Matt and Leena's Beach Maternity Session

As August starts to near, I find myself at the end of a hot and busy summer. I'm hoping to slow down and take some breathers this fall. Actually, I'm real excited because in two weeks (ooh, less than two weeks now) Scott and I are taking a short trip up to LA to watch the Dodgers play. We're also going to meet up with Tricia and her boy, Nich, at Disneyland, travel down to San Diego to meet up with our wedding photog, Nely, and her family, and try to squeeze in a visit to Saddleback Church. Then, two months from now, we're going to New York and Boston for my friend's wedding and to visit my old college haunting grounds. I have to start working out to look svelte for the wedding. I'll start tomorrow. Today was just too miserable hot. But, it's not about me. Let me get back on track and tell you about the joy I received being able to photograph a friend and her husband as they prepare for the arrival of their baby girl in about five weeks.

What: Maternity Session
Who: Matt, Leena, and baby Coral (hidden at the moment)
Where: Waimanalo Beach

Leena used to work with me at my current job with the city and county of Honolulu. We were Honolulu CSI, just not as cool. We don't carry firearms and we're pretty much never allowed to talk to witnesses. And we tend to turn on lights as much as possible. Nothing like the show, which I love. Leena moved on to a job at the cancer research center last fall and that move was followed by the amazing news that she was pregnant. I was more than thrilled to be able to work with her again and hang out with her and Matt. Joy and I met them at Waimanalo Beach, my favorite location. When we first arrived, there were still a surprising number of people on the beach so we started with some woodsy shots and worked our way towards the beach. Leena had posted some pictures of her at Waimea Falls just a few weeks earlier, I had a real glimpse into her creativity and energy. I mean, the girl hiked Waimea Falls in her third trimester.

For maternity sessions, I tend to keep a watchful eye on the mother-to-be especially when we've been moving around for more than an hour. Leena was energetic to the end. When I tentatively ventured with the idea of some lying on the sand, she dove down right in the sand and waved off our offers of blankets and towels. Matt did get a little sidetracked and we would catch him just staring at the ocean with a daydream glow about his eyes. I don't think he's spent that much time near the waters without jumping in. As we were winding down, Leena told me "we were totally game for jumping in the water if you wanted ocean shots." See? Probably one of the most physically active and fit couples you will ever meet.

(I hope Leena doesn't hate this one but I just caught her looking at Matt while they were talking and I thought she has the most adorable expression)






























To view these images and the rest from their session, check out Matt and Leena's Gallery at www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com.

Sneak Peek at Leena and Matt's Maternity Session

Who: Leena (at 34 weeks) and Matt
When: A July Monday afternoon
Where: Waimanalo Beach

The Wedding of Scot and Kim-Waioli Tea Room

What: Wedding of Scot and Kim
Where: Waioli Tea House, tucked away on the slopes of Manoa Valley
When: a perfect Sunday afternoon in July

I have been waiting forever to be able to blog about this wedding...it was that much fun. I'm so excited. I was really fortunate that the bride, Kim, found me through her mom's friend. Her mom was helping with the wedding planning and her friend sent out a email asking for wedding vendor referrals. And who should receive it but my father-in-law who was eager to point out that not only was his son a pastor, but he had a photographer for a daughter-in-law. I was instantly impressed by Kim when I met her and her mom to book her wedding. She was a perfect balance of knowing what she wanted and being very open and relaxed. She had done her research. She liked my photography style. And she was very well-informed about the various aspects of photography. It was a cinch to go over the schedule with her.

Scot and Kim met while surfing. Kim says a mutual friend who was a regular at their favorite surf spot saw this match-up before they did and made this magical connection happen. I always like to ask why couples want to get married. Kim's answer was genuine and heartfelt. Because She answered that Scot was everything she could ever ask for. And her answer to my follow-up question as why he decided to propose. "Because I told him to." Hey, I found my soul sister. Same here too, Kim. I did the same thing. So I can testify that it works out great.

The wedding was in an outdoor garden terrace at Waioli Tea House, tucked away in Manoa Valley. We arrived and it was easy to find the bride and groom. They were roaming through the hustle and bustle helping their friends and family set up the reception and ceremony site. This was my first wedding at the Waiola Tea House so I scouted out the area and found the stairs of this sweet stone chapel. It was the perfect backdrop for the family pictures. And as a reminder of what a small world it is, the musicans, family members of the bride, were very familiar to me. Dorothy was my high school classmate and, being neighbor island kids, were boarders in the dormitories from 7th grade. I also recognized her younger brother, Kimo, from school. I was impressed when I heard them play. They are unbelievably talented. Wow, everyone from my high school are all so musically gifted. How come I seem to have missed that class?

