Oahu Family Photographer & Videographer
NAPCP Master Photographer — morning adventures for Oahu families since 2012
Sessions built around what your family actually loves to do.
Exploring a secret cove. Cracking nuts at a macadamia farm. Tasting shave ice. All with a hefty dose of beach!
We believe family photos should be as much fun to take as they are to look at. A Morning Adventure is exactly that - rather than asking you to just stand around on the beach feeling uncertain, we get to know you and design a mini adventure around what delights your family.
We’ll tailor it just for you, and consider whether you’re morning or evening people, what types of activities you love (forest, tide pools, mellow beach, waves), and what support you need (easy access from where you’re staying, convenience, parking, breastfeeding spots).
This kind of Morning Adventure ensures we don’t just capture sunsets and water - we also snag belly laughs and shared secrets between siblings. His tiny hand in yours, and the perfect curl at the nape of her neck. All the ways you love and protect your beloveds.
Hawaii Adventures with Little Bird Photo + Films
visiting Hawaii?
Consider me a photographer with a teeny bit of travel agent thrown in. I’ve lived on Oahu for more than 20 years and have explored every cove and cranny with my own family - including remote islands frequented only by sea birds.
I know what suits all ages, stages, and interests - and I have a knack for picking the right things for you to choose from (including an option you may never have found on your own).
‘Getting photos done’ doesn’t have to be a separate activity - I can plan for what delights and relaxes you, and you walk away with great images to boot. Multiple clients have told me their photo session was the highlight of their trip!
live on island?
Nothing delights me more than a local family who pulls kids to the beach in a wagon piled high with salty gear. Maybe your years here won’t last forever, but you want to remember your family rhythms and delightful chaos. Show me what your Hawaii looks like. How your family loves and lives in your favorite spaces.
Your morning adventure might start at home making pancakes, and proceed to your favorite patch of shore or shave ice stand. Home is where little moments unroll. You won’t even realize until later how important they were. Consider beginning the morning there, and then we’ll venture to your favorite pocket of forest or beach to revel in the light and lushness of Hawaii. You get all the sun-soaked images you want, plus a few more to make you weep ten years from now. Trust me.
What sort of adventure are you looking for?
Whether you’re on vacation or simply rolling out of bed on a Saturday, your images will be light, relaxed, a little bit silly, occasionally tender, and a whole lot of love and salty feet. Plus - you will be in them, looking radiant, instead of behind the camera!
Where Play
Meets
photos
Even though your images will evoke laughter and the sound of the Pacific - why not return home with a highlight reel, too? Video helps you see little things you may otherwise forget. Scooping up a toddler and rubbing your noses together. Seeing your daughter’s un-self-conscious spirit on the cusp of teenagerhood. Video adds a dimension to transport you back.
Leave your iPhone behind (and don’t worry about it dropping in the salt water) and let me record high-resolution moments and weave them into a unique treasure – a short film featuring your family. See examples here.
Captivating Oahu Family Videos
Relive Your Oahu Adventure with a Highlight Reel
Waikiki to the North Shore — we plan the adventure and capture what unfolds.
There's a version of a photo session that feels like a chore. Standing on a beach, hoping everyone cooperates, counting down until it's over. That's not this.
A morning with Little Bird starts with a conversation about what your family actually loves — tide pools, shave ice, somewhere with room to run. Then we figure out the rest together. I've been exploring this island long enough to know exactly where to take you.
You'll leave with photos. But what you'll remember is the morning.
Your Hawaii Photographer and Mini Travel Agent
photo + family films
Which is right for you?
Whether you live on island or will visit for the first time, our sessions are a soft place to land. We know the secret spots and will watch the weather, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy. Yes really - we do this week in and week out. We let you keep Hawaii exactly as you remember it, together with your people. Hold this sunrise, this splash, this quiet hug in your hands, always.
Film + Photo Session
Remember pushing old family videos into your VCR? The tape went through the little door and memories lit the living room. Magic comes when you add motion and sound. Add a short film to any session, and we’ll record video alongside photos and stitch moments together into a gorgeous memento to watch anywhere (& this time there’s no danger of accidentally taping over it - wink).
Fun photo session
Please note: Sessions do not include digital images or prints. All images are purchased separately after the session with collections starting at $595. Session allows up to 8 people; add additional people for $25/person. All sales are subject to Hawaii 4.71% general excise tax.
