DECEMBER

HUMPBACK WHALES RETURN TO MAUI’S WATERS
WHALE WATCH CRUISES BEGIN

5     TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONY
The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
(808) 875-4100
www.fairmont.com/kealani
7th annual tree-lighting ceremony with entertainment and refreshments

6 LEI OF ALOHA 2
The Old Wailuku Inn at Ulupono
(808) 244-5897
www.mauiinn.com
An open house celebrating the holiday season and a benefit for Hokulani Holt’s halau hula, Pa‘u O Hi‘iaka with music, hula, readings of Dan Blanding’s poems, traditional crafts demonstrations, tours of the Inn. Tickets $20 in advance; $25 at the door.

6 HOLIDAY KID’S FUN DAY
Maui Mall, Kahului
(808) 877-1307
www.mauimall.com
Celebrate the holidays with your keiki, entertainment, giveaways and games

6  Hoku Zuttermeister & Napua Greig Concert
Maui Arts & Cultural Center, McCoy Studio
(808) 242-SHOW
www.mauiarts.org
A Mele Series, two Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winners, Hoku & Napua both perform separately and together for one amazing show

6-7    HOLIDAY LIGHTING OF THE BANYAN TREE
Banyan Tree Park, Front Street
(888) 310-1117 or (808) 667-9194
www.visitlahaina.com
Holiday art displays, crafts, food and entertainment

7nbsp;    “Year of the Hula” Film Festival
Maui Arts & Cultural Center, McCoy Theatre
(808) 242-SHOW
www.mauiarts.org
2008 has been named Year of the Hula for the County of Maui, and MACC presents outstanding hula films to pay tribute

7     Holiday Pops! Concert, “A Classical Christmas”
Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Castle Theatre
(808) 242-SHOW
www.mauipops.org
A festive start to the holiday season with Maui Pops Orchestra and renowned violinist, Frank Almond

8-20     BILLABONG PRO MAUI
Honolua Bay at Kapalua Resort
www.kapalua.com
10th annual event with an $80,000 purse, is the Women’s World Title Race for Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour

13     Willie K: “Willie-kalikimaka” Concert
Maui Arts & Cultural Center, McCoy Theatre
www.mauiarts.org
10th annual event with an $80,000 purse, is the Women’s World Title Race for Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour

22     SANTA IN WAILEA
The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
(808) 874-4100
www.fairmont.com/kealani
Santa arrives by way of Hawaiian outrigger canoe at Wailea Beach

22     SANTA ARRIVES IN KIHEI
Kamaole Beach Park 2, fronting Hale Pau Hana Inn Resort
www.hphresort.com
Welcome Santa as he arrives in South Maui to celebrate the Christmas Holiday

22     THE GRAND LUAU
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa
(808) 875-1234
www.grandwailea.com/kealani
A wonderfully memorable evening filled with fabulous Hawaiian food and entertainment

25     Holiday Buffet Feast
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa
(808) 875-1234
www.grandwailea.com/kealani
Enjoy a spectacular selection of Holiday favorites complimented with beautiful entertainment

25     THE GRAND LUAU
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa
(808) 875-1234
www.grandwailea.com/kealani
A wonderfully memorable evening filled with fabulous Hawaiian food and entertainment

25     CHRISTMAS DAY BUFFET AND DINNER
Four Seasons Resort Lanai
(808) 565-7700
www.fourseasons.com/lanai
A wonderfully memorable evening filled with fabulous Hawaiian food and entertainment

31     NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa’s Bistro Molokini
(808) 875-1234
www.grandwailea.com/kealani
An exciting and fun-filled evening with great food and fabulous entertainment, including a Fireworks Extravaganza

31     NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION
Four Seasons Resort Lanai, at Manele Bay
(808) 565-2000
www.www.fourseasons.com/lanai
Ring in 2009 at Hale Halawai, at Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay, where light pupus and beverages are served all night, “Paradise & Company” will provide an array of classic and contemporary hits, and a spectacular fireworks show will light up the sky

Jewelry And Accessories
Keep it simple is the best advice here. Remember, the part played by accessories and jewelry, the same as with clothing, is simply to flatter the subject, not steal attention from the subject: you. Unless an accessory or piece of jewelry is essential to the look or feel you want in the portrait, or is something you wear all the time, or has special meaning to you, leave it out.

