What to expect from your Hawaii photoshoot with Love and Water

Wondering what you expect from your Hawaii beach portrait session with Love + Water Photography? From booking to shoot to what happens after your session, we’re diving in to some of our client’s most frequently asked questions.

Whether you’re researching photographers in Hawaii, booked your session or are a photographer looking to increase client awareness, here are some things you need to know about our processes to make sure everyone is on the same page so expectations can be set, met and exceeded!

As always, if any of these points spark a question, reach out. We’re happy to help!

Meet Love + Water

Hi everyone! My name is Shawn. My husband Adam and I are the founders of Love + Water Photography who oversee our small and talented team of associates! Love + Water was established in Wailea, Maui in 2014. What began as the two of us shooting alongside one another has transformed in to a team of photographers to service our clients, from maternity sessions to proposals and family beach portraits in Wailea, Maui, West Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island!

What to expect from your Hawaii photoshoot with Love + Water

When should I book my Maui photoshoot?

Travel dates set? Book your tickets, flights, transportation and accommodation first, then contact us ASAP so we can book your shoot! We book out anywhere from 1-12 months in advance but can often accommodate even last-minute bookings. Go ahead an get in touch! We’ll check availability and get the ball rolling to arrange your Maui beach photography session.

If you want your images for holiday cards, early October is the absolute latest you should be booking to have images available for ordering. Our editing turnaround time is four weeks, unless you opt for expedited editing.

For weddings, we recommend booking as soon as you arrange your venue.

What is the booking process?

1. Inquire with us and we’ll check our availability based on your preferred session date and time. If we have one of the dates free during your stay, we will send through a proposal. From this proposal you’ll be able to view and select your package.
   
2. After package selection comes the contract. This page is perhaps the most important part of your booking process – read everything thoroughly, as it outlines absolutely everything you’ll need to know. Ask questions, always!
   
3. After signing, pay your $250 non-refundable retainer to secure your session date (or 50% non-refundable retainer for weddings). We’ll send through a confirmation within 24 business hours (M-F, 9am – 2pm HST).
   

What is a non-refundable retainer?

Your non-refundable retainer is due to schedule your session. It is non-refundable and deducted from your package balance. Once we take that amount, we set aside your session date and time and turn down other work. Because shoots are photographed by our associates, we pay them a large portion of the retainer to set aside the date on their calendar. Of course, we are also human beings, so if you need to cancel or reschedule due to unforeseen circumstances, you’ll find our policy outlined in your contract.

Can we arrange a phone call?

Due to the time zone differences, phone consultations are not available. We are very responsive and answer all e-mails within 24 business hours. This might at times be 48 hours. We promise, though, your message is important to us and will be answered as soon as possible.

What are your office hours?

Our in-office hours are Monday – Friday, 9am – 2pm HST. We set up an auto-responder on weekends and holidays, and will dive in to emails on Monday or the next business day. You can expect a reply within 24 business hours (maybe 48, see above). If you have a shoot over the weekend and need to touch base, we’ll keep in touch, so no worries!

When should I book my shoot?

We highly recommend booking your session during the first half of your trip so we have a better chance of rescheduling in the case of rain or unforseen circumstances. If you can’t – no worries!

Packages and pricing

What is your pricing?

You can check out our Hawaii photography packages here.

Do you offer discounts?

Return and kama’aina clients always have and always will receive 10% off their portrait package on any island! We also offer payment plans to make investing in your experience more affordable – just ask!

Do you offer mini sessions?

We offer both a 30 minute and 45 minute session for those who prefer a shorter shoot duration.

What Hawaii photography package is right for me?

We recommend a Land + Seashells or Land + Sea Mini Session for most couples, maternity sessions and small families. A one hour session is perfect for couples, maternity and family clients who have an outfit change or two or want more images to choose from. We also offer a Land + Sea Extended collection for extended family portraits.

Extended portraits with multiple families

We love large group/extended family sessions! There are a few very important things to keep in mind with large group sessions. Because multiple family units are involved, you can expect less time dedicated to individual families than you may have with a portrait with your family alone. For this reason, extended family sessions mostly result in posed group imagery with some separate images of the different families. If multiple poses/image requests/candid images are desired for each family unit, we highly recommend purchasing a separate session for your small group instead of expecting to receive a large variety of images of your family alone during an extended family session.

