Maui Wedding Photographer

Wedding Photography Can Make Or Break Your Memories

Wedding photography is just one of many items to consider when planning your wedding. However, what sets it apart from other aspects are its lasting impressions. Years after your wedding is over, a ruined cake or wilted flowers will no longer be an issue, but your wedding photos will either continue to bring you lasting joy of your day or be a reminder of how unhappy you were with the photography experience.

Therefore, when selecting a wedding photographer, do your due diligence and be thorough. This is an area where cutting costs could actually cost you in the long run. You will need a wedding photographer who is able to envision the people around them and not only know how that would make a great photo, but how they are able to blend in without being intrusive. You need to remember that the wedding photographer is a professional but they are not mind readers, so if there are certain things you want in your photos be sure and tell them.

Interviewing the photographer

Prior to planning your photographic shots, you will need to hire a photographer. This may be one of the most important parts of planning your wedding because they are the ones that will leave you with lasting impressions. Therefore, be thorough during your interview process. There are many ways to find a wedding photographer these days. You may be referred through word of mouth, the phone book, or the biggest resource today, the internet search engines; which allows for instant views of the photographer’s work

Before meeting your potential wedding photographer, you need to be prepared with ideas that are important to you. In addition, let them know what you would like your wedding album to look like so that they have some direction in the style that you desire. You should also ask them about their back-round, experience and style. You may want to consider entering your interview with a list of questions regarding important ceremony moments such as: the procession, close up of groom and bride’s mothers, the father giving away his daughter, exchanging the rings and the kiss, among other things.

Important Questions To Ask

Below is just a sample of questions to consider asking a potential wedding photographer during their interview:

- Do they have samples of their work?

- Are you interviewing the photographer that will be shooting the wedding or a representative of the company?

- What is the price of the package?

- What is included in the package?

- Is video included?

- What is their schedule?

- Do they have assistance?

- What are their policies and guarantees?

- How soon will you get the photos?

- Do they have any references they can provide?

Reception Pictures

The photos at your reception are just as important as the ones during the wedding. After all, your photographer will capture both the traditional shots as well as the spontaneous fun shots. Some key shots to consider are:

- The couple’s arrival

- The entrance of the rest of the bridal party

- Cutting the cake and the feeding or smashing it into your spouse’s face

- All the toasts

- The bride and groom’s first dance

- The father/daughter dance

- The newlyweds leaving the event

Guests As Photographers

Leaving the great moments to be captured by your professional photographer, often some of the most memorable photos are the ones taken randomly by your guests. After all, no one is posing for the casual guest and who knows your guests better than your friends or family members. Imagine the fun you and your spouse will have opening the packets of photos that you have developed versus those that are from your professional posed photos.

Remember, your wedding and reception is a once in a lifetime event and you want the person that is capturing these life changing moments to be someone with whom you trust and feel comfortable with. It is very important that you feel that you, and your photographer, have the same vision for your wedding. Therefore, do not be afraid to ask for something or voice your opinion on something you do not like.

They are professionals, and although they know what they are doing, their number one job should be pleasing you and providing the best possible service that they can, along with great photographic memories. Once again, be sure to find someone that will share your vision and help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

photo by Nicole Sanchez

Andrea was born in Brazil and was raised on the small island of Ilhabela. Growing up in her family’s marina, she had been exposed to ocean sports from the time she could walk and always had their full support to be the best competitive athlete that she could be. While in Brazil, she was a top medalist in swimming, biking and windsurfing.

In 1998, Andrea made the decision to follow her dream and moved to Maui to become a professional windsurfer. As she completed college and achieved her competitive goals, Andrea fell in love with the Maui lifestyle and dedicated her life to many other water sports. Today, her passion is surfing big waves and paddling outrigger canoes. She began paddling in 1999 to keep herself physically trained for surfing and windsurfing, and eventually decided to take paddling more seriously.

Andrea competes in every outrigger race from one-man to six-man canoes all year round. She’s won many awards and titles as a paddler, including world recognized competitions of channel crossings like Maui to Molokai, Molokai to Oahu and the Tahitian Race Hawaiki Nui Va’a. For the past three years, Andrea has been a part of the world’s best paddler team, Team Bradley. Winner of five consecutive Na Wahine O Ke Kai, the challenging 42-mile channel crossing women’s canoe race.

In 2005, she added the water sport of Stand Up Paddling (SUP) to her repertoire. That very same year, she crossed the Ka’iwi Channel competing amongst the men. In addition, she was also part of the first female Stand Up team to cross the grueling 32-mile Molokai to Oahu Channel. Andrea is always looking for opportunities to push herself in the ocean, so as SUP emerged as a new water sport, she continued to break into uncharted territory as the water woman in Hawai‘i’.
Putting all these ocean sports aside, Andrea Möller is a Big Wave surfer at heart.  Charging 40-foot plus waves at Peahi, also known as “Jaws,” is at the root of Andrea’s passion and is the truest expression of her power as an athlete. Today she’s dedicated to surfing the biggest waves on Maui and  throughout the world. She has been Tow-in surfing “Jaws” since 2004 and became the pioneering woman as a jet ski operator, making rescues in high surf conditions, while also surfing left and right waves. What’s even more impressive, Andrea is the only woman to Paddle-in at Jaws.