On the other hand, if something is important to you such as your great aunt’s locket, or great granddad’s walking stick, or plays an integral part of your life such as a stethoscope, or a canoe paddle, talk with your photographer about how to include it in some of your portraits.

Makeup
Men will tend to skip right over this while women will zoom in…MEN: before by-passing this whole topic, look in a mirror at your face. What color is your skin? How’s the complexion? Circles under the eyes? Are your nose and forehead shiny? You want to look your best in your portrait, and it’s perfectly OK for men to blotter the forehead, put a little powder on for portraits. Even a little lightener under the eyes or blush on the cheeks! Even Arnold, and Steven Segal wear makeup when on camera!

Now, Ladies, just do what you do normally in applying your makeup, as if preparing for an evening at a benefit gala: tastefully a little stronger than for daytime. It’s a good idea to bring all your makeup to the session along with some tissues and cold cream. Your photographer may have some suggestions for color changes or additions.

Hair
Real basic here: Make sure your hair is clean and styled the way you want it when you get to the session. And bring your brush, comb, spray, gel, whatever you might need to re-do it! If your hair needs to be cut before the session, have it done at least a week prior to having your portraits made. If you are having your hair styled specifically for the session, have it done just before going to the studio.

Posing
Whether your portrait style will be literal or interpretive, if you give some thought to posing before going into your session, it’ll be easier to work with your photographer, and you will look more natural and relaxed in your portraits. In the weeks or days preceding your portrait session be particularly aware of people you see in commercials, movies, magazines, TV shows, at the park, at home, at a friends house. Try to see poses of individuals, or groups, which look good, and portray a quality of feeling or emotion as in a good painting. Imagine yourself or your group in the same or similar pose.

When we see ourselves in a photograph, or portrait, we don’t always look the way we think we do, or should. Fact is all faces are asymmetrical to a greater or lesser degree, and we can present different looks from different angles. It’s a good idea to look at your face in a mirror and ‘practice’ looks that you think are flattering to you. Check your smile from different angles. Look at your nose and chin from different angles. What looks best to you? Work on reproducing two or three looks that you like. When you get to your portrait session show your photographer what you like, and ask for help if you think you can use it. Remember, the lighting your photographer uses wont be the same as you have in your bathroom or hallway where your mirror is, so if he knows what you like, he’ll be able to reproduce it for you with his lighting.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

My Wedding Blog.. Writes;

Nicole Sanchez- Behind The Lens Maui

I got an email out of the blue the other day from Heidi Baumgart, of the super entertaining and informative wedding day-of coordinator/consultant blog Heidzillas.com, telling me about another great photographer based on Maui-

I didn’t see her on your Maui blog, but when my husband and I were in Maui, we had Nicole Sanchez of Behind the Lens Maui photograph our surf lesson with Maui Surfer Girls. She was SOO fabulous. A couple of months later, our friends got married and went to Maui, too, so for their wedding gift we got them honeymoon portrait shoot with Nicole and they had a blast too.

Check her out at: www.behindthelensmaui.com

So I followed her advice and was very impressed! I actually wrote back thanking her for telling me about Nicole and telling her that I wished I’d known about her when I was getting married. It could have saved us from one very bad wedding photog experience.

But weddings aren’t all Nicole photographs on the island. She has tons and tons of surfing shots that just make me want to grab a board and try my skills at surfing. (Any one out there wanna give me lessons!) And then asking Nicole to grab her camera and photograph the ridiculousness that will undoubtably ensue.

She also does some of the most stunning maternity shots! So you know… if you’re family of two starts turning into a family of three… head on back to the island that united the two of you and have Nicole take your maternity shots. I think they’re my favorite of her photos.

And if you’re just still in the process of planning the wedding for your family of two, check out Nicole’s website. Her prices are totally agreeable and she has 4 different price options and packages for weddings so she can cater to any budget.

Mahalo for the tip Heidi! And keep up the good work Nicole!

maui wedding ideas for: photography