Our phtoographers are amazing but it takes a lot of time to connect with such a large group and gather all the poses each member wants, especially if multiple kids are involved. Please keep expectations realistic with how many portraits each family will receive. Again, if portraits of your family alone are of high importance, purchase a session for yourselves – we offer 10% off for return clients and can apply this to any package of your family flying solo 🙂

What is the permit fee I see on my invoice?

We must pull permits for each beach photography session and have added a $20 fee to each package to cover the cost of doing so. When you book your shoot, you’ll find the WikiPermit fee automatically added to your invoice.

Associate Photographers

We are a small business and most sessions are photographed by Adam. We also have two associate photographers who have shot sessions for us over the last several years, and associates on the Big Island and Oahu. If your shoot is with an associate, we’re not just linking you with any random person to shoot your sesh – we’ll put you in the very capable hands of a professional photographer who specializes in the style of session you’ve hired our team to shoot. All shoots are still edited by myself for consistency.

Of course, the outcome of your session will depend not only on the time of day but the island where the shoot is photographed. We have separate Maui, Big Island and Oahu portfolios for this reason.

Do you photograph Maui weddings and elopements?

Yes! We love photographing beach elopements!

I’m a return client – can I shoot with the same photographer?

If you’re a return client who prefers to shoot with the same photographer you shot with last time, feel free to request them, and we’ll see what we can do!

Sunrise or sunset?

Choosing the best time for your Hawaii portraits is important! Sunrise and sunset both have distinct advantages. We urge you to first consider what works best for you and your guests rather than just the visual outcome of the images, although we know this is a big factor too.

Clouds

Cloud cover isn’t a make or break! We don’t reschedule for cloudy conditions, which can produce anything from tranquil, muted tones to vibrant sunsets. Lighting aside, the most important thing is the connection you share with your family and loved ones during your session.

Wind

Maui is the windiest of the Hawaiian Islands. Trade winds will pick up in the afternoon, and we are used to working with it, but don’t reschedule sessions for wind. If wind is a concern, we highly recomend a sunrise session.

Sunrise Sessions

We always think the light is loveliest and softest at sunrise, which consistently produces the most pastel palette. We recommend sunrise for those who are camera-shy as there are less people around. It’s an early rise, but if you book early in your trip coming from the mainland it’s likely the timing will work in your favor! Sunrise tends to be less windy, too. As far as colors, sunrise will always produce softer tones.

Sunset Sessions

Sunset is easier for a lot of people, and it also happens to be one of our favorite times of day! Don’t be surprised, though, when the beach is busy – sunset on Maui is prime time (I edit all distractions out of the background). When it comes to tones (and more on this later), sunset can be either vibrant on a cloudless afternoon to moody and cooler in tone if it’s cloudy. All of the images you see here were taken at sunset.

While we understand the desire for a bright and colorful sunset, we can’t guarantee it will be this way and we shoot with what we are given the afternoon of your session and consider cloud to be just as beautiful as a glowing orange sky. Shoots are not rescheduled if there is cloud cover or wind.

Clouds and “Fake” Skies

We work with the elements, and never use fake skies in our editing process. That might mean it’s cloudy the afternoon of your shoot and you don’t see the sunset at all. As mentioned above, we do not reschedule for cloud, as beautiful images can still be achieved (actually, we sometimes prefer the even lighting of a cloudy afternoon!)

Location and Shoot Styles

Where will our shoot take place?

Most of the shoots you see in our portfolio were photographed in Wailea on the island of Maui. Sessions photographed on the Big Island and Oahu will have a much different backdrop but you can expect the same editing style as we show for our Wailea sessions.

Can we get in the water?

We’ll only take you near the water if conditions are safe. If you have your heart set on water work, please realize it’s not always possible as we work with the conditions we’re given. If water work is not possible, we’ll stay on the beach and still gather a collection of gorgeous images together!

Can we take underwater images?

