After photographing hundreds of weddings over the years it’s safe to say that we’ve seen some pretty amazing destination wedding dresses here in Maui.  The dress is probably the most important part of any bride’s big day! After all of the planning, fittings and time that you spent choosing and perfecting your gown, we can’t think of a better reason to schedule some time to be photographed in it before your ceremony.

Some of the reasons that we recommend these types of sessions is that your dress will be in perfect condition, your makeup will be freshly applied and your hair will be exactly the way you want it to look.  Often times we are able to use natural lighting which is excellent for portraits.

These moments are priceless and will be viewed and cherished by your family, children and grandchildren for generations to come.

Please contact our office to discuss the benefits of scheduling pre-ceremony bridal photography, to see more of our work, please visit our website.

Tyson and the guys were all hanging out enjoying the picture perfect view of Kapalua Bay when I got there. It was fun working with them to create a few non-traditional group shots and portraits. Soon, the girls arrived and it was time for the ceremony to begin. After blowing the conch shell, Reverend Dennis De Rego guided the couple through their vows and ring exchange before Michelle and Tyson sealed the deal with a kiss. After about 70 guests hugged, kissed, and high-fived their way through the receiving line we did some family and bridal party portraits. The bright orange dresses of the bridesmaids along with the blue sky helped create some very colorful and wonderfully contrasty images. After that the couple took a nice romantic walk down the beach and enjoyed a spectacular sunset before returning to Merriman’s for their reception.

Dinner was on and the food was top-notch. The guests enjoyed both mahi and filet mignon on a single gourmet plate. The staff moved fast and had the whole party served right away. After the main course, there were several heartfelt toasts and speeches. The large deck outside overlooking the ocean had been converted to a dance floor during dinner and now there was music, lights, and a crowd gathering to watch as Michelle and Tyson had their first dance. Even though it was time for me to go, I knew the party was just getting started. Many thanks to Michelle and Tyson for booking us!

To see more Maui wedding and portrait photography, please go to www.mikesidney.com

In preparation for an ad they are running for the Maui Film Festival, Debbie commissioned me to create several images showcasing a recent install of a murphy bed inside the home of one of her Wailea clients. I was immediately  impressed with the high-end style and quality of the design. When I first saw the room, I never would have guessed there was a queen size bed just hiding on the other side of what appeared to be a very stylish closet. I was amazed how easily Debbie lowered and raised the bed. It works really well and only takes a few seconds to open or hide. The Maui Closet Company also installed the computer desk to create a fully finished look in the room. The little details, like the custom handles and recessed lighting compliment the theme of being simultaneously utilitarian and aesthetically pleasing.

Photographer’s note: It’s always important to be mindful of any visible lines when photographing interiors. I always use a little gadget I picked up at a trade show that fits on top of the camera’s hot shoe and has 2 levels (the bubble kind). One works with the camera positioned vertically, and the other horizontally. Even with a perfectly level camera, I still had to do some image manipulation in Photoshop due to having to use a very wide angle lens because of the small size of the room. There is a very useful filter called “lens correction” that incorporates the same features (such as barrel distortion and perspective correction) as a plugin filter I had previously purchased. If you do any kind structural photography, you definitely want to check it out. Aloha!

Photographer’s note: At one point Sophie became intrigued with the lens and tried to grab it. By keeping her interested in it, I was able to capture a nice expression with her in what might be called the “cookie jar” perspective. Another little helpful tactic was employing the use of a squeeze toy (any pet shop will have one). The sound got her attention, and then by giving the toy to dad, it created a nice interaction between them.

Check out more children’s portraits at mikesidney.com!
Aloha,
-mike

Photographer’s note: For some of the images I wanted to create a voyeuristic kind of feel since it was just the two of them. I like to place natural objects like leaves or bamboo in the foreground and shoot with a wide aperture to insure that only my subjects are in focus. I find that darker objects work better, but I’ve been know to spend some time in Photoshop to achieve just the right effect with lighter objects too. Which one do you think uses the effect best?

For more Maui wedding and portrait photography, please check out mikesidney.com.

Mahalo!

-mike