Why Consider Getting Married on Maui?

If you haven't visited Maui or the other Hawaiian Islands, the question is understandable. Before I visited Hawaii, all I knew of the 50th state, was what I had seen on old Magnum, P.I. re-runs, pineapples, and Pearl Harbor. Search on Maui and spend a few minutes looking and reading about the island and state and you will get an idea as to why Maui is the perfect location for a wedding. If you have visited Maui, you likely already know that your wedding should be a Maui wedding. As a wedding photographer on Maui, here are a few thoughts I have on the topic of getting married on our beautiful island.

If you would like to put on your wedding just a little different than everyone else in your life has, consider a destination wedding on Maui. Maui has been rated #l by Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for 20 consecutive years for good reason. The readers are rating the island as the best place to visit because all it has to offer. Maui is no ka oi! Loosely translated, Maui is the best!

But you are thinking, 'what about the cost?!' Sure, some aspects of a Maui wedding are more spendy, but there are areas where there are savings as well. For your mainland wedding, you are are likely to have a guest list that goes on and on. If you opt to tie the knot on Maui, the business associates of your dad probably will not be on the list. Your wedding can be more intimate and be very special based on the location.

Here's a thought. Considering that your island wedding is likely to be followed by your honeymoon... perhaps on Maui or one of the outer islands. Do the math and you may find that a Maui wedding/honeymoon may be more reasonable than you first thought.

Being a popular location for couples from around the globe to marry, the busy professionals on Maui know their craft well. Weddings take place here twelve months a year and we all are constantly improving our techniques and skills. Like many situations, if you do not keep busy because there is a 'wedding season', the professionals can lose their edge.

One thing I noticed after relocating to Maui and re-starting my photography business was that all of the guests of the wedding, the family, obviously the bride and groom were all overjoyed with what was talking place and where it was happening. I was a wedding photographer on the mainland prior to moving to Maui and I have to say, the 'level of joy' was not at the same high level than what we see here. Indeed, Maui is the best!

Your Maui wedding can be world class event at a five star resort, or a intimate ceremony on a beach and any style wedding in between... and still, each and every Maui wedding will not be forgotten by anyone in attendance! If you have questions, please send an email to me, Scott  And be sure to look over our online portfolio at Hughes Photographics.

Tokyo Wedding

When Hughes Photographics was asked to photograph a traditional Japanese wedding at the 5-star, Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, we were thrilled and gladly accepted! We planned a two week trip with the wedding about a third way into our stay. This was only my second visit to Japan, previously visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, the Mt. Fuji area and Osaka over a three week stay. It was decided to spend the bulk of time in Tokyo and focus on what we could absorb of the world’s most populated area.  Right… two weeks! Awesumo!

The excitement built once we were on site the day prior to meet with the great people at the hotel. As we always do when visting a new venue, we invest the time to view the locations and become familiar with the schedule and logistics. This photo is from the day prior and shows a small portion of the magnificent gardens of the hotel.

On the day of the wedding, our early morning start found us on site two hours prior to the ceremony time. Teruko and I spent time with the bride and groom in their respective rooms preparing for the day, as well as the two families in their waiting areas. The bride’s kimono and hair prep was different to what we are accustomed, but the bride’s 'before ceremony jitters’ were familiar.

The ceremony started on time at 10:30 AM and again, it was different from western weddings but all went smoothly. Very well organized, everyone knew what to do and when, so there were no surprises.

Following the ceremony and a brief break, an eleven (!) course meal was started off with the parents and the couple breaking open a barrel of sake!

The day after their wedding, the couple was off to Croatia for their honeymoon!

Photographing each and every wedding is an honor. Being charged with the responsibility of capturing the images of this wedding is one we will never forget!  Email if Hawaii or Japan is the location of your wedding!

Afternoon Wedding on Maui

I had the pleasure of providing the photography of Ira and Marlene's Maui wedding. Hawaii Island Weddings put together an event that was enjoyed by all. The stunning florals were created by Fabulous Florals Maui.

A nice alternative set up of chairs and flowers utilizing a fabulous ceremony area!

And the ground floral arrangement...

The site was the grounds of Gannon's Restaurant in Wailea... the view is breathtaking! The location is so much more than a restaurant!

Following the ceremony, the 'paperwork' was signed, a pair of doves and the couple's family and friends helped start the celebration!

The lovely Marlene and my take on the couple's request of 'the dip'!