At this time we only offer underwater photography for our personal projects.

What is the turnaround time for images?

We send a sneak peek within 48 hours, and your finished gallery, ready for image selection, within 4 weeks. Need your images sooner? We offer expedited turnaround for $250.

Hair, Makeup and Florals

Will you recommend vendors?

Yes! Once your booking is confirmed we provide a link to our client lounge area. Here you’ll find a list of vendors we frequently work with. It’s important to know you do NOT need to follow this list – it’s a starting point. Don’t think just because someone isn’t on the list they’re not perfect for the job!

All bookings are handled directly by you and the vendor, so check what their policies are relating to photoshoots, cancellations etc. Also, book early to avoid disappointment.

Also, we do not give or receive commission to or from anyone on our list, and they’re recommended based on glowing reviews from past clients. If you worked with someone you loved, let us know!

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Editing

Post processing is a big thing for us, and you can expect your images to have an aesthetic consistent to our brand. Editing is an intensive process, however, so there are certain things we can perform to each images, and retouching that requires more work. If you do have edits you’d like performed in excess of what has already been done, you’ll be able to request these post-session and they are charged at a rate of $50 per image. More on this later.

Liquifying

Any “liquifying” you want done post-shoot will incur an additional editing cost. We pose subjects well and extensive body retouching is not something we do. I understand there may be parts of yourself you’d prefer to have retouched in post-processing. This is a personal preference and we do this at a rate of $50 per image as outlined in your session agreement.

Acne, Ezcema and Orthodontic Devices

Removal of orthodontic devices such as Invisalign is considered an advanced edit and charged at $50 per image. If your acne, ezcema or other skin condition is of concern, I understand! Skin retouching is a time-consuming process and while I will keep this in mind will not fully remove extensive acne/ezcema without an additional editing charge. We highly recommend the use of a professional makeup artist to address any concerns prior to your session so you feel your most confident!

Sunburn

If you’re purple with stark white feet this will incur an additional editing cost 😉 If there’s an Apple watch tan in a few pics that you want to print, I will take care of this.

If sunburn is a concern, book early in your stay if possible (we recommend doing this anyway), and wear lots of reef-friendly sunscreen in the days leading up to your shoot! Have the tendancy to burn? Wear an outfit that covers the areas of concern.

Bra/underwear lines

Wardrobe malfunctions happen and I’ll edit out a stray strap or tag, but if you wear a strapped bra with a strapless dress, removing this stap in each image will be an advanced edit. We recommend silicone adhesive bras if you’re concerned about straps showing.

Wrinkles in clothes

Generally, we leave the wardrobe up to you, so any excess edits beyond what we already perform will be charged as it does take time to perform them. A stray wrinkle here and there is no big deal to fix but full shirts, shorts, etc. on each image is a larger job that requires an additional editing fee.

Footprints

We frequently, but not always, remove footprints in the sand. Done on a case-by-case basis, this particular edit is not performed on each image in your gallery, it just doesn’t look right in every situation.

Hair

If the flyaways are distracting I will remove them from your image in most cases. On very windy days, hair might be flying in all directions – we recommend putting your hair back or fixing it up between shots/pulling away from your face if this is a concern.

People and distracting objects

We always edit out other people from your shoots, so don’t worry! I also remove distracting background objects as deemed necessary.

You!

We don’t expect you to look or pose like a model. We do our best to set the stage for comfort during your session, then rely on your ability to connect with yourself, your partner, your baby-to-be, your family. Remember, we specialize in families, pregnancy, and couples and are not high fashion photographers. We think you’re amazing the way you are. Body and appearance are a very personal thing and what you think should or shouldn’t be retouched some people may think differently of themselves. This is why we focus on capturing connection, which is entirely yours. If there is something that really concerns you (hello huge zit before your photoshoot ;)) just mention it so I can keep in mind when editing.

Relax and enjoy!

