Exploring a secret cove. Cracking nuts at a macadamia farm. Tasting shave ice. All with a hefty dose of beach!
I 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, I 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.
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 - we 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!
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.
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!
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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.
At Little Bird Photo & Films, we're more than just your expert Hawaii photographer—we're a teeny bit of a travel agent, too! With 20+ years of exploring every cove and cranny of Oahu with our own families, we know the perfect spots for all ages, stages, and interests.
Let us plan an adventure that delights and relaxes you, turning your photo session into the highlight of your trip. Trust us to find hidden gems you may never have discovered on your own, and walk away with stunning images to cherish.
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.
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).
Please note: Sessions do not include digital images or prints. All images are purchased separately after the session with collections starting at $795. Session allows up to 6 people; add additional people for $25/person. All sales are subject to Hawaii 4.71% general excise tax.
$600
$1200
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.
There’s good reason why most of our families either start or end their session at the beach. It’s a built-in playground for your kids (check!), you feel relaxed (check!), and the Oahu shoreline blends incredible colors of sun, sky, water, and sand into the perfect palette to create custom art against (check!). Don’t feel any pressure to do something wild if what sounds the best is a relaxing day at the beach. Besides, the beach looks different every single day, so the photos will always feel completely unique to you.
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 mostly empty!
Chances are, if you’ve made it reading this far, you’re truly looking for something different in your Hawaii family photographs - clean and simple, yes, but with a little extra ‘something.’ Here’s another secret - most people’s family portraits have a foreground of green (from a lawn or forest) or brown (from sand or jungle). It’s instantly eye-catching when the foreground is completely blue - with you and your family completely surrounded by water. If you like to snorkel or surf, our gear is built to keep up with you. But even just a simple splash in the water will create a portrait that will grab major attention, because it’s so unlike what you usually see!
We love aloha adventures as much as you do! We are all raising our families here - which means we know exactly where to go and what to do. The three of us 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!
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