Andrea’s goal is to take women’s big wave surfing to a higher level and push the limits of her surfing, while excelling as a paddler. She wants to motivate both men and women to tap their potential, while also being a role model to young athletes. In addition, she wants to represent the heart and soul of her sports, all the while

Andrea Möller is a rare breed of an athlete. She’s mentally and physically strong and is built for the challenges of big wave surfing. However, more importantly, Andrea has a heart of gold that’s expressed through her humility and camaraderie with others.

SUP Accomplishments

2011

1st – Olukai race Stand Up Paddling (May14/2011)
1st – Triple Crown- first leg: Maliko to Kahului Harbor (July 3rd/2011)

2010

1st - Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi SOLO Elite Race

Recold holder! 6:00 hrs

1st – Dukes Paddleboard Race
1st – Naish International P. Race
1st – Olukai race Stand Up Paddling

1st – Battle of the Paddle
 Hawaii – Long Distance race, 10mi
1st - Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Relay – Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi
1st – Naish International Paddleboard Race

3rd – Battle of the Paddle
 Dana Point, CA – Long Distance race, 10mi

2009

1st – Dukes Paddleboard Race
1st – Naish International Paddleboard Race

1st – Olukai race Stand Up Paddling

2nd – Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi SOLO Elite Race
4th – Battle of the Paddle
, Dana Point CA,

2008
1st – Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Relay – Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi
1st

1st - Naish International P. Race

2007

1st – Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Relay – Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi
1st

1st – Naish International Paddleboard  Race

2005 to 2007
First and Only female team crossing the 32-mile Molokai to Oahu Channel on a SUP board. Being role model to athletes.

http://www.supthemag.com/2011-sup-awards/vote/top-3-female-paddlers

Marriage Proposal Ideas With A Unique Twist

A marriage proposal to the man or woman of your dreams can be one of the most amazing moments of both of your lives. So make it a marriage proposal that they never see coming. Sure you could go the more traditional route and have the usual romantic dinner along with music playing. Then after dessert you profess your undying love to them and get down on one knee. However they will be expecting that.

Where’s the fun in that.

Find proposal ideas that will shock them with something that they would never expect. You know your future spouse better than anyone, so take in your partner’s personality into consideration before proposing. However, if your partner is the outgoing adventurous type, use these six marriage ideas or just take away some inspiration to create a unique proposal for your partner.

1. You could hire a professional photographer and have them take some pictures of you two at special locations that you and your partner have enjoyed together over the years. Go through your relationship from the beginning to the present day and have the photographer combine pre-shot photos that you already have, along with the new shots, and have the photographer design a collage of your relationship.

A professional photographer has the ability to add to the collage items of special meaning in your relationship such as inside joke, a song or a certain saying. You can go small or go large and put the collage on a billboard or the advertising spot at a bus spot. Take your partner to the location and reveal it to them along with a beautiful card that has a picture of you on one knee. Then get down on that knee, while they are looking at the picture, as they stop and look at you, you propose. You could also have the photographer there to capture this moment in pictures.

2. One way to really wow your partner would be to rent a helicopter, or a small plane, and tell them you are going on a short trip and that it’s a surprise. Then have your friends and family get together and put votive candles in white paper lunch bags, light them and have them spell out “will you marry me?’ The plane ride needs to be at night so that you will be able to see the proposal from the sky.

3. A special way to propose to your partner would be to take them to a movie theater that is filled with all of yours, along with your partner’s, friends and family. Make sure it’s dark inside so that they can’t see or recognize their friends. Have a special spot picked out in advance. Instead of the real movie, show a movie that you made for them. Start with pictures of each other’s childhood. Then go to pictures of your relationship from the beginning until present, then add in big letters on the movie screen “will you marry me?” Make sure the movie that you are playing includes music that has meaning in your relationship. Then present him or her with a dozen red roses that were already under your seat and propose.

4. If you and your partner are very adventurous, you could arrange to propose while sky diving. However you may want to give her the ring after you landed safely on the ground. In addition, I would recommend that your proposal not be on your first sky diving experience, because after all, your partner may be nervous or afraid for it to be fun.

5. Prepare a nice picnic for the two of you and go to the beach. In the mean time, have someone save you the perfect spot with a nice fluffy blanket waiting there for you. You can also arrange to have someone play music there such as a guitar or another instrument.

6. Another outside the box idea would be to get a flash mob together and have them dance to some of your favorite songs or act out scenes from your relationship. You can then join them while they are dancing and then all together shout out, “will you marry me?” You could also have the mob point to the sky where a banner is flown overhead that says “will you marry me?” Then get down on one knee and have the flash mob give your partner a single red rose or whatever flower is their favorite.

In any event, think of something fun and unique. A little thought and effort can go a long way in someone’s heart.