Hawaii
Engagement session · Maui
In short
Engagement session in Maui starts at $450: 2 hours on location with a photographer who works in Maui, and 60 edited photos delivered to a private gallery within 5 business days.
Why choose Engagement session in Maui?
An engagement session on Maui is usually photographed on a trip that has other purposes, which makes the scheduling question the useful one: sunrise or sunset, and which coast. The west and south shores face the setting sun and are dry almost every day; the windward side is greener, wetter and lit in the morning. Choosing the wrong one costs the whole session, and it is not obvious from a map.
Worth knowing about Maui
The leeward west and south coasts stay sunny in almost any month while the windward side is wetter and greener, which is why nearly all the photography on this island happens on one half of it. In winter the sun sets further north and lights along the lava rather than behind it — a genuinely different photograph from the same cove in July, and worth knowing when a date is chosen.
What does the session in Maui look like?
- Makena Cove
- A lava-framed cove on the south shore facing the sunset. Tiny, and a permit does not make it private.
- Ironwoods Beach, Kapalua
- Ironwood trees and Moloka’i across the channel. West-facing and quieter than the resort beaches.
- Upcountry Kula
- Jacaranda and pasture at 3,000 feet, and the option when the coast is crowded.
What does engagement session in Maui include?
- 60 retouched photographs
- Two locations, including travel between them
- Outfit change included
- Save-the-date crops sized for print and for email
- Private online gallery within 5 business days
- Print release for personal use
Permits at these locations: Makena Cove: Hawaii DLNR right-of-entry permit for a wedding or commercial photography, from $20: 30 people, two hours, no exclusive use of the beach. Ironwoods Beach, Kapalua: Hawaii DLNR right-of-entry permit for weddings and commercial photography, from $20; the beach is shared with the public.
FAQ — Engagement session in Maui
Which side of the island should we photograph on?
The leeward west or south coast, which stays sunny in almost any month and faces the setting sun. The windward side is greener and considerably wetter, and it is lit in the morning rather than the evening. Nearly all the photography on this island happens on the leeward half for exactly that reason.
Do we need a permit?
Yes for a professional session on a state beach — the Hawaii DLNR permit covers commercial photography as well as ceremonies. It is inexpensive, and whether your beach needs one is explained to you at booking. Upcountry locations are largely private agricultural land, where access is the owner’s permission rather than a permit.