After viewing the photography with the couple several days following their Maui wedding, the groom mentioned to me that every aspect of the day was flawless. Props to all involved, including Hawaiian Island Weddings, Fabulous Florals Maui and Hughes Photographics!  Email to discuss your Maui wedding.

Best Time of the Year for Your Maui Wedding?

Last week we talked about the time of the day that is preferred for a Maui wedding, and photography in particular. But what about the time of the year? We’re talking about Hawaii, right? There are slight differences, but you really can’t go wrong by getting married during any month of the year if your wedding takes place in Hawaii!  Lets break it down to the four seasons of the year.

Winter: December through February
Common thought is that it rains a lot on Maui. That is true, it does rain a lot in some areas. Not so much on the western coasts and the south coast of Maui in particular. Where I live, Kihei gets less than ten inches a year. But if it is raining, it’s more likely happening in the winter. That’s just that way it is. But the good thing about a winter wedding is you are escaping some terrible winter weather back on the mainland! The winter is a popular time to visit the islands, so room rates, airline fares may be higher. And during the entire winter, we have the visiting humpback whales!

Spring: March April May
Spring is beautiful almost anywhere, right? Especially here! The whales are thinking of heading back north, but they are still here for at least March and well into April. Winter weather hopefully is in the past on the mainland and that causes less less people to visit, so it is less busy. As said, the weather is awesome, and room rates and fares are likely to be lower. Before I relocated, I marked May as my favorite month to visit and that applies to weddings too.

Summer: June July August
Many schools are on a nine month schedule and once June arrives, the kids are out and that brings vacationers! Check this, but I believe you will find the best fares and lodging rates during the summer months. The weather is sweet, the whales have exited though but the water is great! The longer daylight days peak on June 21 if you are keeping track. The sun sets as far north as it gets and it is a bit (5-10°) warmer, but still very sub-tropical (lovely!).

Autumn: September October, November
School is back in session for many, so fewer families are visiting. The trade-winds often taper off a bit in September, but it has cooled down a bit as well. This window between Labor Day and the December holidays has always been a busy time for us and weddings. It is an excellent time to visit and/or tie the knot.

There you have it. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. Anytime is perfect for a Maui wedding, just some seasons vary from the others. If you have a particular date in mind, get in touch with Scott or visit Hughes Photographics online.

Best Time of the Day for Your Maui Wedding

Lets talk a bit about outdoor wedding photography and the time of day. Couples come to Maui to marry for a variety of reasons, with the incredible, natural beauty of our island at the top of most lists. As a photographer with Hughes Photographics, I am often asked, ‘Whast is the best time to get married on Maui? Is there a difference in how the photos will look between a morning ceremony and one late in the day?’

Absolutely! The lighting changes in several aspects drastically throughout the day. Photos made in the early morning, mid-day and late afternoon appear quite different from each other simply because the change in the lighting.

This photo is from a January wedding that took place early in the morning, around 8AM. Notice how the sun has yet to blanket the beach, although Molokini and island of Kaho’olawe in the distance are sun drenched. In a few minutes, this intimate wedding will transform into a bright, eye squinting scene.

A late morning, midday or early afternoon wedding may be convenient for various reasons, but realize that the lighting is going to cause harsh shadows, squinting eyes and it likely will be more uncomfortable because of the heat. There is no doubt, great photography can result from midday weddings, but there are compromises. This photo was made during an late morning vow renewal in Makena, Maui. I’m starting to perspire just looking at this photo!

The more popular time for weddings (and photography) is late in the day, an hour or two before sunset. The reason a late afternoon ceremony time is popular is because as the sun begins to drop in the sky, the light warms up and the direction is not coming straight down. Many people refer to the hour prior to sunset as the ‘golden hour’ as it is truly is a beautiful and magical time of day and in my opinion the preferred time for great photography. This photo was made within thirty minutes of sunset.

If you have questions, get in touch with Scott, visit Hughes Photographics on the web, or dial 808.879.2879

‘The CD’ or a Finished Photo Collection?

Best as I can recall, following their wedding the couple would have a set of photographs to share with their family and friends. Often, the photos would be presented in an album of some sort and since the early 2000s, the presentation was more of a ‘magazine’ style or coffee-table book design. Hughes Photographics has been offering our ‘PhotoBook’, an elegant coffee-table book style book since 2003. The style of the book and layout designs have evolved over the years and the PhotoBook remains an effective method of putting together a collection of images from an event to enjoy and share with others. Who can’t remember the scene of someone pulling out their wedding album or book and re-live the special time and people in their lives?

