Natural light photographer David Marsh, one of the top Kauai photographers, specializes in family, couples, and maternity photography. If you're looking for a skilled photographer in Kauai, book your session today!
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At Sunsets at the Beach, our expert Kauai photographers can guide you to breathtaking locations for your session. The North Shore, with its misty mountains, lush foliage, sweeping beaches, and sparkling bays, is a favorite! Book a photographer in Kauai today
I often photograph surprise proposals during regular couples' photoshoots. It means both parties know of the photo session, but only one knows it’s a proposal. The other way to do this is with a surprise photo shoot and proposal. As your Kauai photographer, I’ll freeze those unforgettable memories when your partner says, “Yes! I will!”
Elopements are the staple of Hawaii's photography business so please book early as my calendar space is often small.
Mahalo.
I'm looking forward to doing your elopement photography as your trusted photographer in Kauai.
While we all know the phrase "a photo is worth a thousand words," the reality is a single photo really doesn't tell the whole picture. So I've made it possible for you to view not just a cherry-picked isolated photograph or two, but complete client galleries. Explore the full gallery and see the difference before choosing me as your photographer in Kauai.
Aloha! I'm David Marsh, an award-winning English photographer in Kauai, known as one of the top Kauai photographers. I'm a joint BAFTA and International Emmy team recipient, published novelist, and a good cook, apparently. You want to know my key ingredient, not in the kitchen but on a photoshoot? Fun! If you're having fun, I get genuine smiles and belly laughter and inhibitions fade away. So it's on me as an expert photographer in Kauai to make sure you're having a blast. if you're okay to go with the flow, let's reveal the hidden show off you didn't even know was lurking under your skin. You want romantic, passionate—I get that, too! It's not all about one thing. If you're willing to splash about in the ocean during your photography session in Kauai, I'll be there with you. You want to climb a tree and propose, fantastic. If you're not sure, no worries. Simply, I love people.
THE BEST FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER KAUAI HAS TO OFFER
I've been a full-time photographer in Kauai since 2008; before then a photographer and cinematographer in California and I'm thrilled and appreciate that you're considering me from all Kauai's best photographers, as I know you have other choices. Will you get the same or similar photos from all of us? Do my galleries suggest such? In some cases, yes. But I strive for "not." I find that living on this small island and being a professional Kauai photographer is always throwing me photo opportunities not all see. Maybe it’s my eye or brain noticing something ten or twenty paces away that I know with a camera click will tell a unique photo story.
As the sun gets cut by the mountain as it slowly rises into the sky in the early morning, soft streams of light allow me to take stunning, beautifully lit photographs (the photograph above). As one of the top Kauai photographers, professional Lighting and set decoration are the first two things on my mind when I walk my clients to an area for the next photo. Set decoration on a beach means we've chosen to shoot at a beach that offers dynamic photo opportunities so that I don't need to dress the set myself.
Think of a stretch of misty mountains, swaying palm trees, a jungle shadow nestled up to a crescent beach, an outrigger canoe sitting on a sand bank, lazy rock pools, a fallen tree trunk on the beach—these are my sets as a professional Photographer in Kauai. The alternative: a naked beach, perhaps lovely, deserted, and romantic but without misty mountains and rock pools or an outrigger canoe, just blue ocean and sweeping drifts of sand. If I'm going to be your photographer in Kauai, I'd like more than the ocean and a beach. This is why I do lots of photoshoots at Hanalei Bay, Shipwreck Beach, and Tunnels Beach. While there are other beaches besides these three with dynamic possibilities, I consider other factors such as ease of getting there, parking, safety, bathrooms, etc. And while Hanalei Bay might see a fair volume of beachgoers, it never impacts my photos. It's all the more satisfying when my clients see their photos for the first time and text me, "I love them all! You made all the other beachgoers disappear, thank you so much" One more thing worthy of me telling you is the photography session is just the first stage of my craft as a leading photographer in Kauai, the editing lifts photos, it's an art as well as a technical endeavor, so choosing a very experienced photographer for your family portraits in Kauai will transpire to be a very smart decision
Every day as a professional photographer in Kauai, I'm reminded I live in paradise. Everywhere I look I see stunning backdrops. Only it wouldn’t be so verdant without all of our rainfall. Still, not everyone wants a sunset couples photo session in a downpour, which is why as one of the top Kauai Photographers, I try to be as flexible as possible in regards to switching times, even the shoot date if possible, at no extra charge.
