Extended FAQ’s - What to Expect from your Big Island portrait session

Let’s dive deep into some frequently asked questions!

When should I book my Big Island Portrait Session?

Once your flights and accommodations are booked, then get on our schedule to give you the best shot at getting the day & time that works best for you. We work with a team of professional photographers so even if your trip is last minute, good chance we can fit you in. You can check our live availability anytime by clicking the book now button.

If you’re hoping for Holiday cards from your session. We usually have images delivered in 10 days from your session depending on how quickly you choose your images.

We highly recommend to schedule your session in the first half of your trip if you can. Just in case we have to reschedule due to weather or some other unforeseen circumstance. Plus this give us the best chance to do an in person viewing which makes your life a lot easier once you leave paradise.

What is the Booking Process like?

We make it as easy as possible to book your session with us. You can book your session online in your pajamas and get instant confirmation of your session. You’re on vacation, booking fun things to do shouldn’t be work. No more waiting for an email response just to figure out availability & pricing.

1.) Click the book now button on the bottom of any page on our website & pick the service you want.

2.) Pick your day & time, then pick your package.

3.) Fill out the form and enter your credit card information for the either $99 or $150 deposit + tax & fees into the securely encrypted payment portal. Click “complete & pay.” You should get a confirmation email within a few minutes with directions to the location.

What is a non-refundable deposit?

A $150 non-refundable deposit is due to schedule your session. $150 is deducted from your package balance. After we collect your deposit, that date & time is set aside just for your ohana. We are humans however, so if there is some unforeseen circumstance where you need to cancel or reschedule, please reach out to us.

Can we arrange a phone call?

Sure! Time changes can make it challenging, but we do our best to accommodate during our office hours.

What are your Office hours?

We shoot 7 days a week, but our office hours are 10am - 4pm (HST) Monday - Saturday. We will typically reply within the same or next office day. If you have a Sunday shoot, no worries! We’ll keep in touch.

What are your prices?

Sessions start at $99 for a 25-minute Kona Inn mini session. You can check out our package pricing here.

Do you offer discounts?

If you see a discount offer from us, SNAG THAT DEAL!!! We run one or two promotions a year in the shoulder seasons (May & September) and that is only if we are unusually slow for a particular week.

It is unbelievably expensive to operate a business in this state. We charge what we need to ensure our business is stable and our employees can raise a family and put down roots on the island instead of leave in 6 months when they run out of savings. Yes, that raises the cost to you significantly, and even with what we charge we need the scale of multiple employees to make it work. However, I think you’ll agree our employees are worth every single penny and more!

Do you offer mini sessions?

Yes! We offer a 25-minute mini session at the Kona Inn. Learn more here.

Can you accommodate extended family / multi-generational sessions with several family units?

We absolutely love large groups! There are few things to keep in mind with larger group sessions. Because big families are more involved, you can expect less time dedicated to individual families than you may have with a portrait session of your core family alone. For this reason, extended family sessions mostly result in posed group imagery with some separate images of the different individual families. If multiple poses/candids are desired for each family unit, we highly recommend purchasing a separate session for your small group instead of expecting to receive a large variety of images of your family unit during an extended family session.

Do you charge for permitting?

Technically, yes. It just rolled into the cost of your session instead of listed as a separate line item. Every session requires a permit, so why make you feel nickel and dimmed?

Can I request a specific photographer?

We pair you with a photographer based on the team’s schedule. You can expect the same caliber of work from any of our photographers. Our photographers are all seasoned professionals. If you are a returning client, it’s possible we can schedule you with the same photographer. We’ll do our best to accommodate upon request.

Should I schedule a morning or sunset session?

Choosing the best time of day for your portrait session will determine the look & feel of your session. Both morning and sunset have unique advantages. Visuals are super important, but also consider what will work best for your group instead of just the visual outcome.

Clouds - Cloud cover isn’t make or break. Clouds actually make sessions more often than they break them. We do not reschedule for cloudy conditions. The most important thing to a session is the connection you share with your ohana during the session.

Wind - Big island, especially the Waikoloa area is know for its winds. Not quite as bad as Maui but it is something you should plan for! We will not reschedule due to high winds, we are used to working with it. If this is a big concern for you we highly recommend scheduling our earliest session available.

Sunrise Sessions - We are firm believers that Hawaii is best experienced in the morning. Earlier the better, sunrise if you can make it happen. Sunrises in Hawaii produce the most pastel palette. If you’re camera shy, mornings are a great option because the beaches are mostly deserted. Getting up at 5am on vacation sounds like a worst-nightmare for some but consider, the time change works in your favor early in the trip!

Sunset Sessions - Sunset is much easier for most people, but don’t be surprised when the beach is busy. Sunset is Hawaiian prime-time. When it comes to color and tones, sunset can range between vibrent on a cloudless afternoon, to super moody with cooler tones if it’s cloudy.

We work with the elements, and never use fake skies in our editing process. We do not reschedule for clouds. Our primary focus is the connection between you and your loved ones. While we appreciate and understand the desire for a stunning Hawaii sunset, it’s just not always going to happen. Once weather control is affordable, we’ll let you know! ;)

Where will our shoot take place?

You can choose from the several locations we have pre-selected. However, we can go anywhere we can get a permit. You will have to make a special request to go somewhere other than our pre-selected beaches. Please note, it takes a minimum of 24hrs to get a permit processed for something other than our preselected beaches.

Can we get in the water?

Maybe - Most of the time conditions are safe for getting into the water, however, we’ll only take you near the water if the conditions are safe. If you have your heart set on getting in the water, please realize it’s not always possible. The ocean in Hawaii can be very dangerous and we take your safety seriously.

What is a “viewing” & how does it work?

You are responsible for choosing the images you wish to keep from the session. The amount of images you want to keep determines final pricing. We have two viewing options: In person viewings & online viewings.

In person viewings - This is our default viewing. We will invite you to our studio at the Kona Inn Shopping Village to view your digital proof images and select the images you wish to purchase. We’ll put your images up on the big 65” 4k TV. We’ll guide you through a process to help you choose the images you wish to keep, while enjoying the ocean breeze. We do not use high pressure sales tactics, we let our work do the talking. In person viewings typically takes about 30 minutes but can last upwards of an hour.

Online Viewings - We understand vacation comes first (and should!) If you cannot reasonably make it back to the studio before you leave, we can do an online viewing. There are some limitations to online viewings, however. In the past we’ve have had issues with people taking months to make their selections, if we allowed our clients to take months to finish their order, we’d go out of business.

If you elect an online viewing you will have 7 calendar days to make your selections. If you need more time than the initial 7 days, we will collect the balance for your chosen package and give you another 7 days to make your selections. If after this 14 day period, if you still have not made your selections, you will loose access to your images. A $150 restart fee will be assessed to reopen your viewing for another 7 days. Each additional re-activation will incur this $150 fee, these additional fees will not go towards your package. We understand life gets busy once you return to the real world, but we have a business to run and employees to pay, so please make your selections in a timely manner.

Due to the sheer volume of sessions that we do, follow ups are automated. It is your responsibility to complete your online viewing in the allotted time and let us know you have finished your selections.