I got a beautiful calligraphy invite in the mail one day for Aunty Toni’s annual Tea Party.  It was going to be held on the Big Island in Waimea.  Bought my tickets early because I knew it wasn’t a party to be missed.  This year was especially special because Aunty Toni’s daughter and my good friend Mapuana Mataele was going to be there too She’s also a fantastic photographer and I knew we’d get great shots and have great fun hanging out.  All the guests got a little goodie bag and got white lace gloves too.   It was so fun to have everyone put them on and act so dainty.  I loved it.  It was hard with my camera in hand but I still loved it.  I can’t wait for next year’s tea party.  Aunty Toni said it doubles in size every year.  No matter what..trust me, it’ll be fabulous. 

The Reed Family

Aunty Toni getting ready.  I just loved her cute slippers.

So many chocolate covered strawberries to go around.

Everyone got a goodie bag full of Hawaiian gifts.

Then Kelly Hu arrived with Erika and Angie.  Good times.

Aunty Toni’s good friend Sam Choy created the best dishes for the party.

These ladies rode up in their horses.  I’m sooo doing that next year

Mahalo, Toni, Mapu, and Tahiti.  You are beautiful people inside and out.  Thank you for making us feel proud to be women and inviting us to share in this very special day.  I can’t wait for next year!

I’m a very lucky girl.  I have a friend who owns horses on a ranch.  My friend let me come and take pictures for a shoot.  Here are some just for fun during down time.  Mahalo, Renee for letting us come on such short notice.

I’m so lucky or is the word spoiled? My awesome friend and boss took us ladies out to a fabulous lunch at Mariposa. I’ve been there three or four times and everytime it’s with Angie.  I really love that place.  The atmosphere is perfect for lunch and the food is delicious.  The popovers alone are worth the trip.  I wish I got more photos but we were chatting and laughing and the camera just didn’t make it out as much as I would’ve liked.  Mainly because I was so hungry.

You start off with the complimentary chicken consomme

Yup, nothing but smiles on Lisa’s face

While waiting for our popovers we open little gifts we all gave eachother.  Stani and Amira show off theirs.

My popover and plantation iced tea.  So good together.

I’m laughing because I took a photo of what I ordered from the menu but dug in so fast I forgot to take a photo of the actual dish:) You MUST get the Farm Tomato Salad.  Order it!..DO IT..NOW!  Too much motivational tapes.  Sorry…try it if you can.

Heading out of Mariposa.  Every time I see this when I’m on the escalator I can’t help but smile.  It’s beautiful.  Butterflies hanging down from the roof.  Sometimes it’s silver or all different colors.  I’m smiling thinking of it.

And what else are a bunch of gals going to do at Ala Moana?  Yup, head over to Victoria Secret.  I bet every woman on Oahu will get a gift from there for Christmas.  I’m not going to complain.

I loooove Victoria Secret.  I’m inspired.  I would love to do a photo shoot for them.  I can dream can’t I.  C’mon this doesn’t make your imagination go wild?…photographer or not;)

Thanks Ang (not photographed because she’s SAG..haha).  Love working with you and all the ladies.  You are always so generous.  Love ya big time!!

This post is the result of a few photographer friends hanging out at Starbucks. We all used our resources and in a few days we were on location getting ready to shoot Miss Sarah.  We all had a great time.  Lots of laughs and a lot of bumping each other in true paparazzi fashion. This is one reason to make friends with other photographers.  You get to learn and get better.  We rocked it!  Check it out.

A huge thank you to Amos Kotomori for actually showing up and helping us.  Then Wowing us with Sarah’s hair/MU.  Then beyond that showing us how we should be communicating with our models.  Because of you Sarah mysteriously gets a meeting with the previously booked Premier Model Agency and signs with them.  Sarah is now going to be everywhere.  We just know she’ll do well.  Hey, I hope she gets her big break.  I’m all about name dropping to help my career..HOLLA!

Mahalo to my friends and fellow photographers, Alisa, Athena, & Pinky!  Fantastic 4!  Do people hire a 4pk of photographers?  Well they should.  We work well togehter.  We have to meet up at Chili’s so we can conjure up our next shoot.  Can’t wait ladies!!!

More photos of Sarah are on my Facebook page.  Click here to see more.

This was a super fun photo shoot for me. I took these photos of Lindsey for Pineapple County’s ad in Smart Magazine a while ago. I didn’t have my blog up and running so thought it would be perfect to post them up.

Rosie contacted me a few weeks ago to have photos done for a Father’s Day gift for her husband. I was thrilled. I got off the phone and thought to myself “That’s a fantastic gift”. I should have thought of that earlier..you know before my kids and those extra pounds. haha!

I get to her house and she’s absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never met Rosie but sometimes you meet someone and it’s like you’ve known them forever. She even knows a few good friends of mine.

Anyway, we hit it off and got some fabulous stuff. The wine helped too:) Thanks for a wonderful time Rosie.  Your husband will love his Father’s Day gift.  How are you going to top that next year?

I must confess, shooting Chanel Wise was easy. Miss Hawaii USA 2007 is gorgeous. Her look is so versatile she can wear anything. So, that’s exactly what we did. Put her in in everything and I couldn’t get enough. The camera absolutely loves her.

I guess it’s not a surprise as her mother is a beauty queen herself. Nadine Wise won Mrs. Hawaii USA 2007. For the first time mother and daughter held Miss Hawaii and Mrs. Hawaii titles consecutively.

Basically every shot of her was stunning. I really had a hard time picking from each look.

Chanel was amazing to work with and had such a fun personality. She truly is a beauty queen.