Scott, my husband the pastor (not Scot the groom), was in rare form. I think he had a little too much fun during the ceremony. I had a secret smile as the crowd laughed at his jokes. People, be careful. Don't spoil him. Really, the ceremony started us all off with a huge smile. Kim and Scot didn't have a rehearsal. They placed much more focus on family and their loved ones and making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying every second. So, they put their trust in Scott (the pastor) to guide them through the ceremony. Kim disappeared in the final moments before the wedding. My Scott and Kim's Scot made their way up and waited patiently, chit chatting manly topics (I'm guessing). Kim's dad waited patiently in the back while Kim's cousins played beautiful background music. And then, something caught my eye. It was Kim just nonchalantly making her way up the aisle towards her groom, unbeknownst to most people who were engrossed in their conversations (including the pastor and the groom). I tried to mouth to Kim "Is this it?" and whip my camera up to take frantic shots. Scott said she walked up and said "okay, let's do this." I think it made his day. It may be the funniest and most endearing wedding memory ever. They did have a redo. Scott sent her back up the aisle so her father could escort her, the audience stood with camera flashes blazing, and her parents could give her away.

Scott and I lingered for a while so we could see Kim perform a hula for her new husband. It was beautiful. Beautiful choreographed by Kimo Palakiko and beautifully danced.


(Kim and Scot on the steps of a quaint stone chapel)

(sorry, this one is for me. My husband Scott's main complaint is that I don't take enough pictures of him. There he is. Probably mentally lining up his jokes.)





















Congratulations, Scot and Kim!!! I feel so blessed that I got to be the lucky one to capture your day.

To view these images and the rest from Scot and Kim's wedding day, please visit http://www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com/.

Dancing in the hallways (just me)

I just had a random thought that watching "So You Think You Can Dance" is a deadly combination when you mix in the fact that they pipe in music through all the rooms and hallways in my office building. Apparently, I now think I can dance...and I tend to do so down the hallways when I swept up by the music. I'm always in the middle of my "dance for you life" solo when some officer walks around the corner...ogh!!!

Although, I don't just think I can dance....I know I can!!!. Okay, maybe I'm losing my touch. Last month, I was hanging out with family and I decided to show my teen niece how you're really supposed to dance. My dad sweetly said "oh, keao, stop. You unfortunately inherited dance skills from me...which are zero to none." I was super indignant.

Me: "What? I can dance. Dad, I danced in high school. Don't you remember?

Dad (perplexed look)

Me: Remember? I was on the school's dance team. Ring a bell?

Dad (perplexed look not fazing)

Me: Hello. I was gone for a whole summer in high school because I was at grandma's ( on a totally different island than where we live) so I could go to the summer practices.

Dad: You did? When was this?

*sigh* Family. But anyways, just keep an eye out when doing turns down the hallway at work.

Family: Joe and Evelyn's family (extended)

A photography business has two main components. "Photography" (which I love) and "Business" (which I am still working on). This the third month I've overbooked myself...again. *sigh* Mentally scolding myself as we speak. I keep meaning to take a break, give my poor hubby some quality time without my laptop molded to my lap...relax on the beach with a good book. However, it's the first half of "Photography Business" that gets me in trouble. I love photography. I get so excited when something comes up. An opportunity presents itself and the photography addict in me starts bargaining "Go for it, Keao, you can make time. You'll make it work." I just can't resist. Good photographer, bad bad business-woman. Ha ha. Seriously, you get there and it's so worth it.

For example, last week I received a call from Evelyn, the sweetest woman in the world. She and her husband, Joe, are sweethearts who moved to these islands years ago from Guam. They have raised three amazing kids and they are such a tight family. They joined our church's boot camp exercise together. I'm offering an "Introduction to Digital Photography" seminar in August and they signed up....together. They even do yardwork together. How do I know? They used to be my landlords. Before I married Scott, some friends and I rented out the first level of their duplex. And I fell in love. They were amazing to live under. I can't count how many times I would hear a knock on our door and there was Joe or Evelyn with a steaming pan of deliciousness saying "Oh, we made extra, so please enjoy."

