Little Bird Blog

Relief from the heat A trip to Maui is always a treat. It makes a great excuse to visit friends and explore the island a bit. This was one of the first inter-island adventures I took post-pandemic. Or post the start of the pandemic anyway. Traveling after such a long break was a strange experience […]

A change of plans One of the great perks of being a professor is the option to take a sabbatical. You can take a year off to work at a different university or on a special project or just travel. Why don’t they allow that for more professions because it sounds amazing? This family hit […]

The calm before the storm Understandably, a family group photo session is met with groans and dragging feet. You want the photos (or at least you want to gift the photos to a beloved family member), but the process seems painful. However, families visiting as part of a group or reunion are some of my […]

Kailua Beach Family Photos : A memory spark As much as I hate to admit it, I have a terrible memory. Growing up in the Midwest we had to take the California Achievement Tests each year and there was a memory component. I would try ridiculously hard to remember strings of nonsensical words, but I […]

Happy vibes at Koolina Beach Some people seem to radiate joyful vibes. I’m not sure if it was a side effect of being on vacation, but this whole family was full of joy and happiness. As soon as we met in the tiny parking lot for Paradise Cove Beach in Koolina, the kids were hopping […]

Celebrating a first birthday with a family film When people reach out for Hawaii family beach portraits to celebrate a first birthday, I always get excited. It’s like being an auntie. I get to experience all the joys and extreme cuteness of a baby with none of the cleanup, work, or sleep deprivation. To make […]

Seeking Warmth + Light Jesa and her family make the annual trek to Hawaii in the heart of the long, dark Alaska winter. They make the most of their Hawaii time with long days at the beach, basking in the sun. They even seek out rentals right on the ocean to keep it close. Hawaii […]

Softness + Solitude at Laie Beach Park People often ask me “What is the best spot for family photos on Oahu? As a photographer, what is your favorite location?” And I honestly can’t answer. Beauty is abundant, but the interpretations are varied. Some families fall in love with the classic tropical vibe of clear blue […]

A Big Move During a Pandemic As much as my kids have struggled in response to the pandemic, my heart breaks for those who moved to Hawaii just as the world was shutting down. A new home and a new school can be daunting enough but then to be isolated and unable to make new […]