Hi, we're Shawn + Adam
Family Image: Angela Nelson Photography
It's Adam's smiling face you'll see at your beach portrait or elopement. As a lifelong waterman and licensed drone pilot, Adam will take care of you from start to finish photographing your session from the land, sea + sky. Adam created the ocean art imagery you see in our online shop, and continues to pursue new personal projects to keep fresh and inspired!
Portrait + OCean art Photography
It's JUST THE TWO OF US
Shawn will be your first point of communication when planning and booking your shoot. She's the caption writer, Instagram story poster, e-mailer, and the one who will edit your images to perfection. Unsure who you're talking to on Instagram? If the message is accompanied by multiple emojis, exclamation points and enthusiastic typing... it's her.
Editing, e-mailing + marketing
It's JUST THE TWO OF US
How it all began
I was studying abroad at University of the Sunshine Coast in 2005, and met Adam, an Aussie born and raised in Mooloolaba, during my last three weeks in Australia. After meeting, he took me on surf adventures and we had fun in the sun, then left it at MAYBE when I boarded the plane back to Charleston to finish my degree.
Who would have known...
After returning from study abroad, I finished an internship at Teen People in NYC, sure I'd take a job there post-graduation. The magazine folded, though, so not knowing what to do, I booked a ticket back to Australia to hang out with Adam. On New Years Day 2007, I found myself once again on Aussie soil.
Adam met me at the airport in oz. what followed were several years working several jobs, with several dreams.
We moved in together from day one, not even an official couple, but figured we'd see how things went. Adam owned accommodation for travelers at the time, conducting surf tours and shooting in the ocean. I did anything I could to survive, from picking strawberries to pouring lattes. Not long after purchasing a home together, we decided we needed to chase one more adventure before settling down. We sold everything but our 4WD, and embarked on a 3 month journey across Australia with our golden retriever in tow.
We then applied for a green card for Adam, knowing we wanted to try to live in the US but unsure where.
When Adam's green card was approved, we had three months to pick up and move. We had plans to return to Charleston where I'd gone to school but just weeks before departing Australia saw a photo of a girl in a pink bikini swimming underwater on Oahu. It caught Adam's eye. The rest is history.
We'd never been to Maui before we moved.
It was a quiz on the internet that led us here, and in 2014 we landed in Kahului with four suitcases, our golden retriever Marley, and no $*%&ing clue what we were doing. Within months, we found our stride as photographers, and that year embarked on our full-time, dream career as full time photographers on Maui.
THE OCEAN
can't live without
WENTWORTH
favorite show
SHELLING
CURRENT HOBBY
MOTIVATION
We thrive on
SIMPLICITY
WE LOVE
Sunrise spent shooting or shelling in the ocean
Growing new things in the garden and
creative writing
It's important to enjoy the little things and never forget to acknowlege the good and bad alike. Life is imperfect and is best left that way.
Do you agree?
Want to sea more?
Adam photographed Alohi in the open ocean, and what came together was meant to be.
This COVID pivot was a work of heart. Enjoy our selection of Maui beach essentials by L+W
Like what you sea?
Whether taking your family's annual Maui vacation, a kama'aina client or first-time babymooner, we'd love to capture your love from the land, sea + sky. Let's get to know you!
CONTACT US NOW