So many changes... improvements are on the way.

Hi - we hope everyone is having a stellar weekend. This is a quick post outlining the upcoming changes to our business and sites. After a few months of working with our technical team, we are excited to tell you about all of our improvements that we are making to benefit our clients and future customers.

1. A New Blog is in the works. In about a week - we will no longer be using our Blogger blog for our updates & blog posts. Though we have enjoyed our time with Blogger - we have decided that it was time to upgrade to a Wordpress Blog. For those of you that are still interested in visiting and reading old posts - please feel free to visit here to view our original blog (hoonaniphotography.blogspot.com) as our older posts will be available for your viewing.
2. A slideshow viewing option for our clients. This is a new option that we will have available for our clients to view the Artists' selection of images in a slideshow format that includes special transitions and music for their viewing pleasure. Clients have the opportunity of sending the link of their slideshow to anyone they choose. This is a fun way to view your photographs and also give you the ease of viewing your images in the comforts of your own home. Family and friends will also enjoy being able to view your images if they didn't have the opportunity to be present while the photos were taken.
3. Gift cards! Woohoo - we now offer gift cards in most amounts starting at $25.00. This is a convenient way to provide awesome gifts & prints for your loved ones. Simply contact us for more information or visit our Storefront for details.
4. We LOVE photographing Weddings. It is our passion to photograph others' Love Stories and share their memorable moments with them. Because of this - we are offering COMPLIMENTARY WEDDING WEBSITES to all of our clients that book a Wedding Photography Package for the year 2010 - 2011. This value alone (up to $250) is worth its weight in gold. Use this site to share your "love story" with your guests (family & friends), upload photos from your Engagement session, customize a RSVP section or Guest book to use for your Wedding Guests and Go Green and paperless by using electronic communications with your Wedding Guests. And, to top it all off - your Flash based Wedding Website will be customized by you. Simply select from a handful of templates that you can customize, including color & text.
5. A HTML site for our clients who are viewing our site from a slower connection or do not have Flash on their computer. Our HTML site will mirror our Flash site - allowing our viewers to see our site the way they want to. The music and images will be the same through out both websites. We are happy to provide this service to our past and future clients and hope that you all can utilize this service with ease.
6. FACEBOOK Contests are in the works. We LOVE contests. Our goal is to role out a few contests from time to time on our Facebook Page including contests called: Cutest Baby Contest, Share Your Love Story Contest and much more. Prizes include Portrait Session, Wedding Photography Sessions, Albums, DVD's and much more. "LIKE US" on Facebook to keep up to date with our Contest Roll Outs and all the details. Don't have a Facebook Profile? You can also follow us on Twitter.

We look forward to bringing you new & improved services. Thank you to all of our clientele (past, present & future) for your business and for continuing to choose us as your Photography Specialists. Keep an eye out for posts from our new blog ;-)

Bryan & Melanie - Maui Wedding Photographer, Wailea - Maui and The Dunes at Maui Lani

We had the privilege of being a part of Bryan & Melanie's wedding day. Bryan has family on Maui, though he & Melanie live in California. They had a beautiful, intimate ceremony at Polo Beach in Wailea and their reception took place at the Club House at the Dunes at the Maui Lani Golf course. The event was simple & elegant and just perfect for the couple who wanted to be with their family and friends on this special day.

Thank you to Melanie & Bryan for allowing us to be a part of your wonderful day. We wish you many many years of love and happiness together.

Here are a few photos from their day.

The Nishida Ohana - Maui Portrait & Lifestyle Photographer

I had the privilege of working with the Nishida Family on August 15th.  It was nice to reconnect with an old High  School Friend (Kelsie) and meet your beautiful Family.  Kelsie contacted me about a month before their session to take part in their Keiki Time offer - (Free Mini Session with a $100 purchase).

Our session took place in 2 areas - Iao Valley Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens and the Wailuku Heights Keiki Park.  It was a fun couple of hours as Kelsie and her husband Kelvin along with their children Kyler and Kaley joined me for some pictures.  Thank you Nishida family for spending the day with me.  I had a lot of fun and enjoyed my time with all of you.  Here are a few photos from their session:

Change in Proofing/Viewing Gallery

Aloha Past & Future Clients,
This quick Blog post is to inform you that we will no longer be hosting our Viewing Gallery with Smugmug (http://www.hoonaniphotography.smugmug.com) come the end of August.  All photographs that you have viewed on our Smug site will now be transfered to our "Your Event" site (http://www.hoonaniphotography.photoreflect.com) hosted by Photoreflect which we have used in combination with our Smug site.  You will have the same options for Viewing/Purchasing your photos as you did with Smug - however, it will allow us to keep the simplicity we all like while viewing our photographs.  If you are a Past Client and have had your images hosted on our Smugmug site - do not worry, we keep back up files of all of our images and if you are looking to purchase your photos, simply let us know.

There will be many changes in our business before the year's end... all of which are to enhance our customer experiences.  Stay tuned.

Budgeting for your Honeymoon - Quick Tip

As many of you know, budgeting for your wedding is one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do.  Financially - a wedding can put deep holes in your pocket book, unless you have been saving up for years.  Even wedding budgets that can afford the lavish and luxury - will still have to do some creative budgeting to ensure that all the details down to the honeymoon are planned accordingly.


