Makapuu Beach Family Photography | A Golden Sunrise

A First Birthday Celebration

Celebrating a first birthday is a special experience. Especially when that baby has been so longed for. Hannah has tried to make the most of this time in their lives and document as much as possible. She schedules family photo sessions regularly. Fortunately, she works in the wedding industry and has close ties with many talented photographers.

But for this happy occasion, they were making the big trip to Hawaii. A first for the family and one they were looking forward to.

About the Session

Although they were staying in the happy land of Disney at Aulani resort on the Leeward side of the island, they fell in love with the mountainous, rocky landscape of Makapuu Beach. They made the long drive over the pali in the early morning and arrived just before sunrise.

It was a particularly beautiful morning. The coastline typically plagued by high winds was calm and peaceful. Waves crested in clear cascades of blue and seabirds soared in delicate arcs offshore.

Baby Cora emerged from the car in a sleep bundle. She was content to snuggle close in this beautiful, but foreign place. We meandered over the dunes as the sun began to show over Makapuu.

As sleepiness wore off, curiosity set in and Cora braved the sand and waves. Exploring is hungry work, however, and she decided it was time for her birthday “cake smash”. In lieu of a standard cake, they brought a fat slice of chocolate cake.

Most babies are surprisingly timid when confronted with birthday cake. They reluctantly poke at the treat or even cry. Not this little one. The slice was approximately the size of her head, but she managed to demolish it quickly. When bits fell in the sand, they were also quickly swept into her mouth and devoured. For the grand finale, she licked each and every salty finger clean and waited patiently for more.

The tide pools were a perfect way to clean the chocolate mess and cool off under the bright sun. After a final burst of energy, she began to yawn sleepily signaling the end of our session. A beautiful way to celebrate.

Want to Capture Beautiful Moments with Your Family?

Let’s head to a beautiful spot on the island to play and explore. We can visit a place you love or I can introduce you to somewhere new and beautiful. Find out more about my fun family photography sessions in Hawaii here.