Justine & Chad: Making it Count
Hawaii is heaven. The sunrise & sunset is another kind of magic out there. My good friends out in Oahu got married this past August, and together we created some amazing imagery to celebrate their love and the paradise of the island. After figuring out that we had no time to go off to a remote location on the actual day of their wedding, I had decided it was best to shoot a few days beforehand to ensure we got the memories that I was envisioning. So that’s what we did. We got up at 5am to make it out to the South Shore of Hawaii Kai, and we caught one of the most beautiful sunrises ever created in the history of sunrises. Haha. It was pretty sweet though.
Shooting before the wedding? Letting him see you in your dress? Ja, are you nuts man?!?! I have nothing but the best intentions in mind, and in this case, I think it was okay to break the rules. The fact of the matter is that there is never enough time. Your wedding day will go by…..just like that. A blink of an eye, and what is left besides the click of every shutter of my camera. My goal is simply to get the most memories out of your WEDDING. So these are one of the things that I do in pre-shoots or post-shoots. It’s essentially MORE time for us to be creative and go nuts with it. Lets head out to an amazing cliffside or romantic field in the middle of nowhere. Why not?
If you look at magazines whether fashion or bridal fashion, there is a good chance that you see photographs that you love and want to incorporate into your own wedding story. If you are that person, I encourage you to step out of the box and go for it. I promise you’ll have no regrets in the end. You only live once.
Thank you to Pacific Weddings for featuring my photos and for giving me the cover! I’ll post the cover shot soon! Mahalo!
Artist Shoutout: Nicole Naone
Nicole Naone is a model/artist out in Honolulu. Go on her site and blog to check out her work and crazy life. She draws inspiration from everywhere like travel, other artists, and from her beautiful homeland. I think she’s an amazing influencer and is pushing art and knowledge into the island. Support!
Taken in Downtown, HI
The Search For Style: A Never Ending Process
I definitely think I’m a lifestyle photographer. What is lifestyle? I think it has multiple definitions for many artists. I think it’s imagery that MANY people can relate to. Whether it’s a portrait, a culture, location, or brand, my goal is to create pictures that people can connect with on a different level.
I think what we get influenced by in our youth is what builds that foundation for us stylistically. We’re all drawn to certain trends and influences, right? Take for example this shoot I did in Kailua. I did a test shoot with Kiani Yamamoto and Matty Wong. If you didn’t see it by now, I love Hawaii and everything about the culture! The people have a laid back, positive vibe about them, and you just can’t go wrong with the scenery. The best thing about test shoots is that you learn a lot about yourself as an artist. Most of the creative control is in your hands, so that’s where your journey of finding your style begins.
Like I said earlier, so much of it is about connection. For this shoot it was about showcasing the culture of Hawaii through 2 people and the beautiful scenery that Kailua brings. I love making the most simplest things come to life. It’s challenging, but once its captured, it’s so liberating for me. Every story is different. Sometimes your focus is the fashion and wardrobe. A lot of times it’s about the energy and interaction between people. Many times it’s about that culture or trend that you’re trying to portray. All these things factor into your own visual style and how you compose pictures. The little things definitely count.
Another huge part is telling a story through stills. Creating a storyboard of images where each picture is unique, but is even more dynamic collectively, is one of the sweetest things about the job. Stylistically, there are so many ways to tell stories. It’s pretty crazy how pictures can communicate with one another. So fun! I’m daydreaming now. Haha.
The fact of the matter is your style may change several times in your journey. Advice? Don’t get frustrated. If you fall, get up, and try again. Surround yourself with positive people, and with artists that make you feel like you’re not competing with them when you talk about art. The important thing is to make sure you have a style and to keep chasing the idea of it. If you don’t have one yet, that is totally fine! Finding yourself will be the most rewarding experience. In the meantime, don’t sit around. Go get inspired and find the right people to influence you.
Justine Miguel: Before the Wedding
Well, I wouldn’t exactly call this a boudoir shoot, but it has its similarities for sure. Justine and I were just brainstorming the storyline for her wedding, and we definitely wanted to showcase the sensual side of her personality, but still staying true to her relaxed hawaii lifestyle.
We shot these images at the beach house where Justine had her wedding reception on the North Shore of Oahu. I dig these a lot because it’s really simple and intimate. From the lighting & wardrobe, I feel like it portrays that vibe about Justine that she’s just a another girl from the island.
Stayed tuned for the rest of the images from Chad and Justine’s wedding! Mahalo!