“But, but… just because this is what was done back then, does not mean it is still a good approach.”

 Somethings work because they are a good idea. Seeing images on the screen are great, I get it… I do it all day long. But holding in one’s hands a book of beautifully prepared images, tastefully blended together has much more impact. Grouping collections of photos may be old school but it certainly is effective!

As a photo studio, we have adapted to changes and requests over time and have offered creative services (the on-site photography) and made available the high resolution files and left the remaining aspects of the process in the hands of the couple. They saved money but took on a very large portion of the production of a finished product. So what is the drawback or what can go wrong with this approach?

Lets use an analogy to explain what can go wrong. Would you purchase the parts of a car from a manufacturer and assemble them yourself? Probably not. You would want the process to be completed by those who are skilled in this field. This is not an ideal analogy as assembling a number of parts does not involve the creative input as does the design of multiple layouts of images used in the creation of a PhotoBook, but hopefully it gets across the idea.

A number of past clients have shared with me what they came up with from online ‘design services’. Eek! No retouching was applied, no image enhancement or creative input as to how the images are grouped. It was like a computer grouped together the unprepared images and that was it! Surely there are good sources for quality design services, but I’ve not found one. The actual book construction and materials are nothing special as well. It is regretful that couples have a none too impressive presentation of a great day in their lives. Was it worth the savings?

What is even more common is after the couple secures the image files, they get busy with their new life and do nothing with the photography. Perhaps a handful of 4×6 prints are made, but there is not a complete collection for current and future generations of the families to enjoy.

Being that the couple has hired a photographer, it is not a stretch to assume that the couple desires a nice photo based remembrance of their wedding. One option is to have your competent professional photographer handle the entire process, from start to finish. Ask for the image files used in the creation of your PhotoBook. You have a gorgeous presentation and the ability to share with family and friends individual photos. A win win situation!  Email the author, Scott and visit our website.

Maui Wedding Photographer? Making the Selection!

Once your wedding day has passed and after you have made the significant investment of time and resources into your wedding, doesn’t it make sense to possess more than fading memories of the day? How long will it be before you forget details such as your awesome bouquet, the dress, or the images of the smiles of your family and friends or those moments which you never even witnessed… the expressions of each other as you first saw each other on that day. And your kiss as you first held each other as a married couple.

Some couples decide to hold back on the expense of photography and live only to regret the decision. As a photographer at Hughes Photographics, I may be biased, but I am also a family member and friend. I’ve been ‘saving moments’ for most of my life and can’t imagine not having my photos to which I can go back to and enjoy. These photos are of my life. These images are treasures to me, my family and friends. Bringing a qualified photographer into your wedding to make great images is an excellent investment and one that will bring you great returns and warm hearts to many forever.

I suggest the following when you are selecting the person(s) who will make the images of your Maui wedding.

The ideal photographer for your event should show images on their website that just ‘WOW’ you! Interview a number of photographers that appear awesome online. Get on the phone and talk with the individual, not the office manager. Ask the photographer about their experience in this type of event coverage, are they truly interested and focused on your wedding? Do they know where your wedding will occur and it’s policies and procedures? Do they carry the appropriate permits and insurance coverage? Do you get the impression that they are flexible and able to adapt to last minute changes as needed? Overall, are they a pleasant individual to spend time with?

Your photographer needs to be 100% focused on your wedding photography and not someone who is also responsible for any other aspect of the event. This likely excludes friends and relatives. Because and besides the relationship aspect, they will be challenged to give undivided attention to the photography and provide balanced coveage of the event.

We all have heard the horror stories about equipment malfunction. The photographer’s camera broke and they did not have a back-up camera (or lens, or flash, or battery, or card, etc). A few images and much heartbreak were the results. Your photographer must have back up equipment of everything and easily accessible. Things do go wrong and break. Even new gear can be a problem. Inquire as to their equipment situation.

It would be best if your photographer is familiar with the faster flow of a destination wedding. I have photographed hundreds of weddings while living on the mainland and well over a thousand weddings in the islands. A mainland wedding is like a slow moving freight train while covering a destination wedding can be more like piloting a bullet train. It is not always easy for even the most experienced mainland based photographer to adapt to the quicker pace and your wedding is not the time to discover this. Your photographer needs to understand that the light ‘out here’ is different. Yes, it is different.

