Adapt or fall into the shadows…

Alex & Mackenzie's Engagement photo session at sunset on the North Shore.

I pride myself as an Oahu photographer on my ability to adapt to changing conditions or environments, which is one of my strengths in photography.

Sunrise surprise proposal photo session on the east side of Oahu.

I've been shooting Sunrise for 20 years, not so much nowadays, but more so in the past 15 years, give or take a few years. Grabbing my backpack & tripod, heading out to somewhere on the east side of Oahu to shoot a sunrise seascape had become a norm for me every holiday and weekend.

Sunrise over the iconic Diamond Head from the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.

As I observed and absorbed the way light transformed the surroundings, I gained invaluable insights into the art of portrait lighting.

Sunrise portraiture with my favorite couple at Maapuu Beach Park.

Fast-forward to 5-6 years ago. I found shooting my subjects with flash much easier because I could set up my lights to achieve the lighting effect I wanted. It also gave me more freedom and allowed me to take photos anytime without depending on the sun's position. This way, I could capture images at twilight and still get the beautiful colors of a sunrise in the background.

Engagement photo session with Oahu's beauty as their backdrop.

In 2024, I became a fan of natural light, which I used to dislike until now (or at least from last year, lol!). I am fortunate to have supportive friends who give me constructive feedback on my work. I am still learning to capture the best angles and utilize the ambient light to showcase my subjects in the best light.

Engagements photo session with the majestic Koolau mountains as their backdrop.

I'm figuring out my lens selection for my couples, engagement, or elopement sessions. Typically, I carry a 23mm, 33mm, and 56mm lens in my bag. On my Fuji XT5, these translate to 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm in full-frame terms. I love my prime lenses, but the issue is that I'm always switching lenses during sessions. I constantly tell my couples, "Hang on, I'm going to change my lens," then run back to my bag to swap lenses and return to continue shooting. These three prime lenses are my go-to for capturing portraits.

A perfect way to start their day with a walk on the beach at sunrise for their engagement photo session at Waialae Beach.

But they say it’s time to upgrade when your gear limits you from capturing moments. During a surprise proposal session in November, I finally realized that I needed a 24-70mm zoom lens. There were shots that I should have captured that I missed. I ordered my 1st Fujifilm zoom 16-55mm (24-70mm equivalent) lens the next day, and it’s now my lens of choice for portraiture. I still drop my 56mm f/1.2 just for any very low light situations, and for that, bokeh!

Mastery is a journey, not a destination.

Learn, grow & repeat

Aloha