Here's a really smart financial thing you could do as a bride/groom.  Apply for a Hawaiian Airlines or any type of Airline credit card that will allow you to earn points or miles.  Hawaiian Airlines will earn you one (1) Hawaiian mile for every dollar you spend and you can also receive up to 10,000 bonus miles when you make your first purchase.  Use this credit card to purchase your important wedding necessities and to pay for your vendors.  That means the expenses for your wedding gown, bridal attire, catering, florals, photographer, cake and even the reception venue can actually reward you when you use the Hawaiian Airlines credit card.  By the time your big day arrives - you may have earned enough miles for free award travel and can use it towards your Honeymoon travel. 


When you are signing up for a reward card (airlines, etc.) be sure that it is a Visa or Mastercard - as those are accepted at more than twenty-million locations so you can use your card with confidence when you are making purchases.  


I personally enjoy Hawaiian Airlines Visa credit card because it will allow you to book your trip to your honeymoon as the big day approaches and you can have your Hawaiian Miles transferred to your account for free.  Hawaiian Airlines also make many stops to different destinations all over the world - so it will make your Honeymoon planning a cinch.  


Apply for your card at Hawaiianair.com.

*Please note that we were not compensated in any way by Hawaiian Airlines or other to make this post.  This is simply a "FYI" and tip for you to use in your wedding planning.  Ho'onani Photography will not be held responsible for any misuse of this information or  held liable in the event of a mishap or occurrence.  This is simply a tool to use at your own discretion.  

Introducing - The Baby Grow Up Plan

As every parent knows... the first year of a child's life flies by so quickly - it's gone before you know it.  The Baby Grow Up Plan was created to capture your child’s (keiki's) first year at every important milestone.

This important time can never be replaced - and there are so many changes that take place in this very essential year.  We want to be there to help document your memories... to help you remember every stage, every smile, every milestone with our Baby Grow Up Plan.  By enrolling in the Baby Grow Up Plan, you will save a very sizable amount both in session fees and print prices.  Best of all, your Baby Grow Up Plan sessions will produce "Once in a Lifetime" memories for you to look back on for years to come.

With our Baby Grow Up Plan - you will receive a total of 4 (four) sessions including Newborn, 4 Months, 8 Months and 12 months.  You will also receive an 8x10 image from each session and a flash website that can be used up to 2 months after your little one turns 1 year old.  This site is a valuable tool especially for those that have family abroad or want to keep their family & friends updated with all the important memories of baby's first year.  At the end of the Baby Grow Up Program - you'll also receive a 16x20 Canvas Print with up to 4 of your favorite images for only $125.00 (plus tax.  Canvas is valued at over $300).  Our Baby Grow Up Plan Packages start around $100 with individual prints starting around $25.00.  We have several additional items such as birth announcements, photo gifts, 1 year luau (birthday) invitations, slideshows, and more.  We also offer easy payment plans to help our clients afford these professional keepsakes.

If you are expecting to give birth in the next 2 months - contact us today and we will do a complimentary maternity shoot in honor of the parents to be.  

Know someone who’s expecting? Give them a gift they’ll remember. We also offer gift certificates for our Baby Grow Up Plan. Call us to purchase one today.

We shoot on-location - so you have many different selections for your backdrops (i.e. Your home, park, beach, playground, etc. - the options are endless.)

Restrictions do apply - please contact us for more information & details.

We are still looking for a few more Senior Reps for 2011

We are still searching for our 2011 Senior Reps!!!

Who is eligible?  Current students in the graduating class of 2011.

What is the Senior Rep Program all about?  This program is a way for Class of 2011 Seniors to earn free / discounted photos and get some awesome Senior Portraits.

What will we receive?

• Your Senior Session will be complimentary since you are a participant in the program.
• You will have an Online Viewing Gallery that you can email to all of your family & friends for them to view and comment on.
• You will receive a complimentary Senior Flash Website - upload your photos from your session and use to keep in contact with all your friends.  You will have access to this site to post your photos on for up to 1 year.
• You will receive a discount on prints.
• You can receive up to 100 Senior Rep Cards - custom designed and ready to hand out to all of your friends as a part of your program participation - simply refer a friend to Ho'onani Photography for their Senior Portrait Session.  (Senior Rep cards are valued at $65.00)
• Current Students in the graduating Class of 2011 are eligible.
• Our Senior Rep Program is a way for Class of 2011 Seniors to earn free photos and get awesome senior portraits.

We are excited to start to work with you.  We are not looking for the perfect model - but someone who likes to have fun and enjoys having their picture taken.  We only have a few slots left for Senior Rep - so contact us today to join in on all the fun.

Lisa and Keith's Wedding - Bailey House Museum, Maui - Hawaii (Maui Wedding Photographer)

On Saturday July 10, 2010, I had the privilege of photographing Lisa and Keith's Wedding.  They were married at the Bailey House Museum in Wailuku on a beautful and sunny day.  I was joined by my second shooter - Harmony that day as we captured the moments of their ceremony and details of their reception.

We had the opportunity to work with Frank Pulaski with Dream Tyme Films again and though the ceremony was short and sweet - it was very intimate and just perfect.

Here are a few photos from the day.   If you would like to see a slideshow of images - please visit our Client Viewing Site and click on Weddings - Keith & Lisa.