through my lens - by a top kauai photographer
Professional photographer David Marsh specializes in couples, maternity, and family photography
Photography Options
COUPLES / FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY
SURPRISE ENAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
COUPLES / FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY
Misty mountains and lush foliage, sweeping beaches and sparkling bays. Every day I'm reminded that I live in paradise, a stunning backdrop for maternity photography Kauai. Only Kauai wouldn’t be so verdant without our rainfall. Still, not everyone wants sunset couples photography in a downpour, which is why as a kauai photographer, 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 to do Kauai photo sessions on the north shore. It's where I live, which means less driving time which otherwise would eat into my editing time. And believe me, I spend far more time editing photos than I spend on photoshoots, like 6 or 7 times more! For my clients, all I can say, is: you're on vacation; even if your hotel or AIRNB is on the south side, the spectacular north shore is so worth visiting. I do however understand if you have small children and you really don't want to drive.
My time/travel expenses are contingent on time of day and the season.
With aloha,
--David,
Kauai portrait photographer
ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
SURPRISE ENAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
COUPLES / FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY
Book early, if you can, is my first advice. Elopements are the staple of Hawaii's photography business and because I'm also a family photographer (with many repeat clients) my calendar space for elopements and small wedding photography is really limited. Onto why choose me: I'm going to repeat what I keep saying, look at my portfolio. While a portion of your elopement is ceremony, lighting is oh so important, as is framing for composition, and interesting angles. If you don't think I excel here, you have other options. Your portraiture session follows the ceremony. I really love this part and my fresh and innovative way of shooting reveals it.
For one-hour sessions you'll receive 50 gorgeously edited photos with a private on-line gallery for viewing, sharing with family and friends, and downloading. For longer wedding photography sessions including split location sessions, just LMK what you have in mind.
Mahalo, and I'm looking forward to being your Kauai photographer.
SURPRISE ENAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
SURPRISE ENAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
SURPRISE ENAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
Let's say you choose me as your professional photographer for your surprise proposal in paradise.
I can be sitting on a blue beach blanket with a camera, so you'll know it's me, and once you go down on your knee, I'll already be photographing you. Thing is, unless we've met beforehand, it can be a bit stressful. There's often many photographers on the beach. You want to make sure you propose when I'm there.
There's another way, however, and many photographers encourage it because it's less stressful: you'll tell your significant other you're booking a photo shoot beforehand. We meet and greet as usual. Then during the photo session, you'll get a wink or whisper from me, which will mean, go for it! Still a surprise proposal. Another big advantage of doing it this way is that it will be booked as a couples' photo package, even though you will propose during the session, and the couples packages cost a lot less.
Re packages: They start at only $390
With aloha
--David,
Portrait photographer Kauai
PORTRAITURE
COUPLES PORTRAITS
ELOPEMENT PORTRAITS
KAUAI FAMILY PORTRAITS
I think light—strange statement, but I'm all about that. Skin tones that are true to form and honest are songs to my soul—I'm all about that, too. Photo filter flavor of the month, nah! Sorry but I'm never about that. Anecdotes and jokes fall out of me not because I'm funny (although I am) but because they promote genuine smiles, real laughter and I'm definitely all about that in a Kauai photography session. I don't care for work so it's just as well that when I leave for a photoshoot, I'm off to play. And I'm all about that!
LIGHT, SHADOW, ACTION
Once upon a time I was in the film biz, a DP, director, and editor. Maybe it was my sister who had me thinking weddings when she asked me to film hers. I shot it with an industry-leading ARRI 35BL motion picture camera, like they do for movies. Overkill but it was my sister. So here were are. Wedding photography Kauai. I shoot a very limited amount of weddings, by choice. If you're thinking of me as your Kauai elopement photographer/wedding photographer or Kauai videographer let me know your date ASAP.
KAUAI FAMILY PORTRAITS
ELOPEMENT PORTRAITS
KAUAI FAMILY PORTRAITS
If you're really keen on simple and classical, that's cool. Sometimes larger families rarely get together or maybe the Kauai trip will be a first time all together, period, and frivolity isn't always right for the moment. Reading what's wanted is also a knack of mine. Bottom line is making my clients feel comfortable. Believe me, even really self conscious people are usually showing off their personality soon into the shoot, and I'm getting grins that couldn't be bigger!
TO POSE OR NOT TO POSE
I don't always direct with "squeeze left" and "Blue shirt in the back get on your tippy-toes" because getting folks to be natural often means telling a young teen, "You're a kitty cat." which can promote paws, pounces, fun hand stuff, even reactions I couldn't possibly imagine. I might tell you, 'K you're directing traffic on a busy highway where a truck's just overturned. You're in charge!" Or, '"you're on a 6" wide gangplank a thousand feet above rocks, so balance. Are you scared?" Or sometimes I'll prompt with a simpler cue, "Talk to the hand!" I'm looking for body language, genuine laughter because it's so silly. And who knows what else it might promote.
