Your whole crew,
barefoot in the sand
during golden hour.
Everything you need to plan a beach portrait session on the Kona & Kohala Coast — from the team at Hawaii Family Portraits.
You came a long way to be together. A beach session is simply a way to keep the way it felt — sandy feet, salt in the hair, everyone laughing at the same dumb joke — long after the tan fades.
We've photographed families, couples, and big multi-generational reunions on the Kona and Kohala Coast every week of the year for nearly a decade. We know the beaches, the light, the wind, and the particular magic of getting a two-year-old and a grandparent to smile in the same ten seconds. What follows is the way we walk every family through it.
Read it through once. Then come back to the outfit guide while you pack, the timeline a few weeks out, and the day-of game plan the morning of your session. Anything you can't find here, call us. That's what we're for.
"We were nervous the kids would melt down. Instead we got the most us photos we've ever had." Recent family — Mauna Kea Beach
The Timeline
The earlier you reserve, the more we can do for you. Here's what a smooth plan looks like, working backwards from your session. Tap any milestone.
Reserve your date with us. Peak windows — June–August and Thanksgiving through New Year — fill quickly, and golden-hour slots go first. Already inside two weeks? Call us directly at 808-215-9042 and we'll find a way.
Confirm your head count, who's in the photos, and roughly where on the coast you'd like to meet. Tell us about anyone with mobility needs, a newborn, or a toddler who naps at a fixed time — we'll build the plan around them.
Start pulling outfits together using Section 04. Lay everything out on a bed, photograph it, and text us the picture — we're happy to give a thumbs up or a gentle "swap that one neon shirt" before you pack.
A quick 15-minute call to lock the exact beach, the meeting spot, and the start time. We watch the forecast and the tide for your date and reach out if anything looks worth adjusting.
Steam or hang the outfits, charge nobody's iPad for the car ride (kidding — charge it), and get the little ones to bed early. We'll send a final confirmation with the meeting pin and what to bring.
Arrive a few minutes early, kick off your shoes, and let us do the rest. The best sessions feel less like a photo shoot and more like an hour at the beach that happens to be photographed beautifully.
Sunset sessions during peak season are the single most-requested slot we offer. If your heart is set on one, reserving 6–8 weeks ahead is the difference between your first choice and your third.
Choosing Your Location
The west side of the Big Island has more cinematic backdrops per mile than almost anywhere on earth. The right one depends on the look you want, how much walking works for your group, and whether you'd rather be on a public beach or somewhere all your own.
Anaeho'omalu Bay (A-Bay)
West-facing crescent beach framed by coconut palms, with golden-hour light that turns the whole bay rose and amber. Easy, flat access and gentle water make it our go-to for families with little ones and for big reunion groups who need room to spread out.
Old Kona Airport
A long, easygoing stretch of sand and lava close to town, with calm tide pools, shade trees, and grassy areas. Forgiving footing and short walks — ideal for grandparents, strollers, and restless toddlers.
Mauna Lani Coastline
Ancient fishponds and black lava rock against turquoise water — a film-still backdrop. Choose this if you want images that feel cinematic and a little wild, with texture in every frame.
Mauna Kea Beach
A wide expanse of soft, pale sand and open ocean. Perfect for the clean, postcard look — endless beach, endless blue, and plenty of space for kids to run between frames.
Your private residence
Renting a home or villa for the trip? We'll come to you. Your lawn, lanai, or private beach access means no crowds, easy bathroom and snack breaks, and a setting that's truly yours — wonderful for newborns and large groups alike.
Tell us your group size, the youngest and oldest ages, and the feeling you're after — playful, classic, dramatic — and we'll match you to the right beach. It's the first thing we cover on the planning call.
Timing & Light
Light on the Kona coast is the real gift — soft, warm, west-facing, unlike anywhere else. The window you choose changes the entire feeling of your photos.
Sunset
Sessions start between 5:00 and 6:15 p.m. depending on the season. The golden-to-rose light is unbeatable and the whole family is awake and fed. The trade-off: it's the busiest slot, so we reserve it first and move quickly when the color peaks.
Sunrise
Sessions begin around 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. The beaches are nearly empty, the air is cool, and the light is pink and soft. Surprisingly great with young kids — they wake up happy, and you'll have the whole day ahead afterward.
If it's overcast
Clouds are not a problem — they're often a gift. Soft, diffused light makes skin glow, removes harsh squinting, and gives those dramatic painted skies. Some of our most emotional family images happen on cloudy days.
"Trust the photographer on timing. The half hour they pick is the half hour the sky shows off."
What to Wear
The number-one thing that makes a family look pulled-together on camera isn't matching — it's a shared palette. Pick two or three colors, then let everyone live inside that range.
