Sydney and Luke’s Destination Couples Session in Oahu, Hawaii was an absolute dream. I got to hop on a plane, explore some of the most beautiful spots on the island, and spend the entire morning capturing two people wildly in love! I don’t think there’s anything better than that! This wasn’t a rushed, one-location shoot, it was a full experience. We started before sunrise, road-tripped our way through the coast, and hit three totally different beaches by noon. The vibes were super chill, the views were unreal, and the whole day reminded me why I love destination sessions so much.
We kicked things off at Lanikai Beach, and it was so worth the early wake-up call. The sun coming up over the water was soft and golden, and Sydney and Luke were fully in the moment. There’s just something about shooting at sunrise, no crowds, peaceful energy, and that quiet magic that sets the tone for the rest of the day. They danced in the sand, splashed in the waves, and made my job way too easy. These kinds of sessions are what I live for…laid back, intentional, and full of connection!
After Lanikai, we hit the road and made our way to Kahana Bay. The contrast was so cool, this spot gave us those moody green mountains and wide open space. It felt totally different from sunrise, which made the gallery super dynamic! We explored the edge of the jungle and played with some direct light to switch things up. The energy between Sydney and Luke never dipped, they were just fully present, soaking in every moment, laughing the whole way through! Travel sessions like this one are where everything clicks.
We wrapped the morning at Kaaawa Beach, where they changed into swimsuits and jumped into the ocean like it was the most natural thing in the world. I love ending a session with water, it’s playful, freeing, and such a cool way to close out the shoot! By this point, we’d been running around all morning and the comfort level was so real. These were some of my favorite frames from the day, carefree, fun, and just really them. This wasn’t about perfect poses or stiff direction, it was about documenting what it felt like to be there.
This Destination Couples Session in Oahu, Hawaii was everything I want my work to be—honest, intentional, full of movement and meaning. Sydney and Luke made the whole thing feel like an adventure, and I’m so excited to be able to document more experiences like this! Destination sessions like this set my soul on fire, and light up my creativity and passion in such a beautiful way. If you’ve been dreaming of a session that’s more of a story than a shoot, let’s talk! Whether it’s Oahu, the PNW, or literally anywhere else, I’m always down to travel. Let’s go on an adventure together!
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“She really put us at ease…
…Chelsea is just a joy to work with. For most people, photo shoots can feel unnatural and awkward (I was certainly nervous and a little anxious leading up to it), but she really put us at ease, and my fiancé and I ended up having fun the entire time!”