected beaches. Please note that it takes a minimum of 48 hours to get a permit processed for something other than our preselected beaches. One unique offering for locations we offer is Private Residence sessions. If you are renting an entire home via VRBO or Airbnb or something similar and have an absolutely gorgeous view or are waterfront. We can come to you and shoot at your private residence.

Can we get in the water?

Sorry for this, but it depends. Ugh… I know I hate that answer too, but it’s true, mostly for safety reasons. Most of the time, conditions are safe for getting into the water; however, we’ll only take you near the water if the conditions are safe. If you have your heart set on getting in the water, please realize it’s not always possible. The ocean in Hawaii can be very dangerous, and we take your safety seriously.

What is a “viewing” & how does it work?

A Viewing is a photography industry term for the process of choosing which photos you wish to keep. We have two viewing options: in-person viewings & online viewings.

In-person viewings - This is our default viewing. We will invite you to our studio at The Waikoloa Beach Marriott or Outrigger Kona Resort. We’ll put your images up on the TV. We’ll guide you through a process to help you choose the images you wish to keep. We’ll go over packaging and print products, and help you order digital and prints right there in person. We do not use high pressure sales tactics; we let our work do the talking and just give you information and tools to make the best decision for your family. In-person viewings typically take about 30 minutes but can last upwards of an hour.

Online Viewings - We understand vacation comes first (and should!) If you cannot reasonably make it back to the studio before you leave, we can do an online viewing. There are some limitations to online viewings, however. In the past, we’ve had issues with people taking months to make their selections. We are a small business and payroll is due every week so, If we allowed our clients to take months to finish their order, we’d go out of business by the time selections are made.

With that in mind, we will collect payment for the base package before sending an online viewing, plus we will give you 7 days to make your selections. We understand life gets busy once you return to “the real world,” and this can totally feel like homework (ew), but we have a business to run and employees to pay, so please make your selections promptly. We do make some exceptions if you communicate with us about your situation, so please reach out before your viewing expires for an extension if you need one.

Due to the sheer volume of sessions that we do, it is your responsibility to complete your online viewing in the allotted time and let us know you have finished your selections.