Start from a palette
Sand & Sage
Creams, soft greens, and a touch of clay. Reads timeless and blends beautifully with lava and palms.
Ocean Blues
Layered blues anchored with white and khaki. The reliable choice for big groups — everyone fits without thinking.
Blush & Coral
Warm neutrals with a pop of coral or blush. Glows under sunset light and flatters every skin tone.
Coordinate, don't match
Identical outfits read like a uniform. Instead, keep everyone in the same color family and mix it up — one in the deep tone, one in the light, one with a small pattern.
Add texture & movement
Linen, gauze, light cotton, and flowy dresses catch the ocean breeze and photograph alive. A little movement beats a stiff, starched look every time.
Dress for sand & water
Assume bare feet and a wave or two. Choose hems and fabrics you won't fuss over, and let the kids get wet — those are usually the favorite frames.
Skip these
Big logos, neon, all-black, and tiny busy patterns fight the scenery. Pure-white tops can glow a little hot at sunset — soft cream is the safer white.
Babies & toddlers
Simple, soft, and breathable. Pack a backup outfit and a favorite snack. Rompers and little dresses move well; avoid anything scratchy or tight at the neck.
For big groups
Pick the palette first and share it in the family group chat. A quick pinned photo of two or three approved colors keeps twenty people effortlessly in sync.
Still deciding? Lay the outfits out, snap a photo, and text it to us before you fly. A 30-second look from us now saves the "I wish we'd worn…" later.
Getting Kids Camera-Ready
We've never met a kid we couldn't work with. The secret isn't getting everyone to behave — it's connection over perfection. Chase the real laughs and the keepers follow. Here's what actually works.
Feed and rest them first
A fed, rested kid is a happy kid. Time the session around naps when you can, and bring a small snack for the car. Avoid anything that stains — save the blue popsicle for after.
Hype it up, don't threaten
Frame it as "we get to go play at the beach with a fun photographer," never "you'd better behave for pictures." Kids feel the pressure you bring, so come with playful, silly energy and they'll match it.
Let them run
Some of our best frames are kids sprinting, splashing, and being chased. We rarely ask children to sit still and say cheese — we follow the play and catch the real thing.
Keep the bribe in your pocket
A small reward for after — shave ice, a trip to the tide pools, screen time — works wonders. Tell them the fun thing comes after we play, and let us handle the rest.
Let us be the goofballs
If a toddler won't look at the lens, that's fine — we'll make the parents laugh instead, and the kids follow. Tickle fights, "don't you dare smile," and made-up songs are all standard equipment.
Trust the chaos
Meltdowns happen. We build in time for them and we're never rattled. The photo right after a good cry — when everyone's snuggled back together — is often the one you'll frame.
"We're not after a perfect family. We're after yours — the real, sandy, laughing one."
Day-Of Game Plan
Tick each one as you go — your progress saves automatically, so you can close this and come back the morning of your session.
Get set
Ease in
Get ready
Let it happen
Celebrate
After Your Session
The hour on the beach is only half of it. Here's what happens next — and how these images become the ones on your wall, in your album, and in the family group chat for years.
When you get the images
Your full edited gallery lands in your inbox within 48 hours — often before you fly home. You'll get a private link to view, download, and share, so the announcement and the holiday card practically write themselves.
Prints & albums
Screens fade; prints last. Through your gallery you can order archival prints, canvases, and heirloom albums built to survive sandy hands and many moves. We're glad to help you choose the frames that belong on your wall.
Coming back
Many families we photograph return year after year — a babymoon, a one-year session, then the big reunion. We keep your history on file so each set of photos picks up right where the last one left off.
"These are the photos our grandkids will fight over someday."
What to Expect to Spend
No mystery, no pressure. Here's where most families land — and why it's the spot that gives you the most to take home.
Sessions start at a $749 minimum, and that's a lovely keepsake. But at around $1,750, a session becomes the full experience we built this guide around — unhurried golden-hour light, room for the kids to be kids, and a gallery made to be printed. At this level most families take home a statement piece of wall art — these images are meant to live on your walls, not just a screen.
- A planning call and location guidance, tailored to your group
- A full session of up to 60 minutes at golden hour, at the beach you choose
- Hand-editing of every keeper, in our signature warm style
- Your private online gallery of proofs within 48 hours
- A statement piece of wall art for your home
Group size, location, and season all shift the final number a little. Tell us what you have in mind on the planning call and we'll give you an exact quote — but $1,750 is the range where the value really opens up.
We'll take care of the beach, the timing, the light, and getting everyone to laugh at once. You just show up barefoot.
Reserve your date
Info@hawaiifamilyportraits.comHawaii Family Portraits · Waikoloa Beach · Kona · Kohala Coast