Basic vs. advanced edits

BASIC EDIT (INCLUDED)	ADVANCED EDIT ($50 per image)
Smoothing some flyaways	Liquifying
Light acne retouching	Orthodontic devices/invisalign
Minor sunburn reduction	Undereye bags/wrinkles
Apple Watch tan	Scar removal
Color correction and contrast	Tattoo removal
Sky enhancement (not replacement)	Exteme sunburn/tanline removal
Footprints removal (some images, not all)	Enhancing or reducing appearance of makeup
	Whitening teeth
	Removing/reducing appearance of balding
	Advanced edits performed only when possible.

Can I print my photos anywhere?

Can and should are two different things, lol! A print release is included within your contract so you may download your chosen images and take them anywhere. You know, the sly photo for grandma or to stick up on the fridge. HOWEVER, we highly recommend printing directly from your gallery for two reasons.

1. We can monitor the quality and liaise directly with our professional lab. If you print outside your gallery, we can’t guarantee quality and color replication (I’m talking to you, Costco!)
   
2. Our print prices are extremely affordable and we do all the legwork, so there’s really no reason not to!

Can I print a photo HUGE?

We guarantee optimum print quality up to 12 x 18”. You can print beyond this size but should expect grain and slight deterioration of quality from much larger prints. We recommend you print through your gallery with sizes over 12 x 18″ so we can monitor quality, which we cannot do if your images are printed through an outside lab. While your photos will be of great quality, we value meaningful moments as much as we do clear imagery – if a fleeting moment between you and your loved ones happens and the image is a bit out of focus, we’ll include the image for you. We see beauty in a variety of ways and invite you to do the same!

Image Requests

Wondering what to expect from your Hawaii photoshoot when it comes to image replication? This point is SUPER important to touch on! We show our best work in our portfolio, because that is what a portfolio is for – not to promise you can expect the same hero images from your own shoot. If we could, we would!

We work with the day. We work with the elements. Every client’s dynamic is different. Our current hero image is often the subject of request, but the day of that session had a particular swell size and direction, and we got lucky with the placement of the wave.

We cannot recreate images exactly, even if they’re taken from our own portfolio.

Even if you pull inspo from our own work, realize that shot you’re showing was most likely a one off. Make your shoot your own, create your own magic, because we can almost guarantee you’ll be disappointed if your goal is to achieve something 100% similar to another image we’ve created. What we CAN recreate is our editing style. It’s not fair to assume we can recreate an image from another shoot, or a sunset sky – these things are out of our control. Please don’t put the weight of your expectation on your photographer – we’re there to take photos and make you feel relaxed, so just bring that authenticity and go with the flow! Create YOUR hero shot.

Image Selection

Can we choose our images?

Yes and no. After your session wraps, we’ll cull down your images and retouch a select amount to show you in your finished gallery. From this amount you’ll be able to choose the number included in your package, or upgrade to all the images we show in the gallery for an additional fee. We don’t show or release all or unedited/RAW images.

Land + Seashells
Choose 15 images out of 40-60 or upgrade to all shown for an additional fee.

Land + Sea Mini
Choose 30 images out of 60-80 or upgrade to all shown for an additional fee.

Land + Sea Full
Choose 40 images out of 80-100 or upgrade to all shown for an additional fee.

How long do we have to choose?

We ask that you select your images within 1 week of your gallery’s delivery. Galleries are active for one year. This ensures you are able to have access to your chosen images for the maximum amount of time.

Due to the volume of sessions we deliver, we will not follow up for your image selections. If your gallery expires before your selections are made, there is a $150 gallery re-posting fee to activate it for another year.

What’s the turnaround time?

You’ll receive a preview within 48 hours of your session that is web sized for you to share as you please. Your final gallery will be delivered for image selection within 4 weeks of your shoot. If you don’t hear from us by then, please check spam as we always deliver your proofs in this timeframe. To make things easier, we send a courtesy e-mail when your gallery is ready so you don’t miss it!

Expedited Delivery

If you want your images in a hurry, we offer expedited editing for $250 which turns around images within 3-5 business days (normally 4 weeks).

Parting words

We are a small business built from the ground up and do everything with intention. Expect excellent service, beautiful imagery and a memorable experience to accompany your photos (because that matters, too!) We hope to see you in Hawaii soon to capture your portraits at the beach!