I prefer doing family photography sessions on the north shore of Kauai. For me, it means less driving time, which otherwise would eat into my editing time. All I can say as a professional photographer in Kauai is if you're on vacation, even if your hotel/Airbnb is on the south side, the spectacular north shore is really worth visiting. I will, however, travel to you on the south side if you really don't want to do the drive yourself.
As an expert photographer in Kauai, My photography portfolio is the best way to start your journey of decision. I always prefer to go with natural light, but I'm also a pro using on-camera and off-camera strobes and photoflash.
'nuff said, for now
—David.
Professional Kauai photographer.
I’m in a forest with Sarah, and we're doing a senior portraits session. Bright sun is setting. I place Sarah in a spot with the sun behind her. It produces amazing backlighting in her long blonde hair, but it also creates flares in my camera lens. Because I'm in a forest, it's easy to fix. "Can you move three steps to your right, Sarah." By moving Sarah and or myself I can nearly always use a tree or brush to block the harshest sun rays while getting enough back light for a magnificent shot. But if I'm on a beach at sunset doing seniors photography, it's not so straightforward. I can either accept the sun's dazzle and allow Sarah to fall into silhouette—an exceptionally creative look—or I can use photo flash to counter the sun's brilliance and retain Sarah's skin tone. Lastly, I can wait for the sun to get very low in the sky, when it's less intense and more colorful. This is a very small window of opportunity to take magical shots.
Sunset. Sunrise. Mid-morning. I don’t think there’s a bad time of the day for a photoshoot.
Tidbit of trivia. Do you know the three categories of twilight?
Tidbits about David Marsh Kauai photographer and author
Tangelos, yum! Winter is citrus time in Kauai and you'll find me at the farmers' market buying tangelos by the crate load. How about some other random things that I consider yum, although not necessarily the winner should it be in a favorite's contest. I’m into sunsets more than sunrises, not because of lighting—equal there— but I prep before a shoot so dawn shoots make my day very long. I dig broccoli, cayenne pepper in smoothies, peanut butter but never onto jelly. Favorite movie? Nope. I like so many movies. Favorite book? Same as with the movies. Is a tangelo my favorite food? No of course not. But they are yum. Favorite color? Maybe blue, no, purple, no, primrose yellow. You get it. It's the same with most things. I've read thousands of books, no best, seen thousands of movies, tasted more foods than I can name, don't have a bestie but do have a few. Is that weird?
Or is this weird:
I talk to strangers I pass on the street, "hi, good morning, I like your sneakers."I do the same at the supermarket, in the parking lot at the beach after I’ve finished a photo session. Growing up I was a shy one. Who knew I’d be such a chatter box?
I’d sooner have the three cameras on me, each with a different lens rather than a single camera and a backpack of lenses.
I speak one language, three different speeds.
On Feb 20th, 2025, I typed the last word of a new novel "In the Land of the Destroyers" that I've been working on for the last 7 months. Okay, it's never going to be the last word because until a book is published it's always evolving. But I am thrilled to have completed another novel. I think it might be my best.
Surprise proposals make me nervous. Luckily they seem to come in waves. I won’t shoot a surprise engagement for months, then all of a sudden, it’s six in row over two weeks.
I'll give my time freely to bring awareness to animal cruelty, such as hoarding situations. I've done videos for these causes. I love cats and dogs equally. An animal-loving photographer Kauai can trust.
Oh dang it! I do have one true favorite. My favorite place in the whole wide world to live.
Okay, nuff said, for now.
Aloha...I'm a north shore Kauai professional photographer specializing in creative Kauai family photography, couples photography, baby moon photos, etc. In this blog you'll get a good idea of my photography style, editing techniques, and what you'll receive when you hire me as your Kauai photographer.
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