You’ll step onto Maui’s State Beach Park and spend an hour with a pro photographer capturing candid moments against ocean backdrops and volcanic rocks. Expect laughter, plenty of direction if you want it, and hundreds of portraits to choose from later on your own private gallery. The real surprise? How easy it feels—even if you’re camera-shy.
We met our photographer right where the sand started to warm my feet—State Beach Park in Maui, which I’d only seen in postcards before. There was this salty breeze that kept blowing my hair sideways (not ideal for photos, but kind of funny). Our guide, Alex, was already waving at us with a camera slung around his neck and a grin that made me feel less awkward about the whole thing. He pointed out the best spots—some with these wild volcanic rocks, others just open blue sky and palm shadows. I didn’t expect to laugh so much during a photoshoot, but Alex had us making silly faces between the “serious” shots. At one point he tried teaching me how to stand so I didn’t look like I was waiting for a bus. Didn’t totally work, but hey.
The session flew by—over an hour of moving from soft sand to little grassy patches, sometimes squinting into the sun (morning light is no joke here), sometimes catching these weirdly perfect cloud shapes behind us. Alex kept snapping away; he said he’d end up with over a thousand shots but would narrow it down for us later. It’s wild thinking about how many versions of yourself exist in those files. The sound of waves was always there in the background—sometimes louder than our voices—and every now and then you’d catch someone jogging past or a kid chasing seagulls behind us.
Afterwards, Alex explained how we could view all the best portraits online—he sets up a private website just for you, which honestly felt pretty high-tech compared to how sandy my shoes were by then. We didn’t have to decide anything on the spot; there’s time to pick favorites later (which is good because choosing is impossible). I still think about one shot where my partner’s laughing so hard she’s almost doubled over—totally unplanned. That’s probably what I’ll remember most.
The session lasts for at least 60 minutes at State Beach Park.
You’ll have access to 250–350 portraits selected by the photographer from over 1,000 shots taken during your session.
No, digital photos are not included; your deposit acts as credit toward future purchases.
Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.
Yes, infants and small children can participate and ride in a pram or stroller if needed.
The best times are early morning around 8:30 am or late afternoon around 5:30 pm for softer light and colorful skies.
Yes, public transportation options are available close to State Beach Park.
No need to worry—the required Hawaii State photography permit is included with your session.
Your Maui beach photo session includes a professional photographer guiding you through multiple scenic backdrops at State Beach Park for over an hour, all necessary permits covered by law, access to a private online gallery for 60 days with hundreds of portraits to review at your own pace—and your deposit goes toward any future photo purchases you decide on later.
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