The best candidate is a resident and experienced, working photographer of the area who possesses an impressive portfolio of quick paced event photography.  Email the author and see our Webpage for more content.

Successful Maui Wedding Photography

Your plans for the wedding of a lifetime are coming together. You and your partner for life have decided that Hawaii is where you will tie the knot. You have made many decisions including who will be your photographer. You feel that photography is important because that is all you will have, besides your sweetie, from your Maui wedding after you are back home.

When I am on the phone with brides and grooms, months before their wedding day, often I hear, “We have never done this before and you are experienced with weddings on Maui. We would like you to lead the way.” Of course, that makes sense. The first time I leaped out of plane I wanted guidance. I wasn’t about to tell the professional how I wanted to do it!

Wedding photography is a bit different from sky diving, but in both cases everyone wants a successful result. The couple and photographer need to be in a comfort zone. Both you and us at Hughes Photographics have the same goal, which is to create great images of your wedding day. Through discussion, understanding and trust can be established and we can arrive at the desired result.

You may have some photo ideas… ideas that you have been saving for your day. Prior to the wedding day, share those ideas with the photographer. On the other hand, asking a photographer to change their style and approach to mimic/copy a look that you desire, may not yield the best results. The photographer’s images probably had a big effect on you selecting them… let them do what they do best. But do point out images on your photographer’s website that appeal to you. And any that do not suit you.

What about a ‘shot list’? Through our discussions, I already have that ‘list’ in my mind. We already know that we are to photograph the kiss, bouquet, dad escorting the bride, etc., but what is helpful is information that may be a bit more of a personal matter. Example: the bride’s mom wears a bracelet which is a family heirloom which will be passed on to the bride in a private moment. Another example: The groom’s Air Force F-22 pals are doing a flyover to coincide with the kiss at ceremony’s end. We really experienced this! Not really, but the point is we need to know anything that might not be obvious upfront.

A big factor in making most beautiful photos is the lighting which means the time of day. Being out at the beach at noon is fun, if you’re sun bathing, but the light is less than desirable for flattering images.  Eyes squint, harsh shadows creep in, people dressed up tend to overheat and perspire. Do you like the look of  the images on our site?  All were made within a hour or two of sunset.
‘But Scott, I’m not a model and don’t know what to do in front of the cameras!’ Even if you are a model, I suggest that you two relax and enjoy the moment. If you have some spare energy, let it go and play to the camera. If some guidance is needed, we will be there.

‘My brother/uncle/best friend has a really nice camera and he wants to follow us around and get the shots you miss.’ We have nice cameras too! And I do love analogies. What would be the response if you suggested a similar situation to another creative professional? Example: ‘My friend owns a paint brush and wants to help you paint our oil painting. Can you think of any reason that this is not a great idea?’  When you ask a professional to create, it’s probably best to not put obstacles in their path. Remember, you and the experienced professional have the same goal.

Putting all of this together… know your goal and the logistics of making it happen, communicate with your photographer and have a great time. You will look great and even greater as a relaxed and confident couple. Looking for great photography of your wedding?  Email Scott, the author and take a glimpse at our website

Family Portraits on Maui

We are often asked, do you also do family portraits? Yes, we do! Most of our marketing over the years has been focused on our wedding photography on Maui, although we have been making portraits of families, couples and individuals. Have an need or an idea, ask Hughes Photographics!

Maui offers beautiful locations for portraits. I am partial, but enjoy photographing to the beaches of south Maui, Wailea and Makena and on the Big Island, Kona and the Waikaloa areas. What time of the day is best? I prefer the late afternoon and the minutes leading up to sunset. The timing is not difficult, whereas an early morning session may be. Morning sessions have a very different look, which may be preferable for some.

A fun portrait session is of a couple for whom we photographed their wedding in the past. And now they have a few kids and often, the parents we met years before are part of the session too.

Some of our clients want a casual look, which often results more natural and familiar expressions. This is very effective for individuals as well as couples and smaller groups.

For larger groups, my experience has been that a bit more structured style works out best. That means, a bit of posing is involved but it does not have to be boring!

Are you on Maui and want to go home with some great photography? Visit our site and if you wish to talk with the author about your wedding, email Scott.