ELOPEMENT PORTRAITS
ELOPEMENT PORTRAITS
ELOPEMENT PORTRAITS
Many people believe only sunrise and sunset hours are the times to have professional photography—well, it's true most engagement photography sessions, couples photography photo-shoots and family photography sessions do take place at sunrise or sunset, while elopement photography sessions mostly take place mid-day or mid-afternoon, when the sun can be very bright. But there's always ways to make sunlight or lack of sunlight work like magic. Even blinding streams of sunlight can be tempered by trees or bushes or a canoe on the beach, the result being the kind of hazy lighting you see on film sets.
Placement of people, and decades of experience along with feet willing to walk to spots that offer some foreground or background shade help with light modification, and it's the difference between meh and wow! When the lighting part is taken care of, I can go for zany or classical photos. Here on the left I went for classical. Yet a gritty snarl was just as striking as a tender one; a punch in his arm caught an astonished look. Later in the day, I took the couple to Hanalei Bay where I had them flying out of the surf in a billowing cloud of sea spray. Both worlds!
TTFN
David Marsh, Kauai photographer
What's up
Aloha! I'm David Marsh, a top professional Kauai photographer who drives fun in my photoshoots for a very professional reason: fun is the pathway to the relaxed you, to the free spirit that dares to go one step further; it's the key to genuine smiles and belly laughter. So it's on me as your Kauai family photographer to promote fun, like the warm-up guy on a stage. Yeah it's high energy. And that's me! While light, shadow and composition are ingrained in me, flowing like breath (I don't need to think about it, I just do it) you are the line between nice and magnificent. As I love magnificent, 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. Couples photography sessions, 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 Kauai elopement photography session, I'll be there with you. You want to climb a tree and propose, fantastic. If you're not sure, no worries. Family photography is close to my heart. Simply, I love people.
No doubt you're looking for the best photographers in Kauai. I've been a full time professional photographer Kauai for 15 years; before Kauai photography a professional photographer in California; before then, England. My photography portfolio is the best way to start. I always prefer to go with natural light but I'm also a pro using on-camera and off-camera strobes and photoflash, when needed, especially in Kauai sunset photography. If you're looking for a Kauai photographer for events, make sure to contact me early, same when considering me as your wedding photographer or elopement photographer. If you're wondering if I do Senior portrait photography kauai, yes Maternity photographer AKA baby bump, yes! Boudoir photography in Kauai, yes. Photographer for graduation photos. Of course. Surprise proposals, vow renewals, I do! I mean you do. Later then, TTFN. David
LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT PHOTOGRAPH
A Kauai photographer with an eye for an outrigger
"Sunset maternity beach photography,"
I cannot tell you how many times when I'm asked about pregnancy photography kauai "sunset on a beach" appears in the emails and texts to me.
Kauai has so many stunning beaches, vast stretches of sand, glimmering sunsets, sparkling ocean. Where to do the session? In my mind I always think dynamic possibilities.
You might ask, what are dynamic possibilities? Put in your mind a stretch of misty mountains, swaying palm trees, 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—dynamic possibilities! Versus a sparsely trafficked beach that's lovely and romantic but has no misty mountains or rock pools or outrigger canoes, just blue ocean and sweeping drifts of sand. If I'm going to be your baby moon photographer I'd like more than ocean and a beach. This is why as a top Kauai photographer I do lots of photoshoots at Hanalei Bay and 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. As a photographer in Kauai for weddings, 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 beach goers disappear, thank you so much" One more thing worthy of me telling you is my Kauai wedding photography session is just the first stage of my craft, the editing is key; the same applies when I don my blue trucker's hat for Kauai family photography or my tee-shirt children photography portraits kauai, the editing takes so much longer; it's an art as well as a technical endeavor, so choosing a very experienced photographer for your family portraits will transpire to be a very smart decision.
Once again. 'nuff said, for now
—David, very experienced family portrait photographer, Kauai
Sunset photography Kauai
On this particular day, my truckers says graduation photos photographer. I’m in a forest with Sarah, who's just graduated. Bright sun is setting. I place Sarah 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. Easy as pie, for a professional photographer. But if I'm on a beach at sunset doing seniors portraits, 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. For close up shots, magnificent. For full shots, the resulting photos are likely to have a slightly unnatural look, which can also be very creative. 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. Being a professional Kauai family photographer I don’t think there’s a bad time of the day for a photoshoot.
Tidbit if trivia. Do you know the three categories of twilight?
- Civil twilight.
- Nautical twilight.
- Astronomical twilight.
MY FAVORITE...uh?
Tidbits about David Marsh Kauai photographer
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. 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. Bu 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'm always willing to modify light for my photos, but I'm a purest for color.
I speak one language, three different speeds.
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.
Oh dang it! I do have one true favorite. Kauai! It's my favorite place in the whole wide world to live and I love being a Baby moon photographer Kauai.
My favorite Kauai officiants. https://www.kauaivideoproductions.com/DavidMarsh/Favorites.html
Okay, nuff said, for now.