In our premarital counseling, Scott and I read a chapter on "leaving and cleaving your family." Since living in a dorm as a seventh grader at Kamehameha Schools, I have pretty much lived on my own. So I thought this would be an easy and done deal. But the Flores family had quickly become family to me and when I finally got married, there was some definite moments of sadness and wishful thinking. I often joked with Evelyn that I was working on Scott to leave the house he grew up just so we could move back in with the Flores family.

Joe's father was on island visiting so it was a rare moment to have the family together for pictures. Evelyn and I threw this together last minute so we were looking for someplace close by. So we chose Kaneohe District Park. I have a new favorite location. I can't believe I haven't used it before. It has a gorgeous backdrop with the Koolau mountains and these pretty shading trees. I was a little worried about the sheer number of people (with Joe's sister and brother and their respective families), so I recruited fellow photographer, Joy Pishcura.

(Grandpa and all the grand-kids)

(the whole family. Missing only Carl who was firing up dinner on the grill for their barbecue)

just some silly fun, Connie (far right) and her son ,Dural (middle), and nephew Joseph Jr. (left)



(Joe and Evelyn)



(Joe and Evelyn with their amazing kids, Joe Jr., Kardyn, and Jared)

(Dural, a good friend of ours. We usually see him 2 to 3 times a week. Totally worth it)

(Dural and his mom, Connie, who is also Joe's sister)


(Joe's brother Carl couldn't make it so we took tons of pictures of his foursome)

(just some goofing around in the park)

To view these images and the the other images from this session, please visit http://www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com/ and select "Joe and Evelyn's album."

Sneak Peek: Scot and Kim Wedding

Here's a sneak peek from Scot and Kim. Kim and I had to come up with a system to distinguish our husbands (he's officially hers now) and our conversations were punctuated with my "my scott" versus her "my Scot." I chose this one because...well, it's horizontal and it's just a lot simpler to fit in the column...but also because I love how attentively Kim is listening to that handsome officiant. I was so nervous during my own wedding, I kind of just stared blankly at Pastor Ralph and I was caught a little off-guard when it turns out he was asking me for my vows. Not Kim, she's enjoying every second of her day. If there was a quiz at the end, I'm sure she would have aced it. Kim, don't spoil my husband. He might expect the same set of listening skills from me. And I'm a daydreamer through and through.

Wedding of Nick and Lianne

What: The wedding of Nick and Lianne
Where: Ko Olina, Oahu
When: Sunset on a wednesday in June
All details/services provided by: Sands Of Time Weddings

June was a busy month for us but I couldn't say no when I got an email from Moana of Sands of Time Weddings. My husband and I call them "Moana-weddings," perfectly planned and executed to the tiny details. Stress-free weddings mean happy and relaxed brides and grooms....and that happiness will just shine through in photos.

Scott was the officiant. Awesome, that means I get to be driven to the wedding. And he's so easy-going...despite me changing the direction the couple was facing twice. People tend to look at me when they're setting up the ceremony and ask where I would like the couple to face. Really, it's about where the couple want to stand. I can work with anything, I always try to put the bride and groom first. Do they want to face the sand and ocean? Are they staring right into the sun? Photographers can get that shot. So, don't worry, think about what you want.

Nick and Lianne traveled roughly five thousand miles to start their journey on a secluded beach along the west side of Oahu. They're both teachers at the same school. I'm sure the students are loving this. It reminded me of my years teaching high school. My students spent their class time trying to match me up with any available male teacher. I think they would have been on cloud nine if their little matchmaking dreams had worked.

Lianne was just beautiful. There's just something about her, especially when she smiles. Which, fortunately, is often since Nich has her laughing every three seconds. Nick, a history teacher, found a immediate friend in Scott, a history buff, as they talked about places and museums to visit. We're going to LA to watch a dodger's game in August so Nich recommended something called a Dodger Dog (?). Their intimate wedding ceremony was attended by Lianne's niece who lives on the island and her little boy, "J". Moana, the ultimate wedding planner, even played babysitter during the ceremony for "J" who was clearly mesmerized by the water. I think he was looking for any opportunity to jump in.









(The setting light was just gorgeous)
(Little "J" who is about to be freed from his stroller)

(One of my favorites)













To see these images and the rest from this special day, please visit http://www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com/ and click on "Nick and Lianne."