$600
$1400
full story
adventure story
Planning of your morning adventure
Planning of your morning adventure
An hour or two of session time – some adventures last longer than others, the length will suit your schedule and the fun we plan!
An hour or two of session time – some adventures last longer than others, the length will suit your schedule and the fun we plan!
A diverse gallery of edited images to select from. Gallery size varies depending on what we’re up to but expect at least 40 images
A diverse gallery of edited images to select from. Gallery size varies depending on what we’re up to but expect at least 40 images
a one-of-a-kind short film set to thoughtfully hand-selected licensed music that encapsulates the essence of your family. Most films range from 1-2 minutes in length.
Family Beach Portraits
In Hawaii, the beach is where life happens. It's where your kids will run until their legs give out, where the light does things it doesn't do anywhere else, and where most families feel most like themselves. The water tugs at you to jump in, the sand is endlessly entertaining, and the Oahu shoreline looks different every single morning.
There's a reason nearly every session starts here and most families wouldn't have it any other way.
Family Sunset or sunrise
Beach Photos
Can I tell you a secret? If you’re flying to Hawaii from the mainland, you’ll probably have jet lag when you get here and that means you’ll naturally wake up earlier (even if you’re not a morning person).
A lot of people know about golden hour, that magic time when the light hits just right for photos in the evening. But don’t forget that the morning has a golden hour too, one you may be wide awake for. And bonus, the beaches are usually empty.
Water Play Beach Photos
Most families arrive planning to stay dry. Most end up in the water anyway and those tend to be the photos they love most.
There's something about the ocean that changes the energy completely. I shoot with a water housing, which means my camera goes where you go. I can be in the action with you rather than standing on shore trying to get close enough.
Come prepared and see how the morning unfolds.
What will your family's adventure look like?
oahu family photography sessions
Oahu
Maui
Kauai
I've been raising my family on this island for over twenty years, which means I know exactly where to take yours. Keao was born and raised here. Between us, we've explored every corner of Oahu. We work together so you never have to worry about whether someone is available for your date (especially if you’re traveling for your session!), but contact us quickly so we can give you first priority.
Click on an island to explore our photography services across the Hawaiian islands.
Capturing Hawaii's Magic Across Islands with Little Bird Photography + Films
At Little Bird, a Morning Adventure looks nothing like a traditional photo session. There's no standing on a beach hoping everyone cooperates, no "okay everyone look here and smile." Instead, I learn what your family actually enjoys — tidal pools, a shave ice stop, a cove most visitors never find — and build the morning around that. I've been exploring Oahu with my own family for over 11 years and I bring that knowledge to every session. The photos are the play, not something you get done so you can go enjoy Hawaii. See how it unfolds for real families, including the skeptical ones →
What makes a Little Bird session different from other Oahu family photographers?
Little bird faqs
You're in good company. I don't ask anyone to pose or perform. Kids get to play, partners get to just be with the people they love, and I quietly do the work behind the scenes. Some of my favorite frames have come from a toddler mid-meltdown or a kid who refused to look at the camera. The Morning Adventure format keeps kids genuinely engaged, which means I'm capturing real expressions rather than performed ones. Read more about how I work with reluctant families →
What if my kids won't cooperate — or my partner hates having their photo taken?
Start with your own outfit, something you feel good in, and build everyone else around those tones. Coordinated beats matching every time. Light, breathable fabrics like linen and cotton gauze work beautifully in Hawaii's wind and humidity. Soft earth tones, muted blues, and warm neutrals all photograph well in island light. Skip neon, bright white, and anything stiff or scratchy. And yes, bare feet are almost always the right call. Full outfit guide with color palettes and real session examples →
What should we wear for family photos in Hawaii?
Most families book 3 to 6 months out, and a little more lead time helps around busy holidays and school breaks. That said, I'm always happy to hear from last-minute planners too. Reach out and we'll see what we can make work. The sooner you're in touch, the more flexibility we have to find the right morning for your family. Let's start planning →
How far in advance should I book?
Get my top ten list of spots in Oahu complete with photos + directions, so you know exactly what to expect. You’ll also receive ongoing adventures, beautiful images and happy updates. Escape to the islands once a month and learn exactly how to enjoy Hawaii like someone who raises their family here!
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