Sunsets at The Beach

I look for natural frames

Hanalei Bay dynamic photo ops - beach, mountains, palm trees, lush greenery - David Marsh Kauai phot

I'm a Kauai photographer who strives to make every photoshoot fresh and original, like an actor who goes on stage every night who never does the lines the same way. So of course, I direct. I'm aided by the topography. The beaches are forever changing, new sand berms rise along the shoreline that weren't there a week ago, fresh vegetation forms after the rains. On a photoshoot, my eye is always on the hunt for natural frames. Thirty years as a professional photographer, sixteen as a photographer in Kauai is in your corner.

Why Choose Me as your KAUAI PORTRAIT photographer?

Kauai's dramatic scenery for portrait photography - sunsets at the beach

The triangulation of outdoor portrait photography

Seamlessly staged photographs will always outshine photos from an unstaged photo session. Not that candids are not an important and balanced part of a photo gallery. They are, which is why I shoot both. Technical excellence: All good professional photographers Kauai should at minimum know how to place subjects in favorable light, utilize natural frames within frames, understand symmetry, and know the importance of filling a frame. Blindfold me and I'll still know. And here's one many photographers fail to honor: balancing the personal with the scenic, because I understand that clients love to see themselves set against the scenic drama of Kauai rather than see the scenic drama taking precedent with the clients occupying only a smidgen of the frame. I can’t imagine them showing off the photos back home, knowing they might hear, “Is that you?”

Wedding elopement photography in Kauai by Sunsets at the Beach photography

Talent plus skill needed to orchestrate

A Kauai photographer who choreographs to minimize dangling arms, drain pipe legs, and awkward hands. I encourage affectionate interconnectedness between subjects. The bottom line: stunning outdoor portrait photography.

Natural sunset lighting in Kauai - Sunsets at the Beach photography

An extra step in the editing

While nearly all Kauai photographers will edit your photos, not all can or will add dimension. Why is that important? In two words: flat lighting. An overcast drab day can all too easily lead to drab photos. I won't accept that. Not only will I fix, I’ll beautify, make you look fresher, less tired. I’ll add zing, zest and pop into your photos.

Beautiful photography

Imagination

Everybody needs a game plan before going into action. This Kauai photographer just don't make a big deal of it. It all begins with the perfect beach or jungle location, allowing for the merger of you and Kauai’s stunning scenery.

Execution

I strive to create a fun environment that will enable relaxed poses and candid enjoyment. If you’re camera-shy, don’t worry, hypnosis does wonders. Just kidding...or maybe not.

Finishing touches

... is where I make beach goers disappear and the ocean gets bluer, and baggy eyes get smoothed out—because the magic has no bounds. But I instinctively wield an editing shield to prevent over-zealousness that can easily create un-natural representation. It’s what I mean by honest photography.

Photo sessions tips by Sunsets at The Beach Photography

Outfits and color schemes: I feel that you should wear what you want to wear as long as it's presentable. Bear in mind, toward the end of the session, I might ask you to place your ankles in the surf, which very often means even your romp is gonna get wet, too—all for a great photo.
Your hair: It gets windy on the beaches. One’s hair can easily wash over your face, not once, not twice, but consistently. So a headband, hair clips, scrunchy, anything to keep your hair out of your face might be the difference between a beautiful photo, and a photo sort of ruined by your hair partially or even mostly covering your face.
Your eyes: the eyes are the soul of the portrait. I know the sun is bright and squinty eyes come with that territory, especially if your eyes are sunlight sensitive. I have tricks to help you. But even when the sun is not in a face, all too often while I’m editing I find eyes that are consistently closed or just barely open. From where I’m taking the photos, I can’t always tell; So here's the tip: Pay attention to your eyelids. If you sense they are cast downward, it means I’m getting eyes that are not open. Keeping your eyelids open might mean that you need to look above the camera lens, especially when I'm taking low angle shots.
Perspiration. A hot day on the beach. We might be walking around quite a bit to get new photo ops. The tip: Bring along a hand towel, or wipes, at least a handkerchief, especially if you know you’re likely to perspire.
Dress straps and bra straps: Often I see too many straps. If you to want to wear a bra under a dress that has straps, see if you can conceal the bra straps.

Later then,

—David Marsh, your English photographer, Kauai.

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